star sail

Hurricane Katia!!

Likes others I applaud the work you boys are doing at the Away games particularly. It is a breath of fresh air, but think the UJ is a mistake even if it is C and A. It gives off the wrong message. Keep up the good work though!!

I have an ignorance towards our own fans then, A UJ in pretty much any context in a symbol of Britishness. Nothing wrong with that. In the context of an SPL match however it is a symbol of divide and is very much a symbol associated with Rangers. Any Motherwell fan feeling the need to take a UJ to Celtic Park should be considering a season ticket at Ibrox next season. If it was just to wind the Celtic fans up, I'm guessing that you will be taking the Irish flag to Ibrox just to wind them, or does that not float your boat in the same way? I find Motherwell fans with UJ's embarrassing. It is a free word though so as you please.

I don't completely agree with McCall's view that we shld only be judged on performances outhwith the Old Firm however I can understand the point that he is trying to make. It would be possible for Motherwell at this moment in time to finish on 88 points this season without picking up a single point against the OF. This is taking into account the 2 points lost so far against Killie. Obviously this wld require Well to win every single non OF game but it wld represent a season of unparalleled success and wld put pressure on one if not both OF sides. I am not suggesting that this is a possibility just making the point that the best season in Well's history could be achieved regardless of the results against the OF. The road to 88 pts starts with a victory against St Johnstone nxt weekend. Mon the Well!!!!

If that is the case then it is one reason why Vlad was right to punt the two of them. To me this is an admission that they did not know enough about the player they signed and if you are throwing money after players that you have not researched propertly then questions should be asked. If Jefferies signed Sutton on the back of a two/three month purple patch then he is a mug.

I don't understand this train of thought. Motherwell have played 5 competitive games this season and already players need a rest? These boys are supposed to be top end professional athletes. Two games in a week should be a walk in the park at this stage of the season. If anything they should be getting a game to help reach peak condition. Bring some of the other guys in by all means but to give them game time not to give the first team regulars a rest. Try telling a Tour de France cyclist that pro footballers need a rest after 5 games of the season. This needing a wee rest is a myth created by the spin merchants like Craigy Brown as an excuse for poor performance. Four games into the season and the players can't be expected to perform because it's so early in the season and they are not match sharp, five games and they need a rest because they are battle weary.

I've always liked this theory on the use of offensive language. This is the thoughts of the controversal 60's comedian Lenny Bruce although in this case it is Dustin Hoffman playing Lenny Bruce. I am not sure to what extent it applies in this case but it is an interesting theory on the supression of words.

Would never have argued for the hero's myself. 3-0 ICT, 0-0 Killie, 0-1 Saints, 1-0 Hearts is a nice we run but not the stuff of legends. That not one of these teams could score against what it still a suspect Well defence says more about the shit standard of SPL football rather than the heros that play for Motherwell. Yesterday was pish and was like watching a training session for 45 mins. Very disappointing day at the football for me but it is each to their own so for those that remain philosophical about it, good on them.

You mean like the oh so close 4-0 tanking at Celtic Park a the tale end of last season or the nailbiting 3-0 at Hampden?

It's another blow to Scottish Football in general. On a European level Rangers are poor and yet they are miles ahead of a team that topped the table at the start of today. The second half was a training routine for Rangers in letting the opposition play about (very slowly) 25yards out then catching them on the break. The result was never in any danger. Also statements from the manager like 'you have to score first against the Old Firm' suggests to me that McCall has no belief in his own players. What happens when we go down 1-0 at Ibrox in the next game? May as well throw in the towel and get an early bath. If the manager has no belief the players will have no belief. As I said earlier in the thread this team will finish a good 20+ points ahead of us this season and yet could be out of Europe before we even get out of August.

It would be easy to fall into the trap of being blinded by this poor Rangers, club in crisis no resources chat that we hear week in and week out in the papers and on the radio. The fact is however that man for man Rangers can match if not better Motherwell in almost every area of the park and will have a bench that is stronger than ours. McGregor, Papac, Bougherra, Davies, Naismith, Jelavic are good players. Come the end of the season this team will probably be 20+ points ahead of Well in the league table. Given that it is only a few months ago that they turned us over with much the same team as they have now, it would be a foolish man that would bet against a Rangers win. However, confidence is king and if Rangers struggle this week in Europe and we can go into the game on a high then just maybe we can get that long awaited win. I would be amazed if it was a pumping like the last time so think the game will be won or lost by the odd goal. Right now I wuld take the draw. I'll go 1-1 after a Reynolds like slip up to let them back in, in the last 10 minutes.

'..... Classic album? I think it's overrated myself. Bunch of self obsessed 1970's hippies taking it in turns to have nervous breakdowns. Not my cup of tea. Like that Grand prix tune. That's about it......'

I remember listening to Craig Levein on the eve of our Euro game against Odense last season on Radio Scotland and he could not have beem more positive about the club, the young players, the way well try to play football and the contribution the club makes to the SPL. He was knowledgable about the players and spoke about Motherwell with what seemed like a real affection. I was very surprised at the time but pleasantly so.

Can someone explan to me why a point away from home is seen as an achievement and so much harder than a point at home? I can understand the problems with playing away from home if a) the home crowd is massive b) it is a long journey prior to the game for players c) playing in Europe but when it's a one hour bus trip down the road to Kilmarnock playing in front of a tiny home support, I don't see why it should be any harder than a game at Fir Park. It sounds to me like another excuse in the long line of excuses that teams and supporters drag out to explain an average performance. It's too early in the season/ It's been a long hard season/ the team have played three games in a week/ etc all come into that catagory as well for me. I am not complaining about the result yesterday because that would be doing a diservice to a decent Killie side but I would like to see us as a support have more ambition than accepting an away point in these types of matches.

1. Celtic 2. Rangers 3. Hearts 4. D Utd 5. Hibs 6. Aberdeen 7. ICT 8. Killie 9. Motherwell 10. Dunfermline 11. St Mirren 12. St Johnstone. Only definite prediction from me is that we are in for another SPL season of mediocre (at best) football and crowds continuing to fall.

Seems to be mixed emotions about getting Hughes back but I would be delighted if he was to come back. Summer to Christmas of McGhee's first season was one of the most enjoyable times I have had as a Well fan. The football they played was a joy to watch and was as good as I have seen in the SPL from any team for some time. Hughes was the man pulling the strings. Admittedly he had Uncle Phil along side him and an interested Mark McGhee motivating the team but on that basis alone he would have to be a good shout surely?

I could not agree more. There was almost a sense of relief at the end that it was only 3-0. The supporters did not believe, the players did not believe and the manager did not believe. You could not look at even a 5 minute section in that game when Motherwell looked as if they might get something from the game. To make matters worse, I just could not understand how relaxed the players and fans were post split about the form the team was showing. Two points out of five matches (one of those against Killie who were also being pumped by everyone else) and 17 goals against was pish poor under any circumstances. It was the lack of pride that suggested to me that we were never going to win the cup final. On the tiredness front, I happen to know a couple of guys who are talanted triathletes. They train 6 days a week, often 4 to 5 hrs a day ( some 20 hrs a week) and race every weekend from March to late September. What is more, they are amateurs. You just have to look at the pro cyclists as well to see that footballers get it fairly easy on the training front. I am not trying to say that pro football is easy but when it is perfectly acceptable to down tools five games out from a couple final to rest, someone is taking the piss.

Not surprised about Jeffers. I did not get the impression that he was ever that keen on being up here. Jenno would be a real blow, particularly if it was to Aberdeen. Would hate to see him play against Well, particularly with his style of play. He would turn from hero to villian very quickly. The reality however is that money talks and a players career is short so if Aberdeen can offer more than Well, then he will go. I have a feeling that McCall may offer him Captaincy to stay however with Hartley gone at the Dons Brown may be offering him the same up there.

Did not think of it in that way but you are spot on. A scene that would make the North Koreans proud.

Comedy gold that is!! It is like a caricature of a Celtic message board. It is actually slightly scary that it is for real and we have to share a planet with these people.

This will be my last time on the site before Saturday. Been spending the evening reading all the interviews by the players, watching the BBC videos and ofcourse listening to the farewell from our Chairman and have had a fair few shivers run down my spine. I hope every Well fan enjoys the day regardless of the result. Take in the whole day and be thankful for it because there are thousands of supporters up and down Scotland who will wish it was them. Having been at the Cup Final in 91, I know the impression it leaves. It is truely a magical day. Yes that day we won but we might not have. The build up, our team coming out onto the pitch, 16000 Well fans, some home from far off lands singing and cheering the team, that all happens before a ball is kicked and can't be taken away regardless of the final result. Hope to see you back here on Sunday hungover and happy but if it does not work out that way then we can console ourselves with the fact that we will always be Well Fans. I was born under a Well flag. All the best!

I had a couple of Rangers fans behind me in the 91 Cup Final. They spent the second half commenting on how for all Ally Maxwell was producing some heroics he was no Chris Woods. Slightly boring to listen to for one half and the whole of extra time but apart from that no harm done. To balance the books I had a couple of friends who were Celtic fans come along with me to the Borussia Dortmund Euro game. If they are genuine football fans I don't see a problem.

No flaws. Hit the nail on the head. My guess is that the game will start as Option 2 and that Jeffers will be brought on 2nd half.

Cup Finals are not about reality. It's all about dreams. It's why we buy the ticket.

Before the Semi I would have had Gunning, Hutchison but having watched Gunning throw the dummy out the pram twice now, most notebly second half against rangers then it has to be Craigan, Hutch. Last thing we need is a defender who is going to jack it if we go 2-0 down. I think Brazilian made the point that Hutch has been made to look bad in recent weeks due to Gunnings mistakes/ lack of effort. I want to see a Well team out there. No imposters. Ross, Gunning and I have to say Jeffers as well just have not shown the desire to fight for the jersey for me. Jeffers has that touch of class but he does not show it nearly enough. Saunders over Ross, Hateley over Jeffers and Crags/ Hutch over Gunning. Those are the boys that have put in the hard work over the course of a full season.