CoF

Mind he's only just turned 19 this year.

Yep, when he's come on he's always looked energetic, comfortable and more than willing to move the ball forward. I've not seen enough of him defensively to judge in that respect but I really like how positive he is, willing to take men on and make runs to create space. I'm always pleased to see him come off the bench and would be delighted to have him at the starting line up. I know he's not proven yet but there is a lot of potential there so he deserves his chance.

It's the very reason I, and many others prefer away games. I don't know if it's because we're in the minority and people recognise the need to actually 'support' the team or whether the people who cause the problems at Fir Park (and it is a problem) just don't travel to away games.

We really did score some cracking goals last year.

Maybe, but it's early days for him. Every game he starts for us will be among the biggest of his career, he didn't even play many first team games at Airdrie. When you take into account the possibility of nerves and playing with a team he doesn't play with week in - week out PLUS the fact the defence wouldn't have exactly filled him with confidence I think a few ropey moments can be forgiven. Every time I've seen him he's done something brilliant which has made me amazed that 1) he's happy to stay at Motherwell as second choice keeper and 2) that he only played 24 games with Airdrie. Saturdays last minute save was one of those brilliant moments. Not many first choice keepers in the SPL would have reacted like that, nevermind second choice.

Perfect timing to get out of the home rut we were in. You could feel the release of weeks of tension round the stadium when the final whistle went. Great stuff. Special mention to Hollis who yet again filled us with confidence that when Randolph inevitably goes we won't be stuck for a solid keeper. Can't wait to see his save in the last 10 seconds again. To turn it round the post from that position is absolutely incredible.

Looking at the big picture I'm happy with how this season is going but perspectives are going to be skewed when the majority of paying punters have only seen one win in seven home SPL games and in six of those games we've scored a grand total of three goals. If home and away fixtures were reversed everything would look much rosier. As for today, much like the Dundee United, Dundee and Hibs games we simply lacked the cutting edge in the final third. Hearts pressed our players well and simply didn't give us any space in that area so a draw is probably a fair result. Hutch was the stand out today by an absolute mile.

3-0 cup final. Odense at home close second, only because despite the novelty of group stage European football I canny help but feel after a few games of possibly getting pumped we'd grow pretty indifferent to it. The poor turnout and kinda weird atmosphere at the Levante home game is evidence the game are almost non events if we go into the games with fear of getting scudded. A cup win is forever, and would've been even sweeter against Celtic.

Good shout although I wonder if it's too much responsibility for a guy his age. I imagine he'll be captain one day, whether it's at Motherwell or elsewhere. That said, I always think it's hard for fans to make judgements on captaincy as we only see the player for 90 minutes each week. It's a role that goes into the dressing room and onto the training ground and is based on the relationship with the manager and the squad as a whole.

Ahh yeah. For some reason thought Killies won put us third.

As WelldaftMK1 says.... baffled. Sitting third after 9 games in a tight league = disappointing. Tactically inept simpleton taking us to our highest ever points tally. We aren't an EPL or La Liga team miraculously playing in the SPL and we don't have a middle eastern consortium farting money out the sand at us. We have a crumbling stadium, a squinty pitch, a home crowd of 4'000 and a shite TV deal. McCall has his faults but he's a fucking good manager for us. We aren't going to get the 'perfect' manager you seem to think is within our reach. Fuck me.

Rando by an absolute mile. Stopped it being a cricket score. Nothing more needs to be said on that. Special mention for Higdon, who put in a good shift today and was asked to do the impossible. He battled well against their defence however was completely isolated the full game. He was also one of the few who seemed fired up in the last 20 and was absolutely raging at the lack of urgency shown by his teammates.

You've been watching too much Game Of Thrones.

I agree he's made some ill judged comments when it comes to old firm games. And this week has been no exception. However there are a fair few who, particularly around games against Rangers, question his professionalism, integrity, allegiance and his desire to do well for Motherwell. All of which is completely unjustifiable in my opinion and which I'm sure would anger him. He comes across as a decent and level-headed guy in interviews and offer all teams/players/refs etc the same level of respect when he talks about them. It just seems to be when it's Rangers people go daft. Aye, under the circumstances I think he should have acknowledged the travelling support however he didn't and I think given his achievements since he took over he can be forgiven this time. He mentions the 'well support time and time again in his e-mails and in other interviews so I think we all just need to man up and get on with it, rather than picking faults that in the grand scheme of things aren't major concerns.

Yep, looks like a great programme and good to see it's getting a bit of exposure round the internet - Front page of the scotprem site, press conferences etc.

And rightly so. The quotes you have put up are 100% spot on from McCall. I think fans are desperate for the massive highs of beating the OF but don't seem content with generally doing very well against teams around us because you don't get that same buzz. It's understandable to feel that way but I think so many people need to step back and look at the bigger picture. Aye, our record against them is horrendous but it doesn't actually have too much of a bearing on our season in the long run. And aye, I know we're out a cup but we've been put out the cup after terrible performances many a time by lesser teams than Rangers and not had the same reaction. McCall has every right to be raging. Maybe not with people being critical of the 90 mins on Wednesday, but with the fact that so many are now desperate to pick holes in his overall management of the club when he was brought a steady stream of good results over the last 20 months.

Watching that you canny deny he's got something. He'll get it back. Nay danger.

Did I miss the joke or is that a serious comment? Surely no.

The point about Jenno is fair enough. Don't know if the 'jobs for the boys' comment is tongue in cheek, but if not it's a pretty hefty accusation to throw it him. Whether or not they are good signings is one thing, but to question his integrity and professionalism by signing them is another.

No. I'll take a scudding off Rangers and Celtic every single time if McCall continues to get us to cup finals/2nd 3rd place finishes.

Yep, 29th Nov.

McCall talking about this very subject on the MFCTV Aberdeen press conference put up this morning. He's hoping to sit down in the next few weeks to discuss his future. It's all quite tentative and non-committal however that was some positive stuff from him.

Just admiring the choreography. But aye, Celtic, smelly c***s etc etc etc.

Just out of curiosity, what do Celtic fans sing at each other before they go into the yankoo doodle hing? (Glasgow Celtic champions nananananana). Heard it quite a few times, last night being the most recent and always wondered.

Got to remember all the players who are free to go will be some of our top earners. There will be a huge chunk of the wage bill freed up so we will bring in replacements. McCall seems to have an eye for a player so I expect some quality coming in if we do lose folk. I'd love to keep the squad together it could be quite an exciting time seeing the new team being built. Biggest loss will be Randolph though, he'll be the one that's hard to replace. That said, Hollis has been solid every time I've seen him.