Kmcalpin

Darren Barr, for one, was very fortunate to remain on the pitch today and not just for poleaxing Stevie Hammell. He also lashed out with his arm at either Marc Fitzpatrick or Keith Lasley (I can't recall which one) in front of the POD Stand. It was certainly far worse than Davie Clarkson's raised arm against Celtic at Parkhead when he was red carded.

I thought Falkirk were shocking today and the referee merely served to encourage them them by failing to clamp down on their nasty tactics. Certainly the dirtiest side I've seen at FP this season. Perhaps John Hughes' pre match comments on officials put the ref under pressure. Once again Falkirk still haven't produced the flowing football the media claims they are capable of. Still overall I'm happy with a point given it was day on which little was ever going to go right. Its the kind of game we've usually lost in the past. The pitch was awful and was cut up badly even before kick off. Once again another manager (even John Hughes) is able to detect a weakness down our left side. We were unlucky though when Stevie Hammell had to retire and that upset the midfield balance. Some reasonable performances but Klimpl and Quinn had decent enough games.

No worse than Keith Lasley or Stephen Hughes I suspect. All 3 are right footed players. Likewise I wouldn't expect Marc Fitzpatrick or Steve Hammell to be accomplished crossers from the right.

I doubt if they'd get free rent Neil and why should they. Normally speaking in such games the "income", including season ticket monies (if applicable), is split 3 ways. A third is deducted for costs, including ground expenses, policing etc and the remainder is then divided in two. If MFC didn't charge ground rent then it would be looking at a substantial financial loss for the game.

But do they really play good football? Many folk, especially in the media say this. Any time I've seen them in recent times though they haven't exactly turned on the silky soccer. All too often they've relied on the long ball to man mountain Michael Higdon. Against us in their recent 1-0 victory at Falkirk they were pretty dull and uninspiring. Still maybe I've undersold them and they'll turn on the style on Saturday.

Andy - I'm as brassed off as anybody about the cancellations but we had buses scheduled to leave Lanarkshire today at 1.30 and 2pm. Cancellations are costly. Those taking time off work need to get prepared to travel. I would have said that the latest that any inspection should have taken place was 9 am this morning but preferrably yesterday. The team bus would also have needed to leave early. Its also quite possible that the air temperature would be above freezing but that the ground would be frozen. Also the surface can be ok but but be hard underneath. We just don't know. Anyway, you have to trust the referee in thse situations.

Don't know much about him but seemingly he's 6-3 tall.

I honestly don't know the overall effect of all these transactions - we'll have to wait for the AGM in 2010 for that I'd guess. However, things aren't quite as simple as you might think. On the plus side we received a small fee for Alan Martin of course. On the debit side, we splashed out on Steve Hammell. Don't forget though we received NOTHING from Faddy's sell-on clause as it all went to creditors. Euro money - I don't know if the club would break even given the reduced gate prices. Stephen Hughes and Chris Porter will be on substantial salaries. Last but not least we've had some extremely expensive pitch repairs to undertake and these will have run into 5 if not 6 figures.

Many fans say this but was he? Contacts at Glentoran warned us he was talented but very inconsistent and would play very well in about 1 game out of every 3 or 4 and be anonymous in the others. This view was subsequently verified by the then management at Fir Park.

Much has to do with the fact that season ticket probably weren't valid for these games.

I was a member of the Trust Board for several years and am still a member of the Trust. Given that I think I can see arguments on both sides. I can honestly say that the Trust Board members put in a lot of hard work for no personal gain. Yes, I admit some fans do have issues with various things such as Martin's position. If folk feel so strongly about that or other issues then join up and fight for change. No point in sniping from the sidelines. Be a "positive pest". The more folk who join up the more credibility and influence the Trust will have. Its not always easy for the Trust Board to gauge opinion of the members - originally the Cooper Stand issue split the membership and I well recall some members resigning when some support was offered for a No campaign. Folk shouldn't assume that all fans agree with them. Fans like Frazzle, Speedie, JWOK etc have my admiration for the voluntary work they put in. As I keep on saying if you don't like then join up and change it.

A dangerous trap to fall into Lip but one into which we've all fallen into at some time. We have all shades of opinion and none in our support.

To replace the Main Stand & East Stand would swallow up millions. The problem with the East Stand is that physical contraints make it very difficult to improve. I suppose its a bit like deciding whether to spend £4,000 repairing your 9 year old car or buying a new one at £8,000. The current recession certainly won't help matters much though.

I'm afraid it is. I suspect the pitch would take several hundred thousand to put right. The East Stand is nowhere near fit for purpose. Cartering facilities in the East and Main Stand are totally inadequate. The sound system, although not a major item, would probably take well into 5 figures to upgrade. Hospitality facilities are outdated. The Main Stand has required major structural work and probably needs more. Need I go on. Millions needed in total I'd say.

Yes, not a bad draw for us, especially as its at home. Surely the tie of the round will be Forfar V Rangers.

Yes, Brian's had a horrific time of it as we all know. Lets hope thats the end of his serious injuries and he now comes back to fight for a first team place. We could use a fit and on form Brian MacLean. Good luck big man.

Absolutely. It would give us a slightly easier week after the United game and allow more leeway should there be further postponements. 20th or 21st doesn't make much sense to me.

You can see it coming can't you. Still I suppose Locos (and MFC) have our cash and thats the important thing.

Building Research Establishment. Its a pilot "Green" housing project with features such as solar heating etc incorporated into the designs.

John Sutton is a guy who needs good service in the box and until recently he simply hasn't had it. He's not the most mobile of players but will do the business in the box if given the correct ammunition.

I didn't think Hearts were that bad during the week, at least not as bad as folk are making out. In fairness maybe many were expecting a top class performance from them. They were a big, solid side who gave little away. We didn't score more than 1 goal and didn't force their keeper into a series of world class saves. In the second half they had us pinned back for protracted spells albeit they used the long ball a lot. Worryingly, their midfield did bulldoze ours in the last 45. Where they did fall down badly was a complete lack of creativity and threat in front of goals. We'll witness poorer performances from visiting sides at FP.

We did play some decent stuff in spells but lacked the killer final ball. Hearts were well what they always are: big, physical and fast but not much else. Overall a valuable win which we deserved. Maros Klimpl is making a big difference in adding bite to the midfield. Our big failing last night was that Hearts bulldozed our midfield for much of the second half. The midfield combination just didn't work. Klimpl and O'Brien were fine but Keith Lasley and Stephen Hughes were too often asked to play out of position. We definitely lacked someone to play to play wide left in Fitzy's absence. I must comment on the referee who was one sided and abysmal from start to finish. Very pernickety and was happy to watch Hearts' players steal yards and yards at throw ins.

Chris went off last night holding his groin. It looked bad but that might mean nothing in itself.

I think work on the new sports facility will commence this year, as will the BRE housng development.

Well I think it would give Mark McGhee the opportunity to rest him, should that be required. If that isn't the case then almost certainly he'd move to left back. Steve Hammell could then move to wide left midfield, where he could battle it out with Marc Fitzpatrick for a starting slot.