DC'd

It really is worrying with just 3 weeks to our first game. It currently looks like: In Michael Fraser - I.C.T Out Mark McGhee - Aberdeen Scott Leitch - Aberdeen? Brian McLean - St Johnstone/St Mirren? Maros Klimpl - Championship/Plymouth? Graeme Smith - Aberdeen/Championship? Stephen Hughes - Aberdeen/OF/Hearts? Artur Krysiak - End of Loan/Unattached Semih Aydilek - End of Loan/Birmingham Cillian Sheridan - End of Loan/Celtic Potential Outs David Clarkson - Aberdeen? Mark Reynolds - Championship/Rangers? Paul Quinn - Russia? With very little time to our first game, with probably no time to be able to sign a new manager (potentially after having to agree compensation and wait for McGhee to finally leave), and for them to identify and sign any new players. We could almost be looking at a team for our first game of (and this is all on the off chance these guys remain fit and aren't requiring any Summer surgery, or carry any knocks through Pre-Season): Management: None GK. Fraser LB. Hammell CB. Craigan CB. Reynolds RB. Quinn LM. Murphy CM. Lasley CM. Fitzpatrick RM. J.O'B ST. Clarkson ST. Sutton Subs 1. McGarry 2. D.L.S 3. Saunders 4. Hutchison 5. Page 6. Slane 7. Meechan/McHugh (Only 2 of which subs, have any sort of substantial first team experience, and neither would I put much faith in). That is disgarding the fact that some/all of the other 3 may move on as well in the meantime. Worrying times..

That's just me getting confused with the old Cup Winners Cup that he won. Same thing anyway..

All that does point to McGhee, without actually saying his name outright. Wouldn't say it's a clear indication either mind you.

Man City played their Faroese mob at Oakwell (Barnsley's Ground), and then proceded to play the remaining games back at Eastlands. Can't see why we would be any different.

Setanta have bought a Europa League package for next season. Don't know how secure that is going to be due to Setanta's financial crisis. But, they are due to show a helluva lot of Europa League games if there is still a TV Channel to watch it on.

Badge and Logo in the middle as opposed to each side of this season. Hoop this season instead of a band. Amber sleeves instead of claret of last season. CCC instead of Bukta. Amber shorts instead of claret. Quite a few blatant differences from this to last.

Strip looks crackin' Really impressed, so much better than I thought. Im actually liking the amber shorts with the top.

Well we were in the UEFA Cup this season, and we only had a home and away strip. So, probably a recommendation and not compulsary.

Ye learn something every day.. Dunno if that is a good thing, or a bad thing.. Plenty of time to improve my poker skills then

No such joy. Not available on long haul journey's, unfortunately.

Nah, I have VirginTrains to thank for my travel to games.. So, they too have made a mint off of me, for my desire to follow the 'Well.

Born and raised in Renfrew for all my life. Mum's side of the family, Rangers. Dad's only real affinity was Falkirk, but wouldn't ever go as far as saying he "supported" them. Typical young gloryhunter that chose Rangers as they were highly successful (well domestically anyway). This being blind to the fact of the secterianism, stigma that goes with supporting one of the OF. Dad then took advantage of the cheap Season Ticket offer back in 2000 for Motherwell. So, one good thing that Boyle has done is encourage people like me to come back game after game long after that offer has gone. After a couple of years of watching 'Well games week in, week out -the bug bites. And I think it was the night of Fagan/Faddy against Celtic in 2001, that it really kicked in and there was no changing back. As I grew older and into my teenage years, you start to understand what football means and what supporting a club through thick and thin meant. As a result now, after re-locating to Liverpool when I was 16, 4yrs ago. Still manage to make 99% of home and away games. Only midweek games become a problem due to work commitments. So, thank you Mr Boyle for your cheap season ticket initiative nearly a decade ago. Once a 'Well Fan. Always a 'Well Fan.

Well regarding the talk of Morais: So, I am guessing St Johnstone may well be one of the SPL clubs, and perhaps us as well?

Thought exactly the same thing when I first clocked it. Helluva lot more impressive than Bradford/Millwall etc (I know that sentence has been done to death lately on here). Doesn't matter if it is a Kazakh amateur side, as long as it says M.F.C - Europa League = Sweet.

Certainly Almondvale for me as well. Decent stadium and one of which I would like to see back in the SPL.

I am sure that has been scrapped, due to the entire re-jig of the two tournaments (Intertoto + UEFA Cup). Is it on the UEFA site that it is regionalised? Makes a helluva lot of sense to do so. As someone points out, we and our opponents can't realistically be able to afford to play someone from Eastern Kazakhstan at such an early stage. Common sense hopefully means it is indeed regionalised.

Ye can make do with Luxembourg, it's close enough. Otherwise wait til we make the 4th Qualifying Round til we come up against the Germans.

Yasssssss! Can I be the first to point out, that all the doubters on here and ones suffering from extreme pessimism. This may well have an affect later on in the season, but REMEMBER we would have been delighted if we had qualified in 4th place and won this place via league position. We would have been delirious if this had been the case (same as last season) well there is very little difference... Aberdeen enter ONE week after our 1st Round 2nd leg. So, we are literally ONLY a week earlier than what we would have been via league position. Delighted.. Roll on Tirana, Skopje, and Tbilisi

Depends which way you look at it. One way is that he requires more time to evaluate his squad internally via training etc. But, alternatively it could be a quick ideal way for the new manager to suss out his squad in a competitive match and see how the react to how he wants them to play in an important match. I understand that it's not the best time to "experiment" as any loss early on whilst finding out about players could cost the club financially due to the sheer expense involved in the early stages. But, would be better long term for this new manager to find out about players due to these games, rather than when the season kicks in and it is too late to change anything with the window closing etc.

Nah, we are just all getting ahead of ourselves.. Tuesday or Wed, til it is confirmed.

Yeah, Helsingborg and Rosenborg, like ourselves (if we make it) are seeded, fortunately.

T.N.S Linfield Lisburn Llanelli

One of the 19 released when we were forced into Admin.

Yeah, but in order for that to be the case, then I am sure that both parties have to agree to it. So, if Fraser wants to back out, we have to let him back out. As if you look back to when Rangers had the pre-contract agreement with Boumsong/Auxerre. Liverpool started sniffing after he had signed with Rangers. Boumsong + Agent then realised that going somewhere other than Glasgow would have been better. But, due to Rangers having the deal signed, they were in no position to back out of this deal. Six months later, they inherit £8m. Same goes for Rudi Skacel, slight difference that it wasn't a pre-contract, but that they had a fixed fee at the end of his loan spell from Marseille. Hearts decided to take up the low fee that was agreed before his loan spell. Skacel became a permanent signing for Hearts then right away was promptly sold to Southampton for a couple of million. Despite Skacel never wanting to sign for Hearts as clubs were wanting to get him on the cheap from Marseille rather than pay a few extra million to Hearts. But, Skacel was unable to back out the deal either. So, I think Motherwell + Fraser would have to come to an agreement, perhaps we could free him up if we could find an alternative etc.

Game of the Season: Not many stick out, obviously thumping United away is a clear stand out, only due to the sheer margin involved in the scoreline. Despite the defeat, still would say the Hearts game at the start of the season was good. Highly charged, and decent atmosphere due to Hearts trying to nick McGhee over the summer and obviously with him declining it. Added spice to the game, the optimism for the season ahead. The backwards/forwards type game. Thinking we were back in it when Clarky hit the 2nd equaliser, only for Mikoliunas to score and snatch it away. For entertainment that is up there as there aren't many games this year to choose from. Goal of the Season: Only really one contender and that is the already mentioned Sutton strike into the Copeland Road at Ibrox. Fantastic effort. But, if O'Brien had managed to finish off what was a massive move, involving about 10-15 one touch passes in injury time at New Love Street the other week in Stoppage Time then that would most certainly be a contender. An extended move of the McGarry goal (McGhee's first game). But, as it brushed the outside of the post and failed to materialise, it only really leaves Sutton as the one contender. Player of the Season: Clarky, we missed him immensely in the Nov/Dec spell after his red card at Parkhead (still a shocking decision) and his following broken arm. No surprise that it coincided with our poorest run of form under McGhee (many will claim that Craigan was as vital a miss during this time). But, for his goals, effort, defending from the front, assists, and all round pain in the arse - he was integral in the way we play. Matured even more since Porter left and is now top Scottish scorer (apart from the fat fuck at Ibrox). More than deserving of back-to-back PoY awards.. Best Moment: Mixture of the first two posts here. As Gazzy says, the pandemonium of Buzz's save in Nancy, giving us that glimour of hope to stay in the competition. Even more so that it was up our end, absolutely amazing. Also, as Johnstone mentions, slight adaption the 15-30mins after the game where we were locked in and everyone in full voice despite the defeat and the look on the remaining Nancy supporters faces in disbelief at the response from us despite the defeat. Tremendous (well apart from the tear gas of course). Worst Moment: The two early goals in the 2nd leg, left everyone deflated and a total anti-climax from over the summer. And getting absolutely played off the park in the first home game against Celtic and being 4-0 down at HT. And if Celtic had came out in the same agressive manner then it could have been near double figures. First time in a long time, that we had been totally outclassed and was far too easy for them. Surprise of the Year: Hopefully we will find out next Tuesday/Wednesday... Worst Player of the Year: Bob Malcolm, for the sheer wages we have wasted on him, for a man that can't be fit and a potential liability whenever he is on the pitch. All went wrong from the Hearts game, and the Hearts midfield just walked past him at every opportunity, at fault for Stewarts goal and went downhill from there. A little bit of form at the heart of defence and a couple of free kicks does not justify the huge wages wasted on him. And with nobody else being exceptionally poor, there is only one contender. Young Player of the Year: As long as we can change this to "Young Player of 6 Months" - then it is certainly J.O'B, with Murphy & Reynolds being his only competition. With Reynolds having an "off-season" (for his high standards) and Jamie not playing often as he or we would like then it leave Jim as the only contender and he deserves it for coming on leaps and bounds. And being a real threat down the wing for us. His crossing can be better, but he has speed, work rate and a fair amount of skill as well. Would like him to contribute a few goals next season. Overall: 5/10 for what has been an average season. If we had a better run in any of the 3 cups then it would certainly be higher. No great games, no great optimism, and the fact we have had to cling on to the hope of a Fair Play place is simply an average season. Just glad we weren't sucked into the relegation battle. So a comfortable 5/10.