David

I think that was set up by the official SFA Scottish cup Facebook account. Even if they don't use this site to set up an event, they could surely get some more announcements & news stories to hype the game up?

I figured this may as well be the Hearts game discussion thread. So, heading into the match on Saturday the updated top six competition list looks something like this; Inverness Celtic (home) Kilmarnock (away) Hearts (home) St Johnstone Rangers (home) loss Dundee United (away) Celtic (home) Hibernian Hearts (home) Draw Celtic (away) loss Aberdeen (away) Accies (home) St Johnstone & Hibs are now officially out of the running, leaving us and Inverness competing for top six football. Has there been any update on when Inverness are playing Celtic? If they lose to Killie on Saturday then it's all over for them anyway regardless of how we do against Hearts, but if we can win at Tynecastle we'll cement our top six placing, although even if we don't get anything from the game it'll leave Inverness needing a win against both Killie & Hearts, and a draw against Celtic to draw level on points with us, which although is mathematically possible, has to be considered very fucking doubtful. The big question is, do we go for it against Hearts on Saturday? Or rest some players with the semi-final coming up?

My opinion upon his arrival was that we should have appointed an interim manager until the end of the season, when there would have been more choice out there. I'm glad to say that I've been proved wrong in thinking we should have done that. I'm thoroughly happy with the job McCall has done thus far. Even as things stand, a semi-final slot and top six is more than enough to keep me happy.

Good stuff! I think this game has a draw written all over it to be fair. Has anyone heard any updates on the guys who were doubtful for this game?

I think it should come as a surprise to no one that the views on a Motherwell forum on this matter would equate to "MFC= Good, Brown= Bad". Take a jaunt over to any Aberdeen board and see if they aren't feeling the opposite. The truth is, Brown & Knox got their big move to Aberdeen because they were operating without a contract. Many people on this board blasted John Boyle for allowing that to happen. They took advantage of the situation, and had every right to do so in a legal sense. However, such a situation tends to have positive & negative points. Brown & Knox are experiencing one of those negative points now. If they had wanted to make sure they would get all money they were (apparently) legally owed they would have ensured that it was written into a contract that they would have proceeded to sign. If they had done that though, would they have got their big move? The phrase "roll with the punches" springs to mind here.

It appears that Gunning, Hammell, Humphrey, Hateley, Lasley & Jeffers are all doubtful for the game according to McCall's email after the Aberdeen game. I don't think we'll see all of them miss the game, but there's a good chance that none of them will be at 100% come Wednesday night. In light of that news, I'll take a draw.

The latest from the gaffer, for those who don't get his emails; I see he's dropped the "forever claret & amber". He must read this forum.

It'll be interesting to see what comes of all of this. I'm sure Celtic & Paul McBride will be keeping an eye on events as well, seeing as Brown is a firm favourite of the blazers who run our game.

Another Wednesday night, and another game against Dundee United. The second last game before the infamous split, and our last at home. Looking ahead at the fixtures of the clubs who could realistically catch us; Inverness Celtic (home) Kilmarnock (away) Hearts (home) St Johnstone Rangers (home) Dundee United (away) Celtic (home) Hibernian Hearts (home) Celtic (away) Aberdeen (away) Accies (home) My prediction would be Inverness taking a maximum of three points, St Johnstone a maximum of three points, and Hibs a maximum of four points. Assuming that we lose to Hearts away, I can see us clinching a top six finish even if he happen to lose to United on Wednesday, but I reckon at least a draw will see us home safely. Thoughts & opinions?

I'd be willing to wager that John Boyle probably agrees with you this morning, but it's easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment, isn't it? The way Brown & Knox departed last year did leave him with some major headaches no doubt, so he's probably been harbouring a fair bit of resentment due to that. In the end, we got the three points. Maybe the press are willing to allow the after-match antics to overshadow our win, but we most certainly should not.

I have to admit, like a lot of people, I didn't fancy the Jeffers signing at all. When a player comes to the club you can only go on his past record as any sort of guage for how he'll do. I also said that I'd be more than happy to be proved wrong, and I think Jeffers has went somewhat close to doing that. If he plays a part in the team making the Scottish cup final and sealing top six football then I think he's definately worth another year on his contract if he wants it. As someone else said already, he looked different class from from anyone else on the pitch against Dundee United last Wednesday, and that includes wonderboy Goddwillie.

At the end of the day, Brown can do all the television & radio interviews he wants. He's playing bottom six football for the remainder of the season, and faces the prospect of another beating if he somehow manages to get past Celtic in the semi-finals. The best part of all of this is the dignified way in which Stuart McCall has handled himself during all of this. Top drawer from the 'Well manager.

Aye, he didn't look out of place today, even if he did look a little bit unfit.

Here's hoping that wee Broon can get his boys sorted out to beat Celtic in the semi-final, eh?

Aye, but I left sharp after the whistle as I'm off out tonight. Never heard about the ruck until I got home and stuck on the radio.

What happened with Broon and big John? I missed it.

Is Mo Ross available for todays game? Or is he not fit?

I think that some people doubt the interest in the "cup crowd" in turning up to regular league matches, regardless of the price. I can only speak of my own experiences. At the United game midweek my other half was with me, and at least six of the eight lapsed 'Well fans I know quite well were also there. My other half was really up for going to todays game, but changed her mind when she heard that the seat that cost her £10 midweek will cost her £22 today. She's just fucked off into Glasgow to meet her friends instead. She then asked me if the prices would be "back to normal" for the United game this coming midweek, and again I had to tell her that this wasn't the case, so she'll likely not be at that game either. Once it get's to next weekend the enthusiasm she got from the 3-0 win will have all but died out. Although not as important as attending the games themselves, I'd also like to point out that she went into the club shop before the game on Wednesday and bought a 'Well scarf for the game, and spotted a few other things (roughly costing thirty odd quid) that she was going to buy "at the next game if I like this one today". Needless to say she won't be spending that money in the club shop. The other guys who are 'Well fans that were at the United game won't be at the game today either. One has his kids on a Saturday which is fair enough, and the others were grumbling about the price.

I'm not saying that I personally would disrupt the team, but I can't see McCall leaving Craigan out if he's fit & ready to go.

The problem is, if we aren't enticing new people into the games then there are no new "die hards" being created, are there? Once the current crowd of die-hards get older and stop going for whatever reason, what happens then? We'll see our crowd dwindling. Football simply has to accept that it can't live in a bubble. It's competing with other weekend activities for their customers money. Like any other industry that doesn't modernise and move with the times, it'll eventually pay the price.

I had completely forgotten it was on the telly. We'll be lucky to get a half-decent turnout then, especially at those prices. The stadium could end up more than half empty

Count me in as well

Especially if it's against Celtic, as they'll be mumping & moaning no doubt about wanting the majority of the tickets.

Are you being serious? You think that the crowds would slip back to the average unless we started playing like Barcelona? Think how many 'Well fans there are out there who don't go to games regular because of the pricing. I know of at least eight of them, all of whom were at the game last night. They would all be at the Aberdeen game if pricing was £12 or so. It isn't, so they won't be. The momentum that we could have gained from that win last night will be lost after this weekend. If you take into account the neutrals who came along and really enjoyed themselves too, such as my other half, you would see an increase in attendance. Sure, it may spike initially then drop off slightly, but as someone said, it'll take a prolonged period of lower prices, where people start to realise that the cost of going is not as much as they thought originally. The bottom line is, we can either look at changing our pricing structure and try to get some fresh skulls through the gates, or we can do fuck all and continue to see dwindling attendances. That's the options we have.