MelvinBragg

I normally agree with you, Jay, and I'm not saying we will lose on Wednesday night, but allow me to be a bit pessimistic as we go into the game without the two guys who've been our two best centre midfielders since January...

No Jennings, no Lasley, we'll only get to Europe if fifth place in the league gets Europe. And even then Hearts have two home games..

From what I hear, you might well be right. And I'm not convinced that Jennings and Hately are an ideal partnership. Personally I'd rather see Coke and Jennings partnered together. But that does leave us with a wide midfield slot to fill and I don't see us going with two out and out wingers...

While I can see where the original post is coming from, I struggle to think of someone who has been in our youth system, been unable to break into our first team and gone on to great things. Tends to suggest that over the years that those in charge round our way can sort the good players from the dross. Cream tends to rise to the top. If the likes of Saunders, Murphy, Hutchison and Forbes are good enough, they'll play irrespective of who's manager and who else is in the squad. If they're not good enough, the fate of Kenny Wright, Shaun Fagan and Greig Denham (to name but three) awaits them. Let us not forget that many of the products of "our" youth system are not Lanarkshire born and bred. Lasley (Paisley), McFadden (Glasgow) and currently Hutchison (the NE of England) are just three that spring to mind. We, as a club, are doing what many of the bigger clubs are doing but on a much smaller scale/budget. Like Arsenal/Man Utd/Liverpool et al paying ridiculous sums for 14-15yr olds from smaller clubs with good youth systems so we have taken two players in the last couple of years (that I'm aware of) from Queens Park and I seem to recall one from Ross County (though I can't remember the guy's name). Bringing in a guy from Chelsea may not seem to fit the same ideal (and at 20, older than I'd like) but we picked up Jim O'Brien in similar circumstances...

Sad to see him go, I don't have the stats to hand but I'd imagine his goals to starts ratio must be pretty good. He's scored a good few goals over the years, albeit most of them from the bench. Like I say, would like him to stay, don't imagine he's costing us the earth in wages but for his own good maybe time to move on...

I don't see any other branch of the entertainment industry where they're concerned if the unemployed can't afford it. Bread, milk, gas, electricity, public transport should all be affordable for the unemployed. Don't see why football "has to be" (I know why it "has to be" really, people are more attached to their teams than to say a film star or a band normall). All I would say is that football has been referred to as the "working man's game" not the "jobless man's game". Aye, football is too expensive. For people who work too...

Why has it got to be affordable for everyone? I agree that football is too expensive, particularly of you're taking the kids, but the argument about the unemployed comes up every time when prices are discussed. Two things strike me. The unemployed people I come across seem to have more disposable income than those I know who do work. Why should football worry if the unemployed can't afford it? It's a business. And as I've said, the number of unemployed people who can kit out the whole family with home and away kits plus trackies of their chosen team suggests that they're not the ones we should be worrying about...

It's interesting that you say this, Peter, and I know others have said it in the forum. I know fixtures being moved is a pain but for shift workers sometimes moving them benefits us (for I am a shift worker). The Hibs game in a few weeks is a prime example. Were it on the Saturday, I wouldn't be able to go. Thursday night? Nae bother... Sometimes for a shift worker, Saturdays are hard days to get off...

Noticed that he's been playing the last few weeks. Good to see. Always thought out of McCormack, Clarkson, Hughes and all the other Motherwell players who've gone down south recently that Quinn was most equipped to do well. Mainly because of the will to win and physical strength that is required in the English game...

As much as I agree, sadly life is not that good...

I'd be guessing but Sir Nick Cusack is probably up there, and perhaps his one time strike partner Dougie Arnott. But that's only my first instincts...

I'm guessing not so surprising in those days when entire teams played together for a number of years. No squad game then, if someone asked you to name, for example, the right back for the top 10 teams in the country I suspect that you would have 10 names that played almost every week of the season. And most of them would be with a club for 2-3 years at least...

The Scouse Simo Valakari...

When people say McGeady is worth over £10million, you have to ask yourself why they closed Hartwood Hospital...

If you want to say that Reynolds is a better player than any of the current Scotland Centre backs, the target you should be aiming at is Steven McManus. Even Celtic fans I know don't cut him any slack as he's one of their own. One actually said to me that the real sadnes of John Kennedy's injury was that it gave McManus a chance to masquerade as a centre back...

The thing that gets me about this whole (non)-story is the fact that the referees keep declaring it playable. Are the SPL suggesting that the referees can't see if we've simply got the pitch ready for 3pm and that they're not wise enough to see if a pitch will deteriorate during a game? I'd be interested to hear Mr Dallas' take on the fact that Doncaster is suggesting that his boys are letting these games go ahead in unsafe conditions...

Agree with a lot that's been said so far. The pitch is proving a psychological weapon for us at the moment. Teams are dreading coming to play on it. Despite looking horrendous, it didn't play that much worse than a lot of parks in the country right now. Yet Hibs left Riordan and Zemmama on the bench and brought their midfield battlers for a scrap. With Coke, Lasley and Jennings in our midfield, that suits me fine. I said it in the MOTM thread, Humphrey is a great impact sub. I was crying out for him to be unleashed on Murray from the start of the second half. Given most of the full backs in the SPL, his pace is a real weapon. He just needs guided as to how to best use it. Under Brown and Knox. he'll get better. His crossing has improved already. Three guys had outstanding games today. Sutton, Murphy and Jennings. With every game, Jennings is looking more mobile and although more of a midfield destroyer, he can certainly use the ball well. Nothing flashy, just finds his man. Murphy scored another great goal, but his all round play is impressing me more every time I see him. Linked up very well with Sutton. Sutton. This guy had a f***ing fantastic game. Brought guys into play, held the ball up, gave Bamba a real torrid time (when we played the ball into his chest, never going to win it at head height). As well as I've seen Sutton play for Motherwell. Like Lasley and Craigan, though not noticed as much by the press, he looks like a guy with a new lease of life since the departure of Gannon...

On the subject of Stevie Hammell, I can see East_Stand_Al's point. Hammell's performance levels are fairly consistent but rarely is he a standout. I'm reminded of the polls on here a couple of years ago when Chris Porter had only one MOTM award leading up til the end of the season. Guess the number of MOTMs you receive shouldn't always dictate the POTY running. Consistent guys like Hammell get overlooked... As someone pointed out today, there is a concern that Hearts will be looking for a left back this summer and Hammell is out of contract. Let's hope it's sorted soon...

Tough call as others have said, but I'd go for Sutton. Absolutely outstanding shift. When we got the ball into his chest, he was making it stick all day and generally finding a Motherwell man. Can't expect him to win too many headers against Bamba, but he was brilliant with his back to goal today. This is what got us the goal. Murphy and Jennings were, as others have said, also excellent. Thought Humphrey made a real difference coming on. Still think he's probably best used as an impact sub at the moment, but with the right coaching and his pace, he could be terrifying...

Ye'll need to tell me cos I refuse to register just to find out what it's about...

Aye, when I picture Sieb, he's standing over Alan Lawrence giving him dog's abuse for diving. He was by no stretch a bad keeper, but probably should feature more in lists of "Favourite" players rather than "Best" players...

I don't see him playing for Everton next season to be honest with you. They've agreed a deal to sign some keeper in the summer and Howard is still an excellent keeper. But as he's out of contract next summer, I suspect Everton will be selling him this summer. To pockets deeper than ours. I reckon we'll see him in the Premiership in a couple of years time playing for one of the lesser lights. To the original point, is he the best we've ever had? Like Frazzle, still have a soft spot for Sieb Dykstra, so if I'm to say he's the best we've had it would be grudgingly...

John Sutton at left wing with McGlinchey and Murphy up top? Unusual...

Doesn't help your argument since he played in the 6-1 game as well...

Apparently Radio Scotland with Jim Traynor last night was full of Well fans (and of course, Celtic fans) complaining about the decision...