MelvinBragg

CIS Cup Final not a similar situation because we'd worn the away kit in so many of the rounds previous...? Must confess I was a bit miffed, if Motherwell get to a cup final I'd rather see them in Claret & Amber unless the away kit is necessary...

I'll not bother with Inverness, I'll go to the replay...

Dunno. Never did any harm when it was Dykstra and Philliben...

Aye, if only for their will to win. We need to find more characters like them. On your other point regarding Forbes being burnt out. It does concern me that he should look so jaded in November. I said to someone at the game yesterday that I wished we could cross Fitzpatrick's engine with Forbes' use of the ball. What might hold Forbes' career back is his lack of speed about the field...

I'd forgotten that particular classy number. And folk complained about the pink effort...

He's brutal. Someone offered to drive him back to Charlton. I'll give him a piggyback. Can see him becoming a Gus Caesar. Really promising at a young age, promise never to be fulfilled. I hope he proves me wrong, but I ain't holding my breath...

Forbes' goal return has disguised some very average performances (and his goal return has been boosted by penalties - Richie Foran?). The last time I saw Coke have a really good game was against Rangers. Having said that, both these guys can offer more technique and guile than Lasley and Jennings. Hately has been doing the spadework in the midfield well this season. However as we went looking for a winner yesterday following Aberdeen's equaliser, the thing that did irritate me was the apparent lack of urgency in the midfield (and indeed throughout the team). What we've seen of Jennings and what we know of Lasley says to me that they would bring some of that urgency. Indeed any urgency that was seen from us yesterday seemed to stem from Jennings after his introduction. Even outwith the midfield, I find myself wondering what difference a Paul Quinn or David Clarkson would have made in yesterday's game. Players with the real appetite for a battle. While I do appreciate the good possession football we have been playing, we do seem to be lacking just a bit of steely determination. We were missing Hutchison yesterday who brings a bit of that to the table. We had Craigan and Lasley sitting on the bench who can roll their sleeves up and get in about people. For my mind, Aberdeen had possession far too easily yesterday when down to ten men. Sometimes you have to fight for the right to play your football...

Fixed that for you...

God knows how we won, as a bigger table of rubber men, you'll never see. As mon_da_well says though, great night...

Maybe he thought naively that being journalists, they'd be able to read. The fact that the two names that the BBC mentioned were Craigan and Lasley, guys who have for the most part been listed in the 18 man squad every Saturday is maybe what pissed him off. If they'd mentioned McGarry, he might have been fine with it...

They actually got Pat McCourt from the English lower leagues. He was at Rochdale and was being linked with moves to Everton and Man City at the time. Rumour was however that he had some "refuelling problems". Backed up by another rumour I heard that when he first arrived at Celtic Park for pre-season training, Boruc was running past him...

And it's still too fucking dear. Doesn't really matter how many away games we have in November, I do not have £22 to go to a football match. Money gets stashed away all year for the season ticket, and gets put away for the 3rd round of the cup, and first day of the season. Don't accuse people of not being up for it simply cos you happen to have the cash to spend...

Having just read the BBC Alba thread, it sounds to me like Craigan's comments during his interview were equally, if not more, noteworthy...

What I was trying to say, but much more concise. Thank you...

He's on there saying "some will have to go, look at the team sheet", nothing more. With the exception of McGarry, anyone going into his office to complain could be given reasonable answers. Fraser -has been injured and Ruddy has been the man in possession of the jersey. Craigan - how could I be talking about you big man, you've played a good few games. Lasley and Jennings - can't be talking about you boys, you're on the bench every week, keeping the three midfielders on their toes. Fitzpatrick and DLS - you've been injured at the start of the season, bad timing, keep the head down and work. Now we might know that some of that will be bullshit, but which bits? Other than McGarry, who has been "frozen out"? On here, and in the press, it's all speculation... With one league defeat after Bonfire Night, no one in the squad can complain about team selections anyway...

Stockport fans did say that he would eventually put a foot wrong with the press. And if felt wronged by them, would not be slow to make it known. For what it's worth I think the apparent singling out of Craigan is deliberate to an extent. In doing that, it would be criticising a player who has a great deal of affection for the club and would therefore be reluctant to speak out disrespecting the club. But by doing so, it also sends a message to the other players. On the other hand, it's been made very easy for him to do so, given the number of clean sheets with Craigan in the team and without Craigan in the team. I stated when Gannon arrived that I had heard that players would love and hate him in equal measure. If you're one of his favourites (I would say Coke) then you'll feel protected and have nothing bad to say about him, if not (Craigan, allegedly) you'll feel shunned and as welcome as Barack Obama at a BNP meeting. What I would say is that it's up to the players how they react. A real strong character would be determined to prove him wrong any chance they got, kind of "I'll show you". If they're going to go in the huff, are they the type of people you want in your squad. Gannon should simply be clever about it and say to the players that the press are simply trying to undermine what they're trying to achieve by creating divisions. By not naming names, he keeps people on their toes, and doesn't alienate (for example) Lasley by saying "Lasley's for sale" in case with Coke and Forbes injured and Hately suspended he has to rely upon Lasley in December. The players like Lasley, Craigan and Jennings aren't naive enough to think they're in his thoughts for a starting place at the moment. But hearing Gannon's comments, I suspect most of them looked around the dressing room and thought that he was talking about McGarry, Fraser and Fitzpatrick. The first three I mentioned have at least seen some competitive game time this season...

Before the game and right now...

As soon as Accies went down to ten men, I feared the worst...

Lasley is the one I'd keep as well. Not that it would come as any surprise to any on here, I've always been a fan of his. I think during some of the recent sub par performances of Coke and Forbes he could certainly have come on and added a bit of industry. He certainly looks more mobile than Jennings and while he doesn't have the same range of passing, he could certainly patrol in front of the back four in any enforced absences that Hately might have. Question is, is he too expensive to be a substitute? He certainly doesn't seem as far out of the picture as some given the fact he was brought on against Hearts, albeit only for a short spell. Craigan is a funny one. The defence certainly has been playing better in his absence. But a guy who is a first pick for Northern Ireland and has years more experience than any other centre back we have on the books, would you want to be letting him go? You have to figure that on some cold rainy nights in December when (if you'll pardon the expression) hairy arses are required to grind out a result, he'd come into his own. Whether he'll get that chance is another matter...

Agree pretty much with most of this post perhaps with the exception of the part where you refer to how many of our team would definitely start for St Mirren. I'd probably say Reynolds and that's about it. Some of our players on their best form would walk into their team but I don't think that's been shown often enough. Hammell is possibly another you could argue would get in their team. I'd have their goalie over ours every day of the week. Jack Ross or Mouatouakil? Easy answer there. Given their midfield has apparently bossed ours over the last two games, why would they want any of our players? And up front they have far more strength in depth. I cannot fathom how anyone was surprised by last night's result. We didn't help ourselves by how the team was set up (and by the sounds of it with our performances), but it was always going to be a big ask...

I share others's concerns about the comments after Saturday's match about a player distracting the rest of the squad. And don't really know what to make of it. How does one player "distract" the rest of the squad? Team spirit not being great is not what we need given the lack of experience in the side...

What's he saying?

No, but I'm a realist. Away to St Mirren was among the worst draws that Motherwell could have got. Given our record against them, there are few teams in the draw I wanted less...

Can any of us say we are surprised by the result? I have to say that I'm not sure where this belief that Gannon would automatically improve his team following Saturday more than McPherson would comes from. Not criticising Gannon, just think that he's not the all knowing messiah... Away to another SPL side in the cup was always going to be tricky. Particularly when it's a side like St Mirren where we always seem to struggle. I expected to go out of the cup tonight...

Can't say I'm really surprised by tonight's game so far. Going three at the back for the first time in ages in an important game is something I and others slated McGhee for last season so should Gannon also escape criticism? Seemed like a puzzling team selection when I saw it. Coke was subbed on Saturday and things improved, yet he starts tonight. Humphrey made a difference when he came on at half time on Saturday yet he's on the bench. As they used to say on Question of Sport, there are more questions than answers...