Well 4 Europe

Why would we change goalie? If anything it's the defence that's letting Hollis down, not the other way round. I'll be honest, I'm slightly concerned about this one. Thistle are a young, hungry, confident side full of pace and energy all over the pitch. If we aren't careful and play the same one paced, lethargic way we have done recently they could do to us what they did to Ross County in Dingwall. Hopefully McCall has the team well up for this one, sounds like he tore into them at half time and full time on Saturday. A massive improvement required and I'm looking forward to seeing if McCall can get a reaction out of the team.

Just seen the highlights, how did we not get a penalty? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkh-J-bLCjM

Surely he couldn't do any worse coming off the bench for the last 10-15 at right wing than Fraser Kerr?!? He might not be ready to start, you certainly watch a lot more of the U20's than I do and are far better placed to judge but he could at least offer us natural width and a bit of pace off the bench. He made the bench against Kuban when we obviously were short on numbers, I'm just surprised he hasn't been on the bench since considering our lack of options out wide. I saw Dom Thomas in the Cowdenbeath friendly and was hugely impressed a he looked a very good talent, the only reason I didn't mention him was because as you mentioned he's left sided and at the minute we already have Faddy, Vigurs, ZFA etc. And what we really needed is someone to play wide on the right. I hope you're right about Moore, would love to see him get a proper run out on Saturday.

Anyway back onto the football.. I see McCall said in his post match interview that he still needs a pacey winger, not trying to be funny but surely there must be someone in the U'20's that's a pacey winger? Is that wee guy that went to Morecambe, Paul McCafferty not a fairly nippy right winger? Now I don't know if he'll make the step up but surely it would be better to give the young boy a chance for the last 15 mins than bring Fraser Kerr on at right wing like we did against Aberdeen last week? Today for example we had three strikers on the bench; Anier, Moore and Erwin. Why? We were never going to use/need all three. Despite the fact he's been on the bench a few times Erwin's never even made an appearance yet and Moore's only played 10 mins in Russia. Again however we brought on a full back in ZFA to play a left wing role. Our wide men have created bugger all so far, surely one of the younger boys who's a natural winger couldn't do any worse or at the very least be a better attacking option off the bench than putting fucking full backs on the wing. Also Craig Moore notched 7 goals in 12 games for Cowdenbeath last season yet despite our scoring problems he can barely get a sniff. I noticed he scored another double again for the U'20's in midweek. Now I know service hasn't been great so far but Sutton has started 4 games without scoring, McHugh has started two and came off the bench a few times and not really impressed, surely Moore must be due a bit of game time soon? We may have a fairly thin squad with a few young laddies in it but why not give one or two the chance to impress? Surely got to be better than having square pegs in round holes. We have a fairly experienced starting 11, perhaps an injection of youth could add a spark to the team that's been badly missing, who knows. It might even give one or two the boot up the arse they look like they need. Just a thought of mine having watched 4 or of our 5 games so far.

Obvious you're not a fan of Sutton or McHugh but what's Anier done wrong so far to be considered shite?!?

I'm not in full blown panic mode yet like some, although today was extremely disappointing. What concerns me most is I thought even if we weren't as fluid as last season we could at least be solid at the back, however the 2nd week running we lose a soft as shite goal from a set piece. I imagine McCall wanted to keep it tight and frustrate ICT however that plan went out the window after 3 mins. And after the start to the season ICT have had the last thing we wanted to do today was gift them an early goal. As I said, slightly concerned but not overly alarmed. Two big home games against Partick Thistle and Killie coming up, 6 points should be the target. Anything less than 4 points from those two games and particularly if there's no improvement in terms of performance then I'll start to worry.

I see McCall disagrees. Anier and ZFA benched for Lawson and McHugh.

They did bring in a lot of players but 9 of their starting 11 from their first two games of the season were at the club last season. Think they have the same back 4, still have Foran's influence in midfield and Doran's creativity and they still have Billy McKay up front. They've lost a few players, most noticeably Andrew Shinnie but they have pretty much the same core to the starting 11 as last season.

See what you're trying to say but for me Anier has to start. Not only is he the only player to have scored a goal for us so far this season he's also been clinical and scored the only two chances he's had. Given that chances seem to be at a premium for us at this moment in time and given ICT will probably score at least one, we will need to be fairly clinical down the other end. So for me our only in form and confident striker must start. Even if he only lasts 70 mins then we can bring Bob on for him but if we're to get anything on Saturday we're going to have to take what chances do come are way and if there was any player at Motherwell I'd want a chance to fall to at this moment in time it's Anier.

Well, after a poor performance against the Dons at Fir Park we have to try and bounce back with a tricky game in the Highlands against an Inverness team that boasts a 100% record so far this season, scoring 4 and yet to concede a goal. What team will McCall put out? If McCall does shake things up from what I've seen so far very few players could argue with being dropped. I'd say Anier, Hollis, Hutchinson & Lasley have been fairly solid performers so far. Big McManus had a horror show against Aberdeen but was solid in the other three games. Could any of the rest really argue if they were on the bench? I predict much doom and gloom on here and predictions of us getting papped by 3 and 4's but I think if we can tighten up at the back we can get something from this one. To do so I would put Lawson back as there were far too many holes in our midfield against Aberdeen and ICT have a lot of dangerous forward players. Don't think we'll be silky or skilful and go up there and score 3 or 5 like last season but if we can keep it tight at the back we can hopefully nick one from a set piece or hope Anier continues to be clinical with the few chances we do create. Personally, with back to back home games against Partick Thistle and Killie after this I'd be fairly happy with a point from this one and look to kick on from there and try to take maximum points from the two home games coming up.

I've seen a few folk say this but he doesn't lunge at all. What happens is, Hayes opens up as if he's about shoot and Mcmanus tries to spead himself to block the shot. Hayes feints and does McManus a treat and in desperation when he knows he's been done McManus flicks a leg out at the ball and catches Hayes. Not great defending by McManus by any means but the last place any big, slow centre half wants to be is exposed 1 on 1 with a pacey, tricky winger. Hammell sold him short and left him woefully exposed. McManus never covered himself in glory but he should never have been put in that position in the 1st place and for me the majority of the blame lies with Hammell.

Aberdeen deserved to win. Even in the 1st half alone they hit the bar twice and forced a good save from Hollis. Still, we actually got to the hour and looked quite comfortable. ZFA also had a great chance on the break and made a complete arse of it. Then Hammell made yet another mistake and McManus cleared the boy out. Stonewall pen and then there was only one winner. The next two goals both came from set pieces. Poor defending and a lack of cutting edge. Anier took his goal well but him and Sutton were feeding off scraps all game. Faddy is never a right a winger but until we get one in I suppose he's stuck there. For all the abuse he gets Hollis made another couple of great saves today and had no chance with any of the goals. Surprisingly it was his defence that let him down.. No panic from me but that was pretty poor today.

You know what the most frustrating thing is, in my eyes at least. Twenty times our budget, yet we've gifted them two of the three goals they've put past us.

McCall's already said he's looking to bring one in. The window's still open for over three weeks yet, plenty of time to get someone in. No need to panic.

Calm doon, he contributed as many goals and assists last year as Omar Daley despite spending more time on the pitch than big Omar. Lots of skill, little end product was what I remember from Higginbotham, Hibs goal aside. Always showed good feet and got into good areas but rarely delivered a telling final ball. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh given his limited appearances for us but I personally wouldn't be desperate to have him back. Decent enough player maybe, not we need at this moment in time.

Nielsen, Kerr, Carswell, ZFA and Anier in from Sunday. Motherwell: Nielsen, Ramsden, Hutchinson, McManus, Hammell, Lawson, Lasley, Carswell, Kerr, Francis-Angol, Anier Subs: Hollis, McHugh, Leitch, McCafferty, Moore, Erwin, Cummins

Clean through on goal, brings it down well, keeps his composure, sells the keeper a dummy and then puts the ball into the back of the net. A good finish in my book. Anyway is there such a thing as a bad finish if the ball crosses the line? His job was to stick it into the net, how he did is pretty irrelevant really. He did, we won the points. If he gets info double figures this season he can sclaff them all into the net as far as I'm concerned.

McManus, strolled it. Best centre back we've had in a long time.

We're a new team still finding it's feet. It'll take time for it to click as McCall still hasn't found the right system yet. However, we have a very good base to build on. The back five strolled it and looked very solid, McManus will be/is a great signing for us. Hopefully the goals and good attacking play will come but right now we're solid if not spectacular. Three points and a clean sheet, think we would have all settled for that prior to kick off. Also well done Henri, good composure and that goal will do his confidence the world of good.

£12

Apart from one flap Hollis had a good game, it was Hammell that sold the jerseys for the 2nd. Horrendous mistake for a player of his experience to make. Oh well, same old hard luck story.

You kidding? If we avoid getting spanked by three plus goals we'll have done well, this clubs resources are so far ahead of ours any sort of win on our behalf would be a minor miracle and one of the best results in our clubs history. I'd take 2-1 Motherwell right fucking now! Any sort of lead no matter how slender to take to Russia would be fantastic. Yeah it would still make them favourites and only give us a wee chance of sneaking through but considering last year we were out of both ties before we'd even boarded a plane I'd settle for that. If we have even a slight chance of going through come Friday morning I will be fucking delighted.

No ZFA?? From what I've seen of pre-season he'd be one of the 1st names on the teamsheet for me.

True, the standard is obviously very poor. However 65 goals in 100 games is impressive no matter the level. It's obviously a big jump to go to from that level to Norway where as you say the standard will be much, much higher. He's still young, he wouldn't be the first player to take time to settle at a higher level and hopefully with a bit confidence he can rediscover his scoring touch with us.

Impressive record in Estonia, although I'm not entirely sure of the standard of the Estonian top flight.