Well 4 Europe

According to the Express: My link We're about to seal deals for both Samson and Paul Lawson of County. With Law apparently off to Sevco. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpg1b3WGRYc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cJMg8bNnvs Here he is in action. Have to say if we were signing anyone from County I'd have loved it to be Vigurs. Don't know much about Lawson but his return to the County team around Christmas seem to have coincided with great run they went on that propelled them into the top six.

Has to be Humphrey, great run and pick out for the 1st. And the 2nd showed exactly why we'll miss him as he turned defence into attack with his pace and it was good to see his composure to tuck it under the keeper. Also created our best chance of the 2nd half where he skinned the full back and dinked it in for Faddy who headed over. When he's in that sort of confident form he's a joy to watch, also great to see how much his goal meant to him. Certainly signed off in style, he also showed he's a far better player now than the one who rocked up to Fir Park 4 years ago.

It's been a pleasure.

Michael Higdon is 29 years old and has had the season of his career scoring 27 goals in 42 games culminating in him being awarded the SPFA player of the year award. His stock will never be higher and if people think he's going to just dive in and sign the first contract put under his nose by Motherwell then they're being naïve in the extreme. After the season he's had he'll no doubt have teams down south offering him more money than we can, probably double what we can and he has every right to sit down and think what's best for him and his family. His next contract will probably take him through the peak years in his career and he might never get some of the offers he's getting this summer ever again. I would love for him to stay but when players say they're going to wait until the end of the season and look things over etc. to my mind that means chances are they won't be here next season. Hope I'm wrong mind and that he's still here next season but sadly can't see it, I think he'll want to cash in on the best season of his career and quite frankly who could blame him if he did? After the service he's given us he'd leave with my best wishes if he does go.

He said in his MFC TV press conference they're both away. Hardly shocking news though is it? I don't think anyone thought they'd actually be here next season and anyone who did was letting their heart rule their head. Both have been fantastic servants to Motherwell though and thoroughly deserve their big moves. Best of luck to both of them.

Looks good to me, all the bits I liked from the last proposal without the ridiculous 8-8-8 split thing. Always thought we had too many governing body's and that we should introduce a Pyramid system so I'm quite pleased with those aspects. And I think play-offs are a brilliant idea personally, although I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. The bottom six is dull especially when there's one team cut adrift at the bottom. This would give games a bit of needle and meaning with teams afraid of getting dragged into the relegation play off's rather than dull meaningless end of season games. Plus it gives 1st division teams something to play for, in a league where only one team can go up it means 5 or 6 teams seasons are over by the new year with them relatively safe from relegation but too far away to get top spot. It should generate more meaningful games and hopefully help boost crowds and make things a bit more exciting. Could you imagine a St.Mirren vs Morton relegation/promotion decider? It would be a sell out and an amazing atmosphere. Early days and you can be sure there'll be some drama along the way but it all looks positive to me, the only thing that worries me is the lack of chat about changing the 11-1 voting structure. Didn't think that through. Be interesting to see what the new voting structure will be.

Ojamaa will be a massive loss for us, his form over the last three or four games is as good as it's been since he's been at the club. His all round game looked like it was really coming together and he was even adding a few goals. I watched the highlights against ICT and he was involved in everything we did. - 1st goal he teed up McFadden - 2nd goal he won the penalty - 3rd goal he played in McFadden - He also put the game on a plate for Nicky Law after a good run only for Law to blaze over a glorious chance. Then he stupidly got himself sent off. Point being that's a big creative part of our team gone and with no disrespect I don't think you can replace it with Boab. McHugh's a hard worker and seems to have a knack of being in the right place at the right time and in time might develop into a decent SPL striker but he doesn't offer anywhere near the creativity or craft that Ojamaa does. For that reason I'd be looking at putting Faddy more central to give him more creative licence to hopefully get the best out of him in a position I think he'd thrive in and putting Higginbotham wide left. Since he's arrived I've been desperate to get Faddy shifted from wide left. No doubt he does a good job and it would have been difficult to drop the impressive Ojamaa from his more central role, however I think Faddy's best position is the 'number 10' role behind the main striker and I would love to see him have a crack at it on Sunday. Less defensive responsibilities, not being stuck out on the wing and instead get him on the ball in the final third in the gaps between midfield and defence where he can do real damage.

'Well Legend. Well done big man.

I thought a red card of any sorts would automatically result in being suspended for the next game?

No, one was for diving the other for clattering into somebody. Wasn't there myself but McCall had no complaints. Blow for next week, after his double today I'd play Faddy up with Higdon and play Higginbotham out wide.

We've got our own prolific goal scorer in the 1st division, Craig Moore has notched 7 goals in just 12 games and fired Cowdenbeath to survival. Would have been 9 in 12 as well had a game where he'd already scored a double in against Partick Thistle hadn't been cancelled after 70 mins. And he's two years younger than May and he's already contracted to us! Would rather give him a chance than sign May.

Can't give teams three goal leads and expect to get away with it. Oh well, a point from our next two will do it.

James McFadden. All of the above players as good as they are were all brought in within our budget and theoretically could be replaced within our budget with equal quality.. Ruddy was meant to be irreplaceable but yet we landed Randolph. Sutton would be a massive loss and difficult to replace his goals yet we found Higdon. Not saying its going to be that easy to find players of the quality above again this summer but its possible. Faddy however is a cut above anything we can realistically(in the long term anyway) afford and is far too good for us and the chances of us replacing him with a player of similar quality are very, very slim. Probably just about impossible.

Player of the Season 1.) Michael Higdon- Can only be Higdon. I mean 25 goals in 40 games is unreal for a club like ours, I mean I think 1 in 3 is a decent strike rate from a Motherwell striker. Higdon this season has averaged a goal every 1.6 games. Such is his form in fact it puts him inside the top 20 for the European Golden Boot, the award for the most prolific striker in Europe. Golden Boot 2.) Nicky Law- For me probably our best player this season and would have gotten my vote in almost any other season but you simply can't ignore the goals Higdon has scored. Law however has been crucial to our success and is one of the best footballers I've seen for Motherwell. Such a classy and composed player in the middle of the park who makes things look so easy. Goals, assists and the ability to control a game. Everything you'd want in a midfielder and for me he showed in the win over Celtic he's as good as anyone in this league. 3.) Darren Randolph- Earned us so many points with so many crucial saves, will miss the big man when he's gone. Probably the best keeper I've seen play for Motherwell which says it all really. Young Player of the Season Henrik Ojamaa- He's still only 21 and this is really his first full season at this level of football and despite his lack of goals for me he's been brilliant. His energy, work rate and attitude have been first class since he had that dodgy spell at the start of the season. And as someone else said you can't have Higdon without Ojamaa, they're a great double act. It's also funny to remember Ojamaa getting slated on here at the start of the season for being a 'greedy wee shite' etc. yet he showed great character to bounce back and currently sits top of the SPL assists charts. Funny old game. Despite him scoring less goals I think his all round game has developed to a better level than it was when he first arrived. I hope he stays for a while yet as I think if he can continue to learn and develop he can turn into a very, very good player. Goal of The Season Kallum Higginbotham- Not even just for the finish which in itself was sublime but the whole move leading up to it was excellent. A tremendous finish to a great team goal. Signing of The Season Ramsden and Kerr put up a good fight but Faddy probably just edges it...

Suarez-esque goal from Henrik tonight. Lovely goal. Higdon's two weren't bad either mind..

I thought it was an entertaining game that we should have won yet such is football only a bit of Faddy magic got us anything out the game. First half the tight affair I expected, Randolph smothered a few chances as Saints tried to get in behind us. Can't help but feel if Goncalves was playing they might have had more joy. Anyway it was a well worked goal from us, great ball hung up by Lasley at the back stick and Higdon nodded in the same goal from the same area for the 3rd game running. Then as ever, we shoot ourselves in the foot by giving teams time and space around our box. Take nothing away from Newton as it was a fantastic strike but it's frustrating to watch it happen time and again. Second half we really should have won it yet for all our possession we didn't make Samson work enough for my liking. The saves he made from Ojamaa and Humphrey were pretty routine, and every other shot just like at New St.Mirren Park earlier in the season was blocked by a Saints body. Although I did think the one Lasley hit that was deflected away from Samson was in but it landed just on the roof of the net and I also thought Faddy was going to bury the one where he left two or three Saints players in his wake during the 2nd half but sadly he dragged his shot wide. Then the classic sucker punch from St.Mirren with their first real chance of the half, poor defending by us as too many were caught ball watching but it was a well constructed move from Saints and well finished by Guy. Goal seemed to hit us for six and it was a daft foul by the Saints centre half to give us a way back into the game as Higdon was going nowhere. Still a lot of work for Faddy but he made it look easy, words can't describe how much I love that guy. Then both Humphrey and Higdon had chances to win it for us but it wasn't to be. Couple of well worked goals, two goals of the highest quality, plenty of chances, plenty of good football and barely a bad tackle in sight. Was a thoroughly entertaining game of football. No real failures for us but at the same point I don't think any one can say they were at the top of their game. What's more since the debacle in Dingwall we've now taken 14 points from a possible 18 and baring a major collapse should see us grab yet another European spot. After the summer we've had and the amount of moaning that's went on here during the season that's a pretty remarkable achievement.

Believe it or not this Saturday there's actually going to be a game at Fir Park with a three o'clock kick off, it's been a while. 16th of February to be exact, let's hope with the club trying to encourage folk along with their ticket deal and our recent form we can at least get a few more through the gate. Good news is that boy Goncalves who has 5 goals in 10 games for Saints has been pulled up for diving by our old pal Vincent Lunny so it looks like he'll miss this one. Sadly he didn't play for them in the last two games and we didn't when either of them anyway. Although in fairness we didn't have a certain Mr.McFadden who adds a whole new dimension to our attack. Do we go with the same team? I thought it was harsh wee Higgy was dropped at the weekend and although Humphrey had a decent enough game(including an assist) I can't help but feel it's to the detriment of Faddy. He looked far better coming in off the right flank against Hibs than he does when he's stuck wide left. Although he clearly given license to roam it did leave us looking a bit lop sided at times on Saturday. Anyway I imagine McCall will probably go with the same team, big game this one going into the split. Hopefully we can edge it.

You do him a disservice by simply labelling him a penalty box striker, he's much more to us than that. He's the focal point of our attack, often used as an outlet when nothings on and his link up play is far better than it gets credit for. He's certainly a superior all round player to Sutton.

He also said "I'm in no rush but it's a definite possibility I'll stay" which sounds a lot like he wants to weigh up his options which he is entitled to do. For all you've said above, if some team offers a 29 year old journeymen type player like Higdon two or three times his current Motherwell salary he'll jump at the chance. It's a short career and the guy has to look out for him and his family. Whatever he does I'lll have no complaints, stuck up for the guy since day one and he's proved all his doubters wrong with his phenomenal record of 38 goals in 77 matches. Sincerely hope he stays but best of luck to the big man whatever he decides to do.

Solid win, not at our best but never really needed to be. It really shows how much quality this team has had this season when we can beat teams and run up impressive scores without playing at our best which we've done on numerous occasions this season. Back 5 and Las solid, Law a class act, another tireless shift from Ojamaa, another goal from Higgy, assist from Humphrey and Faddy a class above without breaking sweat. Special mention to boo boy favourite this season Tom Hateley who I thought had a tremendous game and had their boy in his back pocket who never got past him, got in one crucial block at 0-1 at the start of the 2nd half, got forward all game and another assist from another corner. Seven goals from Hateley's corners this season now, but no wait I forgot HATLEEYS CORNERS ARE THE WORST EVERS!!!1! Pin point pass from Hateley but in saying that Law's take an finish was a joy to behold. Well worked set piece and just a fantastic all round goal. Still 2nd in the table, 13 points from a possible 15, notched 12 goals in the process and our 'awful' defence even managed to keep a couple of clean sheets. It's remarkable the amount of stick this teams taken on here when you consider how consistent they've been over the last few seasons. Won't know what we've got till it's gone, make the most of this team while it's still here cause it's a joy to watch a Motherwell team that can go an dismantle teams in the fashion that this one does.

Craig Moore signs new 2 and half year contract. McCall obviously rates him highly to hand such a long term contract to someone who hasn't made a first team appearance for us yet.

How times have changed eh? We now must beat a team with a far bigger budget/resources than us or it will apparently be unacceptable.

Exactly what I was thinking. Claiming Hateley gets away with murder then ironically kind of proving my point by going over the top with his criticism of him and greatly exaggerating how 'poor' Hateley has been. I also never accused 'Gaag' of being one of the people to hurl abuse at Hateley. We've scored six goals from Hateley's corners this season, what would you consider an acceptable amount?