Steve Diggle

The fickleness of Motherwell fans isn't new and it isn't surprising. However it is disappointing. Disappointing that we have a high percentage of supporters who fail to take our massive restrtrictions in running costs that we deal with on an ongoing basis. The support swing from We're all Going on a European Tour (win), things being orrite (draw) to crisis (defeat) depending on the result on any given Saturday. It's clear for all to see that we're having trouble getting results at home and recreating some of our early season play - which was excellent is proving a bit elusive. The left sided interaction of Hammell, Law and Murphy being the prime example of an aspect of our play that's been posted missing. The stick some players get is really fuckin awful at times and I still don't understand what it buys us. I'm not saying we shouldn't be disappointed / unhappy / wanting more from our players and management, that's the nature of turning up at a game on a Saturday - I'm saying that I don't see the point in getting angry, abusive and in general getting things out of context by running down the street screaming 'freefall' and 'downward spiral' With the aim of finishing as high up the league as high as possible I think we've got to hope that McCall and Co - turn it round, particularly at home and find a formation and an intensity that see's us getting the results that we can get. there's no doubt that there are some players dipping a bit, looking jaded, not looking fired up that only he and his management of the squad can address. If I have a criticism of McCall - it's the one I've always had - his inability use fringe players to keep things fresh. Look how many of our team have played almost every available minute of play this season. It's better to throw one fringe player in now and again to a settled team situation than throw 5 or 6 in in a cup tie and expect everything to gel. He has to take the rest of the window to be honest about some of our fringe guys - IF they are, in his eyes, not good enough then he should work with the players and their representatives to find a solution. It's not the fault of the guys in question that their 'contracted' and in a lot of cases I guess I'm a litlle stumped that they can't be used and developed in a carefully considered rotation system (not on a Chelsea scale (wholescale) but definitely not Motherwell (no rotation) either) Every team in the league go through this - some have gone through it and hit a bit of form again - St Johnstone and Hearts being prime examples. We've got to be pretty confident that we can pick the pace up again. FFS - we could be Aberdeen!

Like I say I completely disagree - I think Higdon's doing his bit and I think others are coming up way way short. Never mind though they're our boys so that's OK

None of our forward players really troubled the keeper today though - did they? The way we're set up up front at the moment just isn't working and it's not working because we're not linking up or getting close enough together. Higdon for me tries to take the first forward pass and lay it off or knock the ball down or on for someone else. People like yourself have quite clearly had it in for Higdon from the start - I don't understand it but it's your shout. He was by some distance better than others today - yet every single game you'll stroll on up to remind us how pish he is. We're not playing well as a team and that includes 'some of our own' as well as some of the 'incomers' who have come in because their wage demands match our budget. It's like some rustic village on the edge of Dartmoor around here at times Kinda "You're not from these parts - are ya?"

I agree - that post sums up firparkcorner perfectly. The term 'false position' is one I love Like the SPL had us in the top three all season out of the goodness of their heart - we've actually only had enough points for 10th place? Is that what we're saying

Yeah, he should just have said thanks and signed the shirt for him

It's not the end of the world although as we've alluded to a number of times we need to find a way of playing at home. We're being too loyal to some players and not giving others a decent shot at things. I hope this week is a constructive, open and honest week at the training ground and I hope McCall and Black get the time to sit down and get their heads together on Plans B, C and D There are a couple of guys on the fringes that are just never gonna cut if for McCall (not all I agree with) However he needs to try and fix them up with other clubs - for their sake as well as allowing us space on the wage bill for McCall to afford himself some players to have in the team / on the bench that he is prepared to use in a match situation. There's no panic - but McCall is beginning to be affected by his limitations.

Higdon didn't do much wrong today

6th

Surely it's obvious

Daley's been in the door 10 minutes Hateley's had a couple of bad games recently but has been consistent as hell over 2 and a half seasons. Dougie Imrie shits his pants (allegedly)

Higdons got perforated ear drums - listening to some of the pish spouted on here

Anyone else get a bit jumpy when 'Stuart McCall' posts on the Ins and Outs thread?

allegedly

I can only echo what everyone has said - can't remember a time supporting the club when Bill wasn't behind the scenes doing his utmost for the club. A big loss and a sad loss. Rest in peace Bill!

Did you think I was serious?

I'm sure we were started as an option for slightly more streetwise c***s that weren't into any of that bigotry shite and were fed up seeing convoys of horses and carts heading out of the place on a Friday night to see the soup drinkers and soap dodgers knock fuck out of each other on a Saturday. Mibbe

Probably 1991 *Oh Dont start that pish again*

Just checked - both Forbes and Page expire in the summer. So I was talking shite (thought they both had 1 1/2 yrs left) So they'll both be off shortly I fear

I'm pretty sure Dazza was at the end of his deal and Fitzy was an a very very very low paid short term deal (we weren't really playing ball tbh) when he left Forbes and McHugh would have to be sorted out financially somewhat if we were terminating their contract. We might come to a mutual agreement - to allow them to move and kickstart their careers elsewhere - but their within their rights to do a kinda cut price Balde til the end of their deals if that's how they wanted to play it. I'd be surprised if Forbes doesn't use this window to try and get himself moved on to a mid to high 1st Div club.

Queens Park didn't double up on Humph and didn't have someone with pace matched against him - something that most SPL clubs that are now wise to his strengths do on a regular basis. Humph pretty much had a free run when he came on yesterday that he wont get week in week out.

I think a lot rides on how the transition from U19 to !st Team is managed and how good the first team manager is at throwing them in and supporting these players with careful allocation of game time. i think we've lost something of that of late. Throwing 5 or 6 in at the one time and looking for a miraculous performance aint gonna happen that's a long term turn round. Bleeding these guys one at a time gradually into an established and successful first team does. I think it's a weakness at the moment EDIT: Just read Tweeds post - kinda sums up what I was trying to say in a far more sensible and readable fashion

I'll sum this up very quickly We're through to the next round of the Scottish Cup, Winning 4-0, avoiding a banana skin, resting a couple of players and giving a debut slot to a new guy. Fuckin depressin' eh?

Yeah it was around 1989 well fans launched a fanzine called one step beyond. Rangers started using it over the last season or two And you think it belongs to them. Get a fuckin grip - it belongs to no c**t (apart from Madness) Definitely not that mob

The Kellogs Factory

One of the great mysteries of our time One of the most passionate supporters of MFC on this forum However Everybody's shite