Well Up For It!

When you factor in the fact it was The S*n that first mentioned it, even going as far claim "we approached both clubs with the idea" means you are 100% spot on. They even floated the idea past the O'Donnell family first I believe. Still, doesn't change the fact it probably will be billed as such. Would rather see us as a club do our own poignant tribute this Christmas to mark the 10th anniversary of his tragic passing. Parading the League Cup trophy at said tribute would be a nice touch. As ONeils40yarder says, a minute applause at the start would be fitting, but nothing more needed.

I went Bigirimana just cause he completely changed the game when he came on, allowing Campbell to focus on McGinn. His work rate is off the scale and a tidy player to boot. Hartley was also solid, and Cadden put on a good shift.

Thought first half we were pretty shocking. McHugh was playing like it was the first time he had ever seen a football. Bigi made the world of difference and we were far better 2nd half although with little to show for it. Pass marks to Cadden, Hartley, Tanner and Campbell - particularly for his 2nd half where he had Scottish superstar McGinn in his pocket. Too early to tell, but thought Petravicius showed flashes of what he can offer us. Lightning quick, quite tricky and his first instinct is to drive for the touch line. One the worst performances I've seen from Moult in claret & amber. That all said, not too disheartened. Can put it down to a bad day at the office following a tough run of three games in six days where we got 2 wins out of three. As for Madden, he is an utterly abysmal referee. The fact McGinn never got booked is inexplicable. That much persistent fouling that he should have had multiple yellows. Then there is the time wasting and kicking the ball away that he let go unpunished. Boyle got told off three times for it...fucking book him for at least the 2nd one and it eliminates that from the game. He basically encouraged and OK'd unsporting behaviour and Hibs played too it. Add to that some truly bizarre decisions, I honetly dread any game where he is the referee. Over the course, best team won although our 2nd half was a vast improvement and we made it more of a game that I left disappointed not to take anything. Onto Ross County amd hopefully back to ourselves with a week to regroup.

No idea of when they will go on sale? EDIT: Ignore me...misread the bit where it says it will be announced in due course.

No he didn't. It was Moussa's head all the way. Very minor push and if that had been at the other end I would have been absolutely fuming it got chopped off. However, I will take it.

For me it is between McHugh and Bigi, and went for the later just for the sheer amount of ground he covered in closing down. Made a real claim to be starting more games. Special mention to Kipre, Tait, Fisher and Frear who all put in solid shifts without being outstanding.

Planned on going last night, but fell asleep on the couch and left it too late. So decided that I'd avoid all news and watch it on Alba. Wasn't a great spectacle, but thought we were worthy winners although for me the Dundee goal should have stood. We were largely in control until Hartley went off. McHugh going to the back left our midfield exposed and thought Grimshaw offered absolutely nothing. Kipre back fighting fit as he breezed through that, Bigi was solid and the amount of ground he covered closing down was unreal, Fisher desperately needs a goal. Nice touches and link up plays, but needs to start scoring or he isn't worth a place in the team. McHugh ran the whole game for me, then made some great last ditch stops when he went to the back in the last 10 minutes. End of the day, another 3 points which is the main thing, even more so after our efforts on Sunday. The solid progress continues...

https://twitter.com/Alan_Burrows/status/923087823804170240

I don't know if this is viable of not, but had an idea... Could the club/society offset the cost of a final ticket by £10 for society members paying direct debits of £10/month? For existing members its a little gift back for the support and shouldn't be too much of a financial hit given the cup run itself? However, the main idea would be to sign people up and with a small discount on offer for a final ticket then many should finally take the plunge given the good vibes around the club. Think of it another way...buy a ticket at full price and get your first months Society Membership paid. Sure a few folks will cancel standing orders post final, but bet majority won't. Those already paying DD would be guaranteed a ticket for the final before a certain cut off point, and if this was announced soon people could sign up before the ticket sale to guarantee a ticket. Hell, even having a "society only" ticket sale for a few days before general sale. Not only would it provide a boost to membership for me, it would also work as an excellent PR story for recruitment - the club given something back to it's "owners".

Yep. With absolute utter ease I might add. When our highest profile "journalists" don't understand the laws of the game (that their beloved Bigot Brothers helped vote in) what chance do you have?? Tom English saying the Robinson had a chance to speak his mind on Monday (before the citation from compliance officer) is the biggest red neck of this whole cringe fest.

Owned every single second of the press conference. Outstanding.

I love his mantra that we are bigger, stronger and fitter than anyone. That confidence is utterly refreshing. Might not be as good as our opponents technically, but we are fitter and will out last them and not only do we know it, the opposition know it. I admit to be utterly uninspired by Robbo's appointment and thought it was a complete cop-out and missed opportunity, although was happy to give him time to prove him wrong. And he has, and then some. So far he has worked wonders and been a absolute revelation for the club, not only ditching the deadwood and recruiting well, but recruiting to a specific character in order to assemble a team rather than just fill out a squad. Genuinely think this team is capable of something truly special, and not had that feeling since McGhee's first spell.

I reckon 12000-15000 should cover us, and thats without the swell of Orcs. As Andy P says, think we are currently their 2nd most hated team in the land just now so would be greatly surprised if any of them come out. The bump will come from folk making the effort for a final that they didn't for a semi-final. Already know of five folk that will be at the final despite not being at Hampden - one stays down in Cornwall and is gonna take his 87yr old dad along, the other three had work/holidays on Sunday.

Can only be Moult for me. Thought Carson was excellent as well and Dunne, McHugh and Bowman all put in real gritty performances, but my runner up would be Hartley. Guys a beast and strolled that game. Honestly, what a piece of business getting around £400k for big Ben and replacing him with this guy on loan. As for the rest, I have seen many of the play better, but can't really fault anyone. Kipre's worst game for us, however he was suffering from illness. Campbell never stood out like other games either.

Aye that was a belter...cannae mind Faddy ever being that fast thou! For me, goals I have seen in the flesh, the best technically by a country mile was Jim Hamilton's vs Celtic. However, for celebration sheer levels of celebration Juke's vs Hibs, Van Der Gaag vs Dunfermline and Moult's on Sunday all for me.

Just back from holiday, pumped for Sunday and just noticed that there is no trains running between Perth and Stirling due to Scotfail doing maintenance!! As a result all buses are sold out for the way back up. I may need to drive to this!

In contradiction to the majority, I'm chuffed we got the Sunday game as couldn't make the Saturday. Will have work the next day so will be a tame affair compared to my last few visits to Hampden with the 'Well - unless we scud them of course and maybe have to call in "sick" on the Monday.

Out of all the players I have met in my life, Neil Lennon was by a country mile one of the nicest and most genuine, spending time talking to folk, coming across as sincere and honest. On the park I hated him, but think he really thrives being the target of the boo boys and playing the pantomime villain, and at times his football related persona show him in a bad light. All boils down to passion for me, and he has had to put up with some amount of shite over the years for it. That all said, hope we can say GIRFUY to him come 4.45pm on Saturday. Actually think it will be a good game to watch, could go wither way and would be happy with a point.

Got to agree. Was never going to be successful for me. No surprised his red from Perth being rescinded though as it was a horrific decision. Not surprised Carson's has been upheld as would have exposed Thompson as the completely incompetent excuse for a referee he is. Still not convinced its a clear cut goal scoring opportunity and by the letter of the law should have been a yellow for me.

Imagine you'll be absolutely traumatised should the appeal be successful then?

Yeah a picture, zoomed in from paused TV highlights. Still not a red card, like I said. Thompson had to be 100% sure when he issued the card and it appears impossible for him to be as such given it took said zoomed in picture from a paused TV. Happy to accept he was outside box, but still not a red card. Not entirely sure what point your are trying to make?

Was there on Saturday as the curse of going to my local "away" game struck again. However, won't forget this one in a hurry as don't think I've ever left a stadium more angered in all my days following the 'Well. Craig Thompson was an utter disgrace and ruined the game, simple. A level of incompetence I have never seen before, which is truly something when you consider the standard of our refereeing in Scotland. I work with a good few St. Johnstone fans who were there and one of them actually asked me this morning "why has Thompson got it in for Motherwell?" and is clearly of the opinion that we were extremely harshly dealt with. And it's not just the red cards (I will come to in a second) it was repositioning our guys at every throw in, the failure to allow Moult's advantage, awarding goals kicks when it was clearly corners, the amount of free-kicks he was dishing out that were never fouls - St Johnstone's first goal in particular which was a blatant hand ball by Davidson and should have been our free-kick and a yellow card. Thompson had to be the centre of attention. The red cards were all hard to judge, and even from TV replays they are all inconclusive for me. So for that simple reason, the direction Thompson has is he has to 100% sure, especially with game changing incidents. True, Carson's red is complete unavoidable if he sticks his boot clean through it, but it has to be intentional or denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity to be red and it was clearly neither. Should never have been red and by the letter of the law, it should be rescinded. The fact the linesman never reacted at all tells me that he wasn't 100% sure and he was much closer than Thompson. For me, McHugh's wasn't even a foul as he took the ball as clean as a whistle in front of all the away fans and it was the St. Johnstone player who milked it but do accept that going to ground with both feet is just asking for a booking and his is the only one we have to take on the chin. Given he was already on a yellow, would expect him to maintain a higher level of composure as our Captain, but can understand he must have been incredibly frustrated with Thompson. Finally, the Dunne red card which is never, ever a red card or indeed a foul in a million years and is a booking for diving. Simple. Watch Thompson during the highlights, his whistle is in his mouth before the St. Johnstone player hits the deck. Utterly disgraceful decision, completely incompetent. If we are going by the laws of the game, then I genuinely think we will be successful with both Dunne and Carson's appeals and that to me will turn a massive spotlight on Thompson. I know it may sound extreme and futile, but if I was the club I would be speaking with my lawyers to possibly lodge an official complaint with the SFA as we know they won't act at all on Thompson blatant incompetency as it will cost clubs (not just us) points this season. The referee display is such a big deal as I genuinely thought we were the better team and very much in control until Carson's red. Both their goals came against the run of play, with the first extremely fortunate and the second a decent individual goal made far too easy by some poor defending. At the start of the 2nd half, we were all over them and I genuinely believe an equaliser was coming. Bigi was poor with his distribution, Fisher offered very little and we had a few individual mistakes at the back with Kipre having his wobbliest performance since arriving. I thought Rose played well, as did Cadden, Dunne and Tait (his part in O'Halloran's goal aside). Also think Bowman had a solid game despite what others have said, winning everything in the air and holding up play well although I agree he lacks the extra edge we require for him to become our talisman. The one think that has again caused me a little concern is our utter reliance on playing down the wings and putting crosses in. We yet again had loads of crosses that produced very little and I fear that Robinson's reliance on this could prove to be our downfall. When it doesn't work, or we get stuck, we resort to launching the ball up top which is a little hit and hope stuff for my liking. We clearly lack a "plan B" and the players are clearly instructed to work it down the wings rather than play through the middle. In our two league games so far this season we must have delivered over 50 crosses at least, and not got a single goal from them. In fact our two goals have came from set plays, and weren't scored by our strikers. If we had someone like Lukaku leading our line, then I could see the merit in this approach, but with Moult, Bowman or Fisher it's all unnatural to their style of play. Anyway, apologies for the length of post. Just my take from a hugely frustrating day that has taken me until now to calm down enough to comment on.

This is my "home" game for us and quietly hopeful I will finally see us win in Perth. Been up here since 2011 and yet to see them win. Missed only two games since then (Christmas 2011 & October 2012 I think) and was both Motherwell wins. Maybe best staying away!! Quite a poor record in Perth all considered.

Saw this earlier - surely its a mis-quote??

Just caught the highlights, looked some game after half time. End to end stuff and lots of chances. McLean took his goal really well, and was onside for me. Few good saves from Carson and Fisher & Moult really unlucky not to score. Hard to really tell from footage if appeal will be successful or not, but definitely a penalty. Only thing that stood out as constructive criticism was County's first goal was an absolute horror show from our point of view. From our throw in, a relatively wee guy like Schalk waltzes through three defenders with absolute ease. Top finish mind you.