Inthebasement

Very encouraging chat on Ainsworth.

I think we are still waiting on McD and Ainsworth? Best of luck to Sutton, cursed in the modern game by the fact he can't play up top by himself. In a way his last season with us was his best - his first touch of the ball scoring antics from the bench were brilliant, as was his body language and general demeanour despite losing his place. Total pro.

Or he is one of the well fans not impressed by 1970's workrate, or fooled by the odd stepover.

Definitely good news if Laing signs up, he is young, available, has his head screwed on, and was a far better option at CB from Ramsden, O'Brien and Kerr. Makings of an understanding with McM. Can only see him getting better. Don't think the tweet above implies a one year deal, and I'd be surprised if it isn't two years at least. Would love to have a platform to hammer some of these league one team, their fans are bizarrely arrogant despite all the awful kick and rush / set piece football. Checking on Murphy's progress through Sheff Utd boards is painful. Don't know anything about Chalmers but working with Hammell has to be a good move for him.

I don't know if we'll ever be a fan owned club, but the fans took ownership of this terrible season. The turnouts away from home in the run in, the podcast, the noise at Ibrox and the twist and shout - all brilliant and part of the reason our experienced players bust a gut in the end. Special mention must go to the magnificent Well Bois for banners, noise, food drives and refusing to fade away, a credit to the community. Also, step up Flow, the decision on tickets was a turning point this week,laying bare the media position on this tie and galvanizing the whole club. Thanks also to Les H, stick in there. six - one!!!

I recall crawling on here asking for assistance to get tickets for the awful CIS final v Rangers. It was not pleasant being accused of being a bun. A couple of posters vouched however and someone sorted me out. However, the guys on this thread are transparent orcs.

Get in Flow! Can anyone post the statement, think the club webpage may be overloaded?

Just to add to a point agreed by every fan I have spoken to, and the supporter in here - if Rangers only intend to give us 900 tickets despite failing to sell out Ibrox in the previous round (and all year), we should simply match whatever allocation they give us. If they give us 900, they should get 900 seats in the South, and no more. We need to be standing up to Rangers at every level in this tie, on and off the park. The fact that it also takes the noise out of their support at Fir Park is a bonus, particularly in a once in a generation game. But I would not use this as justification. It is clearly not healthy for football if clubs start avoiding large away support in games they consider more important than the financial value of the away gate. How would be have reacted if Hamilton or Partick had only allowed us 300 tickets for the recent away games to avoid our traveling support in crunch games - it's akin to Hibs and co banning the drum. By matching the allocation they give us we would retain the moral high ground and be in a position to present a clear cohesive public statement. Of course there will be heat in the media, who want both a full house and a Rangers victory - but that is not important at this point and the club would have the backing of the vast majority of its support.

Our champs league home game saw the south stand opened to Well fans because all other area's sold out (bar the disallowed bucket seats) at about £35 a ticket. If we win the first leg we'll sell out our sections I think, the Champs League is small potatoes compared to humiliating the orcs.

Anyone involved in fan ownership projects always makes the same point - the fans only tends to respond when the club is on it's knees - nothing happens when things are ticking along. That puts LH is a paradoxical position. His wealth and presence threatens to stall the momentum of the fan ownership project. He will be acutely aware of that problem, and it explains why he keeps emphasising at every opportunity that it is up to the fans, not to him, to take things forward. There is not point is responding along the lines 'I already put in so much, how can he ask me to do more' - he is merely pointing out that if we don't do more the club will ultimately die, or at least reduce in scale, as he is not here to bankroll it. Well fans casting aspersions about his manner or intentions really need their head examined - we are a charity case in this scenario and the only guy helping us isn't even a fan - he just wants to help the community. We won a watch.

Commentary here I think - http://radioplayer.mfr2.co.uk/live/

Very nervey. I do make us slight favourites, simply because of the form and confidence of our front four. At the same time I very much doubt we'll avoid conceding. I don't give St Mirren a cat's chance. The point above about Higginbotham v Straker is frightening, almost certain both will play. Massively looking forward to the big away crowd, especially as we'll be side on.

He was indeed, and also dead wrong. Non-renewal of four years' continuous employment is a dismissal in law - DL was sacked on any reading and St M have been mince ever since. Think the idea of opposition fans is great, maybe just not the right personality for banter on this occasion. It was obvious that if any of his points were picked up on he would have gone off on one.

I maybe unique here but I loved the petrol blue stripy background option. The photos are too busy. Any chance of a comeback?

Sutton's an old school back post number 9 and so can be awkward to accommodate in the modern game. I think he is showing now what he showed time and again in his first spell with us - he doesn't need to be first choice striker to be a regular scorer.

Maybe just wishful thinking, but I thought the failure to mention hammy may signal his return this week. What a boost that would be.

Yes, several 'non-truths' and very few 'facts'. We have 27 points to play for, mainly against our immediate rivals, losing tonight obviously doesn't condemn us to 11th place - did you think that before the game? Your response has nothing to do with facts, you just happen to like skulls and makeup and don't deal well with disappointment.

Get a grip.

Anyone aware of online commentary today?

Agreed, the manager should get a lot of credit for this as no one saw it coming, and it very much worked. Grant, Pearo, Las and which ever one of the wingers looks best in training must now be our staring midfield.

Think he plays deeper than his earlier days, so well equipped to play behind the striker in a 4231 (we have no one who can do this effectively at the moment), or as you say in a straight 442. Given our general shakiness I think there will be a reluctance to risk 442 at the moment.

All in favour of Skippy's return, and makes sense as we were looking to bring in a striker in Jan. Its a number 10 we have been desperately short of this season, having thrown about six different players in there with hardly a goal or assist to show for it. Most notably Ainsworth, Law, OJ and Erwin, none of whom are natural there. As noted above, Skippy has the know how to link our reluctant midfield with our isolated number 9.

I'd hate to think of us as an kneejerk club. I also worry that Baraclough has been undermined from within the dressing room, and that in time he may show himself to be an excellent manager - despite what many say on here his record made him a reasonable bet, which is what most of us wanted. If he has been undermined, particularly by senior pros, I would like to see those who are deliberately harming the club for their own agenda get the chop, rather than a manager who is clearly trying his heart out. And the Baraclown / imposter patter is so cringe, it's painful to watch at the moment but I haven't seen any brilliant line ups quoted here which would make any difference - we are in a state. Baraclough inherited a mess of a dressing room and has failed to turn it round - right now he looks like the only one near the pitch bothered about it. Most of the Dimebars with all the 'told you so' pish in this thread are thick malcontents who moan about everything and wanted Tommy Mclean back in the seat and Ched Evans up front. You've made your point, go and get some fresh air. However, I can't help but recall the instantaneous turnaround which occurred what Brown and Knox took over. I can't remember the score in the game at Tynecastle, which I think came within a day of the announcement, but I do remember we looked immediately like a different team, all over the park. The increase in confidence and togetherness spread right through the support pretty much from the off and what looked like an odd appointment suddenly seemed like an act of genius. So it can be done. Would I take survival at the cost of mistreating a decent manager and decent guy... yes. I wonder if Lambert feels any obligation towards the club that sent him to Germany? It's just 12 games Paul.

The radio Clyde commentary is torture. Just suggested Lasley appears not to be trying.

balls