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Just checked in here this morning and I can't say I'm surprised at Stewart's treatment. He at least isn't afraid to court controversy, unlike the usual bland commentators and, as you say, he has praised us for our football this year. I'm afraid cancel culture/censorship is always a sign that the organisation employing it doesn't have valid or credible arguments to use in rebuttal so has to get the sledgehammer out. This problem has spread far beyond the world of sport these days and I feel free speech generally is threatened. It's somewhat ironical that the BBC itself suffered from it via the Traynor ban, of course 😁.

Yep, and as I’ve suggested previously on this forum, we’re now seeing the wagons circling to protect the clowns.

Was just reading in the BBC gossip column that Michael Stewart has been banned from Hampden for his comments about referees. I remember Jim Traynor doing the same to the BBC at Ibrox in his role as Head of Communications. It seemed perfectly in step with that particular club given the control they like to have of the football narrative in Scotland. It seemed a very petty approach at the time. It is really interesting that the SFA themselves have chosen the very same approach. I am not a huge fan of Michael Stewart as a football personality but he is an articulate, intelligent reporter (and he LOVES Motherwell this season). It seems like a slippery slope when an organisation starts to sensor the voices it does not want to be heard.

I’d hope, for Stama and the club’s sake, that a deal is struck allowing him to remain in Oz and bring his contract here to an end, as there’s no point in him coming back over here to rot. It would probably be beneficial for both parties though.

From a quick look on his wiki page hes had about 205 apperances for 9 different clubs and a few international caps in the last 10 years, scoring 65 goals. Thats just over 6 a year average, so he not exactly a prolific scorer, with the vast majority of them in the Aussie leagues.

My point about a deteriorating product relates to poor officiating and VAR undermining the matchday experience, not the quality of football on display. I’ll still be renewing my season ticket, but with fans being asked to pay more each year, it’s reasonable to expect the club to advocate on our behalf and address the elephant in the room.

I was with you until the last sentence.

+1. Such a wonderful team effort

Deteriorating product? This has been the best quality of football I've seen at Fir Park in, well, ever. The small rise in price will go directly to the (fan-owned) club. The record home crowds we've seen this season suggest price hasn't been the main issue that's been keeping people away, it's been the entertainment (or lack thereof) on the park. VAR is a small stoppage in most games and, in its own way, often adds to the entertainment of the event.

He's scored 2 in 9 over there.

Sometimes players just aren't a good fit - even good ones. Paul Pogba at Man U is an extreme example. There can be many reasons, but if AP is enjoying being back home and playing well then good luck to him.

I still think that AP as a penalty box striker goal score was not up to it . Most of his goals were penaltys .He seemed to me that he was always a yard or two behind where he should have been to anticipate where the ball was going in front of goal. He also missed a right few chances. Being away seems to have made him a better player than he actually was . Best for him to remain in Aussie.

You're kidding about McCracken surely...don't watch Dundee that much, but he always seems to be chucking them in.

I agree but am sure sfa will give it some bland reply , e g " yhere have always been inconsistencies, however we strive to improve the match day experience for fans" yada, yada Like I say I'm with you.

Interesting article about the demise of the Number 9 - and it's not just a Motherwell problem: Where have all the No 9s gone? Why has the striker become a dying breed? Can anything be done to arrest the decline? “It’s no longer a sexy position,” says Emile Heskey, a traditional centre-forward who won 62 England caps. He grew up watching strikers such as Cyrille Regis and Gary Lineker. “Now it’s possession-based, the striker generally doesn’t get involved in play. The striker’s job, especially in the buildup, is to create space for the No 10 or the two 8s or the two 10s or the wingers.” The redefinition of the No 9 role can be traced, in part, to José Mourinho’s arrival at Chelsea in 2004 and his success with a solitary striker in a 4-2-3-1. Pep Guardiola went further, reimagining football without a striker altogether. At Barcelona he created majestic football with Lionel Messi as a false 9: a central forward who drops deeper. On the way to the 2020-21 Champions League final, Guardiola even deployed two false 9s for Manchester City. Erling Haaland remains the modern outlier clinging to a bygone era, but even he has adapted in recent seasons, bending to Pep Guardiola’s will. The shift has changed the entire landscape of training and youth teams. René Meulensteen recalls doing 15-30 minutes of finishing work with strikers every day during his time under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United from 2007-2013. Now, he says, beyond goalkeeping, training has become far more generalised. More matches at elite level and a greater emphasis on strength and conditioning have squeezed time on training pitches, where possession is prioritised. Strikers “don’t get developed, it’s as simple as that”, Meulensteen told the Sacked podcast. “Everybody does the same thing. There needs to be much more specialist training.”

When you're a Gen Xer like me, the Millennial, Gen Z and Gen Alpha marketing all feels like this.

A fair summing up Allan. A bit woolly and short on hard facts. A slight reduction for us. I'll be renewing in any event.

Five games without a win suggests something needs to change. I’m not saying we throw the baby out with the bathwater, but if Eythor is fit, he should be starting.

I think, ironically, Eythor & Stama whould work well as a double act. Eythor has the physicality to hold the ball up and provide assists. Stama would run in behind and feed off those. However, I dont think we are liable to play with 2 up top very often, so probably a moot point.

I thought AP was a very decent penalty box striker. Some of his movement was excellent and in the right team suspect he'd score a barrel load of goals. His first season was hampered by injury and this season he looked devoid of confidence. For all the right reasons moved back to Oz. Shame it never worked out. Not convinced that subsequent signings are any better, perhaps Thor with the right partner would get amongst the goals but we'd have to change our style of play. Be interesting to see what happens at end of the season (and possibly in the closing few games )

Yeah, I agree. As long as he continues playing well and scoring goals over there then hopefully we can recoup some money if he does sign permanently with Sydney. im also not convinced their league out there is any worse or better than the SPL. The games I’ve watched looked decent. Standard is ok.

You’re confusing me with a rangers fan.

Could be that he's in a better mental state and feeling more confident playing back at home? I know we all tend to just think that success or less-than-success (I don't want to call it failure) is purely footballing, but being halfway around the world with family and friends in a different timezone can play a part. If he's happier out in Australia there maybe isn't much point in bringing him back.

You seem to be evolving into MJC. Take a step back and some deep breaths it will all be ok in the end. I'm in the POD so its ok with me especially with the football iv witnessed this season.