Andy_P

I tend not to take too much stock into what he says about opposition teams and managers as its invariably complimentary regardless of the person, team or circumstances. I think its just always been his way.

I tend to think that regardless of where we happen to play our football in the future, that's an assumption worth challenging. Apologies for getting away from the stadium talk but I'm not at all convinced that we advertise and promote ourselves as well as we might do and a letter drop at each new residence that's built within our catchment area would be a good way to start addressing that. How often do you read on here of folk asking the likes of the opening hours of the club shop? Is the ticket office open today? What hours are the ticket office open? Is a student valid for this game? What do they define as a juvi ticket at this place etc. etc. If our existing fans can't access that kind of information easily then that's potentially a barrier that a prospective newbie is likely to face also. For the price of a 2nd class stamp it could do a whole lot of potential good for us as a club. You would be introducing the club to them and welcoming them to their new house. A nice touch if nothing else. Take it a step further - give them the opportunity of attending the game as a household (whatever amount of bodies that may consist of) for free. If they already support Motherwell - so what, if they support another team - so what. If they take it up then you've got their details and they'll be on the database to target in the future with the emails (though they've currently dried up) and promotions that we currently get. Its a whole lot more focused than simply saying "Bring a friend for free" where there's record of how many came for free, who they are, where they are from etc. But most important of all you might well be a step along the road to attracting some folk be they new or old fans more regularly. An introductory letter would allow MFC to advertise the non-first-team football stuff they do like functions at the Cooper (or any new stadium) making folk aware that the facilty exists close at hand to folk that may have absolutely no interest in going to the game but might be quite interested to know they could hold a birthday party, wedding, engagement at the stadium just down the road. I don't imagine the club will have either the time or finance to tackle the task but I still think we should be actively promoting ourselves and chasing supporters and new builds be they Ravenscraig, Motherwell, Hamilton, Bellshill or wherever offer an opportunity in waiting for us.

Thoughts and votes please...

Mentioned news of Crags testimonial to a Thistle fan in work who intimated barring a Thistle game the same day that he would also intend getting to Fir Park and would expect a few Thistle fans to do likewise. Despite being upset at the way he left he tells me Craigan remains very highly thought of amongst Thistle supporters.

It's reassuring to know that nothing much has changed since I stopped buying papers - the Record and Sunday Mail in particular. As it happens though I read that article in the Sunday Mail up at the mother-in-law's on Sunday along with one very similar in the News of the World so I'm guessing Ruddy must have been this week's player at the Thursday press conference. All much of a muchness in content really except the bit where Ruddy says he would also just as happily sign a full-time deal for Motherwell has been conveniently ignored to ensure the Celtic pandering slant the Mail were after remains in tact. Labour propaganda at the front pages, Old Firm at the back. Same old, same old.

Beginning to sound a wee bit like a broken record delboy. The club either have little or no interest or as I suspect is more likely the case neither the time or means to keep a section going. So a suggestion then. If there is a demand for something on the official why don't you/one of the team/management/ put together some content forward for consideration on the official site rather than merely repeating your calls for it on here? Is there a website that the team update that the site could link to? I think you are more likely to have some success if you are a bit more proactive rather just repeating the same call every week or two.

Know what you are saying but I'd guess that most folk would rather go to one thread to follow developments and discuss an issue rather than having a debate or the same information spread across two or three threads.

You should have added, for the benefit of those who weren't there, they were actually 2-0 down at this point and supposed to be chasing the game.....which made it even better.

Thoughts and votes please! Happy Days!!

I'm not suprised you're heartened!

Agreed, I've done the same for the past two seasons. Get credit card with as long a free interest rate as you possibly can, work out your monthly repayments over that period, set up a standing order/direct debit for the duration of that interest free period and away you go. For anyone going down that route, renewal forms I suspect are likely to be sent out around the end of the season. I'd suggest start searching for the appropriate card now so you have your card just in time for the anticipated early bird sale so you are saving a bit more still.

Saw your very own squad in the Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser this week Mr Weston. Thistle away top? Tut, tut, tut.....

St Mirren come to mind on both counts. I'm sure they started their SPL stint with an away game at Inverness on the opening day so perhaps you don't always get scheduled at home. But they did have the buzz and confidence you speak of, albeit we were particularly inept under Maurice Malpas at the time.

Have to agree with Andy I'd be more than happy to get Inverness on opening day. Strengthens the argument for getting to nod to head up if its the first game of the season.

Indeed. Saw the Rangers v Hearts game prior to leaving and there were quite a number of empty seats there too and that for a game was being mooted as a potential title winning game at that. But as for ourselves you do wonder when the lack of numbers and revenue will or perhaps its a case of already has had an impact on what budget we have for the squad. I' just wondering here is it significant that there were no fewer than 5 promoted from the U19 side for next season when you generally only get one or two. Has the emphasis shifted further still towards promoting from within and developing players rather than trying to more of the finished article?

Again we shoot ourselves in the foot That was soooooo there for the taking today and we've blown it. First half I thought we were as good as I'd dared hope. We were camped in their half for virtually all of it, had scored, should have scored at least one other but.... Fraser's going to get a rough ride and I have to concede its unavoidable. You can give him the benefit of the doubt and lay blame on the pitch but he was culpable for the loss of the corner which lead to the second and would go on to fare badly with their third also. The more he plays the more a concern he becomes. But enough about Fraser there might well be a small thread on the go already.... I also thought we lost our way defensively when Craigan went off. Not only were we weakened organisationally but we also lost the threat and crossing ability from Crazy Legs Saunders when he moved inside. Was it worth the gamble of playing him? That's a few gambles we've taken with Lasley, Jutkiewicz and now Craigan under Paw and Erchie and they've backfired with the players having to go off in the first half. Was it the right thing to do putting on Humphrey at right. He looked fine there earlier in the season at Hamilton when played there before. I'd have perhaps moved Hateley back in there and brought on another midfielder but then, goal apart when he slipped/was ripped he didn't do too badly. Its a concern that our achilles heel of losing goals from set-pieces has returned at the worst possible time - that may or not be coincidental with the recent change of 'keeper. Second half after we conceded the third just seemed like being back at Tannadice a few weeks back where we were going to huff and puff for the rest of the game and be caught on the break. Got a wee bit of hope though with Sutton's second but for the Duke's shot which Webster took the sting out of, we never quite looked like levelling it. It now turns next week into a major major must not lose game. I just pray Ruddy and Craigan are fit!

Thoughts and votes please folks....

Time for the team to step up to the plate as they at this point a couple of seasons ago when the bit came to the bit. Our game being scheduled after the results are known of the Hibs and Hearts games this weekend could be viewed as a blessing in disguise in terms of knowing how the land lies before we step out out on the park tomorrow. But it could also mean there's going to be additional pressure if they know that a win will not only take them in fourth but, if Rangers win tomorrow, it could be a chance to knock the stuffing out of Hearts before we face them. This is where the experience of the likes of Craigan, Hammell, Lasley and Reynolds should hopefully to come to the fore to help see us through. I won't be expecting much scintillating football over the remaining games but I do want to see them show strength of character and desire to nail that fourth spot if we possibly can. A battling 2-1 win for the Dossers.

Ask >> here

Not so sure if your prediction will make it all the way through to the last game of the season but I'm quite happy they've dropped points tonight and may well have to go to Easter Road looking for the win, rather than having the title in the bag by that point.

Planning to renew. I tend to miss one home game somewhere along the line each season but it wouldn't stop me getting the season ticket if I can afford it even if by missing a game or two it brings it closer to the point where there's not much difference in paying in. I'm one of those suckers top of the Premier League or bottom of the Third I'll still be there so I might as well get my season ticket, getting the the seat I like, around some pretty decent folk and saving the hassle of trying to get tickets for any home Old Firm when the SPL feel kind enough to grant us one.

A vast array of pretty stinking United away strips....and the suddenly we're in our away kit! Took me a wee while to recall it but I think it might have been the last game of the season one yeart? I think Hamilton missed a late penalty then bundled in the re-bound to equalise. Mabye even Butcher's last game in charge? Does that ring a bell with anyone else or have put two and two together and got five?

Thoughts and votes please...

I think the fact that Celtic lost on Saturday will mean pretty much everything else will be squeezed to the margins but you never know maybe some of the press will pick up on Trust's statement. Someone only needs to fart at Parkhead and that Peter Rafferty character seems to get wheeled out for a quote so I'm hopeful that given we have some genuine grievances here there might be some kind momentum to the issue.

Not forecast of doom related but giving this one a miss too and watching from home. Had been quite set with the idea of going since it got re-scheduled but having seen the fixtures I'll save the cash for the post-split away games and just watch it on the telly. Game wise anything we could get from it would be fantastic. Just please no drubbing that'll fuck up the goal difference.