David

Right, we're now sitting level with Rangers in the SPL, and this weekend sees us visit Kilmarnock, whilst Rangers play Celtic in the old firm game. I'm not sure if us winning means that Celtic win the league at Ibrox, and I don't really care if does to be honest. It means we'll go three clear of Rangers before they visit Fir Park the following weekend. I may be getting head of myself here, but could you imagine going into the split with a six point lead over Rangers? Wishful thinking, eh? Anyway, with the various suspensions we've suffered, who exactly do we have back for this game? By my reckoning we have Hutchinson & Clancy back, don't we? We'll hopefully have Craigan back from injury as well.

A good result for us today, although if Aberdeen had got an equaliser in the 2nd half I don't think we could have complained too much. Humphrey for Murphy was a good move by McCall. I've said in the past that we can't change a winning team, and as some have said, Murphy has been a little off-colour recently. A good time for a change, especially with Humphrey doing well from the bench. Let's see how Murphy does trying to work his way back into the team. Both Carswell and young Adam Cummins did well today. Cummins especially seemed pretty solid, and did a good job for someone who apparently has only played five games for the under 19's side! Is that right enough? Regardless, both of them have given McCall some tough choices to make next week, which can only be a good thing.

A decent win over Dundee United in some terrible weather by the looks of it. The highlights are up on MFCTV for anyone interested.

Excellent post!

Did he score twelve last season? I thought he'd scored eleven

Cheers mate, I have a form filled in but my financial situation has just changed over the past few days. Will fire off an email.

Awful? He's hit twelve goals thus far this season, beating his season best of eleven last year. He's currently sitting on four goals in our past seven games. I find it hilarious that the two players who take the most flak from certain sections of our support are the clubs two top goalscorers. I agree with this to be honest. I think Murphy is held to a higher standard than a lot of our other players simply because of the promise he's shown over the years. I'm guilty of getting frustrated with him on occasion if I'm being honest, but suggest that he's "shite" is simply nonsense.

What exactly is the script for getting all of the money in if I signed up? Is there a final deadline for the full £300?

A draw from this game will do me, but if Rangers win I'll be hoping we can match that.

With all due respect mate, you can fuck right off with your "happy clappies" pish. I'm not sure how many games you've been to this season, or even if you've been watching the same games I have, because nine times out of ten Lasley has been an integral part of our midfield, and has played a major part in getting the team to where we are today in the SPL. You're right, he is an honest, hard working player of limited ability, but so is the majority of non-old firm players who ply their trade in the SPL. No one is claiming that Lasley is a slightly greying Xabi or Iniesta. He does his part though, and has had a pretty excellent season for the most part. I feel that he went in heavy yesterday and deserved his card for it. He's probably more disappointed with himself than anything else. As for him being clapped off the park? I suppose you'd rather he was booed like fuck? Aye, that's the way to treat one of our hardest working and in my opinion better players when he makes a mistake. I'm not saying that if any of those other players made the tackle they wouldn't have been booed, but they certainly wouldn't have been booed by me. For the most part the team have done a very good job to get us to a Scottish Cup quarter final and pushing for 2nd in the SPL.

No one is making excuses, but the fact is he's a tough player. If we want the positives of his playing style we need to take the negatives as well.

Lasley isn't the best tackler in the world, but when he's managing to take the ball once every three times or so you can't really blame him for trying. Tackles like that one today are always going to happen. I don't condone it, but he's not a dirty player. He got done by a faster, younger player today and was late to the tackle. Simple as that.

I'm sure he'll be the first to admit that it was warranted. Still, he's been pretty fucking excellent for us this season in midfield.

We have a genuine claim for that corner that resulted in a goal, and I'm glad to see McCall didn't let it go. Saying that, we were beaten by the better team today. An off day, but it happens. Onwards & upwards. The most important thing is cementing third place in the SPL, and a win next Saturday will go a long way to doing just that.

I remember having this discussion when his contract was almost up. There was talk of moving him on for a decent fee then as well. I felt at the time that I'd rather have him for another year and lose him for nothing at the end of it if it benefited the club. I'd consider a good cup run, Champions League football and possibly 2nd place to be that benefit. If Jennings decides to leave at the end of his contract and take a good wage down south then he goes with my blessing & gratitude. He's been a good servant to the club since arriving almost three years ago.

Exactly. The 12 SPL clubs are represented by a six man board that makes decisions on their behalf. That board features; Ralph Topping (chairman) Neil Doncaster (Chief Executive) Eric Riley (Celtic) Stephen Thompson (Dundee United) Derek Weir (Motherwell) Steven Brown (St Johnstone) These are the six men who have the final say on Rangers being allowed to transfer their SPL membership to a newco, and if so what sanctions are set against them for previous misconduct. Our vice-chairman is part of that six man board.

This kind of opinion is the reason why the Scottish game will never change for the better. The problem we have is that there are more people who "don't care" as long as it doesn't affect them or their club directly than there is people who want to actually see the game improve.

No surprise that this article has surfaced. We're playing Rangers in a couple of weeks in what could be a major factor in who finishes 2nd in the league.

Indeed. Especially when you take into account the length of time a lot of those people have been supporting Motherwell. I'm into my 26th year as a game-attending 'Well fan and I'd be considered a newcomer by many who've admitted this newco business may be a step too far.

If Rangers do go to the wall, and are voted back into the SPL then it simply confirms what many of us have thought since time began. Scottish football operates on an uneven playing field. There's the Old Firm, then the rest of us. Let's be honest, when it comes to anyone else going out of business, getting relegated or whatever we're all pretty much interchangeable as far as the SFA & SPL are concerned. If this goes through I reckon that this season may be the last for me.

Fuck that. We're chasing a Champions League slot. We don't need any more games than we'll already have in the run-in to the end of the season. A nice, quick win over Aberdeen on Sunday will see me a happy man. In fact, two goals before half-time, followed by another early doors second half and McCall can hook some of our more influental players and "wrap them in cotton wool" until the following weekend.

If Rangers do go into liquidation (and I don't think they will at this time) and the SPL board, which includes our own Derek Weir, votes to allow a newco straight back in I'll be bitterly disappointed. I'm not sure I could ever stop going to Fir Park though.

He's currently under contract with Everton, who are more than likely paying him the kind of money we never could. If the chance arises I'm sure our management team would be glad to bring him back. I don't see that happening for a few years yet, and possibly never if his injury problems don't subside.

For what it's worth, here's Craig Levein's take on the situation. How he manages to wrangle Peter Houston into the debate is a bit of a mystery though;

Sorry Daz, but Humphrey doesn't unsettle what has been a pretty consistent midfield. If someone else ends up injured or suspended then he's surely overtaken Daley at the moment as the man to slot in, but he's an impact player from the bench at present.