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Me the wife and grandson booked up a while ago to visit home arriving in Scotland May 30th, due to waiting on his school year finishing. However, hidden away somewhere in the depths of the league cup final thread I said I wasn't coming over to league cup final ' cause I was saving my money for the Scottish cup final. So leave here Thursday arrive Friday morning then back on the plane Monday morning. Back in Austin for. About a week then back to join in the extended celebrations. The wee man said he'll colour his hair claret and amber if motherwell win the cup. COYW. ive got that 1991 feeling !!

there was no need for boyd's antics back in the 2011 final,he was lapping up the attention from the celtic end on the walk around the pitch and as soon as he got too our section he was kissing the badge on his celtic scarf,considering he started his career with us and lifted the scottish cup as captain,you would think he would have shown a bit of respect that day.in short he's a total cunt and is just part of a really long list of reasons why i would love us too stick it too they bastards on saturday.

From your several posts about him in the past you've clearly formed your opinion of him and those are very unlikely to be changed, which is fair enough. For me he had done everything and more that could have been asked of him since he arrived up until the injury at the start of the season. He had produced several assists towards the end of the season when he came into the team, got that all important goal against Killie last season and grabbed a couple of late winners in the League Cup games against Edinburgh City and Berwick. But it's just been stop start and never happened for him since between injury, never quite getting the necessary level of match sharpness and it has to be said questionable form. I'm sure that when he when was persuaded to head north it would not have been with a vision of playing left wing-back nor is it a position that I think that gets the best from him. But he has proven himself to an adequate stand-in, in the role and provides the necessary versatility as and when we do go with four in midfield. Next season is a big one for him though. He has to make a bigger impression or he's going to find himself increasingly more vulnerable as the likes of Livingstone and Hastie return to the club with a hunger for more first team action following their respective loan spells.

A few weeks ago Robinson said that this was (obviously) the first step and he wanted to "refine" the team over the summer. I was hoping that might mean adding a few more footballers to the squad. It's possible to be hard working hard tackling and play decent football.

Simple indeed. Can we leave you to handle the phonecall to the shirt sponsor to let them know that a portion of the advertising space they have just bought will now be left blank? But thanks for all that money though...

Or alternatively, win or lose, we could hope that our team display sportsmanship and class throughout the day.

I’m sure Celtic fans buying Motherwell tickets will be the ones we never requested not ones in our end as I’m sure the same vetting process would be used as is in all old firm games .

I was up at Fir Park this morning having a nephews jersey autographed by the last 6 players and manager, of the Betfred Cup Final squad that he needed. I thanked them for their effort and everything they've achieved this season. They all appreciated me saying so and said they intended to make it a better ending to the season. A thoroughly nice bunch of guys. Don't suppose they'll read this but thank you to Trevor Carson, Peter Hartley, Richard Tait, Cedric Kipre (he's even bigger standing beside him than when watching from the stands) Ryan Bowman and Stephen Robinson. COYW

Been told by a good source that Grimshaw has signed a 1 year extension but not being announced to later.

Not quite as extravagant but I'm currently in Tenerife and I arrive back early on the day of the game, not much margin for error if any delays arise. Took me ages to get over missing the late winner against Aberdeen at Pittodrie years back, would be sick as a pig to miss our final win.

Couple of great offerings already this week lads. Interview with Hammy was excellent. Comes across as a really great guy with a clear vision of what he wants to do with the youth set up. Still to listen to the Ally Maxwell one and really looking forward to the Robbo interview Tuesday night. Keep up the good work. Up the Well!

Nice one, thanks. May give Butterfly and Pig a go. Would imagine there will be a healthy ‘Well contingent in that area with The Shed party next door. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Corona at Shawlands Cross (now called The Butterfly and Pig) should take Well fans. Its next door to The Shed where the Motherwell fan party is. The Ivory Hotel is decent en route to Church on the Hill. I would avoid Armstrongs on Battlefield Rd. Its good for Scotland games but its a Celtic shop so not sure what kinda welcome youd get. Clockwork is great but as you know from experience it will be rammed early doors.

The nice thing about this season's "rebuild" is that we're talking about enhancements rather than wholesale changes. Testament to the job Robinson did last summer. This summer is an altogether different challenge, but not one to be underestimated. However we've got a really solid foundation on which to build.

So, with the league season complete, how does the squad look for next season? Carson - bound to move on in the not too distant future. We need to plan for life without Trevor Griffiths - nice that he got a clean sheet on what will likely be his last appearance. He will be remembered for being better than Samson, which isn’t saying much. Time for him to move on. Ferguson - a decent young keeper who offers cover for the bench and perhaps will push for the starting spot once Trevor moves on. Tait - signed up and deservedly so. Kipre - we may get another year out of him, but surely bound for bigger and better things. As with Carson, we need to prepare for the time when he moves on. Hartley - his return from injury next season will be like a new signing. Dunne - recent performances have hopefully put the doubters to bed. Deserved the contract extension. McHugh - never going to sign for Barca, but key to our improved defensive record, along with a competent goalie. Longer term, if we aim to play a more technical style, he may be the one to miss out, but his fight and leadership may be hard to replace. Plummer - hasn’t had much of a chance, but on the rare occasion has failed to shine. Time for us to part company I think. Cadden - has he gone back a bit this season? Possibly in need of a rest and hopefully come back stronger next year. Doubt we will get many offers for him in the close season. Campbell - the find of the season. Hopefully only going to get better and make us a fair bit of cash when he moves on. Bigi - the disappointment of the season? Obviously talented but not really worked out for us or him. If he wants to go, and can find another club, I would not stand in his way. Tanner - very unlucky with a nasty injury. If we can get him fit he will prove to be a genuine asset. Frear - not without talent, but does he fit in to our system? Probably time to say no and let him move on. Rose - another who can claim to have proved the doubters wrong. Well worth the offer of a new deal if he wants it. Grimshaw - as with his first stint with the club, it has taken time for him to find his form and prove his worth, but now that he is fit, get him signed up for another year or two. Bowman - cannot fault his effort and workrate. Deserved his new deal. Main - has been great for us and it cannot have been easy to replace a legend. Hopefully he will sign an extension to his contract. Newell - unlucky with injuries and looked half decent given his limited opportunities. Possibly worth a punt for another year. Petra - sorry, had chances and not looked good enough. Time to say goodbye. Of the guys on loan Nadir - obviously talented, but would be a gamble, even if he were prepared to accept our terms, so I’d think he will be away. Aldred - alreadya great piece of business and getting him on a permanent basis would be even better news. Might not be as straightforward as we would like as you would think that other clubs with more money will have taken notice of his performances. Hendrie - not done nearly enough, so no thanks. And young guys coming through MacLean - has a year left on his contract and may benefit from a loan move and more first team experience. However, would that be us just subsidising a player who is not going to make it at our level? A tough decision to be made I think. Turnbull - early days, but looks decent. Hopefully get more chances next year. Maguire - again early days, but can only benefit from playing with more experienced players. Hopefully a few more get the chance to move on up. So not really looking to bad for next season. Would love Aldred to stay and for at least one of Rose and Grimshawto sign up for longer. The areas we need to address are more depth up front, some width,especially on the left, and a bit of X factor ability in midfield. Here’s hoping that a cup win and the lure of European football make the recruiting process a little easier.

I don't care how shite we play or how Jammy we might be or how dirty or whatever as long as when the final is done the cup is coming back to FIR PARK. Let's see if Karma really works. Having said that, I do hope we play a blinder, shut them out and score a few goals. COYW!!

Hammell podcast was a wonderful listen.