Goggles & Flippers

Higdon as the target man, Moult as the foil and Skippy feeding them with Faddy on the bench ....... delish

Not thrilled that we couldn't secure someone who would become MFC property but solid addition

I don't dispute you can take players written off and they turn out to be able to command a first team start and receive the plaudits of the fans and media ..... Jennings, Coke, Clancy, Gunning.

Aye just what we need, a guy who has steadily got worse over his career, pretty much been loaned out within 6 months of any club he's went to. I'd like to see what other freebies are available first. http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/chris-maguire/profil/spieler/36633

Nobody Scottish from the lower divisions any good? ..... No?

Jesus wept, we're also 2 wins away from being top 6 and 15 games left. This is such a repeat of last season when you had us relegated in December.

Isn't that a static caravan resort outside Berwick?

Penalty infuriating especially as he didn't consult his linesman, itching to give it by the look of it. Pearson was impressive but showed distinct lack of awareness when squared the ball for Moult. Skippy should be hauled over coals for that miss. Just can't help but feel we should be putting games to bed much better.

I've love to be a fly on the wall if you and Steelboy got together discuss your conspiracy theories, Half Time draw, McGhee doing this, who really killed Diana and 9-11, you could sell tickets ..... Simple thing is, some days in football the planets align and everything clicks, Saturday was not one of those days. It was a car crash from start to finish. Interesting to see how we pick ourselves up for the next game because that scoreline eradicated a lot of the good work done over the past month. Next!

You didn't but you work for Coca-Cola though?

While I do get the tribalism I don't get why the player gets abuse. Hopefully a move involves money for us and a step up for them (which can only be a bi-product of decent performances from us). Would you seriously wish ill-will to someone who has done a turn for us? I don't think a footballer should be measured any differently for his professional career and earnings goals from your own. If you work for Coke and Pepsi come in and offer to double your wages (Busta ....) would you decline citing loyalty as a reason. Would your colleagues think you are an eejit, get teary or pat you on the back and wish you well? The quicker people on here understand the vast majority of footballers are essentially mercenaries and get over it. A short career, often pursued at the expense of academic qualifications, they have to make hay while the sun is shining. You trying to tell me any footballer who gets his first professional contract doesn't go to bed that night dreaming of scoring a winning goal in a Cup Final or winning a cap? I'm sure none dream or enthuse about playing in Dingwall on a cold Wednesday night in January. So if they are good enough why hold them back? Of course some will cite Paul Slane, don't ignore the influence of a greedy agent or a parent eager to brag down at the Shamrock Arms that his son signed for the hoops, planning his hospitality visits and free tickets. When your average SOL ranters' highest footballing summit is scoring a deflected header from corner kick at Primary School, the thought of playing for Motherwell and avoiding the factory/worksite/office in any form is appealing. Should that be thrust onto a guy from Darlington, Anstruther or Gateshead, who before signing had to googlemap us, wikipedia our history and thought we played in yellow and burgandy? Of course a few break the mould and either lack of ambition, fear of the unknown, stay because they are well looked after, have an affinity or want an easy stress free life, remain/return to clubs (Las, Hammell, Faddy).

Just out of interest, is there any way to leave MFC and join the OF and do it "with class" and not upset anyone on here? If so, please outline the way you go about it.

I would have said Law returning was as likely as a snowflakes chance in hell but I cast my mind back a year and us capturing skippy which I thought was beyond us, since then anything is possible.

I get that to a degree Andy, but if someone was taken on with a modest wage with a decent bonus structure, I don't think it would be that hard to drum up 100 new season ticket holders which would bring in £30k, even if the club didn't want to make any money from it and break even, there would be ancillary benefits from having an increased adult attendance at FP. Employ three doing this with targets and competition and I"m sure we'd see a surge, plus the club would get 3 more pair of hands to do stuff outside core ticketing activities. Win-win all round in my humble opinion.

Oh geez peace and get back to guarding your bridge from billy goats

As already pointed out, I see it as "see how you've been doing extra stuff here at the club over and above maintaining your fitness, how's about a wee golden handshake to say thanks and maybe we'll make that move a wee bit easier by putting you back in the shop window" Absolutely nothing wrong with that and I don't get the negativity on here. It's evident as an employer MFC aren't an arsehole to the playing staff, especially one of it's favoured sons

Is that not presumptuous until you see him perform?

I still have man love for the now hairy wee fella.

The club has to hold it's hands up too, too many missed opportunities to capitalise on the peaks in our performances or attendances. Since 2011 and our Cup Final appearance, an event where the club alone organised approx 25 buses from FP, not one season ticket sign-up form was put on the 50 seats on each of those buses. We've had bumper crowds at FP for a few European games and a recent game against some lower league shower, I can't see any evidence of this being followed up on. Over the past 20 years, think of all the housing developments has have boosted the local population in Motherwell, Bellshill and Wishaw, granted many will move here with existing affiliations but many will not but have they been advised of what's on offer? How many people locally are absolutely ambivalent or uninformed about anything going on at FP. Things like the WellEvate scheme where with one full price adults season ticket you can get up to 2 free kids tickets (in the Cooper), that equates to £5 each for 3 hours out the house, not many other pass-times in this day and age get you that. Combine it with a visit to Pizza Hut afterwards and you get the BOGOF. I wonder how many existing and new residents of the area would maybe consider parting with money if they actually knew about this? Just the perception seems to be more of an emphasis on everything other than season ticket renewals, retention or new business within the Chapman appears but no shortage of time and resources to chase corporate cash. Long and short is we have the same overheads for every game staged at FP regardless of the attendance, so every extra behind on a seat has to be a bonus. Signing up 5 season tickets can't be far away from a pitch-side advertising board, just there doesn't seem to much appetite to phone up the Davie and Shug's of this world to ask them for 300 quid.

I agree looking at a weak midfield and seeing a plethora of strikers did seem to confuse many early on. Shouldn't the final conclusion on the strikers who have came in this season be left until each and every one has left the club? If it's a free then your summary is vindicated, if however they leave for a tidy sum then it was a good bit of business and foresight. They way I seen it: Moult - With pedigree and purchased with plans to sell on for a tidy sum, there is/can be no alternative based on how he ended up at FP Clarkson - Signed before Skippy put pen to paper and after Sutton moved on (understandable), not doing enough in training or being outshone by his contemporaries to get a regular involvement, was anyone expecting much? Fletcher - Checkered past, blood in the U20's and maybe a few first team games, he impressed early on then got injured, hopeful he doesn't plateau, he is potential with a capital P Skippy - Bit of a coup getting him to resign, form improving week on week after a dreadful start (maybe mixed with apathy for IB and his methods?) Robinson - I genuinely think Bara seen him on the open market after the deadline and thought he was too good to be without a club, brought him in because why not, we were in a strong bargaining position as he had no form of income, the Dr Pepper of our team

Ditch the League Cup, re-introduce the Tennent's 6's, play in the Hydro over 3 weeks in January, use the League Cup trophy, get Archie McPherson to commentate. Ban smartphones for the duration and pretend Scotland have qualified for a major tournament. It'll be like 1990 all over again. I'll get my coat.

You are correct, it's their train set, I was getting at the SPFL are the organisation that have made paying late an art form rather than the SFA, happy to be corrected. As for speaking about the football rather than the finances, I know sweet FA about either of our opposition except they have a long bus journey and no doubt speak funny. After Albion Rovers, predictions are out the window for me.

Don't confuse the SFA with the SPFL

Safe to say as far as the club is concerned, the means we reached the final in 2011 is probably the perfect way financially and competitively to progress. 4th Round - Dundee (a) 5th Round - Stranraer (a) QF - Dundee Utd (a) replay at home SF - St Johnstone (Hampden) Early rounds ideally away against little teams to ensure progress and save on costs. Later rounds against better opposition ideally your draw gets TV coverage and at home for potential advantage.

i'm basing it on what Leeann Dempster told me how much it cost to stage a standard game at FP. More if it's a higher category and more stewards/cops are required.