Goggles & Flippers

I'll give you a reasoned response to my hypothetical starting line up if you acknowledge it was hypothetical and therefore your comments were unjustified.

I haven't heard scudbook used since about 1995 #retroslaggin

You evidently missed the "I'd love to see:" in my original post, which conveys there was a healthy splash of hypothetical dreaming. However I'm equally astonished you think McCall couldn't kickstart a 23 year old's career in the same way he did with Ojamma, Arnier, Gunning, Clancy and Ainsworth, all written off before they came here. No but I reckon you've been wanking too hard resulting in early onset blindness. No its official, when you use Championship Manager 2014 and go on about club finances based on scribblings with a crayon on a fag packet, they really are. I'll direct you to the reply to the first quote. At last, thank you! Unfortunately yet again on this board too many don't read a post, they see a keyword, put 2 and 2 together and get 5 then kick off on a rant.

More for upsetting our competition next season and also because our midfield were often posted missing (I still can't fully understand based on the talent), I'd love to see: Polish Kid Ramsden Kerr McManus Hammell Lasley Carswell Vigurs Goodwillie Sutton Boyd With Ainsworth as an impact player. Obviously w'd have to operate a squad rotation to keep them all happy, but when you regularly compete in Europe its a necessary evil ............. Budget probably won't stretch but I reckon some of them could crowbar a way back into Scotland reckoning. I just want to go into the Europa with a hope of competing.

It should be our aim from now on to sell players for something along the lines of what Hibs and Dundee Utd. continually appear to manage.

Probably because there's a decent sell on fee percentage attached so the cash amount would maybe get a few on here tisk tisking and maybe make their fans think they've bought a dud.

Have you been to Albania? ... kept that quiet

It's very weird and a tad surreal scrolling through a fixture list that has "Premier" at the top but is lacking Edinburgh's two clubs and the currants.

Because if there was a lot of interest from elsewhere as reported, come January he could find himself getting offered a much improved pre-contract salary, no doubt because he'll not come with a transfer fee.

Someone nippy on the other wing to Ainsworth would be a nice addition however I can't help but feel McCall will persevere with ZFA for budget reasons. I also wouldn't mind a midfield that can add cohesion to that part of the park. Individually we have a number of capable players but too often last season our midfield didn't function. I'm still no wiser as to why this was the case. I hope Lawson comes back as a player refreshed and a revelation.

I'd just search under Dom Thomas OTF, was a lot of talk about him in that regard. No doubt a fair bit of hearsay and conjecture but you will find one or two who know what they are talking about.

Nice romantic sentiment there Tickle, but alas your modern footballer is motivated by the shekel (well, certainly at the start of their career). As time progresses the atmosphere and camaraderie plays more into things (McManus being a prime example). However it only goes so far (Faddy being another). While not a huge distance from Faddy or McManus in age, I'm pretty sure he feels he can maximise his earning potential for another couple of years yet in a more lucrative country.

Would it be better to spin this as: 3 quid more than a Ross County game on a Tuesday night in mid Feb? Thought so! It's what, our 14th forray into Europe, in 10 years time we may look back and say, "Jeez remember when we played xxx in 2014, not a sniff since .... ahh those heady halcyon days ..." I don't grudge the club 25 quid for the heightened atmosphere, the ability to wear a t-shirt and walk home when it's still light.

The Well Society has plateaued as there has been nothing released to say we are in impending doom, if that were to happen then we'd reach our target. Currently bobbing along in the top of the table and Euro qualification shrouds what a precarious position we are financially if we had a very poor season (bottom six, cup exits very early). The extra prize money we earned this year on the last day has kept the wolf from the door, don't pretend anything else. As for the season tickets, they've been price frozen for what ..... 4/5 years? Give the club a bit of a break on that front. If supporting Motherwell is such an issue for you there is always Bellshill Juniors, their tickets don't fluctuate and you'd have no issues with Euro ties ........

Is he on a free or Blackburn looking to loan him out again. Looked really good before he went, came back and looked a shadow of his former self. Looks to be a bit of a confidence player. Maybe he could play wallsy with Gunnar and they could improve it together.

A Current supporting mate has just liked a Current facebook update, how the mighty have fallen, I take it Ajax and Inter Milan didn't get back to them. ..... "Buckie Thistle at Victoria Park on Thursday 3 July (7.30pm kick off) and a game against Brora Rangers at Dudgeon Park on Sunday 6 July (3pm kick off). Ally McCoist's squad will then travel to America and Canada from 12 July, playing two games in each country. Rangers play Ventura County Fusion at Ventura College Sportsplex in California at 7pm on 15 July then Sacramento Republic FC at Bonney Field, Sacramento at 7.30pm on 19 July. The Light Blues then play two games in Canada – against Victoria Highlanders ......"

BBC Sport Website Mannus (SJ) Mackay (SJ), Warren (ICT), Boyd (RC), Izaguirre (CE) Brown (CE), Lasley (MW) Higginbotham (PT), MacLean (SJ) and McLean (SJ) McKay (ICT) Can't help but think St. Johnstone winning the cup heavily influenced his decisions. Can't say I know a lot about other players in our league, I don't watch enough games outwith ours. Thoughts regardless? Any of them free?

Ross County have been deviating for the league, out the way, bring nobody and vote as per the unwashed. Aberdeen Unwashed (I'd happily see them go elsewhere though, have they ever considered an Atlantic League?) Dundee Dundee Utd Hibs Hearts Partick St. Johnstone Falkirk Dunfermline Ayr Utd (just for a change) No St. Mirren as I'm not a fan of their stadium or police liaison.

Caravan for me ma .... periwinkle blue .... the cushions .... periwinkle blue

I echo Melvin's post. Unfortunately if he'd performed, we'd find the money somehow, simple as that. I think the hard for him to countenance was it was only a few years ago he was on crazy money (relative to the SPFL) and I no doubt suspect he probably thought he'd still be on a decent salary in 2014 at 31. I suspect McCall offered him something but it wasn't anywhere near acceptable. However with him moving on we can use that wage to secure 2+ others or a bunch of U20's. I think this is the first example of McCall giving ultimatums as promised. Difference is last season, McFadden held out and eventually re-signed as it was the best option. Unfortunately the wording of this press release is pretty final, it would have been nice if the door was left open. I will always look out for and have time for the guy, this club winning means as much to him as it does to all of us, that's evident from his demeanour on and off the park.

Good job we didn't need and believe they hype that the team of wonderkids to ensure we got Euro football, 10 points post split kinda does that.

Jeez one penalty save and Gunnar "shows promise". Very much a confidence player and also crucially got a year to run. He'll stay mostly for financial/contractual reasons, however I suspect McCall looking at him as a backup opposed to a starter, not what I'm sure he hoped would be the situation last summer. If he can a) attract Gordon or MacDonald, b) afford them and c) ensure injuries are limited, then he could be onto a winner. I expect his predisposition for caution with 'c' in the back of his mind, knowing it could result in Gunnar in goal for an extended period again and (if Gordon) a chunk of our limited funds paying for a guy who could be sporting crutches before the end of August. Hollis for me never did anything overly to justify his detractors, his physical presence and command of the 18 yard box isn't a patch on Ruddy or Randolph but few can deny we were spoiled with them. He came into regular starts after years of warming benches, I find it strange how most on here will give Erwin, Leitch etc. the benefit of the doubt but Hollis is expected to be razor sharp immediately. When budgets are tight and I imagine his salary isn't too hefty, I think it may be sacrificed to be put towards that of someone whom McCall has a bit more confidence in. As for the defence, I and others on here have said they can't see many weak links if Ramsden is fully fit, I may have to reach for my tin hat but Hammell was guilty of quite a few errors that cost us a number of goals this season. But again there are other factors such as confidence in the guy behind you and not being exposed by the midfield. If we could find a left sided player who can step into the middle if required then I'd be happy as ZFA doesn't inspire me. I can only hope Vigurs decides to stay on late during pre-season and do a few more runs up the steps at the Strathy and Lawson clicks that he's supposed to pass to the guys in C&A. Have we had anyone in the past few years who we can genuinely say has improved in ability and stature to expectation or just plateaued. I'm not looking for the next McCarthy, its just I've read others think that happened with Hutch and there a danger it could with Carswell. Jack Leitch is getting plenty of plaudits at present but is that more hope than anything else?

So, elephant in the room, I'll ask the question then. What have you done with MJC and how did you get his password?

When you have 4 sports channels you have to fill them with something, we are seen as a cheap filler, I suspect not much more by the bosses in Isleworth. Issue is we're being bombarded with football, there's hardly a league in the world that you can't find a game or highlights show for on a full sub package these days. There used to be a bit of excitement if we were on the Scotsport extended highlights once every 4 weeks or so and then an odd european game in the latter stages with a big massive blocky R in the top right and commentary over the telephone. As a result familiarity breeds contempt and we're now immune to it. The knock on effect is less people are inclined to visit the games because they can pretty much watch their team live 15-20 times a season on a computer and sub based telly. Add to the mix just a general apathy and we find why we have dwindling attendances and not that much enthusiasm in our product.