livivoice

Like you I am in Mac Lean`s camp. I have always rated him and but for injuries at bad times he may have been a mainstay of the midfield by now. Sadly however I dont think SR feels the same. Check out last 2 games and he wasn't even on the bench. I was even thinking that he might go out on loan. This said if he keeps the head down and continues to work hard he might get his chance again. Certainly, its a big run in to the end of the season for him.

Anyone know if the O`Hara rumour has petered out? Meantime was speaking to an Accies mate re Hendrie. Describes him as being " very average" but that he may have improved during spell in England. Main strength is in getting forward to support midfield.

Craig Halkett being rumoured to be on Motherwell`s radar. FWIW living in Livingston I have taken in a few matches this season. Halkett has impressed me . In the Shaun Teale mould he is strong, commanding and bullish. Only 22 he doesn't stand on ceremony so dont expect much in the way of culture or poise. Concerns [ with small c] is that he aint too fast and that I am only seeing him up against Championship opposition. Add to that is that he may be too alike Hartley re style and no nonsense approach. Livi fans feel he is the best central defender in the Championship and that if he goes it would scupper their chances of reaching the play offs.

As Louis said some weeks ago that he would like to play for us before he leaves, does anyone think he will feature tomorrow?

Lets just agree to differ. What is however inescapable is that he was not stretchered off nor did he suffer a head knock. What is also the case is that before leaving the pitch he was giving and receiving the ball. And it is clear that going up the tunnel he did so at a pace which he could similarly have used by staying on the pitch. I am not expecting him to do any running. Just simply hug the shy line as has been done by countless clubs in similar situations over the years. Not going as far as others have stated to call Frear " a shitebag" but let me tell you if I was playing alongside him I would have let him know how I felt. By getting a point SR and Frear escaped a real grilling . Football is about opinions.

Mabye I am just becoming intolerant and unsympathetic in my old age, but I am bemused by Frear not returning thereby leaving us down to 10 with a fair bit of the match still to go. I take SR`s view that Frear wasn't contributing anyhow but surely keep him on as he would offer at the very least nuisance value. Certainly would have meant that Dundee would have had to keep half an eye on him whereas for last part of the game Dundee could ignore Frear`s area completely. I suspect if we had lost the game there would have been more said about this. Also, as mentioned by another poster, Frear seemed to go up the tunnel without too much discomfort. Just wouldnt have happened in my day. Then, injured players would have carried their detached leg under their arm and still have manged an effort on goal!!

I see some fans seem to think Hartley may go back to Blackpool next month. I thought he was on a season long loan or have I missed something?

I can understand why people feel that Mc Hugh could move tomorrow to Centre Half . For me though I think SR wont want to disrupt the midfield more than he needs to and will put Carl at centre mid. As for the defence I can see Dunne moving to Centre Half with Plummer coming in on the left of a back 3. In SR we trust.

Good point. I see the under 21`s are playing Latvia on 10th and Ukraine 4 days later. Oh well!

Just a thought. This match is still to be re arranged. But I notice that Celtic`s game with PT for the same original date as League Cup final has been rescheduled for December 20. Would not be good if our game is slotted in on same date or any time close to it. The idea of a dark ,wet and cold mid December night so close to Xmas and we would struggle to get a decent crowd. Factor in that St Johnstone dont carry a big support in any case. Now I`m sure the club are thinking about this but how about targeting the free Saturday of November 11. As this weekend is set aside for the WC play offs surely we could play this game . We dont nor from what I can see do St Johnstone have any players involved in play offs. Play it on the Saturday . Get bigger crowd with no Xmas distraction. I dare say we might also attract some neutrals from teams with players involved in the play offs . As I say just a thought.

Bring long studs just in case!

Word to the wise. Tomorrow is expected to be very wet. As pitch is likely to cut up the ground staff will have a big task to sort surface before our match. Even more so if first semi goes to extra time. Could mean that fitness more than usual will play a part in our match.

Jim Reynolds in the Glasgow Herald said if I recall correctly that " the referee whilst still in the Rangers half resembled a cricketing umpire as he first hesitated then with the raising of his finger awarded a penalty". Reynolds went on to say the decision was " spurious" . Being a wee boy from Motherwell I didnt know what that word meant. Checked it out . It meant ridiculous and without substance. That will do me.

That day in March `76 will never leave me but to wish ill on Johnstone is not on. Wee bit of background which some may not be aware of. First of all I am reliably informed that after the game Willie Mc Lean was physically pulled off the courtesy bus carrying the referee as he was intent `sorting him out`. Secondly the journalist who wrote the great Glasgow Herald piece was actually Jim Reynolds. Ian Archer in a separate article following Rangers fans causing mayhem at an Aston Villa match coined the great description of RFC namely " they are the permanent embarrassment and the occasional disgrace " . Still applies today. Finally I can say that 18 months after the semi in of all places East Berlin to see Scotland play East Germany, I spoke with 2 journalists who had been at the semi. Chillingly on the understanding that their confidence was protected both of them said that Rangers " come what may" were winning that match . JRP Gordon got his comeuppance later but there was a wider issue . That is that RFC is Scotland`s dirty secret. Their history is flawed and I have little doubt, often via the connivance of referees and the SFA, that they cheated their way to countless trophies . Always remember Bobby Watson who had played for them before us commenting that it was only after leaving them that it dawned on him how often RFC got crucial decisions at vital times. Decisions which he acknowledged MFC seldom got. And this was before EBT`s. A truly disgraceful institution .

With this match being on nationwide TV I feel that a big plus for us due to the number of non Scots with us is that they will have more reason to play out of their skins to impress the many clubs/scouts watching. All we need to remember is Louis`s comments over the summer that Motherwell`s strong selling attraction was the opportunity for a higher profile. Well Thursday is that opportunity as I believe our match is the only game being played in the UK. I`m not normally too optomistic when we play Aberdeen but I see a 2-1 for us.

Fans of a certain vintage will remember Paul who passed away today. Aside from his ability which admittedly we didnt get the best of I have to say that he was always a dignified guy when in the unenlightened days of the 70 `s he suffered some outrageous racist abuse . Safe home Paul and R.I.P.

Hearing from Leyton Orient pal that Craig Clay is proving to be a very impressive signing. Perhaps the change of setting is helping him to realise his potential.

Was over in Vilnuis for Scotland game and got talking to a Lithuanian fan. He says our guy has potential . Problem is that Demi [ nickname] apparently feels he is a better player than what he is and that a bit more humility wouldn`t go amiss.

Did others see the strength of our bench today? For a group of us today in the Cooper we agreed that anyone of the 7 would have contributed a lot if called upon. This is a big contrast with previous years and gives confidence for the season ahead.

If I am not mistaken wasnt it Mc Ginn from an over lapping run who scored the physics defying goal for Dundee in a 1-0 victory about 2/3 years back? Ripley was in goal I think. Mc Ginn could try this another 99 times and never repeat the feat.

With Saturday being the last game before the transfer window slams shut I wonder who will be making their last appearance. Interesting to watch the body language at the end of the game. FWIW I think Heneghan, Cadden and Louis will still be with us. Only departure I think will be Bowman. I suspect that there will also be a few more players going out on loan such as Livingstone, Falconer and mabye Turnbull.

Getthatapologyforagoalkeepersamsonaffthepark. Beat that Big Weegie Dosser!

Sorry to hear that the big man has had to retire at the relatively early age of 34. I know that he hasnt always been everyone`s cup of tea but for me he was an excellent servant to the club. Prior to his injury in February he was since signing back in 2013 largely injury free. Since signing apart from the odd wobble he was for me often the glue which kept our defence together . This was all the more important as he regularly had a different partner beside him and had to nurse these players during games. I am sure if you had to ask players like Hutchy, Laing ,Ben Hall and Heneghan [ amongst others] they would all say Mc Manus was an important influence on their careers. Also I always found him approachable and happy to talk. Anyway best of luck in your new career and if there was one tie I will always fondly remember your contribution in it was the play off against Rangers. He was simply immense.

Seems that Rangers will be without both Krankjar [ sorry for spelling] and Tavernier. This is a boost as the suggestions coming out of Ibrox is that the Croatian was looking very good and that Tavernier was showing up well. Their absences should markedly reduce their threat from dead ball situations. As a wee digression I was speaking to a rabid Spurs fan who said that of all the Croatians to play for them he was of the view that Krankjar was up there with Modric in terms of ability and guile. I know it was some time ago but his absence I feel helps us.

On the back of the programmes for the Morton and Berwick Rangers games.