Hope Springs

Given our propensity to produce the unexpected I believe we could win today. COYW!

With nothing to lose, minimal expectations and poor form, I just want us to compete for the full game. Get at them, play to expose their weaknesses ( which are not inconsiderable) and don’t be inhibited by their strengths. Just give it a decent go and no one should worry whatever the result

Well, one consolation at present -?we could have given McLeish another shot at managing us. He is so clueless he couldn’t even get who he had put on the field right. He couldn’t change anything when needed and he played two of the best left backs in Europe out of position. Makes you get a bit of perspective on where we are as a club, no?

Ryan Bowman played his first full game since injury and scored a brilliant goal and caused the penalty. The spirit of the team is relatively high compared to their results and league position. We have players now gaining international honours on merit. We are not as bad a team as a lot of posts might suggest. We are not being heavily defeated and remain in games right to the final whistle - our heads do not go down. Lots of positives and, I am sure, we will not be relegated this season.

Last night’s Scotland v Belgium result proves yet again what Motherwell fans have known for a long time : McLeish is mince as a manager.

I think this is a strong line up with a decent balance across different aspects of the game - a bit of creativity balanced with dig in midfield; a balance of attacking threat and defensive strength and a very decent looking bench with a fair range of tactical options to be had. So if the application, energy and appetite of last week continues I’d hope we have enough to see off a fairly toothless Dundee. COYW!!

I’ve read a lot of hysterical stuff on here recently: interesting to compare some parallels - Motherwell have just lost 2 in a row , so have Celtic; Motherwell’s strikers didn’t find the net enough to the fans liking, Griffiths couldn’t buy a goal; many are questioning the players Robinson has signed as quantity over quality , Commons says Rogers’ signings are less than impressive; both teams got to both cup finals last year but Motherwell’s season was a big improvement while Celtic were poorer yet two games in we’re making statements about Robinson being sacked before the turn of the year while St Brendan is meeting his players to reassure them he’s going nowhere!! Some Motherwell fans need to take a reality check.

I am reasonably optimistic we can get a result: Hibs will certainly be affected by a trip to Greece and we are also very capable of scoring goals against a suspect defence. Robinson has given himself options in defence and midfield even with injuries and transfers both of which were anticipated. Anyway, a new season lies ahead with everything to play for and I have confidence in Robinson and his team. Who knows, he may even surprise everyone and put Bigi, Gorrin and Cadds in the middle and play Hibs off the park ...

Mitigating factors : a strong tricky wind; a horrible artificial pitch; early loss of McHugh who had looked confident and composed; lack of match fitness in Hartley in particular. Inexcusable features: not using Bigi who has more football intelligence and guile than the midfield put together - and especially when hooking off a really out of sorts Campbell early ; Main and Sammon playing so far off each other that they carried no threat until Clyde ran out of steam; keeping Rose on the pitch. Promise: Sammon scoring again; Frear showing glimpses of confidence going past his man; Rodriguez putting his foot on the ball and picking his passes. I would love to see Rodriguez and Bigi play in the same team - it would give Main, Frear, Camden and Sammon more to work with and pose more goal threat. But we would need a lot more solidity at the back to even contemplate this.

This is too important a game to take chances with team selection. Must put out the fittest, hungriest team and take the opportunities that we create. I thought McHugh in the back three was at his most effective for many a game and Campbell needs to be at his best in midfield. Bowman up front always puts in a shift and never hides so he should get the nod before Sammon. After that Carson, Tait and Camden should get their place. If Kipre is still carrying an injury vs Hartley needing game time I would prefer Hartley. Main then because he has a stronger understanding with Bowman although Curtis needs to find a bit more sharpness. Rose for his energy, Frear for width. And Turnbull on the bench with the promise of half an hour because he changes things in ways QoS might not expect. Bigi too if there is a plan B although many don’t believe so because of budget or philosophy!

With Tanner still injured Bigi and Campbell are the best passers in the squad, particularly Bigi so he merits a place on the merits of his Final display alone. I can’t imagine Robinson doesn’t see the flaws in the system but he also needs to be honest enough to at least try a plan B (a midfield that passes as well as breaks up play)

McHugh looked assured and distributed the ball really well. He never put a foot wrong and that was pleasing to see. Rodriguez seems fairly accomplished and that holds a bit of promise for the season ahead. Campbell and Cadden are none the worse for a shortened break. Frear would appear to have a renewed appetite and the hat-trick can only have given him a confidence boost. Thought Sammon gave a decent effort - showed for a lot of passes that were never made - so I don’t think we should be writing him off so early into his loan. He ought to have a hunger to prove himself as his loan and Hearts contract are both over after this season. In all events last night was a very decent start and as hood a way to give Robinson the beginning of the momentum he sets store by.

Do you think Aldred could come back when the transfer window opens or has he gone for good?

Two goals from well outside the box (one a deflection) and neither giving the goalie any chance was the difference today. Celtic didn’t appear a dangerous goal threat in the box. They controlled possession well but if we had managed a goal early in the second half I think we had a chance to make a better game of it. Well done to the Well for distance travelled from last season and a very worthy two final appearances, beaten in cups only by a Celtic team who have lost only 4 games in two seasons. We have nothing to be ashamed of - only wish we could have won.

This is it. Time to pull that extra bit of grit and passion from the depths of your heart and light up Hampden, Lanarkshire and the whole Well community around the world. COYW!!!!

I’ve watched Motherwell legends since I was 3, beginning with the Ancell babes, St John and Andy Weir. I’ve seen amazing players: Joe McBride, Willie Pettigrew, Joe Wark, Phil O’Donnell. I’ve seen some amazing goals, ridiculously good football. But I don’t remember a team so wholly and collectively committed, so universally industrious and so tightly knit and focused as this current team. They deserve success. However, they must earn it on the pitch this Saturday. They have been amazing in the run up to the final : each and every one speaking with a relaxed self confidence combined with an intense passion and drive to win. Tomorrow I hope they channel this superb collective energy and run over the top of Celtic. We can do it! COYW...

Football is such a precarious profession that every game should be played as if it were your last. Pick the best players to do the best job for the game immediately facing you. Pick a squad to offer you options and flexibility. Give each game the best you have. So let’s give Partick some welly!!! COYW...

Also strange to me that Carson, with 16 shut outs in a bottom six team can’t get quoted for player of the year

Tait by a very small margin in the week he was overlooked for a Scotland cap. Not expecting an empty buffoon like McLeish to re-consider ( Tait would need to be in an Old Firm strip for that to happen) but what an engine the lad has got! And brave as you like too.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I like Robinson’s attitude that we are looking to get more from this game than previous ones through learning from the experience. We have given them some tough games but I hope there is something new/different in today’s approach. Looking forward to seeing Main and Bowman putting themselves about against a fragile Celtic defence (now minus Tierney). COYW!

I agree - I would prefer Killie. Their bubble is going to burst soon, I hope, and some of that luck and “benefit of the doubt” decisions might turn against them and it would be nice to think we might enjoy that, given the decisions we have experienced this season. Good that it would be at Hampden too after our last visit there...

Main for me - never stopped getting in Hearts’ faces, got his goal because he put himself in the right place and used up valuable time to run the clock down at the end. A brave and skilful performance. Credits too for McHugh, Tait, Dunne, Campbell and Carson. In truth, there were no failures in our team who were playing against 12 men and a bigger away support. Back to Hampden - COYW!!

Not to mention a substantial overhaul of the playing squad

Looking for a bit of magic from Ciftci today and the usual steadiness at the back. That should see us to a narrow win. COYW

In the West we are deeper in the shadow of the OF. Although it is natural emotionally to hold allegiance with a local team, the life of Scottish provincial clubs is being squeezed incessantly by the Glasgow giants. Rodgers now has the temerity to comment on every other club’s business and on whether Scotland should be playing friendlies. Nor is Scottish football working and that’s largely down to the stranglehold the OF have on Scottish football’s finances. Only a large club/business can wrest some of that control back, hence should we not at least contemplate an amalgamation?