Tweed

Well I don't see us ever going back to ten. I wonder if the League Cup 'experiment' is with a view to seeing if having two guaranteed home games in that competition could make up the shortfall of having four less home games in a 16 team format. Judging by the look warm reaction to it, I doubt it. If you knock nearly a quarter of the games off a season ticket, you'll need to knock nearly a quarter of the price off it too which pushes more emphasis to attracting away punters and walk up ones. In the current climate, something no club is finding easy.

It isn't as simple as that - we got St Johnstone at home twice and away once twice in a row not so long ago so they don't always just flip them round. Broadly they do but there have always been exceptions, though I notice not this time that I can see. I kind of agree with both points here as naturally I don't want to treat any club any differently but likewise the financial detriment faced by us, Partick and Hamilton compared to Inverness and Dundee (I'm not counting Hearts because they sell out every week anyway so the difference isn't the same) is quite a high proportion of any of these five clubs' turnover and could give them an advantage in player availability both this season and potentially next if these extra players secure an extra position and ergo more prize money. However I would point out if Rangers had fucked getting up, we'd have only had one home game against the Old Firm this year and in 2013 (I think) we gained a third home game v Celtic despite us both having been in the top 6 the season before - something we definitely were not entitled to. The 'woe is us' argument wears a bit thin as over time we have got some and lost some but people only seem to remember when we are the victim. The Inverness and Ross County argument is out of order though. There are five midweek cards and other than each other there are no other clubs within 100 miles of them. With the best will in the world someone needs to go there and it being us is just one of those things. As a fan it is disappointing as these are games I would probably have gone to but now probably can't (in Inverness's case definitely can't).

Remember we're still on probation from the play off game - the club will be taking no risks and for all it's a pain the stones for some, you have to understand that.

I know it doesn't work like this but we had two absolute clusterfucks of performances where the central defence and the goalie were hung out to dry by those in front and around them at Hearts and Celtic which saw us lose 13 goals. UNder McGhee we have lost a lot less goals from cheap set plays and that is purely due to him getting more out of McManus than either of his predecessors. With a preseason to build a partnership I am hopeful we can hit the ground running as I think McManus plus one of Laing, Kennedy or Hall could be an acceptable starting central two in the four.

No surprise but Clarkson away too.

Cadden - two excellent runs that created the precious little we have.

I've never seen a Motherwell team look so spineless and apathetic as that today. Even workhorses like McDonald and Moult weren't chasing lost causes like they normally do and throw in Ainsworth watching as someone darts to our by line in the first half. No wonder he was hooked. Cadden was the only offensive player who looked interest and to be fair to the goalie he wasn't much at fault. The rest of them come out with nothing but a red neck and tinnitus from McGhee (I hope!). Celtic were bang on it today and to be honest probably as well as they have played and I suspect they would have beaten us 2 or 3 regardless but that crumpling is just not acceptable. But any year we are playing them in a league game in May, we've had a good season no matter what happens in it and overall we have to be content with 5th place. Concerning that we still have performances like that in us but we've only had four like that since McGhee came in (Ross C away, Hearts away, Killie at home and today) even Aberdeen a couple of weeks ago we had a spell creating several chances at 3-1 and there was something about us. Last season we were having these every other week but it highlights that if a couple go missing we sink like a stone.

I especially agree with the first bit of this. Tottenham Hotspur's games with West Brom and Chelsea highlight the importance of not over-relying on kids, no matter how talented they are as in both games they were in a winning position but had nobody to take the game by the scruff of the neck and drag them over the line and I think that is why people like McManus, McDonald and Lasley are incredibly helpful to have around. My inclination would be to try and keep those three over Hammell and Pearson purely because they are better at keeping themselves fit.

He scored late winners for us in 3-2 wins over Hibs too.

The SPFL have warned us about this umpteen times and we have never complied, the only way the message was getting across was the threat of a huge sanction which the club have heeded. My only complaint is that the giant cargo net in front of the East Stand looked like fun but nobody was allowed through it - disappointing.

Just a tackle Laing didn't need to make for the first one, Lasley was sleeping for the second one, marking was nonsense for the third one and to be slightly fair the fourth one happened when it looked like we were having a good spell and were risk-taking to try and get back in. Obviously the MFC highlights are only six minutes worth but the performance didn't look as dismal as firparkcorner were tweeting and McGhee talked about in his post match. Bobby Madden doesn't strike me as the type of guy who would be influenced by protests from the players or supporters, I think very clearly his assistant always thought it was a red card and he took his advice - which any referee would have done because his assistant had a better view. Sadly on this occasion I think Bobby Madden had it right and we should most definitely appeal.

Can see both sides of this one. One thing I have noticed is when the big three this season have come to town there has been a much bigger police presence than there was last season barring the play off match. No doubt the bill for which is being landed at the club's door. Bearing in mind what happened in the play off game, I reckon the police presence at the first Rangers game will be astronomical and costed accordingly and the club will need to budget for that. If that negatively impacts the money we make from when the big team come to town the only place the club can make it back is through the gate either through season tickets, match day tickets or walk up ones. And for all letting the 16-18 year olds in as concessions is a good decision, we also need to make the money back from the 17 year olds who would have paid anyway somehow. Not thrilled with the decision but content with it.

She did but I don't think we conceded a goal. Also the three goals we scored were scored by the only three Scots in the team - Hammell, Murphy and Lasley.

I thought he looked strong at that level but I think if you got him running at a Pascali/McManus type figure he would realise there is work to be done. Like you I don't think he is far away and a wee taster in the last few games might just be the momentum and motivation he needs to do the right things over the summer. Strange that I was a bit disappointed in Cadden and it is probably because I had an over inflated expectation after the way he has made Tierney et al look like mugs in the last few weeks, I thought he would have had more of an impact at that level. Maybe the whole thing has just proved that U20s and the Premiership are not that different in standard.

Thought Thomas and Campbell were the difference in the game. Felt to me that Hearts had more of the game but when one of those two got on the ball something could happen which didn't really happen going the other way, their goals being from a set play and a cock up highlighting as much. Lots to be positive about and would love to see the two mentioned getting a start (not necessarily the same game) for the first team before the end of the season and would expect some of the others to be there next season or the one after. Suspect Campbell is maybe a tad lightweight but would give him something to work on over the summer to bulk up a bit by letting him see that now.

You are assuming Celtic beat Hearts. But having seen Hearts yesterday I can see why you have made that assumption.

Thinking back to the second half chances: Johnson should have played in Moult Moult's shot that hit the post McDonald's shot that went over McDonald could have played in Moult but ran into traffic All great opportunities where I backed us to score in the build up. We should have been close to getting amends for the 6-0 they gave us last time but poor finishing meant we had a nervy ending. However the attitude was A1, the passing at times crisp and the wide players gave us so much room. Just as an aside Scott McDonald is like a wee wasp on speed, you could never shake him off, a total pain in the arse to play against and he was magnificent today. Just as another point - for a team in 3rd in the league, Hearts were utterly honking all afternoon.

I don't remember it very well but apparently we beat Morton 1-0. The first one I remember we beat Clyde 7-0.

I always find it strange that people want to start preparing for next season when there is still stuff to play for in the current one. I can absolutely understand if you are Dundee or Partick the merits but nobody else.

Josh Law is a player I can't help but like. He bursts a gut every single time and despite limited ability very often outplays and outthinks players who are better than him. Thought positionally he was a bit out today and allowed them a bit of space, especially in the first half. However from what looked like a nepotistic signing, he has turned in to a very good asset.

I agree but I think Cadden was for the most part immense today. Seemed to run more intelligently and cover better than he has been doing. McDonald was great too and Johnson had a right good first half but Cadden for me.

Didn't have any complaints about Collum to be honest. Thought he actually showed a refreshing willingness to let the game breathe and keep his cards in his pocket. As for us, not really sure whether we showed too much respect or whether they pushed us back but we really struggled to get on the front foot and when a team has as many chances as Celtic did it is a sad inevitability they will eventually score. Too many times we just gave them the ball back. But we did score a nice goal, great strength from Cadden to create the space and the other one was bloody close. Gutting that a cock up by someone who had a brilliant game otherwise cost us the points, he didn't deserve that but it was brilliant to see a couple of the players go over to him and tell him to get his chin up. Earlier in the season, the daggers would have been drawn but you can now see a togetherness in the team. Thomas almost created another wee chance at the end and it would have saved us a few pints worrying about the other games but that went as well as we could have dreamed and we get to fight it out with the big boys for a European slot (assuming Rangers don't win next week - not impossible). From here no matter what happens though, it has been an excellent step forward of a season from the last and the players and McGhee, and even to a degree Baraclough deserve great credit for that.

Celtic is the perfect time to get Collum. Clearly there are no guarantees but one thing he deserves great credit for is that he isn't scared to upset either of the bigots or anyone else for that matter. He may give us a shanner, but at least we can be sure he isn't going to rock up and be intimidated by them.

I'm going.

Malpas all over again.