TheLip69

Vague is dead right.

The sale is ongoing and already they've sold 21,883 for 2011-12, which is 800 odd up on last year. I was actually speaking about the First Division as opposed to the Championship anyway, mentioning Norwich's two promotions and Man City's time down there as examples. I used the analogy of Norwich playing against the best in the EPL as a contrast to what Motherwell face in the top flight up here. However it still stands the further you drop the lower your ST sales go.

Man City broke records at nearly every away game when they were in the 1st Division and there home crowds were'nt much lower than usual, but their season ticket sales were less than half what it was in the Premiership. It's apparently a pretty common phenomenon it seems people are less than willing to pay up front for what they perceive as poorer fare but it doesn't seem to stop them going along. However get back to the top flight and they want to make sure they've got a seat. I'm pretty sure Blackpools season ticket holders increased by a similarly massive amount last season.

The key phrase in this is "optimistic rhetoric" because that's all this is. Quoting Norwich City's rise in St holders is a joke, how many ST holders did they lose when they dropped two divisions? Norwich fans will be watching the cream of English Football next season, Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Man City With the likes of Rooney, and Hernandez, Fabregas, Nasri, Torres, Drogba, Suarez, Carrol, Tevez, and Balotelli. We've got Celtic and Rangers with Brown and Lafferty. Norwich haven't just pulled these punters out of thin air, they've always been there they just wont pay to watch First Division Football. We are already playing in the Top Division and we've had European Football in the last three years yet we still cant get a regular 5.,000 punters for our home matches. In fact replace optimistic with empty.

I'd buy that, right now.

I wouldn't say there was a lack of effort just a lack of belief. I really thought we didn't look as if we thought we were capable of winning the Cup.

That's a rumour that's doing the rounds down here in Manchester as well.

Pretty sure I remember a team photo with Roberto Martinez making a gesture.

McGhee by a distance, from Softie and Mio.

Day off work today to get sorted, clothes ironed and packed, just finished watching the video of 1991 and now I cant wait. Just nipping round to the local in an hour for a few swift ones before an early night as I'm up at 5 am for train at 6.30 from Manchester Piccadilly.

My dad started taking me to Fir Park in the 1960's and I began repaying him in the 1970's when I started working, getting tickets for the semi-final against Rangers, after getting cheated out of that match I swore to him the minute we got to another final we'd be there. In 1991 I queued for hours to get us tickets and in the end he was too ill to go. His health improved enough later that year for him to get to Fir Park for Motherwell's first European tie against Katowice. Something I am eternally grateful for, as it was our last match together. I'll raise a glass to him before and after the final.

The 3-2 game when Pettigrew scored the winner, for a couple of reasons. It was the first time I had seen us beat them. I had taken my wee cousin, who was about 13 and an avid Celtic fan, along to the game. He was quite an excitable wee chap and as the match progressed his voice got higher and higher as Celtic scored and then doubled their tally. I believe we had lost 5-0 the season before and he was giving me the usual ribbing about that result at half time. When we scored he said 5-1 was just as big a doing, he was getting really excited especially as Celtic were taking a pounding and weren't really in the game, at 2-2 he was squealing like a wee piglet getting it's tail pulled and when Pettigrew made it 3-2 his voice was reaching heights some sopranos would give their eye teeth for, and then suddenly I was standing next to Arthur Mullard. The poor wee buggers voice broke at that match and every time I see him I remind him that it was Wullie Pettigrew who made a man out of him.

The fact that the sponsorship is in place well before the start of the season, without the unseemly boasting that pre-empted last years fiasco, is a good start. I dont think it pays to get too snotty about the club sponsor, if they're paying cash that keeps our club alive they should be more than welcome to a place on the chest of every Motherwell fan. At least everyone who sees it will know who they are, it would be even better if everyone who sees a Cash Converter knew who they sponsored. In that respect we'd get as much out of it as they do.

I've never been an optimist but Cup Finals by their very nature are one offs. We have already proven this season that we can beat Celtic, today apart Celtic have never actually run all over us, their wins have beeen fairly close. I reckon we will go into this game with a fair amount of confidence, not enough to get too cocky, but enough to know if we do our job properly then we have a reasonable chance to lift the Cup. I reckon 1-0 Motherwell.

Aye, when I was growing up the derby was Airdrie, we only ever played the likes of Accies and Albion Rovers in the Lanarkshire Cup and used to hump them royally. I remember Joe Wark scoring a hat-trick against Accies when we beat them 10-1. I'm afraid the thought of a derby against Accies doesn't do anything for me.

6.30 am train from Manchester Piccadilly on Friday morning gets me into Motherwell before 11, belt across to Chapmans for some well fired rolls, a couple of pound of sliced sausage, and some white pudding. Taxi to daughters in Netherton and a few that night in the Cherry. Up early Saturday morning big fry up to line the stomach, swatch at the papers and telly to gee myself up a wee bit then on my way rejoicing.

1931 Motherwell lost a Scottish Cup Final to Celtic, 60 years later we beat Celtic on the way to winning the Cup against Dundee Utd. 1951 Motherwell lost a Scottish Cup Final to Celtic, 60 years later we beat Dundee United on the way to.................

Any chance of getting Mr Motherwell on there, John 'Sailor' Hunter. P.S. Whats the password for the Cup Final thread?

It's always the same with questionnaires there's always a question where it's difficult to give a direct answer. In favour of playoffs? Yes if the league is big enough to support it, i.e. 16 or 18 teams, but No in it's current or the proposed format.

Superb, lump in throat, hairs up on back of the neck.

No, that rumour has been on the go a lot longer than that. I first heard it just before we confirmed his appointment. It went along the lines of..... "Rangers have engineered his appointment to get him some experience in the SPL as he's joining McCoist's coaching staff at the end of the season. Due to financial restraints Rangers cant create a position for him but once Wattie goes a vacancy arises" The first part I dont believe a word of but the second part seems plausible enough.

What's the password

I thought I explained perfectly clearly why I wouldn't be able to pop in, I never answered Alan directly because I will message him privately. He obviously wanted to explain things to me on a personal level so that's where I'll take it.

I denounced them for getting into bed with Canterbury, a move I condemned before they went under, and I'm not keen on the anniversary shirt. Hardly every opportunity is it? I spend a fair few bob in that shop every time I visit, just like I do in Tesco's doesnt stop me having a moan when they dont have the bread I like though. My retort about the Whisky T-shirt, was ; "Cracking isn't it, my daughter got me it when she was in Scotland last weekend" That is almost verbatim, and as it was a gift I never asked the price.

From what? You must be reading more into Alans post than I am.