Andy_P

I think it would be very difficult not to want to throw millions at the club but I think for your average punter it would end up messing with your head to be honest - the knowledge that you alone, have it in your power to totally transform the club, to win trophies, to be that new force. But where would you draw the line with splashing the cash? Could you cope with the pressure of folk looking to you to dip in to complete that strive for that one more player that this time really will make all the difference? What if it doesn't happen and suddenly folk are looking for you to put more in or the structure crumbles? And regardless of however much you won I'm sure there would be some family pressure on how you are spending your their money!! Readng that back that actually makes it sound it sound something of a chore doesn't it, but I think it would have some bearing on my thinking. I'd be looking for some sort of position on the board. You would have to, to if not dictate at least oversee how your investment is being handled by the club. It would likely be one off projects and the development of the club infrastucture that would interest me. Things like getting the club a training centre sorted so we're not jumping in a mini-bus to Toryglen when the weather is poor. Give the strategy of building the club's fanbase more emphasis - do some serious and sustained propaganda work on the weans in Lanarkshirem, that kind of thing. Then after that smaller projects but one which would make a difference to fans like helping subsidise travelling costs for season ticket holders to get to games, getting things like Motherwell TV and other multimedia projects a reality. Having a club shop permenantly based in the town centre to have a constant presence. Probably a bit dull compared to parading Van Persie in a claret and amber jersey but there you go.

Perhaps contrary to Ladywell I quite enjoyed my evening. Always going to be about the preparation for the league starting so to get a first look at the new guys, see some of the promising youngsters for the first team, see a few goals and top it off with a late winner adds up to a decent evening's entertainment for me. First impression's of Law were pretty good. Started on the left but increasingly began to roam as the half wore on and looked lively across the park. I think in time Murphy/Law/Hammell interchanging down the left is going to a major creative force for us. Second half it was Steven Lawless who caught my eye and he gave both of Morton's full-backs a hard time. Looked very tricky. Assume as has been pointed already that Randy has had extra time given he was away until mid-June on international duty. Not sure why Jenno was absent though. But aye, enjoyable wee game.

Maybe it's just me Dazzer but I read it not so much that there's constant knocking of Humph, more a mixture of: A: You seem to hold him a higher regard than almost everyone else, which in turn leads you to be hyper-sensitive to any comment where he's not lauded in a fashion similar to your own. and B: You take the bait so often that some folk know you'll rise to it every time.

In terms of the badge I actually thought we were in for an official change a few years back. It never quite happened though so whether it was never intended as a change or whether it was done for a specific purpose but there's a screen that has appeared in the odd club press conference over the years with a slightly different badge on it. It's been in the suite in the Main Stand where the club have held the AGM's on occasion too. It's a claret screen with a kind of watermark image of a Motherwell player at the left hand side (Lee McCulloch sticks in my head for some reason) the banner Lanarkshire's Premier Club and a slightly different club badge. I can't quite remember if its the steelworks or the fir trees that got the chop but it seemed to be replaced by what I think was Motherwell (the town or district's) coat of arms something like this.

Well your memory must be playing tricks on you as his record was actually 5 goals in 17 league appearances for Tottenham, twelve of which were substitute appearances. Its worth putting the fee in context too. Around the same time we paid something like £150,000 for Andy Roddie, Shaun McSkimming £400,000, Mitchell van der Gaag £400,000, Scott Howie £200,000. Even Stevie Crawford was being linked with us for a £700,000 move around the time!!! That perhaps says more about McLeish's lack of acumen in the transfer market than anything else but in that particular era but the fee for Hendry wasn't uncommon and was in keeping with the market prices of the day. I don't think McLeish would have been alone in thinking okay if you can manage a return like that in England's top flight then there may be a possibility that you might be able to replicate or better than in Scotland's top flight. Particularly as was suggested at the time that he had been understudy and learned from Klinnsman at White Hart Lane. Might sound like I'm trying to defend the player, certainly not there is little that can be said to defend his 'Well career, but I can fully understand why the old ginger tosser went for him.

He played more than once for Spurs I'm sure. Maybe not loads but he played more than once for them. Was held in a sort of David Ferrere like admiration by Spurs fans for two goals he scored in what was then a rare win for them at Highbury. It didn't work out obviously, he was clearly honking at Fir Park, but you can see McLeish's thinking behind the signing surely?

The youngsters/fringe players are perhaps the squad fillers that some haven't factored in. It remains to be seen what McCall does with them in terms of loaning them out but as it stands our squad is quite heavy with players in that are close to or have the U19 age ceiling or are not quite first XI material yet. Not including the older youngsters (if you can have such a thing) like Page and McHugh you've almost a reserve XI with Tom Bradley, Ross McKinnon Dario Quinn, Jordan Halsman, Stuart Carswell, Peter Innes, Steven Lawell, Steve Howarth, Gary Smith and Jamie Pollock as back up to the recognised first team. Certainly McCall seemed to rate Carswell and gave him some game time towards the end of the season. Remains to be seen how much of an impact he and some of the others can make but I would hope to see one or two of them make the breakthrough.

I guess with any testimonial it depends a little on the motivations of the committee as to whether they are looking to maximise a return for the player concerned or whether they are more orientated to marking his contribution with the people whom have been most closely linked to him, rather looking just at the money. I suppose only the Testimonial committee will know why Partick were settled upon for the opposition whether it was the preference of Craggs or whether a more "attractive" opponent couldn't be secured. Perhaps maybe a bit of both. With the increasing difference in the starting times of Scottish and English leagues, early European qualifiers and the number of overseas tours undertaken by English sides, availability might not be what it once was. Add to that the expenses that larger teams might insist upon and the lack of a guarantee of a turn-out, sometimes the big name might not neccessarily equate to a larger return for the player. Either way its pleasing to have the opportunity to mark Craigan's contribution over the two spells at FIr Park. A more than half-decent defender certainly but he has squeezed out more in his career than perhaps players much more talented than him have managed, down to sheer hard work, persistance and committment. He's fought back a few times throughout his career from being freed by MFC, dropped by NI and Motherwell at various spells but has continued to plug away and win his way back. Arguably his time with us is coming close to its conclusion but he's been a wonderful servant over the years and it will be nice to recognise his contribution with us at the Partick game. Mind you. What price an OG in the testimonial though.....

Have we actually really been interested in this guy or is it another of these Dindeleuxesque links that will never ever go away? Read lots of "interested in", "linked with" or "talking to" lines but is really the case or someone has passed on the first rumour to someone who has passed on the rumour, who has posted it on here and so on and so on.... But is there any substance to it?

This the James McFadden you were referring to as "McFud" last year after his display against an average Liechtenstein right-back. Things still aww sugar or aww shite and no in between then?

I'll respond to the highlighted line first as its a great point Albi and one I've mentioned before. The leap from an juvenile season ticket to a full price one is absolutely huge, particularly if you don't have the relative cushion of the student ticket for a couple of years in between the juvi and adult tickets. I think that has to be something we look at as a club. There's clearly a lot of work going on to boost the juvenile numbers but it would be something of a waste if in a few years time they may be lost if they are suddenly faced with paying a couple of hundred pounds extra on what is a good value juvenile ticket. As for the rest of question the simple answer is that the home games are ring-fenced for me and therefore a season ticket makes most sense. Over the last 10-15 years the home and away attendance that was once just taken for granted has long gone, the weekly sessions in the pub pre-and post game have become a very occasional exception, programmes purchased home and away are no more but as long as I can afford it I'll aim to get my season ticket to ensure going to the home games is that little bit easier. I possibly miss one or two home games a season which might reduce the overall value to the point that I might not save much if anything but I buy with the intention that I'll be there if I can so I get my season ticket so I've got my seat next to friends and acquaintances built up over the years, don't have to worry about trawling up to FP to get tickets for bog-standard OF games and have a bit more reassurance when it comes to the odd Cup Final.

Its the fact that its only mid-June that is making me hesitant at being too sure of where most teams will finish. Potentially much wheeling and dealing to be done. Given the finances of most, most likely a list as long as your arm of EPL youngsters on loan in the last couple of days in August. There are other factors too like a change of manager that can de-rail a side for a spell, a January firesale or perhaps most significant if teams are carrying reduced squads, a spate of injuries. I suspct there will be very little between 4th and 10th next season but at the monent I'd hazard a guess at..... 1st: Celtic 2nd: Rangers 3rd: Hearts 4th: Dundee Utd 5th: Motherwell 6th: Kilmarnock 7th: Aberdeen 8th: Hibernian 9th: Inverness 10th: St Johnstone 11th: St Mirren 12th: Dunfermline League Cup: Rangers Scottish Cup: Celtic

That remark is actually quite reminiscent of the style that one of the fans of your red chums from Manchester occasionally used to post on here when bumming his club up too. I'd say bear in mind that sometimes there can be a fine line between justifying your position and coming across as a "Billy Big Baws" type sneering down at the non-believers. You can quickly lose goodwill. Personally I do think there's a bit of an attraction in playing you. I've no qualms in admitting you're a big club with some heritage behind you and you hold a bit more of an attraction than some English sides I can recollect us playing in the past, even if it is a growing number of years since you've been in your country's top flight. If you're also as good as your word in bringing as many to Scotland as you claim for a pre-season then ideal, it'll be all the better for MFC's bank balance and additional benefit to our primary reason for the game in getting ready for the big kick-off the following weekend. I do have to be honest though whilst looking forward to playing you, there's more excitement for me in the game the previous weekend when its a first trip to take in Dumbarton's new ground.

Would you allow Scott Leitch? I believe he was part of the youth set and played in BP Youth Cup teams for MFC before joining Dunfermline - Hearts - Swindon and back to Motherwell.

Good thread!! Won't be greedy so I'll just stick up a couple.... George Burley: Motherwell - Ayr - Falkirk - Motherwell Alex Burns: Motherwell - Heracles - Southend - Raith - Livingston - St Mirren - Partick Thistle - Motherwell EDIT: Beaten to the punch on both counts!!

By the same token though, the club would surely be happier having £300 from someone spread across across 4 months interest free, as is the case currently with the standing order option for buying a season ticket, than having no contribution at all. Using the season ticket sales as an example as its broadly in line with what an adult might currently pay for the East Stand there are a variety of ways you can buy immediately by cash, debit or credit card. Standing order interest free over 4 months, or a finance option over a longer period. Whilst your end "product" is perhaps different given these options already exist and would appear to work reasonably well I can't see why they wouldn't replicate the same terms for your "share".

If whatever we have done or haven't done annoys the Daily Record and/or Radio Clyde then it has my wholehearted backing! In all seriousness though this is one of those awkward ones where I might imagine that the majority would have no gripe with a rehabilitation programme that will hopefully conclude with the individual concerned coming out of prison a better person for it and all being well unlikely to re-commit. You might likely expect that someone or the family and friends associated with a victim of one of the prisoners on the rehab programme will have a different view entirely. I couldn't say either view is right or wrong. Would I would say though is that when someone like the Daily Record, or The Sun before them passes comment then it almost certainly done with the sole intention of stirring it and should be viewed as such rather than any attempt at upholding moral values as they might try to suggest.

Ladies and Gentlmen your winner(s) for season 2010'11 are......... ....ohh you've already seen the first post haven't you... Joint winners this year with Jenno retaining the his crown for the second successive season and Chris Humphrey joining him as joint winner. If you believe that the number of 1st places is the key indicator for you Humps perhaps takes the prize with his 8 poll wins to Jenno's 5. If however you feel consistency over the season is a better indicator Jenno's your man who earned points, if not 1st places, over a lot more games than Humps did. As always thanks for voting in each of the polls and for associated comments. Tis much appreciated. And let's hope Jenno's around to try to make it a hat-trick next season!!!!

That would be the poster called yazoo Perhaps he didn't realise it was a public poll? Perhaps he's Paul Heggarty?

You possibly thinking of Brian McLean, who initially came on loan from Rangers and ultimately ended up signing on a permanent deal?

Not quite sure what you mean by that Jamsie. If you're asking do Motherwell have bounce games where trialists are involved then yes, and that's not just restricted to the two transfer windows. If you're asking do Motherwell's freed youngsters play in exit trials then yes, there have been players who've done that in the past. If you're asking do Motherwell look for players at exit trials then yes again, as that how they got wind of Shaun Hutchinson.

Not too surprised at Jeffers going if that proves to be the case, although I wouldn't have minded seeing him, having a break, pre-season and hopefully an injury free season to see what he really could have produced. In his time with us it was certainly better than the doomsday scenario forecasted by some and I think when we look back we'll say it was a decent if not startling piece of business by McCall. Certainly the number of goals he scored could have been a bit higher but as a few have mentioned his movement and the bringing others into the game was a notable contribution. I would imagine he's got what he hoped for out the deal, game time, trauning time and the exposure he hoped for to try to get himself back at a fair level in England, that exposure culminating in playing in the Scottish Cup Final in front of 50,000 folk and live on the TV across the UK and beyond.

Yeah from what I can mind from the AGM they hinted that it wouldn't simply be a case of looking for one off investment from supporters in the same way that say Rangers and Celtic have done so in the past. There was also talk of partnerships and co-operatives being the way forward. A loose example was given whereby Motherwell benefited directly through financial investment through Commsworld. Commsworld benefited through the exposure their sponsorship of the club brought them and were able to gain access to some existing business contacts of the club to further boost their own business, Motherwell's existing clients were able to benefit from the new business opportunities that Commsworld were able to offer which in turn left them better placed to be able to assist Motherwell in the future and so on, and so on.... I think there's still a lot more needs to made clear to give supporters a clearer understanding of where we are, where we hope to be and the timescales involved in getting there. To me it didn't sound a million miles from what St Mirren were trying to do. I don't know who is further down the road in terms of putting the necessary structures in place. Perhaps if Faraway Saint or Shull are looking in they might be able to offer their perspective?

I suppose each player has to be taken on his own merits but I agree with the principle. McLean was a master at squeezing an extra couple of years out of an experienced player to Motherwell's benefit. The obvious one people will recall is Davie Cooper, whose promptings brought Tom Boyd on a ton. But there were plenty more beyond that like Tom McAdam, Craig Paterson and George Burley who aided Chris McCart for example. We also had that experience and desire already at the club with the selfless John Philliben who when you look back was shafted on a couple of occasions like being left out for three or four months once, fighting his way back and then being left out of the Cup Final team, yet he remained with the club and anyone who had the chance to watch the reserves would have seen how the youngsters benefited from his tutoring during games. With the squad having many experienced guys in the mould of Softy this will be an important area where McCall will need to earn his money knowing where that tipping point is where someone reaching the end of their career has started to stunt rather than aid the development of the next in line.

We've been pretty fortunate that since the Malpas year that we've had a nice flow of success, from the 3rd place under McGhee to Nancy, the bonus of the Fair Play euro place and subsequent Europa League run, another top half finish and European place followed by this season's exploits. When you think that larger teams than us have struggled to match level of consistency you do wonder just how long we can keep it up. The hope would be that at this current crossroads we can continue along the same path and we can enjoy more good times but the longer it does go on, the more accustomed we all become and the level of expectancy continues to grow. When we do hit dip though I also think it could be difficult for some to handle. After winning the cup in 1991 for example the following season saw some horrible atmospheres watching Motherwell because we didn't build on the Cup win. Maybe that in part was down to the loss of the choir that stood at the fence in the shed but don't really want to see a return to shouting matches in the stands like we had then any time soon.