Andy_P

For the final time this season, your thoughts and votes please...

I think sometimes our youth development work gets underplayed. Take the earlier posts about Shaun Hutchinson for example where it almost comes across as if somehow being attached to another senior club previously has devalued our contribution in his development. He came to the club as a midfielder and by virtue of the work done at Motherwell has been transformed into one of the country's most promising central defenders, was mooted to be an injury away from an England U21 call up and had Championship teams bidding for him last summer. Just because he happened to be on the books of Sunderland or whoever earlier in his teens and wasn't Lanarkshire born and bred should not detract from the job done since he came to Motherwell. And it begs the question at what stage do youths become a Motherwell product. Did Lasley for example not have a time in his youth at Kilmarnock? Was McFadden not on the book at Clyde at one stage? Does a kid have to live in the shadow of Fir Park, join at the age of six and go right through into the first team and be sold for a £1m before being considered a "pure" product of your system? For me it doesn't really matter when or how they get to Motherwell, its what happens when we have them with us.

Kind of getting the impression from Twitter that today is pretty significant in terms of the futures of the U20 team. Couple of tweets for example: Nicky Devlin: Josh Watt: Have we made it official yet who's being released?

See you say that now. See if you are saying the same when Kenny Black is sitting smiling at the press conference for his unveiling....

The Well Society have ofcourse had a page in the programme for much if not all of the season. Sometimes admittedly I glossed over it, since it appeared to be the same article given it was the same photograph used however, the page in the Ross County programme was clearly new so read it in full as the many achievements and progression of the WS was listed over the previous year. Impressive stuff. But one of the achievements to date grabbed my attention a bit more than most. Did I miss this? Was this actually announced? Perhaps it was in one of those programme articles I didn't properly read. But I thought it might have attracted more comment if it had been known to have happened. I certainly remember the WS kitty effectively being there as a potential overdraft facility for the club, and am totally comfortable with that. I also remember plenty of debate about the "virtual" overdraft facility the WS could provide. But that wee snippet tends to suggest a purchase has been made rather than a loan given and that money won't be returned. Poses a few questions. What sort of amount be would be required to purchase 6% or 150,000 'A' shares for example? How much of a dent in the WS kitty has that made? Are WS members now working towards a target of £1.5m + whatever the cost of that share purchase was for full ownership, or still just that original £1.5m? Now I don't object to what's been done, I'm sure it would have been done with the best interests of the club at heart, but I think its quite a significant event and might have warranted more of an explanation rather than a wee snippet hidden away in the programme.

From our perspective the Evening Times article doesn't make very nice reading. Ofcourse we don't want him to end up there! The significant line in there for me is where he remarks that McCoist is just the first of the managers he has spoken to, and he has more talks to come down south. Kind of gets lost a little in the boak inducing praise of all things Rangers. From his perspective I think Law has conducted himself quite cleverly in that he has told Rangers and McCoist everything they would want to hear whilst still keeping the door open elsewhere. You just don't know what the other contract talks might hold so keep them sweet for the meantime rather than a definitve "no" at an early stage. I would still hope that a Championship side aspiring to make it to the English top flight will prove more attractive than four games next season against Airdrie!

It was a good day. A little sad too, but a good day. I was fairly certain that we were going to have a right battle on our hands and whilst County perhaps had most of the ball, they never really converted that pressure into chances. In contrast we were clinical when we had to be. Great to finish off the last game at Fir Park with a win and a clean sheet for Randy too. The subbing of Law and Randolph for a send off was a nice touch. Kind of expected for Nicky, Randy a little less so. Higgy going off though...hmmm.... that immediately made he wonder if perhaps a decision had been made about his future that we weren't as yet privy too. Kind of feared the worst there. It was all the off the park stuff that will live long in the memory. I think the singing back and forward between the 'Well Bois and the South Stand was just brilliant. To see hundreds of weans all piling into that section to get involved, and then other kids all over the stadium joining in with the hand clapping as well was tremendous. I really hope some of them have had their imagination captured today and will come back for more. Nice lap of honour that really got going when the team got the 'Well Bois section. That a was brilliant touch by the players to get involved for some photo opportunities and to see Higgy joining in with SIWY - absolutely cracking.

Your thoughts and votes please...

The next two games are tricky to call as regards team selection. Like Bop I would like the opportunity to see players who have served us very well indeed in claret and amber before they move on to pastures new, but like SD I can see why giving players who are likely to play a more important role next season are given a chance too, particularly when the opposition are going to be right up for it in both matches. There are the targets to consider too like getting Higdon to 30 goals and trying to break our SPL points tally record. Plus, and I accept this will not matter a jot to many, there's may be a thought given by the management to the integrity to the competition by playing your strongest team whilst our remaining opponents still have things to play for. Tricky one.

Dave's Saints supporting mate will know better than me, I also plan to get the view of the Saints fan at work this week too as it happens, but, as a support they supposedly weren't that bothered when Higdon came to us and look how that one turned out. But look at it this way, if a Motherwell player is scorning my team to go to a "rival" team I'm not going to be overly amused about it. If asked I'm going to be playing down their abilities, partly because I don't want to let the other lot think they've got one over on us by signing one of their players and partly because I'm quietly miffed that they've chosen another team over mine.

If the Samson one proves to true I wouldn't be hugely upset at that. My perception of him is a player who has been on an upward spiral and who has matured into a solid SPL standard keeper. Not perhaps of the quality of Randy or Ruddy before him, but I think we could certainly do worse. I think with any signings though this summer its how they fit into the bigger picture given the potential turnaround of players in the squad. It may be to retain or sign someone for a particular position we will have to compromise on another.

Both of the Matchwinner kits in 89'90 were excellent. Traditional home kit and a really classy away strip. Coincided with the arrival of Super Cooper and the team really taking that Great Leap Forward or going One Step Beyond, whatever you prefer. Good memories of the season and the kits that year.

I have to be honest whatever they call it, the first thing that springs to mind when referring to it will always be the South Stand, just as I still refer to the Phil O'Donnell stand as the Main Stand. No disrespect intended ofcourse to Uncle Phil just that I've known it as the Main Stand for so long that its second nature to refer to it as such.

I'd be quite interested in one of those big chappies sizes too Bop if your supplier is able to come up with a larger size.

I don't actually think that's the worst design in the world albeit the badge looks a bit daft away up so high. It's much more "clean" looking than the home kit that's for sure. Perhaps if we hadn't over egged it with the claret on the home kit you might have been able to get away with that as an all claret away kit with amber piping rather than having to go with a different colour scheme from claret and amber altogether.

As you say underboyle there must be some discretion involved. Another example was the League Cup tie with East Fife during McFadden's first stint with us, where both the "Untouchables" kits were deemed too much of a clash to The Fifers and we wore one of our training kits from that year with the sponsor hastily applied. EDIT: And against Thistle too....

Perhaps worth keeping in mind that whilst on the face of it quite an intriguing match lies ahead what with a point still required to mathematically make second certain for us and County not yet ruled out of the European running; by the time the game actually comes around Sunday things will have changed. Putting on one's "for the good of Scottish football" cap for a second the battle for this last European place has got the potential to be a bloody exciting finish. First on the agenda is St Johnstone's visit to Parkhead on Saturday lunch time. Saints are three points and three goals better off currently than County. A hiding against Celtic though will have surely give Inverness a boost ahead of their game against Dundee Utd but if their goal difference takes a hit Saints will also then be in County's sights. Next is Inverness against United at proper kick-off-time o'clock, which ofcourse is where things start to get more interesting still for ourselves. By 5 o'clock we'll either have second in the bag by virtue of Inverness dropping points or if Inverness do take full points from the Arabs then that'll end County's European aspirations. So we may well be faced with a scenario where if both St Johnstone and Inverness fail to win then County are going to be coming at us all guns blazing in the knowledge that a win will take it to the final day for them. That could make it a more meaningful and exciting game if we respond in kind, or if we have a job done mentality could increase the potential for a negative outcome, which I think nobody wants on the last home game of such a successful season. The flip side to that is that an Inverness win by a few goals means the currently distant but still slightly nagging doubt about our own situation may make things altogether more nervy. Now personally I think they've blown their chance. 3-0 up after half an hour on Saturday was really the time to scare us shitless but they blew that to an extent albeit they took the three points. But if they do happen to get a few ahead of United, who won't have the same ability or even urgency to respond as perhaps we had and we then have to go to Perth to play a team who will also be going all out to win, then there does remain the potential for some concern on the final day. So what do you think? Caley to drop points on Saturday so that its in the bag but with the consequence of facing two teams who need to go all out to get a win. Or Caley to win on Saturday where it puts, however slight, that little bit more of an onus to go and get at least a point against Ross County? As I say a pretty exciting finale!

That at least I do agree with you on!!

Your thoughts and votes please...

That's just shite. There is always something that can be taken from a game however slight. Whether it's a particular individual's performance, a set piece, passage of play, a goalscoring feat (Higdon - six games in a row for example), a penalty save, a test of character at dealing with a negative scenario there is always something that a manager can be taken from a game win, lose or draw.

Yep, Hummell came in summer 1992.

Not so much responding to the points about the budget, more the perception about a lack of positive spin. Perhaps one or two are mistaking a lack of positive spin with a lack of what they personally want to hear. A couple of lines from the Chief-Executive's message on the official website and in the season ticket renewal packs... Lack of positive spin you say?

It doesn't interest me but there doesn't appear to have been a particularly lengthy window from it being announced and going by the OP, the conclusion of the bidding process. Maybe some inkling that it was on the cards might have helped folk who might have been interested put some cash aside. As it is not even including attending any actual matches 'Well fans have had the Hammell Testimonial Dinner, Well Society renewal, Season Ticket Renewals, Well Society Race Night and a new strip all to consider attending/paying for between the tail end of March and the middle of May. Maybe its just one event/purchase too many for some?

Like the two of you I was there, but the things that come to mind are the result and the weather more so than the emotions before or after the game. Oddly the only other thing that really sticks in my mind was an opera singer sized Hearts fan in the enclosure at the front of their Main Stand holding his scarf above his head and giving a particularly enthusiastic rendition of their Boys in Maroon song. Looked like his purple face was about to explode at any minute.

Back in the Billy Davies era. We beat them 1-0 at Parkhead in October 1999 with ten men and then 3-2 about a month later at Fir Park.