scott_mfc

A big game for us, chance to put real distance between ourselves and Aberdeen. I expect the boys to be charged up for this. Mark Mcghee's comments and build up to the game will all work in our favour I think. Aslong as we manage to channel it properly I can see us running out winners by a goal or two. Here's hoping everyone behaves themselves off the park as well and we manage to get a cheeky win to help our Champions League chances.

Atleast our supporters don't take flares to training. Hawd on...

anyone elses feed start sticking?

I'm surprised nobody mentioned Giles Coke. Thought Charlie had a brilliant game today, boot himself about well and whenever he lost the ball always tried to win it back. Much better than last week. Scott

Third place is up for grabs, and it will be either us, Dundee United, Hibs or Aberdeen that will get it. Hearts are playing pish and losing, we are playing not so good and winning. We need to put things into perspective. Aye we didn't play well today but we still got the three points. We absolutely humped Kilmarnock, played Rangers off the park, battled well against St Johnstone and shagged Flamutari 8-1. We have clear potential to play well when we feel like it. Problem is we are inconsistant (story of my life watching Motherwell). But that happens with young players, especially young players playing under Jim Gannon. We have a manager who is constantly trying new players, new formations, new tactics and new systems in order to try and find a combination that works. He also switches things about to adapt depending on who we are playing. It is therefore hard for any of the guys to get into their stride. Today, we also need to take into account the conditions. It was blowing a gale for the whole game with the rain lashing down for the most part. It was never going to be about getting the ball down and silky soccer. Especially against Falkirk, it was always going to be a battle. At the moment though we have too many players, Forbes and Murphy for example, that drift in and out of games far too often when a bit of drive is maybe needed. We have to remember though how young these guys are and that in time things will improve. If Jim O'Brien is out for a wee while then that will be a blow, as Murphy just doesn't look like he wants to run at anybody. The sooner he and Slane get back the better. edit: On a sidenote, whoever mentioned Rangers finishing third has a shout. They are rank rotten! Scott

The reaction to McGhee from certain people is a bit over the top considering how he saved our team from the brink of first division football. During his time at the club, people on here were glorifying him, much the same as they are now with Gannon, for his honesty in the press and how it is refreshing he says it like it is. That's until he says he something we don't want to hear, of course. Mark McGhee may have annoyed people for leaving in the way he did, but being honest I don't blame him. He had the opportunity to go to a club (two if you count Celtic) that is very close to him and he took it. If the roles were reversed and I was the manager at Aberdeen and Motherwell came calling I would do the same. Aye it is upsetting after he tried to pinch some of our players away but shit happens, it underlines how good a team he built for us here. From a personal point of view, he guided our football club through a very hard period when Phil O'Donnell died, something that is quickly forgotten by many. The man stood outside Fir Park shell shocked and spoke to the fans and press. He took the full team to the funeral and he even turned up to the fund raiser at the civic with Tam Cowan (to which he received a standing ovation if I remember rightly). He also revived the career of David Clarkson and Paul Quinn who were possibly a season away from first division football. The treatment he has received from some fans, including those at Aberdeen, are way over the top and are tasteless to say the least. I fully expect Gannon to probably receiving similar treatment from certain people when he ends up going as well, but the fickle football fan will always be like that. I just hope it is not for a good few years yet.

I wouldn't be too critical. That Dundee Utd team today is the best team we have played in the league this season, plus we are away from home. We had to battle for that today, and at the end of the day it was one moment of inspiration from Jim O'Brien that won it for us. It is a testiment to Dundee United that we looked a lot more defensive than we did against Rangers. For me that was a better result today than the draw last week against a very ordinary Rangers team. I thought the number 9 for us(not even going to try to spell his name!) changed it for us. They may be a very quick team, but it was important that we were more direct to try and by-pass their quick midfield. I'm excited that Jim is willing to change our team and formation to suit each game. We really have a squad that work as part of a team, and I think with a bit of luck we can get a good run on the go. Scott

I don't see what Hammell has done that is worth knocking Jamie Murphy out the team for?

I'm judging him not only on today but the past seven games he has played. He offers nothing more than Steven McGarry apart from someone who looks unfit that charges about the middle of the park. It was the only minor point in what was a fantastic performance by the team.

Fantastic performance today. Don't know why we persist with Hammell and some of the others when we have Reynolds and Hately, two players that can pretty much play anywhere. Loved crags' wee maizie run in the first half, he looked terrified So many positives. Only one negative imo - Jennings. Get him punted!

May have been covered before, but can you pay for your season ticket this season via direct debit month by month?

To be fair we did get thumped. We were out played in three halves out of four.

I was referring to the journalist in question, not speaking on behalf of an industry containing thousands of people I have never met.

I agree MJ that mistakes in any national paper don't do me or anyone else in the industry any good, and knowing Richard and the staff at the paper I am sure it is just an unfortunate and rare mistake. In regards to Frazzle claiming that anyone can write three articles a day, it depends what you are doing. If you are going out of your way to try and pull fresh stories to write, it is very difficult. Whether it is first finding something to write about, contacting the club or person to arrange something, doing background checks, waiting hours for them to get back to you, if at all, travel out there to do the interview, come all the way back, write it, proof read it, liase with a photographer who was there with you, get it submitted, then deal with queries or any add ons the desk want you to do, it quite quickly cuts into your day. It's not simply a cut and paste job. I'm not saying every story you write as a reporter will take that long, but you get the idea. Like I said many reporters now also do subbing etc which is also quite time consuming. Aye it's annoying to see mistakes and reporters get frustrated with it even more so than anyone else. ENd of the day some people (and not all) will just moan for the sake of moaning, and a newspaper gives them the perfect chance. God I did a story regarding Mr Miller last month and I got criticised for it being factually correct and not 'tarting' it up by certain people. End of the day people moan about the papers, but they still buy them or read them online. If a minor genuine mistake is going to cause you to stop reading a paper then that is even more concerning.

I'm no sure if I want to comment on this one . What I will say is that several of the sports journalists I know do put a lot of work in to get facts right and are far from "lazy". Many reporters at even national papers have to deal with editing other people's stories, deal with page layout and sub editing while writing their own stories, again to tight deadlines. A great deal of care is taken in my experience to get names like details etc correct. I worked for a national paper for over a year as a football reporter and it is easy to make the odd mistake. You don't always get club contacts who are able to help you, which is frustrating to say the least when you know there is something you need clearing up. Edit: in regards to the Steve Maguire (aka McGarry) thing, this was due to the names that PA had down being incorrect that was distributed out to the likes of Teletext, BBC etc. Which magnifies the mistake.

Did Celtic not do something at their home game against Moscow?

For what it's worth he has always been a sound guy whenever I have met him. Good luck to him.

Was at the funeral this morning also. Was moving to see so many people there for him, special mention to Ally McCoist and Lee McCulloch for turning up and standing outside for the duration. A good representation of the ex players from the club, including Alex Burns, Tommy Boyd, Stevie Kirk, John Philiben and Tommy Coyne. Wee Tommy Mclean was there too. There was probably more but that is all that I spotted. It is only when you see a funeral like that for yourself, that you feel the enormity of the devestation it has caused to the family. R.I.P Paul Scott

They're no what they used to be

Just a point to note for all the guys going over: I just went to the travel agents to get my currency and the woman said that the use of debit and credit cards in Romania can be extremely problematic. She showed me the screen and every single type of card had "on occasions" next to it. Perhaps a good idea to get Euro notes before you go. Remember if you are going to take Sterling, make sure it isnae Scottish!

Lets hope it works with just the letter!

my mate's now going. 8!

not booked the hotel mate. waiting on my mate confirming his involvement before we work something out!

I am rather excited about this trip now knowing that I will be staying with a good man like yoursel!