Rickoza

Here ye are....... TheShun.... INNES FIX ... Locos chief Steve hears game is off again MARK McGHEE wants Motherwell's Scottish Cup clash against Inverurie Locos switched to Fir Park IF the frost continues to bite hard in the Highlands. Well's fourth-round showdown with Dave Cormie's minnows was postponed for a fourth time yesterday. The SFA insist there are no plans to step in and move the game. But SunSport understands they WILL look at possible alternative venues if the match hasn't been played by February 7 — the scheduled date for fifth-round ties. Pittodrie has been suggested as a neutral venue for the match, but McGhee wants it switched to Fir Park. The Well boss revealed: "No one has contacted us and told us they have three more chances to stage the game. "Anyway, I'd object to the game being switched to somewhere like Pittodrie. "There is a cost associated with that and both clubs would lose out. "Given we have already spent money on this, if the tie can't be played in Inverurie then I think it should be played at Fir Park, nowhere else." A pitch inspection yesterday morning showed Harlaw Park was still frozen and the match has been rescheduled for next Monday night. McGhee added: "My understanding is it doesn't get moved and they will keep trying until it gets played. Maybe the rule has to be looked at, though, because the situation is now causing us a problem. "We're not getting our knickers in a twist, we're quite relaxed about it. "We understand this is a club from the backwater, and I don't mean any disrespect by that, and therefore they can't offer the pitch protection we should be able to offer. "Anyway, we are the last people who should be complaining when a game gets called off. "But we need the rules to protect us, rather than us making waves." Both sides are anxious for the Cup clash to take place as soon as possible, with St Mirren lying in wait for the eventual winners. McGhee said: "It's extremely annoying. "On Tuesday we had to tell the lads they were training for a game on Wednesday night. It's difficult keeping the players in the right frame of mind."

Forecast is.....

Think Ole was due to the board being tight-arsed about it at the time. Ginger wanted him, but the £250,000 price tag was deemed too high! Ginger Eck then apparently enquired about a young Paul Scholes only to be told by Slur Alex "f*ck off...".

Maros for me too. Really must get him here permanent.

According to the BEEB, Inverurie Club Officials are "not optimistic".... Cup tie hit by third postponement Inverurie's Harlaw Park pitch was deemed frozen and unplayable Inverurie Locos will not be forced to move their Scottish Cup tie against Motherwell from Harlaw Park despite it being postponed for a third time. The pitch was ruled frozen and unplayable after a 0900 GMT inspection on Monday and the teams will now attempt to play on Wednesday evening. Club officials are not optimistic ahead of a 1400 GMT inspection on Tuesday. A Scottish FA spokesman said: "There is no cut-off point in the regulations as such - no finite attempts allowed." The winners of the fourth-round tie, which was first set for Saturday 10 January and has a 1945 GMT kick-off on Wednesday, will have a home match against St Mirren in the next round of the competition. Only if it gets to the stage where it looks like we will never get the game played, will we step in Scottish Football Association spokesman There are two other provisional dates set aside before the game between the Highland League hosts and their Scottish Premier League visitors clashes with the fifth-round weekend of 7 and 8 February. "There will be an attempt to play the game on Wednesday night," said the SFA spokesman. "If that is not successful then we move to the following Monday and then the Wednesday. "If it has still not taken place by then, it will be played on the Saturday of the fifth round. "There was a precedent last year when Rangers played a round behind because they had a back-log of fixtures, so that is not a problem. "We will be speaking to the two clubs today. But, only if it gets to the stage where it looks like we will never get the game played, will we step in. "But we are nowhere near that point yet."

Is it not next Monday, Wednesday or Cup Fifth Round day?

I'd simply say take him out of the team and see what happens. No coincidence we weren't doing well at all when he was absent this season.

Currently -1.6C up there, temp fell below freezing around 4am this morning although it had been above freezing for quite a while beforehand. Not a severe frost, Andy's suggestion of delaying the inspection might be enough to get it on.

Have to say both Fitzy and Ports should've scored. Bad misses, but both would know it. I'd be more worried if we weren't even creating the chances though.

Temps not predicted to drop below zero in that area after tonight over the next 7 days, but it'll struggle to get above 4C at any time. And that's the air temp, outside chance having seen the forecast for Wednesday but I'd be amazed if the game happens this coming week.

I'd be surprised if they don't postpone that one as well!

Aye, disappointed we didn't win, but pleased about the amount of chances we are creating. Not that long ago we couldn't string two passes together. But Falkirk - turned into a really dirty, cynical team who are not interested in playing football. So much for the plaudits they received earlier in the season. Bunch of clubbers.

All's fair and all that. I mean, we don't know what kind of methods they've used to get so far ahead!

Anyone able to spam it?

Think they cottoned onto our way of voting. A tad more of them than us unfortuantely.........

Aye, well, don't recall anyone being frog-marched under protest into the stadium that night........ Up to Kilmarnock I know, but if you want a decent crowd....

Was thinking exactly the same thing there when I saw the title! Anyone change it, or even merge it with the other cup one?

Talking about Bob Maaskant..... MAASKANT HOPING TO AVOID PENALTY NAC Breda manager Robert Maaskant admits his side's midweek exertions may inhibit their chances of victory when they travel to reigning champions PSV Eindhoven. NAC were involved in a thrilling KNVB Beker tie with FC Groningen on Wednesday night, progressing through to the quarter-finals only after a penalty shoot-out. While NAC fought out their two-hour long battle, PSV's players had their feet up having already been knocked out of the tournament. "I imagine that PSV were glad to see that we had to play 120 minutes in the cup-tie last Wednesday," Maaskant said. "They are already out of the cup, so they were able to prepare for Saturday's game all week. If that is an advantage, we will see. "You could also say that we go to Eindhoven with a good vibe, knowing that we are in the quarter-finals of the cup now after such an intense game." PSV's title ambitions have again been questioned this week after they drew 1-1 at Roda JC in their first game back after the winter break. Huub Stevens' side now find themselves 13 points adrift of leaders AZ Alkmaar and have won just once in their past four league fixtures. They could, however, be boosted by Swedish striker Ola Toivonen who is set to make his debut after joining in the transfer window. Stevens was coy on whether his new signing would play at the Philips Stadion, saying: "We will see if Toivonen is in the line-up. It depends on different things. "We trained intensively this week to see if we can put Ola directly in the team. I am satisfied about the progress he has made in just one week. I hope he will play." Dirk Marcellis is a doubtful starter for the hosts due to illness while Reimond Manco remains on international duty with Peru at the South American Under-20 Championship. NAC, who are a point and a place behind PSV in the table, are without Tommie van der Leegte (hamstring), Matthew Amoah, Kurt Elshot (both knee) and Ellery Cairo (ill).

Fourth is just as good for Europe this season I'm sure. THink it would mean an earlier round, but certain the top four will make it.

<H1 id=entry-title>Upbeat McGhee has star returning</H1>Motherwell, 16:22, January 23, 2009 Mark McGhee will have a full squad to select from for Saturday's clash with Falkirk, with Keith Lasley back after suspension. Midfielder Lasley missed the big win over Dundee United last weekend but is available for selection, as 'Well look to extend their unbeaten run to five matches. McGhee feels that the return of key players from injury has been the reason for the recent improvement in results, which has seen them move up to seventh in the SPL. The manager said: "We suddenly went from having 10 or 12 recognised players training to having 21, 22 that week. That was a huge boost for us all. Suddenly, we could have an 11-a-side (in training). "To be back on the grass (after the bad weather) with a full squad to choose from has given everyone a huge lift, which has led to an improvement in form and, of course, an improvement in results." Course, not quite complete - Brian McLean not quite there, but least he's training now.

Clarky has matured into a superb player, workhorse up front who chips in goals to boot. Very important to us, which was underlined when he was out recently.

Thing for me, since the Inverness game, is that we have begun to play football like we did a year back. We tore apart a United side which, this season, had been the outstanding outfit in the SPL really. I know it's Motherwell we are, but there's just a spark there now which was missing pre-Christmas. Motherwell are back.

They will have to reduce entry unless a crowd of less than 4000 is to be avoided. Low, low price to ensure a big, big crowd.

I remember doing the same thing when we beat Shellic 2-1 in the game McClair got his double. Stood right behind the goals at the South Stand end surrounded by Shellic fans and was the only Motherwell fan in sight - got many grumbles of abuse when the first went in. Wasn't so bad in the 89th minute, there weren't too many of them left at that point!

There's very little chance of this game going ahead before the next round date, I imagine we'll be up at Inverurie (weather permitting, of course!) a fortnight on Saturday....