Yir Elder

No-one seems to have mentioned Richard Offiong when we had him on loan from Newcastle. A complete headless chicken with pace but sod all else! What about the big Aussie Steve McDonald that Butcher brought in? Nae good at all. Also, mind we had Neil Tarrant on loan in Davies's last few months as Well gaffer? A lazy lump if ever I saw one.

The game will be on if the only concern is the pitch, as we know we have fully functioning undersoil heating and also a cover on top I believe. In terms of the team I feel we need to get back to what we did well early in the season. We need to pass the ball well but not be brushed off the ball so easily. We also need to mix it up a bit more and go direct if the occasion merits it. I would set the team out in a 4-4-2 formation with the following personnel: Ruddy Moutouakil Hutchinson Reynolds Hammell Murphy Hateley Jennings O'Brien Jutkiewitz Sutton With that team and a decent performace I'll say 3-1 to us.

My dad took me to my first game in April 1982 against Clydebank at Fir Park. Older members will know we clinched the First Division title that day after a 0-0 draw, so it was a confusing start for me! Mind you, the Motherwell roller-coaster had had us all scratching our heads many a time, so I suppose it was a sign of things to come! The old fella was a Clyde fan in his day, as his dad was, and instilled in me that you support your local team. Wise words indeed!

I'll be glad to help if required.

It was a real going over, no doubt about that. Never seen it coming at half time though, as for all they lead 1-0 they hadn't done much since the goal. Not that we were any great shakes, but at 1-0 you still have a chance and they weren't looking too dangerous. The second forty five was nightmarish at times. We were overrun in midfield and under real pressure at the back. We simply couldn't cope with their pace and movement and allowed them too much space to play. They worked harder than us to win the ball back which is hugely disappointing, perhaps we need to press and harry a bit more? We seem happy to play the ball across the defence, but this only serves to allow the opposition to play a higher line and press the ball near our goal. If we keep conceding possession in our own half the pressure will ultimately tell, and this certainly happened in this game. Now is not the time for knee-jerk reactions, and even though we've not won in six we're still fifth! I'm looking for a reaction from the lads at the St Johnstone game, we really could do with a win and an improved showing to give us fans a boost and raise the confidence in the team. This game is in the past, bring on boxing day!

Aye it was a very good night, and a big well done to all ther guys involved. Here's to more in the future.

In fairness most teams usually get the thin end of the wedge in Glasgow, and when you add to the mix Gannon's criticism of Thomson in the press, you can surely see my point!! I'm not saying he's biased but I'll be very pleasantly surprised if we are the beneficiaries of most decisions on Saturday. Years of experience says we won't be!

I will also be in attendance. I wonder if Meechan and McHugh will recover from their injuries in time? Even if they do I'd be tempted to restore the likes of Coke, Forbes, O'Brien and Hutchinson to the starting line-up. This is a place to get the ball down and pass it, so I'm sure the team will reflect this. I approach this in a cautiously optimistic frame of mind. We are capable of taking something from this game, but we need to keep Boyd quiet and control the midfield in order for that to happen.

.....and I predict he'll make us suffer as a result.

Ruddy gets my vote for another great display, although i thought jennings had a very decent game and is worth a run in the side.

You are entitled to you view MJC, and on another day Shellic could've scored more. However given the quality of their strikes we can perhaps feel unlucky that they all went in! That said they deserved their win, but we shouldn't feel too bad about our lads. The average age of our team was something like 22, with 2 debutants remember, so we did not too badly. At times we did make it hard for ourselves by giving them too much room and wasting possession, but we dug in well and cam close to a good result. Great nalty save from Ruddy and I thought that might be the springboard to a famous win, but it wasn't to be. No need for too much negativity I feel, even if we lose next week. The young lads will need our backing for the games against St Johnstone, Hearts and Accies so this isn't the time to be too hard on them. Mon the Well!

Sutty hasn't scored a nalty for us so far, his only attempt was Flamurtari. If he'd scored that one he could very well be top scorer himself right now, shows you what can happen eh?!!

Wonder what the odds on that coming true would be?..........

Get yersel up by on Saturday, you know it makes sense!! On this game I think it could be very tough for us, but then again we always say that and usually make a real game of it. I think a couple of changes are a must in order to freshen things up, and also to give Shellic something to think about. I think Forbes needs a rest and despite being poor on Saturday I'd start Lasley on Saturday. I also think we need to be more solid and line up 4-1-4-1 so I'd recall O'Brien on the left. We are very capable of getting something from this game if we play well, however if Shellic are on form then it could be a tough afternoon for us. Their recent recovery only makes me think that they're due a bad one, and we are due an improved showing ourselves. I'll say it'll be a 2-2 cracker.

There is no way that Brines should be booking Murphy for a dive from the position he was in. Watching it again I'm even more convinced it was a penalty, and a potential turning point in the match despite Hibs control at that point. Once again Brines has proved himself a total c*nt!

I take your point Geoff, but given the Gannon-Dallas situation this would be the wrong time for us to start putting the boot in.

Ruddy gets my vote too, the only player who could say he played well yesterday.

I'm sure Gannon had his reasons for not speaking yesterday. I imagine he'd have been inundaed with questions about the ref and linesman rather than the game. Let's wait for word on the official site. My only problem with his stance is the press will now side with the refs and give us only negative coverage. Mind you, nothing new there!

Brines was his usual over-efficious and fussy self, and certainly appeared keener to book our players. The Hammell yellow was shocking as the Hibs player clearly had a handful of Stevie's jersey. One of the many things the main stand side lineman missed! The Murphy yellow for a 'dive' was very poor, looked a clear penalty and again was right in front of the linesman, who again did nothing. The handball was so obvious and I can't understand why a free-kick wasn't given. Once again it was right in front of the linesman. What was Brines signalling at that point anyway? Now, the linesman. How many times was the ball over the touchline and he failed to spot it? A very poor official who should hand back his fee for yesterday as he clearly failed to carry out his job. It sems the refs payback to Gannon has started, the next two weeks should see it intensify sadly.

Sounds like it'll be a good night, think I'll head along myself.

I might make a couple of changes for this one. Despite his goal last week I'd leave Sutty out and restore O'Brien to the starting X1 and set out in a 4-1-4-1 formation. I might also start Lasley ahead of Forbes for this one to make us more solid in midfield, and allow Coke to get forward more. I think we can win this one but would take a draw in a heartbeat, despite all the draws we've had.

I've always found him an arrogant school teacher kind of ref who respects no-one. After Jim Gannon's statements I'm thinking we might get some payback from Brines, but hoping not.

Nae wonder ye canny mind Jay, it was quite a whack you gave yourself!! Some great memories there, here's hoping it can be another geat day oot in January.

A few good showings today, but the Duke's goal edges it for me.

I thought it was a pretty entertaining match today, despite the best attempts of the ref to waste it. Overall I felt we played well but did lack the killer instinct to put the game to bed. We did keep the ball fairly well when they went down to ten men, but I think our problem is how we should attack in that situation. It is something we need to address because its cost us a good few points this season. Ironically it was trying to attack more and commit more players forward that proved our undoing with their equaliser, when perhaps keeping the ball and making them work harder would've been wiser. So that's eight draws from thirteen and probably four of them should've been victories. Imagine how good a position we'd be in with those extra eight points! That said we're still doing okay and the next few games shouldn't be feared.