weeyin

If we had just punted Humphrey, we'd be seeing all the "found his level" posts.

The new model, as mentioned during the Well Society Q&A means that we don't have to sell any more players this season. We have, in effect, a line of credit with Les and JB, with a repayment schedule that is very favourable. We also have a guaranteed bump in income next season if we stay in the top league. So staying in the top league has to be a priority. There's no point in paying off loans unnecessarily early if it means we get relegated. I think the balance we have right now is working pretty well. Brought in some money for Johnson, Pearson and Hall while blooding a number of youngsters. We have also done some good business by extending the contracts of Cadden and some of the youth prospects. If we repeat that over the next 2 or 3 years we should be in sound financial shape. Of course, if we get an big offer for a player we need to consider it, but we are already showing that we are in a stronger position to negotiate and we should continue down that path. We had figure in mind for Marvin and rather than rolling over (like prior years) we held out until we got that number. If Moult wants to (quite reasonably) move on, we should be able to get the same, or more, in June than we will in January.

If he did end up in the EPL I'd be he'll score more league goals there than Mr. Jutkiewicz.

Is 25 too young to join Grimsby? I'll never understand these UEFA Cross Border transfer rules.

As was pointed out at the society Q&A we have absolutely no need to sell any players this window. So if any team wants to buy they are going to have to make an offer we can't refuse. If Moult continues his form and wants to move on, I doubt we'd have any problems selling him. 500k? They can have Craig Moore for that.

Adding this here, rather than starting a new thread, but mods feel free to move elsewhere. An excellent article in the Evening Times by Mr. Mullen, with 'Flow again giving a well constructed argument against the "Elite 8" youth programme. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/spfl/15002576.Exclusive__Motherwell_CEO_Alan_Burrows_on_the_provincial_pitfalls_of_Project_Brave/

I'm usually the world's biggest pessimist when it comes to these games (probably because we went years without winning one), but I think we are going to grind out a win this time. Moult and Skippy taking the lead and Lionel doing a turn.

Louis is going to take care of them in the double header - assisted by Skippy.

You are just reiterating my point about needing to be consistent.

I'm not a fan of the rule, but for every rule in the book the ref needs to have discretion. Of course, that doesn't excuse the obvious inconsistencies in their application, but decisions have to made in context of specific situations.

Under the old rules, "ungentlemanly behaviour" was a catchall that a ref could use for booking a player who was persistently being a pest. That was replaced in the 90s with "unsporting behaviour", but I think could still be used in the same way. Too lazy to check, but I think "unsporting behaviour" is still an option for refs.

I'd happily ban them, but that shipped has sailed, I think, since the authorities gave them all the green light. Accies is the worst of the lot - it even looks mince, which is quite an achievement.

The cash has been going straight into the directors' back pockets since the Jan Stepek days. That isn't exactly a secret. And it was no surprise when the Morrisons' cash went the same way. It may be different now, but in recent years the pitch was in use most nights. And not by the first team. They also have a cordial relationship with the local council, but also not much of a secret. Hamilton's not a big town and I think everyone is aware of the wheeling and dealing that has gone on with Accies. I know I haven't lived there for a while, but I still know people directly involved with the club. In the late 70s and 80s there were fairly credible stories they "couldn't afford" to be promoted. The only thing that would surprise me (and their fans) was if money was re-invested in the club. Regardless, they have still been our most consistent local rival in the past 20 (going on 30) years and I'd rather be playing them at New Year than St Mirren.

I grew up in Hamilton and know a lot of Accies fans. They care as much about their team as we care about ours. I hate the pitch they have, but I understand why they laid it. It's used by many local organizations and, as result, plays a role in the local community. And they have one thing going for them - they aren't Clydebank in disguise. They have also provided much more of a derby interest in the last 20+ years than any other Lanarkshire team. Imagine how boring the league would be if we never played teams we didn't like.

Better late than never, but glad it's finally happened. Hope we can get the same return we got from Cadden's loan spell.

Now I see how he single handedly destroyed an Asian Troll Cabal. He got them all to PM him on facebook then called them names.

I see McGhee agrees it was a red card. From The Herald - "I think the referee had no choice, but to send him off, but it wasn't malicious."

Completely agree. 4 pts from 2 tough away games and a few weeks to get our injured players fit. Plus, maybe, a wee bit of business in the transfer window. Not a bad way to end the year.

The Hogmany was strong in his comment...

It's difficult to tell with, as many have said, opponents trying to mark Humphrey out the game and freeing ul space. However, having recently seen the level his old team play at, I wouldn't have taken the risk in re-signing him. Much better for us if we can find a player we can develop in that role and sell on like Marvin.

It's not the quality of the microphone that makes them moan about a ref's decision for 15 minutes instead of describing the action. It's compounded by the fact that often, like today, it looks like the ref was correct.

Foran was always a risk. Worth a chance I suppose, but they gave him a stupidly long contract that will be expensive to pay off.

A 6 - 1 defeat in the playoff kinda thing?

True. But it dwarfed ours the season they were relegated.

Good move for both parties there I think.