texanwellfan

This is soooooooooooooo scary how well we have done and what a great position we are in. if the team can hold it together through the end of December we will be in a position no one could have predicted at the start of the season. However I think that I would pick hearts as being the most likely challenger for 3rd place but with all their troubles they hae gone by the wayside by the end of December, especially if they don't beat us. if we can win tomorrow it should be a great day since, this weekend, there are 2 games that will benefit us regardless of how they end St Johnstone V Celtic Kilmarnock V Dundee Utd. Then next week if we can get a result at Tynecastle another couple of benefical fixtures St Mirren V Rangers Celtic v Kilmarnock Then Dec 28th we play Dunfermline with 3 more beneficial fixtures. Celtic v rangers St Johnstone V Kilmarnock ST Mirren V Dundee Utd. dec 28th

We know that in all probability our good away run must come to an end at some point. BUT the good news is, that same probability would suggest that our poor home form must come to en end at some point. Let's hope there is a good long overlap !!

Excellent reply Al !

or all over the top more like it!

I believe we need to target 2nd place finish. As mentioned, very unlikely, but if we don't then we may become complacement and hit a real downward spiral.

i am not sure how the entrance fee, as a percentage of weekly wgaes, has changed over the years but it seems hell of a price to go watch a football game now. Especially with the state of the economy. But on the business side I am not sure who is allowing the clubs to get into so much debt. How can a team like Hearts get into 15 million pounds of debt? How did they ever realistically expect to make enough to cover that??? and he wants to sell them for 30 million??? Rangers are apparently having financial issues too but you could perhaps envisage them having some sort of chance of making some decent money. Thankfully I think Motherwell have learned their lesson and it would benefit other teams to learn from our mistakes and not have to experience the same traumatic events.

The league is pretty much over before it starts it's just a matter of when it is officially confirmed. I totally agree with your send last paragraph but we know that will never happen. Anythign to try and level the playing field should hopefully help towards more parity and a more competitive league.

I am pretty sure no one , including me, is for introducing the "glam" from america into Scottish football and i am not sure what crazy initiatives are applied in the states. Their game is pretty much the same way as ours. 1 for a tie and 3 for a win althought they do have a play off sytem which I think is intended to make more of the games meaningful. I'll take the blame for the flawed points system. I modified a 10 point system that is flawless ( 'cause I like goals and hate 0-0 ties ) The 10 point system is a great idea used in the youth game in many countries. It stil preserves the order of magnitude of rewards for win tie and loss but rewards the same outcome with varying points depending on how many goals are scored. So if a team gets beat 4-3 at least they can take something from the game. win = 6 points ranges 8 to 10 points depending on score tie = 3 points ranges 4 to 7 points depending on score loss = 0 points ranges 0 to 3 points depending on score goal = 1 point for each goal scored up to 3 shut out = 1 point if you shut out the other team. You are right that we cannot change the audience but it would help if we could help attract some of them back. If not for financial reasons at least for improving the atmosphere and maybe enabling a reduction in the cost of admission. There are many people that like to watch football but for a variety of reasons don't go anymore. You mentioned some of those such as go back to standing areas, getting a grip on the stewards etc. Aside form the off field issues needing addressed i do believe we need to find ways to encourage attacking football and make the games more enjoyable to watch. There has been plenty of debate on here regarding winning Vs style of play. Most, if not all would prefer both. WI know we need to win in order to stay in the league or get into europe but it can be painful to say the least, watching some of those dire games where we do actually get 3 points. I am sure there are many games that were more enjoyable (as a spectacle ) when we did not win. eg 6-6 Vs hibs. So you score 6 goals, contribute to a great game but get the same 1 point as a team who "parked the bus" and subjected the crowd to a dire 0-0 tie and no enjoyment whatsoever. Your observations about the german game are very interesting so perhaps the SFA or SPL or whoever could learn someting from the Germans. They have the same pissy weather as we do in Scotland so it would appear that someting can be done without the need for summer football. Anyway, C'mon the Well!!!

I think we are due to put in a blinder at fir park soemtime soon so why not this weekend? The win against St Johnstone and the manner in which it was achieved will have instilled some more confidence..............Motherwell by at least 3.

............Do you really believe this: "if games are entertaining then fans will come back." ?................. Yes, i think there is a better chance of them coming back that way than if it is not entertaining. Entertaining, meaning more goals not all the hoopla that surrounds the american sports. I am certainly not for making everyone sing the national anthem at each game and definately not for the whole " a word from our sponsors" approach. Not sure if you sang or put your hand on your heart but I know I have never done that over here altohugh I have no problem with the Americans doing that. I put forward some suggestions ( as stated initially, radical ) that are actually changes. Would they be for the better? I think so. Would they ever get close to being implemented. No. Football is not just a sport anymore it is a business. A declining business. In order to halt the decline I think it's worth looking at other businesses, sports and countries and to learn form their experiences and not be afraid to implement changes to make the business successful. From what I can tell there have been no major changes to halt the decline other than some tinkering with number of teams in the division. However I will say that it does seem like motherwell are trying to do some things differently in order to make Motherwell FC be a successful business but Scottish football has to do that as a whole entity. ..............Oh, and I didn't travel back for the Cup Final and I didn't even see the match on TV as none of the channels were showing it in Shanghai; not even where the Sellic Fan Club drink. What exactly is your point regarding Cup Finals....... No point regarding finals. Merely a comment agreeing with earlier post that I have been in america too long but regardless of how long I have been away I am proud to be a motherwell supporter and proud to tell people how much my club means to me so much so that I have travelled back from here twice just to see a football game. Literally that is what I done this year. Left here on a Thursday and was back in Texas Sunday night.

thanks for the info Numpty. If they can keep this up I am sure they can set some new records for Motherwell. Sounds like us wining 5 in a row away from home is a first? Our away record is just stunning. Seems like we are playing as a team and considering the amount of moaning I have read on here still a lot of room for improvement..............now that's scary when we are sitting 3rd in the table with some breathing room. Can't fault Mr McCall's early season statement about the main focus being on our results against teams outside of the old firm....................But damn! wouldn't that be icing on the cake to beat one or both of the ugly sisters!!!!

12 ahead with a game in hand but I get your point. In fact I just said a similar thing to the wife........... 12 points ahead of Dundee utd and a game in hand, when did that ever happen before?

So how was the team performance? great result and nice to see murphy get a couple. Who knew a "downward spiral" could be so enjoyable!

i've never looked at the league table so much in my puff. Makes great viewing. Be interesting to see what people can find to whine about this week.

well thanks for all the positive feedback LOL hey just some suggestions i am sure there are many things that could be done to improve the game but i thinkas one of you mentioned or hinted at, some of it is down to there are more things to choose from now rather than just football. Plus it seemed like we had more talented players back in the day before we started "coaching"youngsters. ............Anyway to keep in line with the american way of life i am off to get some coffee, donuts and tacos then come back and read all about our glorious victory today. and I have been here a long time ( 22 years ) but did attend both scottish cup finals !

not sure why they keep going on about league reconstruction they need to change how the games are played. if games are entertaining then fans will come back. They also need to look at the "system" where the rich teams just get richer. Spread the income evenly among all the teams. although the teams with larger crowds will still get more money at the gate. Some changes I would propose are ( probably too radical ) if you dont't score a goal then you get zero points. So a 0-0 game both teams get 0 points. Goals are what need to be rewarded so make it 1 point for a score draw, 2 points for a win, and a point for each goal scored. So if you get beat 4-3 you at least get 3 points. If you win 1-0 then you get 3 points. maybe an extra point for shutting out the opposition. I would have relegation/promotion playoff's each year. Top 2 and bottom 2 in knockout. When a player goes down injured the referee decides whether to stop the game or not. Then all the players can just concentrate on playing. I know everyone hates it but they need a replay booth for key incedents. All very well to recind the inverness guys red card but it made inverness play most of the game with 10 men. I would also suggest a TV program.......(since footballing/referee powers that be wil never do it ) ..... reviewing referees performances and have a league table for them, giving them ( or taking away ) points accordingly. Have a panel on with people like Hugh Dallas ( now won't that be contiversial ) and a couple of others showing cases where the officials done well and cases where they are making bad mistakes and cases where the wrong decision was reached simply because it is too hard for the officiating team to see and keep up with everything. They could then show league table for the referees each week. Might spur them on to be a bit less egotistical and certainly a lot more accountable.

yes we have been struggling and yes we may loose tomorrow but "downward spiral" is a bit OTT.

I think December will see us strnegthen our hold on 3rd spot. it may also see me having to take some typing lessons

I am looking on the bright side that we still have to hit our pruple patch !

what's the deal for getting the 5th spot in europe? Alldepends on the scottish cup final. 2 top 5 teams in final then positions 1 to 5 are all in europe. outwith top 5 wins final then top 4 are in europe what if a top 2 teams beats a team not in the top 5 ??? What if 3rd or 4th beats a team not in the top 5 in the final???

not sure what the voucher thing is but why not just say the re arranged fixture is free. The people who were at the game already paid and if others turn up for the rearranged game.........what the hell, just let them in........might swell the crowd and maybe entice a few people back .........and way much easier to organize............turn up and get in free, organizing done.

born in motherwell, went to Calder and dalziel high. Moved to Austin, Texas in 1989 and still here. A lot easier to keep up with the fitba now than it was in 19189. used to be out the back yard lsiten to whistling short wave radio. Made the 1991 and 2011 cup finals though 1989 not 19189

Judging by our home scoring record any game is going to be a hard one at fir park. Added to that the first thing the new Hibs manager will probably do is to concentrate on defending in numbers to keep them in the game and try not to loose. However maybe Friday night is the time when we start to hit some form and all the players actually start to play well. despite our lofty position I don't think it can be said that we have been palying well this season but yet the team keeps grinding out results. Being a typical Motherwall fan I am going to say that Friday night will see the start of a purple patch for us as the team clicks and all the players hit form at the same time and we go thru December undefeated taking 15 points out of 15! Europe here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AGAIN!

Well regardless of all the preferences etc the game is a Friday night and I hope we can get the lads the crowd they deserve. I think it is a great gesture by the club and lets hope it pays off with a great result, great game and a GREAT atmosphere. .................... ok ok I'll settle for great result, which is us having at least one goal more than them !

Just as a matter of interest what is our longest undefeated SPL streak and what is the most games in a row we have won in the SPL?