mfc88

As much as I doubt the Burke rumour to be true I'd take him in a heartbeat. Ainsworth is a good player for us and contributes a lot but Burke is a cut above. More of an out and out winger but could create alot for us and won't go missing in games. If only there was some way we could have both, left and right.

I was making a generalisation about, what seems to be, our contract policy. Just using leitch as an example - he clearly has the ability and character to make it in the SPL so we should be protecting ourselves here. Another one is vigurs, he has a year to run, has turned into a top player for us but I'll wager he won't get offered anything till the end of next season. Then you look at Dundee utd, all their promising youngsters are protected with another 2/3/4 years. Or st johnstone, as soon as Stevie may started banging in the goals at the start of the season, they sort him out with a years extension. We are supposed to be a selling club, its our business model, but we can't make decent money off anyone if they can be poached for nothing or bought on the cheap in a few months. And we should be protecting ourselves against having to rebuild every year or so too.

Or....focus on tieing down our key/ promising players before the end of the season? Every other team does it. Why can't we?

The question for me is why haven't we got him tied down already?? A fundamental problem with the running of our club. I'd take Williams but we probably can't justify paying his wages with neilson on board too. I actually rate cairney too but don't see where would fit in to our team. Mcpake/ Thomson - bit of a gamble with their injuries. Taiwo/ maybury - nah...

Technically I wouldn't say twardzik is much better than Hollis, maybe marginally. For me, where he (and most other SPL level goalies) exceed, is that he makes a decision and commits to it. This helps the defence deal with situations, gives them confidence and so on. Both our goalies seem to change their mind 2 or 3 times when coming for a cross or when choosing whether to punt or pass the ball. If for no other reason than to get a more solid keeper in, I'll take Dan back now.

No! I'd like to see the best of him too. I thought he was the best player on the park in the pre season friendly against Nottingham forest.

I have a funny feeling hutchy will be the only first choice player we will lose. If that's the case I'd love to see one of Kerr/Murray/Cummins step up rather than sign another centre half. We've also got Ramsden to come back and Reid has really grown on me (and not just after Sunday!) so were pretty well in defence. If we can add a keeper (would take twardzik back) and a pacey winger to the mix then I'll be pretty content with the squad. Players who can go, feel bad for these guys but its not working: one or both of Hollis/neilsen. McHugh - fringe player for too long now, plus any young players who aren't going to make the cut.

I quite like the home kit. Good to see claret shorts again, not a fan of the white shorts. Was hoping for a claret away strip mind you. http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2014/05/09/new-macron-kits-201415/

Some of the worst individual performances I've seen for a while. Other than the first 5 mins after the break we didn't even look like competing or making a game of it. Still we are in a good position and if we win our 2 home games, we should have the chance to make amends at pittodrie. And i seem to be the only one that thinks this but anier has been fucking murder since he signed in jan. Far too often he tries the hard thing, dithers on the ball, can't make up his mind and as a result completely wasteful nearly every time he gets the ball in a useful situation.

Aye - Leitch.

Vigurs was a class act again today. Things have been working for him recently and its great to watch. Reid is beginning to win me over too, his first touch let's him down at times but he's pretty fast, fit and solid tackler. A pre season with the team could do him good as well.

Celtic at home for the gate and Dundee utd at home would be good. Assume we'll get Aberdeen away. Anyone know when the fixtures will be released?

I've been quick enough to critisise him in the past so credit where its due, big goonar had his best game for us last night. Promising performance and hope he keeps it up. Made some really good stops, to keep us two up and had they scored to go 2-1 anything could have happened. Collected a few crosses too. Couple dodgey kick outs but no danger so can live with that.

Frustrating to only come away with a point after being 2 up but at least we came back to get one and great play from vigurs to set it up. The decision to take faddy off was bizarre and I think may have cost us. Lasley was clearly struggling with an injury, could see it in the first half and IMO should have been replaced ahead of both ainsworth and McFadden. Thought Murray put in another decent performance at LB, perhaps a long term replacement for hutchy in his natural position. Stanton looked good for them.

Breeds from the top - no wonder their team are so miserable and have underachieved for the last god knows how long. Having said that, slightly pessimistic for this one. Hope to see leitch keep his place. Hopefully faddy and vigurs can continue their partnership from last week.

A few notable performances. Vigurs was immense and linked up with faddy well today. Solid debut performance from leitch, looks to be more direct than carswell and maybe has a few goals in him. Hollis for not being a complete bungle merchant. But set up 3, scored 1 and just generally a league above today, it has to be faddy.

Mcfadden and vigurs were outstanding today. Very solid debut from leitch. And good to see a keeper who takes some responsibility for what comes into his box! Don't quite get the hype around reid...he's done OK but nothing more, in fact he didn't stop the cross enough for me today but solid in the tackle with a bit of pace, happy enough with him just now I suppose. Also thought zfa played well up untilhe got injured, not sure what well do at LB next week. Only other worrying thing is lasley looked to be struggling a bit before he came off. Could do with him fit....always!

Was about to post pretty much this. Bang on. If it doesn't work out playing a youth player over a half fit player then at least you can understand why the change was made. Hard to justify playing a half fit team when it doesnt pay off.

I don't expect a high level of consistency with results. I do expect a high level of consistency with effort, fitness (with those deemed 'fit' to play), hunger, and quality (to a degree). This season, I can't say I've seen that in most of the games we've lost.

Did you read the rest of my post? I'm agreeing that our points total is good. What bothers me is when we don't pick up points, the manner of it. Top six or bottom six aside (quick look on the website shows), in the league, EVERY game we have lost has been by more than 1 goal. Not to mention 10 man Aberdeen and Albion rovers. Why is it so wrong to question this aspect of our season?

Do people not understand that it isn't the points total anyone is complaining about. Its the manner of defeat. We have a fantastic record against bottom 6 teams but if you look at the results I can only think of think of 3 that were convincing which was during our winning run. When we lose, on the other hand, it tends to be more than convincing. Is it so wrong to expect better than what has been dished up at times, for example Tuesday/ Friday and most importantly both cups?

Lets face it, not many of last nights starting 11 deserve a place but my team would be: Stewart Reid hutchy McManus hammell Lasley leitch Ainsworth mcfadden thomas Sutton No chance of that but hey. 2-2.

Null vote. Hard to award pass marks to anybody tbh. Whoever is voting neilsen must be at the wind up!

Spot on. Dont believe lasley, carswell or vigurs were fit for tonight.

The usual inbalanced mish mash of players in midfield whenever we have injuries... Butterfingers Reid hutchy mcmanus hammell (No RM) (3 CMs) vig cars las zfa Sutton anier Vigurs and hammell off at ht for faddy and ainsworth who played left and right mid, zfa to left back. It was clear a few players were unfit and I cant stand to see the constant inbalanced team line up. Same on friday except we had no left mid. The young lads on the bench must be scratching there heads as to how the fuck they can't get a game ahead of that shite on the park.