Ya Bezzer!

I have my own records back to 2003 and then there is the internet. Took about 15 minutes max. Wait till you see my Excel sheets for Season 2015/16 though - you can copy and paste your comment with some justification then!

It's the close season and there's not much going on so I'll post this. I was reading the Infowire section over at Pie and Bovril and one of the threads piqued my interest - Longest since last meeting between two Scottish clubs. So I decided to research it. If you exclude the 'new' league entrants it's 44 years since we last played Montrose on the 5th February 1972, anyone remember that one!? If you include the new league entrants it's pretty extraordinary - we played Elgin City in the Scottish Cup in 1909 and we've not met since, a mere 107 years. And we have never played Annan Athletic or Edinburgh City in a competitive match. Maybe next season we'll get a cup draw... The full list is below. 15/05/2016 - Celtic 11/05/2016 - Ross County 07/05/2016 - St. Johnstone 30/04/2016 - Aberdeen 23/04/2016 - Hearts 02/04/2016 - Inverness C. Thistle 11/03/2016 - Dundee United 05/03/2016 - Hamilton Academical 27/02/2016 - Partick Thistle 13/02/2016 - Kilmarnock 30/01/2016 - Dundee 22/09/2015 - Greenock Morton 25/08/2015 - East Fife 31/05/2015 - Rangers 16/05/2015 - St. Mirren 08/03/2014 - Hibernian 30/11/2013 - Albion Rovers 25/09/2013 - Livingston 03/03/2012 - Dunfermline Athletic 07/01/2012 - Queen's Park 24/08/2011 - Clyde 05/02/2011 - Stranraer 21/09/2010 - Brechin City 03/04/2010 - Falkirk 29/08/2007 - Raith Rovers 06/01/2007 - Airdrieonians (as Airdrie United) 07/02/2004 - Queen of the South 23/09/2003 - Forfar Athletic 26/02/2000 - Ayr United 19/02/2000 - Arbroath 13/02/1999 - Stirling Albion 27/01/1998 - Dumbarton 13/08/1996 - Alloa Athletic 27/08/1983 - Berwick Rangers 30/01/1982 - East Stirlingshire 28/01/1981 - Stenhousemuir 14/02/1976 - Cowdenbeath 05/02/1972 - Montrose 27/01/1951 - Peterhead 23/01/1909 - Elgin NEVER PLAYED - Annan Athletic NEVER PLAYED - Edinburgh City

No one thinks Lasley (or Hammell) will play forever or that they won't need to be replaced in the near future. What we are saying is they are still CLEARLY hugely influential and important players for us and we can't afford to just ditch players of their importance. Both these guys are still first choice players because they have seen off a decade of competitors so bringing in players now who are better when there is little money to spend is going to be almost impossible. It's unbelievably simplistic to think that any Motherwell manager of recent times could just go out and get a player of like for like quality to replace either of these two. It's no coincidence both these players came through our youth ranks because it is extremely difficult to find players of that grade on the market. Any sensible person would pick Lasley and Hammell over players of the ability of Gomis, Leitch, Straker or Chalmers because it would be deleterious to the team and its results and at the end of the day that's what football is about, results, and results are a black and white issue, there is no opinion or debate to be had on them. Right now we get better results with Lasley and Hammell than we do without them and therefore their first choice status is irrevocably justified. End of story. Until such times as that is not the case they should be on the team sheet and I couldn't care less what age they are.

Great piece, every 'Well fan should watch it.

Alloa had an absolutely wretched season. They didn't win a home match all season until the 9th of April! I'm saying it's probably hard to judge anyone one individual player in such a situation. He played almost every game so he was obviously viewed as one of the better players in the squad.

Is Chalmers even a defender? If I was being charitable to him I'd say he's looked a lot more comfortable early season when he was playing in a wide midfield role than latterly at left back. Anyway Chalmers took such a hounding at Cappielow it's quite reasonable position to never play him at left back again. Ever.

What was the option? Chalmers? It was an unenviable choice he had to make and if you cast your mind back a week Johnson did better at left back than he did in an attacking role. Hammell apart we are weak in the full back positions. I like Kennedy, a bit raw but I think there is something to work with there, but not at right back.

It's sobering to think that I've been going along to Fir Park for more than 25% of our entire history!

6 players gone that contributed little to our success this season with the exception of Ripley and to be honest I'd be happy enough if Samson came in to replace him. Even with wage cuts that should still be enough to bring in maybe 2 or 3 new players who can perhaps contribute more. Also happy enough with the players offered new contracts with a few reservations. I've made my views known on Craig Moore, one of those situations where I think it is more in the clubs benefit than the players development to sign on for another season. James McFadden, an all time great, but his injuries are a big concern. Unlike Moore, David Ferguson didn't pull up any trees while on loan at Airdrie and hasn't really impressed when given the chance in our team. A young player and difficult to judge but I have a few niggling doubts that he'll make it at this level.

Our level of professionalism sky rocketed when the previous manager was released and McGhee came in culminating on a great run towards the end of the season. I think what has happened has McGhee has probably allowed a sort of 'last day of school' atmosphere creep in when there was nothing to play for. However this team has proved time and time again that it needs to be kept on a short leash. I don't think McGhee will make that mistake again.

If Jack Leitch played like that every week he would have had more than our contract on offer. Unfortunately he only managed it once.

The annoying thing is we have actually had a pretty decent 2nd half of the season but this was the last match and there is nowhere to go now. It can't be made up next week. I think reasonable fans will accept honest mistakes, being beaten by a better team or even periods of bad form if you have something in the bank but the one thing that can't be tolerated is a lack of basic professionalism. As for Watt, if you are a youngster and you get a chance you need to absolutely bust a gut and take it. Cadden is the perfect example, he's got a lot to learn in the game and lot of areas where he can improve but he gives you everything, every time. It was as if every rumour, every thing you'd heard about this guy came true on the pitch today. See you later, Liam.

0-7 is going to hang round our necks now until next August. I wish I could be in that dressing room right now. The team today shamed the club, the supporters and themselves. Hopefully someone gives them a mighty kick up the arse before they jet off on their holidays and remind them that guys like me that put my money in their pockets can't afford to go on holidays.

4-0 now!

As stated Lasley played at Parkhead last time out. 6 defeats out of 8 including the two most embarrassing drubbings of the season. What kind of evidence do you need? As I type another goal goes in.... agg without Lasley - Motherwell 8 SPFL 27. Could be more by the end of the day!

When Lasley isn't in the side, good teams just run all over us. Another warning to those that want him ditched. Tynecastle all over again.

You can say you don't care about this game but....not really, right?

Really? He had plenty chances? Between 2007 and 2015 he had 9 league starts. In season 2009/10 he started 2 league matches on the trot, the only time that ever happened while he was at the club. Overall his record of league starts was 2014/15 - 1 2013/14 - 3 2012/13 - 2 2011/12 - 1 2010/11 - 0 2009/10 - 2 2008/09 - 0 2007/08 - 0 Sure he had a lot more substitute appearances but you can hardly expect a player to come on getting 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there to prove himself.

Was at the Queens Park v Clyde match today and although they lost the match I was quite impressed with Queens Park. Played good football on the ground and most of their players had decent technique and pace. Liam Brown, only 17 years old, looked like he could easily play at a higher level. He's very light weight but I think it will be worth keeping an eye on this guy.

McHugh was unfortunate in that he was trying to break through at a time when we had very strong players in the forward postions. I'd never seen a Motherwell player score 20 goals in nearly 30 years of supporting the club, then we have two players do it two seasons in a row. On top of that he's been up against some of the best forward players the club has had in the modern era - McFadden, McDonald. He didn't do enough with us and it was time for him to move on but I don't see how anyone can say he's not a top level player based on the game time he had with us. He's got 8 goals in 12 starts for Falkirk this season and the Championship is not much different in quality than most of the Premiership. Most of his goals have been against the better teams in the league too - Rangers, Hibs, Raith Rovers so you can't even say he's scored his goals against Alloa's and Dumbarton's. I'm guessing Lee Miller won't feature for Falkirk next season if they come up but they have signed Nathan Austin from East Fife.

Manchester City are a defensive shambles and look how much money they have. Defending is a dying art in modern football, refereeing and new rules have made it very difficult for defenders, even something like the modern interpretation of the offside law means defenders can't even be sure that someone who is offside will be flagged. Defending a set piece? Any physical stuff or shirt pulling and you are risking a penalty while attacking players are only risking a foul, giving attackers a big advantage there if there is a tussle. The modern game has neutered the defender and across football even at the highest level the standard of defender has dropped dramatically. McManus was very poor last season but I think he's been decent enough this season and certainly isn't any worse than most of the rest of the defenders in this league. I mean, look at who Celtic have at the back - Boyata, Ambrose, etc. Who are we going to attract with 10, 12, 15 times less the resources?

I have Pearson on 9. 7 league and 2 cup.

Johnson has the natural talent but I think his stamina is a bit suspect, he often blows himself out of matches far too early. Also he needs to improve his overall effectiveness and consistency but in terms of technical ability he's probably our best player. I would say though that I think Jamie Murphy left us a significantly better player than Johnson is now and he went to League 1.

Time to let these old boys go!

I gave him my MotM award against Inverness.