Ya Bezzer!

We'll need to keep an eye on Sandaza especially with an under strength defense. Good player and if we'd got him I'd have thought it was a bit of a coup. Then there is Ciaran Sheridan who hasn't scored in 6 games and who I didn't rate at all and therefore is probably a stick on to score on his return!

Bad news and hopefully it's not as serious as they think and he won't be out for long. However, without wanting to tempt fate, if ever there was a series of games where you thought we could maybe get by without him, then it's probably the ones coming up.

I realise that but the reason the post was so long was to show that we weren't losing these matches as heavily under any other recent manager. Your second point is valid and I'd probably agree with you on it but I still don't like to see us capitulating in these matches, especially when its happening over and over again under the same guys watch.

First of all I want to say that I think Stuart McCall has done an excellent job overall and the following post is not a criticism of his tenure in general but I do think there is a specific problem as regarding his results against the Old Firm. These results have just not been good enough and I think it is worthwhile raising the topic. McCall seems to be a manager that is keeps an eye on what the supporters are saying and I certainly hope that he pays attention to this problem. Let's take a look at his record. Stuart McCall Rangers 0-6 Celtic 2-0 Rangers 0-5 Celtic 0-4 Rangers 1-2 Celtic 0-3 Rangers 0-3 Celtic 0-4 P8 W1 D0 L7 F3 A27 GD -23 PTS 3 (24) 12.5% of AVAILABLE POINTS GOALS 9 OF for 1 MOT In eight matches against the old firm we have won one and lost seven. This for me is not really an acceptable overall record on it's own, you'd expect a draw or two in there, but what really stands out is the level of defeat. Of course I fully accept that once in a while the Old Firm will run riot against us and run up a score, that's football and it happens. But look at these results. 0-6, 0-5, 0-3, 0-4, 0-4 etc. In fact in McCall's charge the Old Firm have score NINE goals to every goal we have scored. That is really an alarming statistic when you consider that the Old Firm don't often win by huge margins any more and in fact both Ranger's and Celtic's biggest wins (in Celtic's case jointly with Dundee Utd) this season have come against us. As the currently third placed team in the league that seems to be an anomaly and not something that you'd expect. Let's take a look at previous recent managers records. Craig Brown Rangers 1-4 Celtic 0-1 Rangers 3-3 Celtic 0-4 Rangers 1-1 Celtic 1-2 P6 W0 D2 L4 F6 A15 GD -9 PTS 2 (18) 11.1% of AVAILABLE POINTS GOALS 2.5 OF for MOT Craig Brown didn't get a win, unlike McCall, but in 6 matches he got 2 positive results including a draw away at Ibrox. There were a couple of heavy defeats (as I've said this is something we have to expect) but also a couple of quite closely run games against Celtic. Compare the goal ratio with McCall's. Under Brown the Old Firm scored two and a half goals to every goal we scored, against nine goals to every goal we scored under McCall. A massive difference. All though McCall actually has a slightly percentage of points per game tally due to the win against Celtic, I'd suggest Brown actually had a better record against the Old Firm in term of performances. Jim Gannon Rangers 0-0 Celtic 0-0 Rangers 1-6 Celtic 2-3 P4 W0 D2 L2 F3 A9 GD -6 PTS 2 (12) 16.6% of AVAILABLE POINTS GOALS 3 OF for MOT Only played four matches against the Old Firm and managed 2 draws in those matches, both 0-0 draws. If not for a missed penalty it would have been even better. Gannon had the best record against the Old Firm with 16.6% of the available points from those games and the goal ratio was slightly higher than average 3 goals to the Old Firm to every one we score. Gannon's record is likely skewed due to the limited number of matches he played against the Old Firm but overall he had the best record and we only had one drubbing out of four. Mark McGhee Rangers 1-2 Celtic 2-4 Rangers 0-0 Celtic 0-2 Rangers 1-3 Celtic 1-1 Rangers 1-1 Celtic 0-3 Rangers 1-3 Celtic 1-0 Rangers 1-1 Celtic 1-4 Rangers 0-1 Celtic 1-2 Rangers 1-2 P15 W1 D4 L10 F12 A29 GD -17 PTS 7 (45) 15.5% of AVAILABLE POINTS GOALS 2.416 OF for MOT He was in charge of more Old Firm matches than any previous manager but in his time he managed to get five positive results, about one result in three, and had the second best percentage of points after Gannon, considering he had so many more matches than Gannon it's actually more impressive. Again the goal ratio was within the accepted range of between 2 - 3, at 2.416 and there were several close run matches 1-2, 0-1 etc. So we can see that every manager of Motherwell in the same number of matches, or in some cases less, than Stuart McCall had at least two positive results against the Old Firm, against his one. Not great, but not a huge difference and only one potential match away from drawing level with. What really concerns me is the scale of the defeats. NINE OF goals to every Motherwell goal! That is simple not precedented in recent history. The next worst, Gannon's record, is THREE goals to every Motherwell goal. The scale of defeats we have been suffering under McCall simply do not stand up against our recent historical record and I don't think its good enough simply to shrug these results off and move on the next game. First of all these are potential points on the board and they should not be given up as easily as they have done under McCall. Secondly, Motherwell fans are paying to watch these matches and when fans are putting up the cash they deserve better than a virtual guarantee of a drubbing. I really think McCall needs to start looking at these games a bit harder and he has to come up with a corrective philosophy so that this dismal run of results can be stemmed. I like to think of myself as being a realistic supporter and I certainly don't expect Motherwell to start roasting the OF regularly but these games, most of the time should have been harder fought. Something has to change, whether its tactics, mentality going into the game, organisation, whatever it is, but results need to get better. Over to you McCall.

Yeah, Brown didn't seem to rate Sutton very highly, played Gow ahead of him when he could. Even when he played Sutton it was often as a midfielder!

The way they were talking Devlin needed a season or two to develop into a first team player. This will set that development back. Could be worse though, at least he should be back before the end of the season.

He'll be frozen out as long as Hearts are winning, scoring goals and don't have any injuries, i.e, he'll get his chance soon. Hearts haven't won any of their last 12 away matches so we'll see how they get on on Saturday.

So Chick Young says he's going to Wolves. It is Chick, mind!

The most consistent players over the month have been Nicky Law and Stevie Hammell. Went for Nicky Law in the end since he played, and scored v Clyde.

The window is a good thing for the smaller clubs like us. We know Murphy, Randolph etc are going no where until at least January.

Maybe it's too good to come true but 19 points from 9 matches would be an outstanding start to the season, even better than last season when we didn't pass the 19 points mark until match 11 in the campaign and that in itself was a very strong opening quarter.

Quite a lot of players had their contracts canceled last night so they can find a new club outside the window. Those and the ones already out of contract means there is still a large pool of footballers to choose from so its still possible that we could bring in additional players but I think from what's been said if Daley comes it it would be a maximum of 1 more guy, if we can find one we like. The main thing has been we kept our best players. The defeat to Rangers might just turn out to be the best thing that happened to us this season!

I think he means the Jim Gannon style madness of 3 subs in the first 17 mjnutes. I don't think Reynolds got subbed though.

We need five in midfield for this one. Put Murphy left and move Law inside, or bring in Forbes. I'd also consider dropping Humphrey for this one. He could be useful coming off the bench in the later stages if we have a result and Celtic are throwing everything at us. We need to try sometime different with 'bespoke' tactics for this game. If it doesn't work, no great loss. Would set us up like this -----------------Randolph-------------- Clancy---Hutchinson---Craigan---Hammell Hateley--Lasley-------Jennings--------- ------------------Law-----------Murphy- -----------------Higdon---------------- I think that would give us the numbers in midfield but also retain some forward threat. I think we need to set up less open and more solid and defensive but at the same time the worst thing you can do is sit back for 90 minutes.

Not one I would have picked due to familiarity but it could be a very good draw or quite a tricky draw. Could depend on whether Calderwood is still the manager in a months time or who Hibs bring in over the next week (surely they have to sort out that defence?) Still any home draw you have to be fairly confident of progressing.

Yesterday was credited to Joe Cardle so it's not an OG. Last season it was just the OG in the cup final that was credited to him. Shaun Hutchinson had one credited to him against Rangers as well. Can't be bothered looking through all the other seasons, sorry! EDIT: OK, maybe I will, eventually. 21 May 2011 v Celtic (0-3) 30 Jul 2009 v Steaua (0-3) 17 Feb 2009 v St. Mirren (0-3) 26 Apr 2008 v Dundee Utd (2-2) 23 Feb 2008 v Hearts (0-1) 28 Apr 2007 v Falkirk (3-3) 05 Mar 2007 v Hearts (0-2) 21 Oct 2006 v Celtic (1-2)

Did you put money on it?

There and their. There often used incorrectly!

Went to Clyde match as the admission was cheaper and I expected to see a few goals so I won't be at Dunfermline today. On league form so far they are undefeated in four matches which isn't bad at all. Of course they did lose in the league cup to East Fife so we will get some kind of reaction from that either positive or negative. Will they have lost confidence? Or will they be out to prove the result was a fluke? The Dunfermline squad is actually a lot more experienced than many SPL sides and I think that will prove to be a bonus for them this season. They might not have many star names but they have a side composed of good solid pros who have seen it all before. They have kept 3 clean sheets out of 4 and guys like Martin Hardie and Andy Kirk are dangerous opponents at the other end. I remember Martin Hardie scoring a couple against us down the years so hopefully he doesn't do so again! I'd be happy enough with a point from any away ground but with our good start to the season I'll be crossing my fingers for a win. If we did win this one it could be massive for us and define the way our season is going to go. We have Celtic next week but with St. Johnstone and Aberdeen at home coming up, if we could get 9 or even 7 points out of these four matches that would really set us up for a great season going for a Top Four place.

McCall won't want to make his job any harder than it already is. He'll bring in as many players as the budget dictates but no more. And our record over the last couple of winters hasn't entirely been dictated by bad weather, a couple of mental managers and a quagmire pitch can take most of the blame.

OK then. He's shit. It's a disaster. Woe is me. Woe! Woe! Every Motherwell supporter, gather at Fir Park tonight. Bring a stick of dynamite and we'll blow the whole place and every one of us sky high. All because we brought in Tim fucking Clancy for a year as cover for an injured player. What a black night for Lanarkshire. Motherwell FC homeless, Clancy on the books, all the supporters dead. Thousands of orphans, widows, fathers and mothers burying sons and daughters. McCall why did you make this signing! Why! I hope every bereaved victim of this signing puts a curse on this devil McCall and his evil signing policy!

So badly ripped to shreds his playing record v 'Well last season was P3 W2 D1 L0. In fact he's never lost a game at Fir Park (3 appearances)! He didn't play the first half of the season last term because Killie had the excellent Ben Gordon on loan from Chelsea. Second half he was a first choice pick in the second half of the season after Gordon went back down south, played 18+2 subs in the league without scoring. Without having seen him week in week out surely a decent enough cover for Saunders - can play right back or centre. Already played this season, so assume his fitness is decent and he's been through pre-season training unlike a lot of out of contract guys. As for Killie not wanting him, when we played Killie earlier in the season they were playing quite an odd system with three at the back and the right full back pushed really high up with Pascali sitting providing cover in defensive areas. As I remember Clancy is more a defensive full back than someone who races up the line so maybe he just doesn't fit into the system Killie are using this season.

Did kind of think "oh no!" when I saw the lead story on BBC Scottish Premier League page this morning... "Bullard and Murphy to join Ipswich". It's Daryl Murphy in case I've alarmed anyone.

True. I thought Humphrey was going by the full back with ease but it's his delivery into the box that is the problem. It annoys me when players cross from the 18 yard line, get to the by line and whip it in and don't make it easy for defenders. Especially a player like Humphrey with his pace who wouldn't have a problem doing that. But he was beating the full back every time and he caused a few problems when he cut inside as well. I think saying he was 'pants' is a bit unfair.

Forgot about that!