Ya Bezzer!

There was a story today about a giant great white shark 'heading for British waters.....just in time for summer!' The shark that is being tracked as part of a scientific study is currently in the middle of the Atlantic on the same latitudinal line as Saharan West Africa. I'd say the 'Rangers/Celtic/British League' story and the 'Great White Shark' story are about on the same level as news.

The football across the league is dire. I watch every game in this league and believe me our games are no better or worse than anyone else's. Alexander's job was to keep us up and do so working with Robinson's awful legacy - a terrible and uneven squad with few dependable members. However while I think the standard of football in this country is, well, total rubbish, I do think it's a totally unfair comparison when comparing football watched in attendance and football watched on a computer screen in front of empty stadiums. Let's be honest. Pretty much the only good thing about Scottish football is the going-to-the-game, meeting mates, atmosphere, being in the stadium etc. The standard of football stinks and has done for a long time. We finished 3rd last season and we were verging on unwatchable. There has to be MASSIVE change in Scottish football to make the football worthwhile - things much more fundamental right across the game than Motherwell bringing in a new manager. As for Robinson - seemed like a nice guy but where did it get us? What's that got to do with anything? Alexander maybe doesn't come across as likeable a character but he's won twice as many games in less games this season with, basically, the same players. You'd be looking for improvements next season but I think criticising Alexander now, when he came in when he did, in the position we were in, is just ludicrous stuff.

They beat us the last time we played in the cup!

You get it on garage forecourts from a hand held nozzle.

Positives - good at penalties Negatives - everything else

Only Motherwell can pull this shit.

Games like this scream 'nuke the entire squad'. I've said before that there is an unprofessional attitude at the club in terms of the standards that are demanded and tonight is that squared. We are being out grafted by a team that might well be in the League 1 next season and we don't seem that bothered. There is an absolute pall of apathy out there in a Scottish Cup game - it's not good enough.

I've said this a number of times but.... We don't need to produce a Turnbull, Campbell, Scott every year. We just need to produce players that are capable of playing in the Scottish Premiership and holding down a position. Of course we'll take a Turnbull if they come along, but the primary objective of Motherwell FC's youth development should be to produce players for Motherwell FC. Paul Quinn level players are fine. And I get that we need money but I think the aims of our development system has been warped slightly by the pernicious influence of the quick sell on. We need to develop 'workmen' like players too.

How the fuck can Grimshaw STILL be hanging about next season? Fucking tipp-ex the contract or something!

Everything is relative! But St. Mirren are joint second worst goalscorers in the league, which I guess is what happens if you sign Lee Erwin.

There's a thread over on P&B on who the next Scotland keeper is going to be since the current ones are getting a bit long in the tooth. Might be in Kelly's interested to get some guaranteed and reasonably high profile game time. Problem is other clubs will be looking for a keeper. Hibs being one since Marciano is off.

Contract Columbos out in force!

Henri Anier scored twice for Estonia today although they still got pumped 4-2 by Belarus.

Magloire - a lesser option than Mugabi in my opinion. Hastie - Not exactly been given a run this season but not done enough to be retained. Nolan - I like to imagine him having an eye patch and a wooden leg as I don't think I've ever actually seen him.

Harry Who? No disrespect but I wouldn't just automatically try to retain Roberts. He's done well in a couple of games but I see in him someone that would probably be inconsistant over a season. I think we could potentially bring in a better player. A year long loan on Kelly would be nice.

I'll no even be counting it as a win!

Would have been nice to tick off either of those grounds. Ah well.

Dunne is OK when he can use his size but he's absolutely rotten against anyone with a modicum of skill or technique. The absolute dismantling Mickey Johnson gave him at Celtic Park is one of the most embarrassing things I've seen happen to a Motherwell player. Basically he's not good enough unless you want to be rumbling around the relegation zone and that's not even taking into consideration his injury problems. We'd be mad to give him a contract. Cole has done pretty decent this season and has a good overall record. Since Watt basically can't score I do think we need someone else with goals in them. I'd keep Cole but we can't depend on him. He's probably not a 15 - 20 goals per season kind of guy. We need more firepower. Cole should be part of the equation but we need another part.

Bye, bye and bye.

Polworth looks like he's totally out the picture with Alexander so I think he'll be off. Personally, while he has a wee bit about him he's anonymous far too often and I would be scoring his name out with out much regret. Campbell has been a shadow of himself this season. He's 22 and has over 150 appearances so that shows you how much football he's played in a short space of time. Maybe the whole malaise around the club has affected him or he's just tired out because as I've said often for a lot of the time he's had to carry the team. I'm not entirely convinced he'll leave. He's not 'hot' right now and I have my suspicions about the level of the game he can play. He's been great for us over the piece but he's not English Premiership standard and even English Championship is a big step up these days. I don't think he'll have a bunch of great options - maybe Hearts or Hibs would take him. Whatever happens it's going to be a big year for his development as a player. He's been on the ascent then taken a dip and he needs to get back to where he was and push on again. Crawford to me seems 'adequate' in current times but if we want to move forward next season maybe we need a higher standard of player. Perhaps a squad player but not convinced he's first choice in a better team.

Surprised Jamie Semple is only 19. It's difficult to make a judgement on Semple and Cornelius as we've seen so little of them. Sure you could keep both on youth terms for another season if you wanted to but you'd really be looking for them to make a break through next season. Foley - not sure why we signed him in the first place.

Gallagher and probably O'Donnell will be off in the summer. Mugabi, I'd maybe retain him but more as cover than first choice.

Based on previous results this season I'm making a point predictions. St Mirren 49 Dundee Utd 46 Motherwell 43 Kilmarnock 34 Hamilton 34 Ross County 32 The only team with a clean sweep this season is Dundee Utd over Ross County. In fact Ross County's record against the bottom 6 teams isn't great, in the last 31 matches they have only beaten bottom 6 teams twice while picking up points against Aberdeen, Hibs, Celtic and St. Johnstone.

Fixtures are about as good as we could have got them. 3 home matches and 2 of them within the first three matches. Given we probably only need 1 win to be safe that gives us a decent chance to get the points on the board early. I've actually got a feeling St Mirren might flop in the post split matches. They have only won 4 in their last 16 and have only scored 2 goals in open play in the last eight (plus 2 penalties). If all else fails we have Ross County at home on the last day. I'm sure if you asked a lot of posters 'beat Ross County at home on the last day to stay up' they would have taken it but hopefully it'll be academic by that point.

Was doing my stats there and noticed Kilmarnock have won 3 of their last 19 matches and 2 of them were against us.