star sail

Taking all the emotion and subjectivity out of the situation, simulation is a yellow card offence not a two game ban. ( or 4 suspended). The penalty should be based on that single action alone and not any other circumstances that come after. Slattery's action is the same regardless of what comes next. Doing 35 in a 30 is three points on a drivers licence and does not become 9 points just because the Police are pissed off that nobody put some spool in the speed camera or because they don't like the look of your re-spray. The suspension is about more than Slattery's actions (which were pish) and this clause the SFA have pulled out is to allow them to make whatever whimsical point they want to make at this moment in time. It will not be a clause that is used even handedly moving forward.

I am finding this one a little difficult to stomach I have to admit. Yes, Slattery made a fool of himself and yes it took a little bit of a shine off of what was otherwise the perfect performance. This kind of behaviour needs stamped out of football and in a world where all things are equal the punishment probably fits the crime but all things are not equal and the organisation doing the finger wagging in Slattery''s direction oversee a tiny shitty world where they are more than happy to turn a blind eye to some of the bigger vagueries of Scottish Football. We have not heard a single word of condemnation from the SFA on the scenes at Ibrox a few weeks ago. The bigotry, the sectarian singing that could be heard both on radio and TV. The pitch invasions, the aggression, the on field violence. No word, no punishment, no finger wagging. This is an organisation that oversees one of the most toxic environments in World football and is happy to continue doing so because of the money it generates. Hatred sells! It sticks in my throat when that same organisation decides to randomly take the moral high ground on one single isolated incident when similar incidents are happening every single weekend in every single game in the country. The decision making is haphazard, incoherent and hugely subjective. Ultimately we have to suck it up because Slattery was in the wrong and brought this trouble upon himself and the club but I hate being lectured to, (with the verbose language they hide behind), by an organisation that has very little interest in actually creating the level playing field that would actually make the game in Scotland one we could all buy into.

I think there is that little bit of pressure on the supporters as well as the players when we turn up to Firpark with the expectation of a win rather than simply the hope of one. I think the pressure of the potentially massive prize on offer did get to everyone and as you say there is possibly a mental tiredness as well as a physical tiredness associated with that. Now that the talk of league titles is over the pressure may ease from everyone a little bit. Having said that, I am not convinced that the league title is completely dead in the water and I don't think the players or manager will have given up all hope either. Beat Falkirk and Hearts and things could suddenly look very interesting again particularly when the OF look less than convincing. It may still work in the teams favour that we have been written out of the title race.

Rangers and Hearts were able to get the job done again today. It would appear that they have just that little bit more about them than we do. The table does not lie although I thought up untill 2 weeks ago that just maybe it did. 50/50 is pessimistic in the extreme. We are 6 points ahead of Hibs with a superior goal difference. Taking the subjectivity out of it, that in no way relates to a 50/50 chance. In the same way that the table does not lie in favour of Hearts/ Rangers/ Celtic, it does not lie in relation to our position either. Falkirk next week is a game we should have some hope of winning. The facts speak for themself in that regard.

On the Scotland squad, I see that Derek Mciness was less diplomatic in his views about the squad than JBA was. Jens knows that Grant Hanley should be nowhere near an International World Cup team so he is being very diplomatic when he choices not to give a view which I think shows the control he has when it comes to things he cannot affect. On tomorrows game, I think we will win. The OF have put a little bit of daylight between us and them over the last few weeks and I think we will do likewise tomorrow with Hibs. You can argue for or against Motherwell being a top 3 side this season but we are definitely a top 4 side and will prove it tomorrow.

Hearts lost. The title challenge is back on!!!

Time to take those green and white glasses off MJC. Getting tired of all your pro Celtic rhetoric!! Step too far today but still much to play for this season. Would still love to beat Hearts at Tynecastle and really put the cat amongst the pigeons. As JBA is always telling us, celebrate the performance not the result. It is miles better than we have been used to for some time.

A points deduction for both sides would do nicely. Leave us fighting it out with Hearts for the title. Will never happen but it might actually be the only thing that would stop fans from jumping on the pitch. Not going to get holier than thou about it right enough given that our own fans have previous for this in the play off's.

It would be interesting to see what would happen if Motherwell won the league with the best defensive record in the country regarding the Scotland World Cup squad. It is possible this could happen with no Well players in the Scotland team.

Absolutely superb if that is accurate.

Playacting will be rife as it is every other week as will the other dark arts of wasting time, clipping ankles jersey pulling etc etc. ( I know that is exactly the point you are making). I think the problem with Slattery's incident is that it was so blatant and so completely unnecessary on every possible level. The biggest danger is that now Slattery is the boy that cried wolf so I would think Jim Goodwin will be telling his players that they have a couple of free hits on Slattery today should he play. The refs are going to be very wary every time Slattery goes down. It was an unbelievably mindless thing to do last weekend and he has shot himself in the foot.

I noticed that. It was a slip of the tongue but it absolutely gave away his thoughts on the matter. He clearly believes that the teams above are there for the taking. As you say. Legend!!!

I was talking the other day about my memory of the last time Motherwell were in a genuine title challenge in Tommy McLean's last season and it all coming to an anticlimactic end with a loss to Dundee Utd at FP. I would hate for history to repeat itself. I wonder if the pressure will start to mount a little for the players as a title challenge becomes a possibility?

12 added minutes at Almondvale. I don't think my heart can take this. Exciting times

I will take that as confirmation that we are better than Man City.