star sail

Many people talking about Thursday eve as being a reason why we did not perform today. Can someone who knows a bit about sports science, athlete recovery etc explain why professional football players cannot perform in two competitive games per week? Also when is the tipping point between not being match fit/sharp and being burnt out? Seems like only a few weeks ago the players were not match sharp and had not had games under their belt, now they need a rest because they have played too many games? It's a bit confusing.

It is part of the game. It won Celtic the match today. If we are going to get upset by this we are going to continue to be very frustrated as supporters. Looking at it from a Motherwell perspective he should never have been in that position in the first place and for Saunders to lean on him like that was niave. Teams like Motherwell have to be very smart not to make it easy for the ref to make these decisions. The bigger concern for us is that we are losing these soft goals. Sort out our own problems and then let those things outwith our control take care of themselves.

Depressing familiarity about the weekends football. Celtic beat us at walking pace after being humiliated during the week in Europe, Rangers scrape a result at Ibrox in the usual workmanlike way and the rest of the results are as unpredictable as ever with teams trading points with each other. Result Old Firm 1-2 in the league and this well fan struggling to keep his enthusiam up for the forthcoming SPL season. How I wish we were still in Europe.

This time last year I was thinking the same thing about Jim Gannon. I was not at all inspired when the two were appointed and was expecting a team of 35 year + has been journey men making up our team now. Have been very pleasantly surprised but being ultra critical I don't think they have made the impact McGhee made on his arrival at the club. I think the real test will be how strong the club is in a years time.

Spot on. He launched himself at that cross in the secon half and missed the ball by a fraction. If Carroll had connected it would have taken Saunders head off. Brave and totally committed. Can't ask any more than that.

I don't think that is appropriate at this time of year. It would cause confusion to a person stumbling down Fir Park St after a couple of years self imposed isolation in a nucleur bunker. All they would have as a guide to the real nature of the month would be the still leafy foalage on trees that dance in the warm breeze. Football fans have a responsibility not to mislead.

Massive, massive game for the club. This one game could elevate MFC above the Killies, St Mirrens, Accies etc for a good few seasons to come. The money would bring better players to the club, better players should bring a higher SPL finish, higher SPL finish brings more money (poss Europe again) and suddenly the club is in that winning upward spiral. I know that it is not garaunteed (look at Aberdeen) but it gives the club a real chance to build. The Nancy game was always going to be really tough and for all we held out hope it was always going to be a big ask. This is a more achievable target, not because the opposition is inferior to Nancy but simply because the scoreline is different. Odense are bound to have some doubts coming in to this game. They are away from home in a tight, compact stadium. Well on their game can outplay Rangers and Celtic (last years 1-1 v Rangers being an example). This team are no better than the Old Firm and they have the further disadvantage of being in a completely alien stadium. Truth is if this team turn up and put in a performance they will go through but there is much to suggest that it will be very difficult for them to do that. We have to savour this moment as it is a key moment in the clubs history. If we lose then we have had the experience to enjoy but if we win we are in dreamland.

If we lose today there will no doubt be questions over the decision to rest players but with Thu eve being so important for the club it is worth the risk.

Squad rotation and European football. Can't beat it. Think it shows the important role Lasley has to play on Thu night. Hope he has his feet up and is resting well.

Thanks for your thoughts. My biggest concern is that OB only played to 80% of their capability and can play much better. I think that their celebration of the first goal showed that they thought they were out for a practice match. Having said that Fir Park will be a very difficult place to come. It is a small, compact stadium with the fans being very close to pitchside. Rangers and Celtic have had many a tough visit and it will be a difficult night for OB. They may well regret the rather relaxed attitude from the first game. For our players it will be one of the biggest games of their lives and as a club, one of the biggest in our history so OB are going to be up against a team and support that are fired up and ready to go. Looking forward to the reaction from the East Stand the first time a OB player takes a dive. Roll on Thursday. Cannot wait.

Ok. Was kinda starting to think the same myself on what is a great night for the club. Apologies.

So polite. Fighting is fighting, not small fight good, big fight, bad. I am talking generally as no real indication that the Well fans have been less than superb again tonight but if (big if) a section of the support have been fighting then that my friend is 'negative pish'

To be fair the comments have been hypothetical and fairly general. Nobody is treating it as fact.

Craig Levein being really positive about us on Radio Scotland. Described the result as 'fantastic' and said he was 'chuffed to bits'

Thanks. Makes me happy to think we have polar opposite views.

Shit attitude. I care. Fighting brings us down to the level of England thugs and Rangers thugs.

Good team performance but no stand outs. Went for Hateley. Did very little but a belter of a goal completely changes the tie.

You are not allowed to say that about our captain. Don't you know the rules. Interesting stat Odense 11 fouls 1 yellow card. Well 13 fouls. 3 yellow, 1 red.

As regards the ref decisions, I think that they have a pre-concieved idea that Scottish teams are aggressive long ball merchants so already have a few bookings in their minds. I think Motherwell have played the refs as well as they can, no daft bookings, no diving in and yet we still find ourselves a man down. Very strong performance, good result, just wish Craigan had a bit more pace to get to that ball for the second goal. Real chance next week. Lets make some NOISE!!!!!!!!!

Will be interesting to see how the Scottish press report this. Will they take the Andy Walker angle (nice to see such loyalty from a former player) of John Boyles a hypocrite or will there be a call to arms to support a Scottish Club? Don't have high hopes I'm afraid.

To some extent I agree but unfortunately the Bellamy story in still the bigger story. The plight of a small Scottish Football club will not capture the imagination of the English Football fans so the story will burn out very quickly I am afraid. Hope I am wrong.

I am not a particularly patriotic Scotsman but when I see the likes of that greasy runt Jones, I am filled with a real sense of satisfaction that I was not born an Englishman. He knows its a disgrace, that is why he is so defensive.

There must be a way to argue against these stats but I don't know how to do it. Makes for interesting reading. Cheers for the info.

Could argue that scoring 13 goals in 5 games and only getting 5 points out of a possible 15 is a poor return but would be playing devils advocate to an extent because the stats you provide actually give a strong case for the defence (so to speak) and pretty much blows my arguement out of the water. What was the Dundee Utd ave last season out of interest?

First of millions.