El Grew

As far as I'm concerned with one OF team in the league then 2nd = winning the league and with both OF teams in the league then 3rd = winning the league.Reason being we do not have their resources. So as far a I'm concerned we have been champions for the last two seasons. Oh and I don't know why Clancy would have made any difference - Hibs fan working beside me says they think he's s*ite. LoL.

Great to beat any of the OF twice in a season. I thought we did very well to go in at half-time 1-1 today because I felt Celtic dominated the midfield. However great credit to McCall for sorting this out at the interval because we dominated the midfield thereafter and were more than worth our 3-1 win which could have been 5 if it hadn't been for two terrific saves from Forster. Another fantastic and unbelievable season - 3rd last season and then 2nd this season. I know many have said it before but it is true that when you consider the resources we have compared to Celtic, for us to be within 12 points of them at this stage of the season is just incredible - and they had to wait until the 34th game of a 38 game season to win the league. To yet again outperform the so-called big city clubs like Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs and the two Dundee teams is just superb. As a young fan I spent many years watching these clubs dominate over us so for me this is all he sweeter. These are heady days guys that may never be repeated so please take time to savour them. I know I am. One thing that really does piss me off big style is the lack of any genuine credit or coverage from the Scottish media. The real story of this SPL season is ourselves and the two Highland teams for having made the top of the league as competitive for such a long time. Maybe if the aforementioned big city clubs had show some intestinal fortitude when playing Celtic the league could have been even closer. So to the two BBC weasels - Chic Young from the radio and the guy on BBC whose name I can't pronounce who toadied to the Celtic manager in their post-match interviews, GIRFUY! Come on ye 'Well.

Keith Lasley had a terrific match but for me he was just shaded by Henrik Ojaama. He never stopped running all game and I thought he led the Celtic defence a merry dance. With his lw centre of gravity and quick turning ability and turn of foot he was almost unplayable today. Well done we man.

Aye, but I still think they've a hard neck on them with the prices for the "East Stand" considering the state it's in. Should be a medal for buying a season ticket for it!

The very first kit I saw us play in was the 1960s kit. For me the white shorts make it. They really show up the claret and amber jersey.

He must be odds on now to equal and pass my hero the 'Grew's record of 25 league goals from waaaaay back in 1975 would you believe.

Spot on wee yin. The concept of a club starting out in one league and then moving to another after a certain number of games is just unbelievable nonsense. I feel sorry for the chairmen of St. Mirren and Ross County as they are now being painted as the villains in all of this and being blamed for the so-called demise of Scottish football which is just garbage. They are the only two that have had the common sense to see this tosh for what it is and the only two that have had the balls to say no. As for Stuart Milne, he's nothing but a sheep-shagging wanker.

Full respect to the chairmen of Ross County and St Mirren for doing the right thing. The rest, and it pains me to say it, but that includes our own club should be black ball ashamed of themselves for even considering this ludicrous proposal. Fans tell clubs they don't want this but want a bigger league. Clubs tell fans to f*ck off and do one. Sporting integrity and consult the fans? Aye right.

Absolutely bang on. You should be putting yourself forward for election as the new Scottish football supremo because this is about the most sensible thing I have read or heard in this entire reconstruction debate. Top 8 in SPL split away. SPL bottom 4 combine with top 4 from SFL1/SPL2 with all clubs having points re-set to zero? What's been proposed is a total farce and now it's revealed today that the SFL clubs are not in possession of all necessary financial information. Why not just have one league of 16 teams, a second league of 14 teams and a third with only Celtic and Rangers in it and have them play each other every f*cking week.

I had worked out that if the current top 6 remain unchanged then after the split our fixtures in no particular order, would be: Kilmarnock (H)Celtic (A)Ross County (H)St. Johnstone (H)ICT (A) I don't know if this is correct though.

Unless I'm mistaken I have now read in two separate newspapers that Michael Higdon wants to stay with us. He's sending the club a message and I hope the club are picking it up. He's on track to equal if not pass the club's post-war goal scoring record of 23 goals by the one and only (and my favourite 'Well player) Willie Pettigrew, set in 1975. Yes 38 years, that's how long it's taken for us to get someone as prolific as the great 'Grew. Higdon is now by his own admission playing the best football of his career and he says that (like many others at FP now and before him) that he enjoys going to his work and that his family are really settled. As many of us know enjoying your work and being happy at your place of work and having your family settled are things that you can't put a price on. Yes, he could perhaps move from FP (like many before him) for more gold but would he still retain the three aspects above? It's odds on that he would not. Look at some of the guys who have gone before - John Sutton too was playing the best football of his career at FP but elected to move for bigger wages and look at him now, not guaranteed a starting place in as poor a Hearts team as you'll see. David Clarkson, Paul Quinn, Brian Kerr, dare I say James McFadden, Stephen Pearson etc. etc. So come on 'Well let's get the big guy re-signed pdq.

Aye I remember that game too particularly Bobby Watson's screamer past big McCloy. Our second was what Bobby Graham and the 'Grew were all about. Graham was a class act and the number of times these two performed the same move as they did here was uncanny but terrific to watch. Yes and never a penalty and spot the b*stard in the black - one J.P.R. Gordon from Newport on Tay the same b*astard that refereed our Scottish Cup sem-final against them the following year and "gave" them another penalty that never was! He had some track record. With great respect to the cup winning side I still believe this was the best Motherwell team I've seen at FP.

Just another act in the long running farce that is Scottish football. As if it should come as any surprise but the fans of the non-OF clubs are getting right royally f*cked over. Fan ownership?

The most natural goal scorer I ever saw at FP. Instinctively knew where he was in relation to the goal and when he saw the white of the goals he always had a go and invariably hit the target. The winning goal he scored against Celtic (then cup holders) at FP in the cup at FP will stay with me forever. Typical 'Grew.Oh Wullie Wullie, Wullie Wullie Wullie, Wullie Pettigrew.

"We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization." Gaius Petronius (AD 27 - 66AD)

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere recently that this 'new system' had been tried in Switzerland for a few seasons but was then abandoned in favour of their previous league st-up. In other words it failed! So why are we so hells fire intent on bringing in a system that has already been discredited?

Yes a very disappointing result to St Mirren but we can't and won't win every single game. Our away record is excellent but its our home form that's piling pressure on us. We are leaking goals at an alarming rate and IMO the entire back 4 are very poor just now and are certainly putting a lot of pressure on our forwards to score. McCall needs to get the defensive side of the side sorted because we just do not look like a side that can keep a clean sheet against anybody. Its bad enough losing the first goal but when you then lose a second its an uphill struggle. Maybe need to consider moving Hateley to midfield with Lasley and play them just in front of the back 4 as additional cover.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with serious constructive criticism but ranting and raving at players is a waste of time. What you need to realise is that these guys are out there doing there absolute level best but the fact is that's as good as they are. If they were better then they'd not be plying their trade at FP. That said I can understand people's frustrations. Having paid out their good hard earned for a season ticket and only seeing a couple of home wins before Christmas is always likely to get folk's mad.

Never been a fan of McCall but it wasn't him that failed miserably against Aberdeen the other night - too many of the players just didn't seem to fancy it. I am all for having good footballers in the side but at present (Lasley apart) there's not much steel in the Steelmen who are prepared to roll the sleeves up and battle.

Spot on Lobey. I think that this is a major problem for the club at present and one that has not been picked-up on. Whilst fan ownership is very laudable I'm afraid management by committee never works because there is nobody in the leadership role. Another aspect that is hitting us hard too is a lack of cash for being able to get in a couple of better players than we presently have. This would stop the complacency that I think has crept in as a result of our having quite a small first team squad.

Bloody hell!!! Yes it was disappointing to lose such a late goal and only get a draw. But some folk need to get a grip. Seven games, unbeaten home and away and top of the SPL. Aye its a piss poor start to the season right enough. All 'Well fans should be savouring every single minute of this season and the past few seasons in the sun because its heady days for us and it won't last forever. Like quite a few who post on here I've seen some real piss poor starts to seasons and some right piss poor seasons so for me this is almost surreal. So lets not lose the plot and keep wioth the team - regardless of whether or not we lose to both halves of the OF next week becaue it won't make us a bad team.

Yes texanwellfan we did lose a Texaco Cup match at FP to Hearts 1-2 aet in the circumstances described by Special AKA. I think it was Donald Ford who got the debated equaliser - I'll never forget how sick I felt after losing that one as it was probably my first real disappointment (many more since) as a 'Well fan. But we did get our revenge in the later game I described when we won 4-2. One goal from tha game that has stuck in my memory was a belter from about 20 yards from Jim "Netzer" McCabe.

I wonder if any 'Well fans out there remember the 1969 League Cup Quarter Final epic against Morton? First leg at Cappielow - we lost 3-0 and got Dixie Deans sent-off. Looked as though the second leg the following week would be a formality. Second leg at FP - we won 3-0 in normal time but couldn't quite win it in extra-time. I remember FP being packed and standing out in the pissing rain with my brother and my dad behind the goals at the Knowetop end (now Davie Cooper Stand) for the entire game. Soaked through to our drawers but throughly enjoying every minute. Third game at Ibrox - we won 1-0 with a late goal from big Jumbo Muir in a game that was anything but a classic. Couldn't have cared less we were in the semi. Or the second-leg of Texaco Cup game against Hearts at FP after a 1-1 draw at Tyncastle in the fist leg. We were 0-2 down at half-time and on our way out. Second half totally took charge, ramped in 4 goals, blew them away and ended up winning easily. Another huge crowd at FP that night too.

Jeez Texanwellfan thanks for these. What absolutely wonderful memories these evoke. I was about halfway back in the terracing at what is now the East Stand with my brother and my dad. We were about level with the 18-yard line and Martin Chivers took the throw that led to Spurs goal just in front of us. I know they said that there was 22,000 in FP that night but I think it was more. We couldn't wait to get home from school that day and even classmates that weren't 'Well fans were mad kean to go too. It wasn't all-ticket so anyone could turn up on the night and pay at the gate. The atmosphere outside before the game was even more electric than it usually was for big night games at FP and there was really a feeling that we could win despite the quality of the opposition. Everyone in that team became a legend for me that night and they are my all-time favourite 'Well side.

Results elsewhere presenting a great chance to go clear at the top - are we going to our usual and blow it?