Kmcalpin

Amidst all the hysteria on here, on P & B and Well fans 2 this is possibly the best and most sensible post. As things stand we simply don't know the situation as tabloid reports may just be unfounded rumours. His agent has had plenty to say, anonymously and behind the scenes of course, so they should come out and clarify matters, if only to say there's nothing to comment upon. Failing that the club should take it upon itself to issue clarification again if only to say nothing has been decided. The fans deserve better.

Agreed Yorky. I'd been going to Fir Park for decades and, initially from what I saw of him, I'd rate him as being potentially one of our most talented youngsters in perhaps 30 years, if not more. If it had been up to me I'd have given him a 4 year contract without hesitation. However, I began to have doubts when, much to the annoyance of quite a few fans, managers seemed reluctant to give him game time. When he was given game time he looked fantastic but with little or no end product. Thats why I'm not a football manager or coach. I can recall during the dark days of administration Terry Butcher addressed a meeting of fans at Fir Park and was taking "polite" pelters, as you would with him, about why he preferred Paul Quinn to a seemingly far better and much more talented Willie Kinninburgh. He replied that Quinn would go much further in the game than Kinninburgh and whilst Coach never hit the heights, big Terry was proved right. So, don't judge the club too harshly. Assessing young players is very difficult and there's much more to it than just possessing talent.

Disagree. Hastie himself was as surprised as anyone when he came back from Alloa and made such an impact in the first team. Maguire has been promising but nothing more. Turnbull very talented but untried - maybe I'll give you that one. You can't dish out long well paid contracts to every promising youngster in the youth ranks as we cimply can't afford it. We're not the Dundee United of years ago who simply threw cash at their youth set up. Look at the likes of Luke Watt and David Ferguson and Dom Thomas to name but three. If we did that our squad ranks would be filled with young 20 something players who weren't going to make it and a fair chunk of our budget would be used up. As Robbo has said recently its not all about talent its as much about attitude and you can only test that in first team football somewhere. Dom Thomas and Paul Slane? For older fans we had the likes of John Gray and Jim Beaton. These guys had/have amazing, really amazing, talent but just couldn't do it on the park at a senior level. Its a fine balancing act not always easy to get 100% right. I remember talking to Jim Leishman 5 or 6 years ago and he told me that its one of the hardest things in football to predict which talented youngsters would make it and which would not. He said they were all talented otherwise they wouldn't have signed them in the first place.

He's publicly stated that he wants to stay and thats good enough for me.

He's publicly stated that he wants to stay and thats good enough for me.

We've improved drastically since the turn of the year, changed our style of football and gone on an excellent run so confidence will be high. Accies however have changed their manager and have also improved. If anyone doubts that, remember they beat Aberdeen 2-0 at Pittodrie on their last run out. They will have had us closely watched in recent weeks and will know our new style of play although they haven't played us recently. They'll also be desperate for the points. Its derby day and hard to know what to expect. However on this occasion, we have talented players who can produce something special, something unpredictable. It goes without saying Accies will be hard and physical.

Terrible conditions what with the weather and poor pitch, but a point away from home against a top six side isn't bad. We edged away from Livingston and are now within touching distance of St Johnsone.

Even from a financial perpsective I can't see the value in what Killie has done. Say there were 1,000 paying punters on Wednesday evening. If each attends tomorrows game, that brings in about £2,600 taking into account VAT. There will also be say an additional 400 PATG fans for the rearranged game bringing in say an additional £1,280. That pans out at about £3,900 net. Now if those with vouchers got in for nothing tomorrow and an additional 400 (probably an underestimate) paid full price that would generate about £5,200 net. The financial difference is about £1,300. Ok so what if a few fans got extra vouchers and every single one was used, Killie would still not lose out or if they did so only by a few pounds - less than one week's wages for one of their better players. In other words, chickfeed to them. By doing what they've done, their reputation has been damaged and they've lost goodwill. Very short sighted.

Absolutely. I hope fans who are due a refund and are going don't take up the club's offer, as Bert suggests above, but totally understand if some fans do take up the offer. Why should Well fans and MFC underwrite Killie's loss unfortunate as it is. Well done MFC - you've given Killie a lesson in customer service and fairness. Hopefully some of us will challenge Killie on their published terms and conditions.

Its the same price for the Cooper and Phil O'Donnell stands. At Rugby Park it costs an adult in the Chadwick Stand £22 but only £20 in the Moffat Stand. Exactly the same situation that you raise about Fir Park. Whilst we're on about comparisons it costs Killie fans aged 60-64 £20 or £22 at Rugby Park but only £17 at Fir Park. Football is far too dear these days generally but its downright wrong that PATG fans going on Saturday who attended last night (mainly Well fans) should have to pay in again. I've always thought highly of Kilmarnock as a club but this has done them no credit whatsoever (I've never had any problem with the fans and still don't).

So, Killie's season ticket holders get in for free but PATG customers (ie all away fans) have to pay. Why give out vouchers then? Scandalous. Did MFC have any say in this? Maybe lodge a complaint through the Society.

Presumably voucher holders will gain free access? Wording on Killie's Official Site is not very clear. Season tickets are valid.

Hopefully the SPFL will reimburse Killie if they have incurred cancellation costs. It does seem very short notice. Apart from these issues it seems sensible.

Saturday is very short notice. Originally we must have had a good reason for not wanting it played then. Hopefully not next midweek.

I was being a bit mischievous Andy, as I knew that. No more and no less than that. He/she is a decent sort as far as I can tell. I made the comment as this is a Motherwell Forum and unless posters state otherwise, its a reasonable assumption to make that the team to which they are referring is the Well. Anyhows my hope for tonight is that Gorrin, Campbell and our 2 full backs play like tigers, hard but fair, and don't defend too deeply or narrowly. Don't allow Killie unnecessary corners or cheap crosses. Do that and we'll take a point at the very least.

Not sure about that at all. Cadden, Carson, Tanner and McHugh are certain non starters. Aldred and Main must be very doubtful and there are question marks over Mbulu and Hartley. Given the nature of Sunday's game, it wouldn't surprise me if we have picked up other injuries. If, on the other hand, its Killie you're referring to, I think you won't be far wrong. Certainly the likes of Gorrin and Campbell will be put under huge pressure and it'll be interesting how they cope. Given all that we have a mountain to climb before kick off. Not saying we can't pick something up but it'll be a huge ask. Must be positive though.

According to the Official Site, Mbulu has had a minor hamstring injury but may be fit by "late February".

A lot will depend on who is fit, especially in central defence. McHugh is a non starter as I suspect is Aldred, going by horrific pictures on the net this morning. Hartley won't be anywhere near match fit. I don't know about Mbulu. Donnelly perhaps? Main? I hope if young Scott starts he'll be given the support's loud backing.

Which rag was that?

Great result today for the young lads, and most of them are young. More kudos for our youth set up.

We mustn't forget that when Christie went down Celtic continued to attack and it was only when that move broke down that they put the ball out of play. If they were that concerned about sportsmanship or their player's injury, they should have put the ball out immediately. These kind of incidents happen occasionally and it should really be down to the referee to stop the game, unless there are obvious serious issues. That way there's no confusion.

Just watched the highlights on our TV. For the first goal, our midfield was sitting far too deep and if you make a mistake in that position, ie a free header, there's no way back. Goal No 2 came from a free cross in. Again that puts the defence under immediate and unnecessary pressure. Goal No 3 was a great strike. Goal No 4 came from several errors - giving the ball away and lack of marking. Robbo can take comfort from that performance in that 3 of the 4 goals were completely avoidable and down to very poor defending. Thats something he can work on and will help to motivate the players. It was good us go to Parkhead and play more positively. In the past we've struggled to mount a single attack. From other sources, not MTV unfortunately, there seems to be a general misunderstanding, deliberate and otherwise, about the events leading up to our goal. I didn't appreciate that Christie took it upon himself to leave the field first for treatment and come back on (all without the referee's permission) and then go down, presumably to allow a sub to come on. As we know, he has previous for simulation, and I can unerstand why our lads would be wary of his antics.

You could always point out that it didn't happen in a cup final and no-one was red carded because of it.

We might struggle a bit to field 2 decent central defenders on Wednesday night. Could have done without those 2 injuries today.

9 Minutes Allan??? Is that some kind of record? Very disappointing result but not surprising given the injuries.