Kmcalpin

I'd like to know the annual maintenance costs of Fir Park. I'd wager it runs into 6 figures easily. The cost of patching up the POD doesn't bear thinking about as its long past that stage.

50. Its punishment for pyro incidents. It won't make any difference though as we won't sell out our allocation. It only means that we pay Dundee for an extra 50 unused tickets. Pointless.

Easy. Just plough most of the cash into the team; neglect the stadium; and get someone else to substantially pay for a new one.

The Courier is still hurting obviously. Maswanhise dramatics and Sevelj naivety There was an intriguing section within Jens Berthel Askou’s programme notes, as he addressed the ludicrous reaction of Callum Slattery which resulted in a red card to Richard King of St Mirren in their prior fixture (subsequently rescinded). Reflecting on the incident, the Well gaffer wrote: “…the reaction has to be in proportion to the action itself. We’re trying our best to leave that part of a deeply rooted football culture behind us. “And we will do better going forward.” Did Maswanhise do better on Saturday? Was that reaction “in proportion” to Sevelj’s action? He certainly did a job for his team by drawing full attention to an incident that would have otherwise been missed – as scores of other similar confrontations between centre-backs and attackers are. The Zimbabwean international folded like a deckchair after Vicko Sevelj swung an arm in his direction, seeking to shake off Maswanhise after a bit of pushing and shoving between the pair. All pretty standard stuff. However, it was enough to convince VAR Ryan Lee to order Nick Walsh to attend the monitor and, as usual, the on-field referee took his tacit cue: penalty kick. None of which is to absolve Sevelj of blame. The versatile Croatian is an intelligent player and, although only 25 years of age, one of United’s more experienced campaigners – certainly in terms of SPFL appearances. He should not have given Walsh and Lee the opportunity to make that call. And between Sevelj’s naivety and Maswanhise’s preposterous histrionics, a diligent defensive effort went up in smoke."

Don't forget folks our ticket allocation has been cut by 50 for this game.

Thats it for me Allan. I get the attachment and sentimentality argument but for me its outweighed by other more practical considerations. If the Directors decide against moving for well thought out and researched financial reasons then I can accept that. However, as you say, we have 2 stands that simply aren't fit for purpose. The East Stand has a poor view due to its low angle and is simply a covered shed and it has poor access from one end only. Kiosk siting is far from ideal. I guess that the only way that stand could be refurbished satisfactorily would be to extend it into Knowetop School playground. Thats not going to happen anytime soon. The POD Stand was contructed over 60 years ago and is way past its sell by date. Refurbishment would represent a sticking plaster job. Catering and hospitality facilites are totally inadequate. We're also having to maintain an external structural framework which has no practical purpose whatsoever. As for seating, both ends are simply seats bolted onto benches and I think I'm right in saying that they don't meet European competition standards. Kiosk and toilet facilities are medieval, but more importantly are part of a safety issue. If the POD was to be demolished and rebuilt that would cause all manner of logistcal problems: loss of hospitality income temporarily; and having to accommodate current patrons elsewhere in the ground (again resulting in decreased income). In short, Fir Park is the wrong shape and too constrained. I don't think that moving to Ravenscraig would be the end of the world. Its not as if we'd be moving to Honningsvag or anywhere as remote as that. The site is being developed, albeit more slowly than originally envisaged but new facilities will come. The area has changed dramatically over the past 100 years or so and will continue to change and evolve. How many of our fans miss our old park at Roman Road for example? Anyway, its an interesting debate and personally I'm looking forward to finding out a summary of the Director's feasibility study (hopefully) and learning their conclusions.

That old question has resurfaced again following an update at the AGM. In some ways nothing has changed but in other ways it has. The Club Directors had commissioned a report addressing the dilemma as to whether we upgrade Fir Park or whether we move. A Iengthy tome has now landed on their desks and rightly they will take time to digest it. Its interesting now though that a completley new regime is taking a another, fresh look at the issue. I suppose one catalyst is the state of the POD. Anyone sitting in there yesterday will share my concerns. Whatever the directors decide, doing nothing isn't an option. Other parts of the ground also require attention especially the East Stand. However, that can't be redeveloped whilst the school is still there and I doubt if that will close anytime soon. Demolishing and rebuilding the POD will be costly and complicated and disruptive, especially as we don't own the houses at the south western corner. The new regime is maximising the use of every available pocket of land that it can i.e. Mrs Baillies and now the corner between the East and Cooper Stands. But thats a sticking plaster exercise, albeit a creative one. Like Spiderpig, I favour moving to a new stadium. That of course, comes with its own problems namely cost. Whilst the club is now in an extremely healthy position with the prospect of more substantial transfer income to come it certainly won't stretch to constructing a new stadium; nothing like it. If we ever do move in my lifetime, It'll be hard leaving my second home of decades behind but I think that time has come. New generations of Well fans want and deserve modern, good facilities not memories. It'll be interesting to learn what the Directors make of the report. Watch this space.

Yes, that was quite an atmosphere which I haven't experienced in the POD for many years.

Olly Whyte scored again for Stenhousemuir yesterday. Surely he'll make the step up next season?

The Dundee Courier's take on events...no surprise there then. "A furious Jim Goodwin has slammed the “ridiculous” penalty kick award that sent Motherwell on their way to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Dundee United. The Steelmen broke down a stubborn Terrors resistance as half-time approached following an off-the ball clash between Vicko Sevelj and Tawanda Maswanhise. The United man swung his arm as he sought to shrug off the Zimbabwe international – undoubtedly ill-judged, and something that gave the officials a decision to make – but the footage was unclear regarding the severity of the contact. Nevertheless, referee Nick Walsh was evidently convinced by the footage presented by VAR Ryan Lee and pointed to the spot before booking Sevelj. “Motherwell didn’t have a shot on the target until the ridiculous (penalty) decision that went against us,” fumed Goodwin. “It was a sucker-punch and the players didn’t deserve it. “A decision like that really takes it out of the players – mentally, as well – after working so hard. “A coming together of two players like that happens 100 times in football. However, that’s what we’re used to this season, with the way games are being refereed.” However, all that decent defensive work was undone on the cusp of half-time when Sevelj and Maswanhise clashed. Maswanhise hit the deck like a ton of bricks – the second time in as many games that a Motherwell player has made a preposterous meal of a situation – and caught the attention of VAR. And, as is invariably the case, the on-field referee agreed with the team in the Baillieston HQ. Maswanhise managed to shake off any residual agony to clinically slot the ball past Maynard-Brewer. “Players have to take some responsibility,” continued Goodwin. “We had a similar type of incident against Hearts when their player (Marc Leonard) went down holding his face like he’d been hit hard (by Pan Camara) and conned the ref. “Today, Maswanhise went down like he’d been punched with full force in the ribs. It gives VAR something to look at – but I’d love a referee to see it and just say, ‘that’s not a penalty’. “It’s not a penalty and I wouldn’t want penalties like that given.”

A few contenders today but I plumped for TJ, given his match winning contribution and the fact that United targeted him from the off.

I was sorry to learn that John Boyle took unwell and collapsed at Fir Park this afternoon. Hopefully he's ok. Its great that he still takes an interest in us and I still have a lot of time for him. I met him on several occasions and he was always pleasant and approachable. Yes he made huge mistakes, but his heart was in the right place. Hopefully he'll be attending games again in the near future. As I say, I hope he's recovering and its nothing serious.

A much harder game than today's in prospect and I'll happily settle for a point, although 3 would be even better.

A great home crowd of about 7,300 today. Great atmosphere too once the team got going. Who said we couldn't increase attendances? Lots of new faces in our part of the POD. Long may that continue. That will boost income considerably and I hope that translates into a jump in season ticket sales. A jump in attendances brings problems though - increased traffic congestion for one. In the southern part of the POD there were big problems at half time with congestion in the stair well and small concourse. Fans making their way down to hospitality; others queuing for the kiosk; and yet others queuing for the loos resulted in human gridlock. Yes the POD is well past its sell by date and large crowds are causing potential safety issues. Lest I be accused of being a miserable sod, they are pleasant problems to have and shouldn't be blown out of context.

Some interesting asides from today's fixture. I thought that Nick Walsh had an ok game but made perhaps 3 odd decisions. No 1: For the penalty, I don't understand why the defender wasn't red carded. It was deliberate and nor reckless but violent. No 2: the incident when Said was yellow carded, rightly so. There was a bit of an altercation between him and an opponent. The opponent pushed or slapped him in the dial he he responded in kind. Why wasn't the defender yellow carded? No 3: he was in a 50/50 tussle with defender and just about to break free when he was cynically hauled down. Why was United awarded the free kick? A special mention to the United fans. What a miserable lot they are (a tongue in cheek generalistion I know). They maintained their well earned reputation by booing JT mecilessly; booing Elijah Just; booing the ref; booing Jim Goodwin; and booing their own players.

A comfortable and deserved win for us today although, as others have said, we weren't at our best. United came for a point and altered their approach to nullify us. It didn't work. Right from the off, they niggled and timewasted and JT in particular came in for for some special treatment. We looked to be wasteful but the penalty set us on our way. Having reviewed the highlights it was a stick on penalty. The United defender was stupid in the extreme and took his instructions just too far. I was surprised that a foursome of United players were allowed to harass the match officials during the VAR review. Our second came quickly and unexpectedly just after the break. Although the ball took a slight lucky deflection it made up for rotten luck at other times in the game. Thereafter, we were content to let United come at us and became a little complacent and sloppy. Still, the 3 points were safe. I thought that the long ball tactic was interesting. A novel idea that caused United problems, but the execution didn't quite match the principle. Over the peice, I thought that Slattery, Said and JT were our best performers on the day. Thor also looked good when he came on and has a nice touch for a big man.

Not according to United fans. Cheating plain and simple.

Presumably after all the Callum Slattery chat over the past week we won't see any playacting whatsoever in today's Premiership games?

I wasn't at the AGM this year, but have read a few online accounts. It does seem as though the Board is keeping its cards close to its chest, unlike in previous years. Some interesting points though about JBA's contract, the Lennon Miller deal and stadium issues. To address your point Parko, I've no idea what an open ended contract is and neither does anyone else outside of the Boardroom. A very curious turn of phrase.

Good point Parko. The AGM is probably worth a thread on its own, which I'll start.

Top six now confirmed thanks to Dundee United and Aberdeen drawing tonight.

Very true. Not everyone is driven solely by money.

They decide the fixtures and then cook up the reasons to justify them

The Ox joins Dunfermline on loan until the end of the season.

Yes, and I'll hold my hands up for raising it again. Journos will raise it especially as it happened against St Mirren. Its time to move on. These incidents are ten a penny and this one mustn't overshadow what a great performance it was. We took St Mirren apart and rubbed their noses in it, in their own back yard. Truth be told it could have been more. 5 different scorers and another shut out. It doesn't come much better than that. I had concerns pre match that, given our busy schedule, we might be running on empty but JBA managed that well and even had time to sub the much used and probably exhausted Paul McGinn. These results don't come around very often and we shouldn't let anything detract from that.