Kmcalpin

Yes, our focus on wing play is very predictable. However we don't need to wait for Stephen Hughes in order to adjust our midfield formation. Central midfield is Nicky Law's preferred option. On Friday I'd like to see a midfield of Humphrey, Jennings, Law and Murphy with Daley partnering Higdon up front, given that Lasley is likely to miss out. Hughes could be used as a sub. Plenty of pace there. That formation may just tempt Hibs to have a real go at us as well.

I totally agree. That said I don't think he's a striker - more an out and out winger. You're right about Michael Higdon too - plenty of flicks, knock downs but no-one to take advantage of them. Jamie has even ended up playing behind Steve Hammell at times when MH is crying out for support. We're doing very well this season as our league position proves, but Jamie is being wasted in the current set up. The reasons for our lacklustre home form are plain for all to see - wrong offensive formation and tactics.

The important thing is that we now have something to remember Phil and his family like it. The Trust and club deserve credit and it was good to hear John Boyle speak. However the actual artwork was as others have said "underwhelming". There is little to connect it with Phil to most outside of Motherwell FC. Best left at that.

That sums it up for me. The weather had little to do with the outcome. With a formation including a solitary striker we were always going to struggle. Despite all our second half pressure, United were the more dangerous team. The lack of strikers is beginning to cause us serious problems. Daley for Murphy or Murphy for Daley is irrelevant. I'm also beginning to question the wisdom of Stephen Hughes. He's only signed until the end of the year and has yet to play a single minute of first team football.

This is a tricky issue for clubs and stewards. I suppose the key for supporters is to choose a location where you're not obscuring any seated fans' views. If you do that then presumably there will be no grounds for complaints. That then gives over zealous stewards less cause to act. We do not want to get into the situation we were in several years ago at a CIS Cup semi final against Celtic at Hampden. Quite a few fans stood up continuously, others behind them objected and then it kicked off. It really boils down to consideration for fellow fans. Show them respect and you've a very strong case indeed.

That was my take on it too. The match commander will want to control this carefully.

A trip to Elgin would have been nice, but a home draw against them or Queens Park isn't bad at all. One of the better draws I'd say.

Has Dundee United acknowledged or replied to the letter of complaint yet? If so what was their response?

I'd be most surprised if the match commander was not involved. Unlikely that stewards would take the decision themselves to eject fans from the ground. This is a very complex issue however and the answer is to create safe standing areas. Certainly I object, and have done, to large numbers of fans standing for 90 minutes and obscuring the view of seated fans who want to sit and repeatedly ignoring requests to sit down. On the other hand I've no objection to smaller groups of fans standing for 90 minutes if they are not bothering fellow seated fans. I've a lot of time for the younger lads who have added a lot of colour, noise and atmosphere to our games this season. In the main they've gone about things in the right way. I'd say to them keep it going and I hope your numbers swell. I'd add a warning though. Because of the Aberdeen incident, the public spotlight will be on you and you'll have to act responsibly. There will be those who will want to have a go at you for whatever reason. Behave responsibly, show respect to fellow fans and you may find yourselves spearheading a growing campaign. If this groundswell gathers momentum, then at some stage clubs, politicians and the authorities will have to become involved. You'll need their support. Good to see the club showing some public support too. Aberdeen will need to look seriously at stewarding issues but that is a separate, but nonetheless very important matter in its own right.

I wasn't at the game and so can't comment in detail. But your point sums it up perfectly for me Andy. Its an awkward issue for clubs but we have to have consistent application of the regulations and there is no sign of that whatsover. If as seems true, Aberdeen fans were allowed to stand unmolested then this raises serious questions.

A great result from Stuart McCall and the team. Still sitting 2nd on goal differeence in late Novermber on 29 points. Good to to see Michael Higdon and Omar Daley notch goals. Was a bit surprised that Stephen Hughes didn't even feature on the bench given he's only signed for 6 weeks. Still happy days indeed.

If it was then it would apply in all circumstances and in all locations throughout Scotland, not simply to football fans. If it was broadly based then it would apply to workplaces, public places, music events etc etc? There is an implication that people only become bigots when going to or watching football in other words the so called 90 minute bigot. This simply isn't true.

Its interesting that there are no voting options for players before the late 60s. Understandable though. Thats excluding some 80 years of our history!

This Bill isn't going to achieve that. I apologise if I repeat the arguments of others but they are important. Firstly this Bill isn't designed or intended to stamp out sectarian bigotry. Its aimed at behaviour of football supporters. This is a fundamental flaw. The problem is that sectarian bigotry at football matches is simply a manifestation of one of Scottish society's most serious problems. The Scottish Government is frightened to tackle that head on and I can understand why. Secondly, any police action will be aimed at easy targets ie fans of clubs outwith the OF. No match commander is going to order his/her officers to wade in to thousands of OF fans and start hauling them out. But that is what is required if we are to take the SG's soundbites seriously. If any match commander did that there would be all hell to pay from their bosses, the Churches, and politicans.

That is correct. Under this proposed legislation you could have 2 guys sitting next to each other on a train/bus. One is going to a game the other isn't. The footie fan is wearing his team's colours. They both make the same bigoted remark. The footie fan is committing an offence the other isn't. Where on earth is the sense and fairness in that? The Scottish Government seems to think that sectarianism is confined to football. It most certainly isn't.

This story is running on the Supporters Trust website. What is going on? Is this a Trust initiative? All very odd.

Pretty much my view too. However the Trust really does need to clarify the post's status.

Don't really know whether to agree or disagree. Certainly this post has stirred up a bit of a reaction. I'll sleep on it.

Great post FC. Its extemely limited what MFC can achieve on its own by adjusting entry prices. Clubs and their supporters have to act in unison. However there will always be at least one club which seeks to steal a cheap march on the others.

Stephen Hughes can produce all the ammunition in the world but it will be of very limited benefit if we have no-one on the box to pull the trigger. Our problem continues to be turning pressure into shots/headers on target. That is why we are not scoring goals at home.

Point well made Ian. Whatever the cost of a subscription, the product should work.

Thats not the answer at all. Like them or not the regulations state that stadia should be all seated. In order to see the game properly last Sunday we too could have stood up but I took a conscious decision not too as it would have obscured the view of those regulars behind me and forced them into standing up too. Whether they like it or not the Police really need to take a more proactive role in supporting stewards and make no mistake they have the final say on these matters.

Spot on Al. How many packets of cigarettes or pints of beer or lottery tickets, or bets could you buy for £2 a month or even £4.50 a month? Even in today's climate it really isn't a fortune.

I'm afraid in these situations many fans adopt a self centred attitude. Its human nature and perfectly understandable - if an issue doesn't affect them personally then its not an issue. To quite a few supporters in the East and Cooper Stands having OF fans in the POD Stand is neither here nor there. Santheman said yesterday "Don't really have a problem with them being in the home stand as they can be contained to a certain extent and I suppose you can put up with all the shouts and comments for the common good. " Not having a go at San but presumably he or she doesn't sit in the POD Stand? Having to put up with shouts and comments across aisles is neither here nor there, but we're talking about more serious and annoying behaviour. I should know as I experienced it as recently as yesterday. On the other side of the coin, many of our fans well know what it is like to have to sit next to the OF support. Its a difficult situation for the club to sort out but ultimately the buck stops with the Police and in particular the match comander.

You've stolen the words from my keyboard. A good part of Jamie Murphy's problem is the role in which he's being used. He may also be playing poorly at home - its hard to say. If we must play with a lone striker at home then Jamie Murphy has to support Michael Higdon far more than he is doing. Time and again MH was looking forlonly for someone to pick up his flicks and knock downs to no avail. I genuinely thought that Jamie was meant to be supporting him but more often than not he ended up supporting Steve Hammell instead, and its not just in OF games he does this.