Kmcalpin

Well done again to all concerned Angie. Good to see us thump our county rivals. Maybe its time you reminded Flow of his promise to give you a dedicated page on the clubs website

Personally I think this is a good idea. It gives those who want it, an opportunity to buy some memorabilia and the club a chance to raise some income. Many fans, including myself have banged on about the need for MFC to increase turnover. Any new income helps to improve the quality/quantity of players in our squad, keep gate prices/season tickets at a "reasonable level", or simply help out with the club's running costs. I suspect that the income raised from this venture will be pretty modest but what harm can it do? I don't understand anyone who is opposed to it, although they are entitled to their view. I would be dead set against it if fans were being forced to attend but we're not. If anyone doesn't like the idea or is offended by it then they have the option of not going along. Perhaps those who are opposed to it could come up with a better idea to raise cash?

Cheers Flow. Points taken

At the risk of straying onto another thread Tweed, I think the problem in this particular case is that many/quite a few fans made their minds up months ago that Messrs Smith & Hughes were going to leave. Any subsequent comment the pair made, and quite a few were reported, were all along the lines "I haven't ruled out staying but am keeping my options open". To me at any rate that means "I'm offski". A meaningful update to me would a change of direction and one which should be reported is "I'm signing a new contract at Fir Park". Its reminiscent of the old Monty Python sketch with John Cleese reading out the news for various animals.

Fair comment Steve. What about: * some column inches on our new pitch i.e what is going to be done, how its going to done? * a feature on Shaun Hutchinson/Jonathan Page/Paul Slane/Steven Saunders etc etc - we don't know a lot about many of our young lads. I'm all for a newsletter and all credit to the club (Flow?) for instigating it but maybe a bit of fine tuning is required?

Totally agree Jim. It wouldn't surprise me if the eventual recipients of the place were "outsiders". The scoring system is very subjective and very much a black box process.

You were spot on Sarah! Your optimism could teach a few of us a thing or two. Good win.

Shades of Maurice Malpas again. I'm not overly concerned about losing Hughes or Smith - especially the former as he's done little all season. However we don't have youngsters waiting to step up and so thats not an option. The team has shown a distinct lack of bottle this season in crucial games and so I would not be at all hopeful of our chances in a real relegation dogfight. If we're not careful we'll land back where we were about 3 years ago - cutting back our budget to such an extent that we really are fighting for SPL survival. At the time I recall the powers that be at FP saying that that would not be allowed to happen again. All I ask for is a side capable of battling and scratching for points as Tommy MacLean's sides did.

Yes, there is something in that. That has been true for quite some time now. Its also true of our right flank where Paul Quinn has been left exposed just too often. Its an inherent weakness in our side.

The problem is that he creates significantly less goals than he causes. Where would I play him? I'd try him at wide left midfield for a run of games. He's played there a couple of times but struggled positionally. On the last occasion he played there he persistently wandered into the centre and I'd be tempted to give him a run there as well.

As I said after the game both goals really came from our left flank, as they have done on many occasions this season. Opposing managers are well aware of this weakness. The goal we lost against St Mirren last Saturday was a bit different but still a defensive disaster. Whatever else we need to strengthen our defence for next season. Irrespective of departures, we need to bring in a new left back.

It may be of course that MMcG was prepared to offer both lads what he thought they were worth, as squad players. Saints on the other hand see them as first team regulars and were prepared to push the boat out financially. Who knows? Either way a litlte bit of clarity from MFC, without breaking confidentialities wouldn't go amiss.

Thats what concerns me. No disrespect to the young lads but they're not ready or in some cases perhaps not good enough for SPL football. Last season the team proved it lacked the mettle for a fight. This isn't sounding good for the coming campaign and won't help season ticket sales!

Flow Just some feedback on my renewal experience - its meant to be just that and hopefully it'll help you fine tune the online system. Not being negative. I received my letter ok and the details were all correct. I decided to renew online and did so & that has saved me a round trip of 120 miles by car. I logged on ok last night but found the system a wee bit cumbersome. Again my details were correct. I didn't realise at first that the "email" box on the renawal form equated to the on-line username in my renewal letter. Could the same terms be used perhaps? Why do we need a 20 digit bar code? Would 4,5 or perhaps 6 not do? The online renewal took a wee while with a bit of toing and froing - a bit cumbersome. Anyhow, it seemed to take ok and I logged out. However I don't know if my renewal was successful? Would there be any way of sending an automated email to confirm that it was? Thats about it - just glad that I can renew online. Well done.

Maybe Saints are jumping the gun - its unclear. They have agreed a fee with Livi (as have Dundee) but were "locked" in talks with the pair concerned. The deciding factor may be that Saints could offer SPL football. Dundee are also hopeful of signing them. The BBC and the Courer seem to be at odds here.

Good post. As far as I'm aware, and I might be wrong, official observers award teams points based on 5 criteria and thats in itself subjective. Once that has been done they then deduct points accrued for red and yellow cards. So on that basis its quite possible that a team like Hamilton or Kilmarnock could be announced as winners at the very last minute. In short no-one knows.

Spot on Flow. I heard quite a few season ticket holders complain bitterly last night about reduced PATG prices this season. Another one might have caused a riot! Damned if we do and damned if we don''t!!

The Main Stand/POD Stand side has been sodden for months. The pitch was very bumpy, although it did seem to affect ICT less than us.

More like a pre season friendly tonight, but we did secure 7th spot and didn't pick up any cards either. Probably deserved the draw. We had a fair bit of pressure but as so often this season couldn't convert that into chances. Poor defending and especially on our left side yet again cost us. The midfield was very lightweight until Klimpl came on and looked intimidated by ICT's aggression. Buzz again had an erratic game but what was more worrying was that Michael Fraser did not look at all happy in the air. Stephen Hughes had a poor game and I have to say looked largely disinterested. No stand outs but Davie Clarkson put in a good shift as did Paul Quinn. Worrying though that John Sutton & Davie Clarkson just don't look like a partnership. We'll need to put out a strong team on Saturday as Accies will be fighting for their lives and will take no prisoners.

I learnt today that the Milton Street Stadium was opened in July 1950. Apparently the Motherwell Times carried articles about it at the time.

Yes well done Flow and everyone else involved.

I had exactly the same thought. There are obviously reasons why some fans aren't receiving renewal letters or receiving two. Club not recording changes of address; not recording new addresses; fans not notifying the club of contact changes; season tickets in soemone elses name?

We should keep the lid on this until we know for sure how the scoring is working out. Assume nothing until then. I think its fair to say that we are in with the front runners.....no more than that.

Rightly, or wrongly, if MFC reduced prices many season ticket holders would be up in arms. The club is damned if it does and damned if it doesn't.

Gus MacPherson was quite right to highlight his side's very poor defending but he didn't mention his team's goal came from equally poor defending!