Kmcalpin

I'm a wee bit surprised by some posters' reaction to my idea. I quite appreciate that not everyone would want to contribute or indeed could afford to contribute and I have no problem with that whatsoever. Thats life. However providing fans were approached in the right way i.e. "Here is the scheme do you want to contribute ...No? ok thanks anyway" I don't understand how anyone could take offence. I could quite understand a reaction if fans were hassled or made to feel inferior about not not giving but there's no suggestion that would ever happen. I have the impression, maybe wrongly, that some posters would take offence even if asked politely or would even take offence if someone else wanted to contribute. My message is chill out. If you want to contribute then fine but if not thats ok. Folk should have a free choice on both sides. The club has every right to ask, and we, the fans, have every right to say no or conversely yes. FWIW I also agree that that our pitch problems are not all USH related. Once again on Sunday the wing under the POD Stand was sodden. Perhaps its no coincidence that its also the lowest part of the ground. There are still drainage problems.

In my dictionary "impertinent" means irrelevant, out of place, absurd, insolent and lacking respect. Well, I suppose compared the best fans in the world we would be. Presumably the Herald deemed their behaviour yesterday exemplary. Maybe we should all follow Scott MacDonald's example yesterday of not questioning any ref's decision but rather thanking him at every opportunity and accepting his every decision. Ah well thats the Herald on the banned list now. Running out of titles to read.

I really cannot understand why if the Police go the trouble of closing streets to traffic for half an hour at the end of games and erect barriers (which were a safety hazard in themselves) outside the ticket office they cannot put the same effort and thought into segregating fans after the match.

Plenty to talk about today and I was pleased with the draw. Celtic certainly had far more pressure but didn't really test Graeme Smith and although the media made much of our one effort on target Celtic couldn't muster much more. I thought we gave Celtic too much respect and despite what the official formation was I thought it more a 4-4-1-1. Too often Sutton was asked to plough a lone furrow up front with Clarky playing too deep. The midfield too sat very deep at times and were guilty of not supporting the front men. Still we mustn't be too critical. Ian Brines? Although he wasn't required to make any major calls, thank goodness, he gave us very little and was rightly jeered off the pitch at half & full time. I thought Quinn, Klimpl and O'Brien were our best players but Paul Quinn was my MOTM not just for his goal and celebrations but also because of his general defending and runs. What about that second half tackle on McGeady!! Radio Scotland coverage was absolutely appalling. Richard Johnson, Murdo McLeod & Chick Young seemed most put out that we had stopped Celtic. For a good 15 minutes after the game they ranted on about Celtic without mentioning who their opponents were. Most stupid and completley pointless comment of the day was the match commentator who reported that Coach had scored today and also scored against Rangers in December 2007! He completely failed to mention other goals Coach has scored. And your point is caller? All in all a reasonable day and the result pushes us into the top six. Good choice of music too

Three main contenders in my view. I thought Quinn, Klimpl and O'Brien were our best players although the too often the latter had no real end product. Klimpl refused to be intimidated as most of his predecessors have been and got stuck in and should consider himself unlucky to be yellow carded given other unpunished offences that took place. Paul Quinn was my MOTM not just for hois goal and celebrations but also because of his general defending and runs. What about that second half tackle on McGeady!!

Because some like myself might want to. If the club sets such a scheme up, on a voluntary basis, then it would be up to each individual whether they wanted to contribute or not. If some don't wish to then fine. At the end of the day, the pitch remediation costs come our exactly the same budget as our transfer budget.

Please don't speak for me; I certainly wouldn't agree with him. Despite being a media pundit his opinion is worth no more nor no less than my own. In fact as I've attended more Well games than he has (and paid for almost all of them) my opinion is probably worth far more. I've never listened to him nor do I intend to start now. The solution is simple fellow Dossers - you don't have to listen to Real Radio so don't. If he's serious about campaigns then why hasn't he suggested docking the OF points for sectarianism?

Why not indeed?

True. Be up front and say a square yard of turf and the chance to help the club. If folk find that unacceptable or doesn't give an attractive yield then they don't have to contribute. No need to dress up the idea just a simple question "Are you in or out?".

We all know that the club is going to have to undertake major improvements to the pitch this summer and that that is going to blow a significant hole in our total budget. Almost certainly this will mean that either we can't acquire new players or that some current ones will be allowed to leave/sold on. No doubt there will be a few moans on this Board in 4/5 months time about lack of inwards transfer activity. Before we get to that stage could the club not launch some fundraising activity to help out with the costs of new drainage/turf/USH? Yes, I know we're in the middle, hopefully, of a global recession, but what about setting up a "sponsor a square metre (I much prefer yard) of turf" scheme? This could be aimed at both ordinary fans and businesses. Higher rates for the penalty boxes and centre circle? By my reckoning we must require approximately 8,700 sq yards of turf. A fiver or tenner per square yard? Even supposing we only raise £5,000 that would help. Would such a scheme cause any damage or harm? What about it Flow?

There's little to be gained by castigating individiual players, thats missing the point. Our problems last night were much more fundamental. The pitch was perfect, we fielded arguably our strongest side and this was a cup tie, but we still turned in a sub standard, flat, disinterested display. No excuses. Its not rocket science - its just like making soup - if you put nothing in you get nothing out.

Watched the game on the box tonight and I feel heartfelt sorry for our fans who went to the game. You were let down very badly. Back to basics I'm afraid. There's no real point in analysing our performance there's much more fundamental problems to address first. My only exception would be to highlight that we've lost yet another goal from our Achilles heel on the left flank. MMcG fielded the team that I would have done but 3 minutes into the game it was apparent that the team simply wasn't up for the game. Throughout the 90 minutes there was no fight no heart and we treated it more like a friendly than a cup tie. St Mirren on the other hand were up for it and credit where its due they fought for their win. At times they seemed to have 15 players on the pitch. Ok they didn't play much football but they chased, harried and tackled all night and justice was done when Mehmet scored. The way we played tonight was reminiscent of the game late last year at Falkirk. No fight and no spirit, and lack of effort. Quite plainly we have problems off the pitch. Maybe bonus disputes who knows? But, certainly lack of motivation. This current team are not cut out for cups, that much is clear. Not good enough Mr McGhee! The fans don't expect good performances or results but they are entitled to seeing the team give 100% and they've been badly short changed tonight.

Not that simple I'm afraid. I can't speak for Hamilton but Dunfermline installed it purely for commercial reasons. The surface was shocking and the players hated it as they picked up more injuries. Big Terry said in fact that when we were playing at East End Park there were some players he couldn't pick because of it. I recall one CIS Cup game there played in freeezing conditions and the all weather surface was anything but. The ball would hit it then ricchet off it at unpredictable angles. A good idea but we're not quite there yet.

I know where you're coming from. Dissent is a very silly offence for which to pick up a yellow card. However, in the heat of the moment its maybe understandable....someone assaults you after the ball is played, maybe you react - no real action is taken, you mouth off and the ref cards you. I suppose its down to frustration - the officials witness what went on yet bottle it.

Don't agree about Clarky's finish - it looked very well taken to me - expertly hooked with his right. Agree about the penalty claim though. What a run by Coach though! Charges up the park plays a one two loses it and then wins it back. All in the dying stages - he's certainly fit.

100% agree. Dazza played well yesterday and earned his place BUT that meant shifting Jim O'Brien out of position to a position he's not suited to. Apart from the untested Aydilek the only other left sided player we have is Fitzy and he's more of a defensive central midfielder. Midfield was our big problem again yesterday. On thinking things over again, and we're all wise in hindsight, couldn't we have played JO'B wide right and moved Dazza into central midfield to partner Maros Klimpl. The conditions didn't suit Stephen Hughes yesterday and as he's a bit lightweight, Dazza may have taken on the role of a box to box player to support our strikers and counter Accies' "Panzers". Worth a try?

Couldn't agree more Andy. As we all know there's plenty of scope for improvement with the club's admin, although its not all bad. However the Police are exerting more and more control over MFC and football clubs in general. As you say this influence is spreading into almost every aspect of football administration. Its now gotten to the point where its totally disproportionate to any trouble caused. Now if they were to apply the same degree of control of pubs & clubs, they could make a vast difference to our quality of life. When such establishments could open, when they could hold functions, who could gain entry, how many patrons could queue up at the bar at any one time. As I've said before the Police are quite happy to let MFC take the stick from our fans, and many of us are only too happy to dish that out sadly, for their actions & decisions. No sensible fan would suggest that the Police aren't allowed any say but its gotten to the point where they are causing problems for the ordinary fan and the club itself must be sick to the back teeth of it. Its bound to be affecting clubs' finances. I'm sure there are many, many crimes the Police could more profitably spend their time and budgets on cracking down on - using mobiles in cars, drug abuse, violence, vandalism.

I agree with a lot thats been said. We stole the 3 points against a better team on the day. Accies dominated for long spells but lacked a cutting edge up front. We failed to match them physically and they looked far more fired up than were. That said the ref was awful from start to finish and was rightly booed off at full time. Where did the extra 4 minutes come from incidentally? Once again we didn't quite get the formation right. The midfield was distinctly lightweight against Accies' Panzer division. While Dazza put in a good shift on the right, it was at the expense of an out of sorts Jim O'Brien who was forced to play out of position on the left. If someone else starts wide right then Marc Fitzpatrick would have been a better, although not perfect, starting option. Do I feel sorry for Accies? In a word no. We've played well and lost before. They're a big, fit and very physical team. Just too physical - two of their players were very, very fortunate to escape red cards for off the ball elbowing incidents. Billy Reid really needs to stop feeding them raw meat before games and cut out their strongarm stuff. Really felt sorry for Coach being yellow carded after being blatantly elbowed off the ball. That added insult to injury & would have tested the patience of saint. Our best players? Probably Sheridan, who looked sharp, Davie Clarkson for his overall effort and goal, Maros Klimpl for his all action performance and Coach for his unstoppable charges up the wing & exhibition stuff in the first half (fit to grace any World Cup). Dazza too put in a good shift.

A point for some to ponder over. The cost of rectifying our pitch problems and stand maintenance this coming close season will amount to at least £300k, if not a lot more. This money would be far better put towards a new stadium IMHO. FP is a real money pit.

I too think that Jay's line up looks likely. Going through some of the team selections though I'm a wee bit baffled by some selections. Not getting at anyone BTW. Jim O'Brien is not and never will be left sided so why pick him there? Keith Lasley and Maros Klimpl do not play well together as they've already proved. They're both defensive in character. Why play Keith Lasley wide left? He is defintely not a wide player and not left sided. If we go 4-4-2 then the only midfield player who fits the left side bill is Fitzy unless we draft in the untried new lad. Assuming both players make it then, the Maros Klimpl V Alec Neill battle should be something for us to savour.

Exactly. A point ignored by the press and somewhat surprisingly by our own fans. Given that we slashed prices for Celtic fans did they slash prices for us as a gesture of goodwill. Come on now I can't hear you! Charge them £26 I say.

As I see it the team that started was neither equipped to play open football (albeit that would be nigh near impossible on a shocking surface) or equipped to play the long ball. Thats what puzzled me most. I assumed and still do that it was picked with the intention of bottling up midfield. By bringing Keith Lasley in alongside Maros Klimpl that upset the midfield balance. Both are defensive central midfielders and do not play well together. Its not rocket science.

Much appreciated Fraz. Residents were also caught up in the congestion. We've paid for our parking tickets and so intend to use them. If folk like us are put off parking in the club's car parks then the club stands to lose several thousands of pounds annually. A loss it can't afford. An officer on duty for an extra 10/15 minutes is all it would take.

I've emailed the Trust about the post Match traffic arrangements and asked them to take up the issue with the Police. We all know about the car ban in the surrounding streets for 15 minutes after games and like it or lump it thats the way its going to be (I happen to lump it). However, what is happening is that the car parks are emptying later on to Knowetop Avenue. You might reasonably think given the above that the Police would keep an officer on points duty at the its junction with Windmillhill Street until after the traffic has cleared - but NO. Last night, yet again, there was a long line of traffic stretching along down Dalzell Drive, Knowetop Avenue and issuing from the car parks held up at Taggarts garage. Given the volume of traffic in both directions on Windmillhill Street cars simply couldn't get out. Moral of the story...if you must tinker with something make sure you get it right and don't make things worse.

Apart from problems with undersoil heating I'm sure there are still drainage problems. The wing in front of the POD Stand was absolutely sodden. Not conducive to Jim O'Brien's wing play or Coach's runs.