grumpy

We didn't really learn much today at all,: Goalie: Who knows! Defence: Under no pressure, O'Donnell, Casey and Blaney played like they did last season, Balmer looked a good addition, but, he had all the time in the world, Wilson was ok but I think his lack of a right foot will be exploited defensively by better opposition. Midfield: Did ok till they got into the final third. Like the defence, Davor, Paton and Halliday showed nothing that we didn't know about them but I was impressed by Wells in terms of attitude and skill, he has a way to go yet but the early signs are promising. Up-front: Moses doesn't really look cut out for the lone striker roll but we thought that last season with Bair so time will tell. Subs: Sparrow and McDermott looked ok, Robinson and Stuparevic looked skillful but possibly lacking in pace. Miller is a class apart but I didn't understand why he came on, had it been 0-0 or 1-0 and we needed a bit of impetus then fair do's, but at 3-0 and cruising it seemed a bit un-necessary. Still, good to be back to the real stuff, roll on Tuesday.

It was between Balmer and Wells for me, Balmer strolled it but he wasn't exactly pressurised as they were so poor, Wells looked decent on and off the ball and looks like he wants to play "heads up" football so he got my vote.

And wee Tom-Tom McLean

Quite interesting, as Stephen Fry used to say. No great surprise as to the top three but positions four to seven are occupied by the most maligned players we had last year (minus SOD). The only other thing I was a bit surprised at was how low McGinn was in the list. These things are always going to be skewed by injuries, players leaving and personal likes / dislikes, but it probably reflects quite well what we, as fans, see on the park.

Given that Gunn will be starting, and the third goalie is only there to pick up the cones, I suspect that Clarke just wanted to see what condition Gordon was in before making his final squad selection. Gordon is one of the best keepers Scotland have produced, but is well past it now and would only have been selected on an emotional level, not something Clarke is noted for. Kelly being in the squad appears to give us some added income, not to be sneezed at, so on that level, I'm happy enough with his selection. I'm not a huge fan of Steve Clarke, he is a bit too cautious for my taste, but I would disagree with describing him as hopeless, he has got us to two more tournaments than Vogts, Smith, McLeish, Burley, Levein & Strachan managed between them. At least we have two weeks of added interest before reverting to ABE.

I would have liked him more if he hadn't continually been trying to score directly with corner kicks.

Or realists v reactionaries. It's a null vote from me.

Yes, I was hoping he would get a chance in the EPL, an almost ever present for two years in the Championship to deemed not good enough when they got promoted. He also seems to have disappeared at Millwall, he wasn't even on the bench at the end of the season. If they don't want him he can come back to Fir Park any time he likes.

The eternal problem for a goalkeeper, playing regularly or more cash?

Except you did, it was in response to a post calling responders to our win "sanctimonious pricks" Ah, the old "it was just a joke" excuse, it didn't work at school and it doesn't work now. Plus, did no one tell you sarcasm is the lowest form of wit? I think you have shown them to be correct.

Indeed, but a lot of these replies are to posts stating that so-in-so is shite, and the worst ever in a 'Well shirt. Over the course of this season, this accusation has been aimed at, Kelly, S O'D, Bevis, Spittal, Slattery, Paton and our entire strike force, to name but a few. And that doesn't start to cover comments on Kettlewell. As always, in football and in life, nothing is black and white and most of us (I suspect) realise that and, more importantly, accept these failings as part and parcel of being a 'Well fan. The constancy of those statements I, personally, find tiresome and occasionally irk me enough to comment. I'm lucky enough to have seen the likes of Bobby Graham, Willie P, Tommy Coyne, Davie Cooper, to name but a few. I've also seen some total haddies. No one in this team is likely to feature in an all time 'Well XI, I suspect that none of them would feature in an all time worst either. 😀 To summise, chill people.

Reading back over your recent posts on this thread: If someone is a long time supporter, or a "faither" in your terms, their opinion is irrelevant. If someone is a long term supporter who can't attend often due to geography, their opinion is irrelevant. So: 1. If someone has been to more games than you, don't give you a lecture. 2. If someone has been to fewer games than you, don't give you a lecture. It would appear that the only opinion that matters is yours and that if any lectures are going to be given, then you are the one who will do it. In which case, may I respectfully suggest you have a talk with yourself. PS. I'm a "faither", who attended his first game in 1967, I possess a season ticket, so go to the same number of games as you (approximately). I am annoyed when we lose, happy when we win, and these emotions generally last a few hours or so after full time, this probably means I'm unlikely to suffer an aneurysm due to something as irrelevant as a football result, can you say the same?

Last minute v Alloa I think.

I think their chairman said we had given the referee more goats than they had. Or words to that affect.

Goal advantage is irrelevant, RC & St J are still to play each other, there is no sequence of results which allow them both to catch us.

That is based solely on clean sheets, here is one that shows that Buckland and Hart are joint worst as they haven't saved a single league penalty between them. Lies, damned lies, etc

First thing I thought of. 'Mon the Tull.

she possibly wasn't called Mrs Wellgirl.

Ah, ok, I understand what you meant now. As to Kelly being the worst in the league, we'll have to agree to differ on that one. In terms of a new deal, I suspect it may be a bit like Casey last year, we offer him reduced terms, he doesn't agree, he looks about and nothing better materialises and then resigns. Plus, if (and I think it is a big if) he goes to the Euros, if he is a 'Well player we get money for his inclusion, no bad thing in the current climate.

Why is it ominous? He is out of contract at the end of the season so we aren't touting him for sale as he can walk away.

Bair's volley v Ross County from O'Donnell's long diagonal would have got my vote, unfortunately Bair had run offside (again). Failing that, Spittal's v Celtic, Miller's turn that left McGregor fishing in his pocket for cash to pay back in still makes me laugh.

My brother and I did something similar in about 1977, a new year game, and as we had never been at Parkhead before, ended up behind the goals to the left of where the camera's now are. A full 180 degrees round the ground from where we should have been. We had a great view of the only goal of the game though, wee Jim O'Rourke after about 30 minutes, we couldn't celebrate till about an hour after full time.

Yes, he taught me at Dalziel, barking mad, you just had to look him in the eyes to see that. I think he went to Garrion (Clyde valley) later, a few 'Well fans may have had to put up with his tender mercies. I had Armstrong for Maths too, good teacher, I have a memory of him holding a pupil by his ankles with his head dangling in the bin, something else you wouldn't get away with now.

Yup, and it absolutely pished down for 90 minutes. We did win a third or fourth round game v Arbroath about then, 4-0 I think. Possibly the year before, least said about that semi-final the better.

Yes, I think you are right. I went to look at the league table from then and we finished 3 pts behind Hibs (2 pts for a win in those days). Hearts finished behind us in the league but qualified for Europe as runners up in the cup. A final we should have competed in were it not for the afore mentioned disgrace.