DC'd

Well clearly there is a valid reason as to why he doesn't have a club. Played a handful of games in years of football, before arriving on trial for us. Despite impressing in matchplay against Bradford he still failed to win himself a deal. He promptly left (for Norwich IIRC) and again failed to win himself a deal. 12 months on he still has yet to find a club. Clearly there is a reason why no-one is willing to give this guy a chance and give him a deal. Attitude, respect, time-keeping all must be come into question.

We will play within ourselves in the 1st leg, possibly let you win 1-0. Thus, luring you into a fall sense of security/optimism. Then in the return we will run riot, as we have done in the previous two rounds. Leaving you speechless as to what has hit you. But, in all honesty with our new manager we do not play the "British way" by aiming long balls at the head of your 6ft 4" defenders. We are now a team with immense pace from all areas of the field, and have players willing to take on defenders and go past players at ease. Despite scoring 8 goals yesterday (which could have been so many more) we still do have difficulty in taking chances at times. We will certainly have to be more clinical if we are to get past Steaua. But, confidence is high and we will cause you problems. Got a feeling that it could be a large aggregate score between the two sides. Certainly feel far more confident in this younger Motherwell team scoring away in Bucharest than I did with us in Nancy last season. At least this time round, we may go there and actually have a go. At least be able to register a shot on goal (let alone on target).

Apparently due to start the weekend that is sandwiched between our 1st and 2nd leg.

Like Albania, the heat could certainly play a factor. Currently 37C in Bucharest this weekend. So, similar must be expected for next week. Difference is, in Vlore was we controlled possession and therefore never had to run round the pitch chasing the ball and as a result tiring ourselves out. Whereas with Steaua, they should control the game and have large chunks of possession. And with the heat we could really struggle and tire late on. But, for anyone that plays FM, notable mentions that they have Bogdan Stancu and Ionescu in there team. Players of FM08 fame. They finished 6th in the Romanian league last year, so it seems that last season was a transitional period for them. And judging by that certainly they don't seem as strong as they once were, even just a few years ago. They are favourites (unquestionably), but I think this could be really tight over the two legs. Especially with the confidence we will now be taking into this game. Away to plan my trip. Anyone able to have a guess at what time kick off may be local time and at GMT?

As we all expect, Flamurtari will be coming here to defend and not to concede. This perhaps is the reason for the inclusion of JOB at RB. Means we have a better attacking option, that has decent pace to get up and down the field. As we will be attacking more and more, we need full backs that are more than capable of providing creativity as well as our wingers. We all know Las is never a RB but, it means we have someone that can fill in momentarily when O'Brien is going forward. And as we all saw from the Albanian coverage that they look very fast, athletic on the break and having Jim's pace to cover any of there attacks seems a logical move. Likewise with Reynolds being faster on the left side than what Hammell could give us. Although, I doubt we can afford to lose Hammell's crossing ability and therefore I fully expect to see him remain at LB with Reynolds at the heart of the defence. Hutchison's time will come, but not tonight. Can't see Gannon wanting to split a defensive partnership in the 2nd leg of a knockout game. Seems a calamity waiting to happen. ------------------------Fraser---------------------- -------------- Craigan ------- Reynolds ----------------- O'Brien---------------------------------------- Hammell -------------- Lasley ---------- Forbes ------------------ ---Humphrey -------McGarry --------------- Slane ---- ----------------------- Sutton -------------------------- He seems to really rate Forbes (as most of us have been impressed as well), and not sure Jennings is fit enough to start. So, may want to persevere with Keef for the start and can bring on Jennings early 2nd half if the result is not what we are wanting. Also, has Murphy ready to replace Humphrey 2nd half if he is tiring. Think he will start on the bench, as he appears to keep faith in McGarry's experience, and likes the fact Murphy appears to be an impact player from the bench. DLS mach 2..

P-P 1-0 and Extra Time. Our "equaliser" coming in the final 20mins. Will go for a surprise, rare Hammell goal.

Incidentally, Clarky's HT against United was the "perfect hat-trick" Header, left foot, right foot.

I am not a "glory pisser".. I am not looking a pat on the back, but if one like yourself is pointing it out on behalf of me then it would be rude not to throw my mileage in as well. About 500mile round trip (every week may I add).

What a load of pish. Get a grip, if he was a "Scotland hater" why give the pen in the first place? Why not signal a foul when Craigan "bodychecked" there centre forward when through on goal with 5mins to go, rather than wave play to continue. What a load of shite. The ref wasn't against us, he was just pish. Even more so than McDonald, Brines & Co.

May well be down to the scoreline from the 1st leg. If we have a chance (similar to Nancy) and a packed Fir Park could well make the difference. And the chance to clinch a place in the PlayOff Round. This may mean a change of venue. Whereas if we are pumped 3/4/5-0 then no point risking the state of the pitch and Airdrie can be there for the 2nd leg pre-season friendly.

£118 Return inc taxes on Wizz Air from London Luton. Problem is getting to Luton Airport.

Steaua won 2-0 at home.

Aye, it will be David Taylor talking pish for the last 7mins no doubt.

We can't get neither. We are in pot 4 along with Steaua, Ujpesti, Flora, Tromso, Brondby, Dinamo Minsk, Austria Vienna. Pick one from that lot.

12.30 GMT. It's 1.30 Central European Time.

Aye

That could be beneficial to us, due to the sheer heat. We don't want long spells without stopping the game. Slowing it down will suit us far more than them. We won't tire as quickly and the heat won't affect as much as it would if it is end-to-end. Also, allows players to grab water as well if they continue play-acting etc.

Likewise.

No, but comparable goal return. 1 each. Albeit oor Clarky's was against Petr Cech, as well as skinning Tomas Ujfalusi. A far greater feat than heading in against the Icelanders. Although, Fletchers was far more important in the grand scheme of things.

Fletcher signed a 5yr deal with Hibs. Clarky had one year remaining on his deal. We were in no room to negotiate a bigger fee, Hibs were. Fletcher also lived off the hype of "Real Madrid were once interested in me". Well Robert Snodgrass once interested Barca, and where is he now... League 1..

And with the impending arrival of Humphrey, then the wide area is shortly becoming one area that we are quite well off of. We have O'Brien and Humphrey (who would both appear to be first choice on either wing). We now have the emergence of Slane (which has all the hallmarks of Faddy already, we are soon turning into Argentina branding every youngster the next Maradona, but he certainly has shades about him like Faddy, more so than Murphy/Coakley that went before him). We also have Murphy that via McGhee and now what appears Gannon will be converted to a front-wide player in the style of Roscoe. This now leaves us with 4 players that can be classed as out-and-out wingers. Not to mention Fitzy/McGarry that have previous in playing on the wing. He seems very far down the pecking order, and could potentially be surplus to requirements.

Or.. The Albanians will be thinking exactly the same, "surely we can beat the 7th best side in Scotland, who only qualified by playing nice and not putting a tackle in for the remaining 5 games of there season, who in there first round lost to a Welsh (insert the Albanian for "pub team")". We have no idea about how good the Albanian League is, we know it won't be that great. But, they still qualifed on merit via their National Cup, something which we never, that can't be discredited (unless these match-fixing allegations are true)..

Aye, but so was Roscoe and due to the Tribunal we received compensation as well. We would have to pay some sort of nominal fee, if this does indeed transpire..

Difference is though, we aint the only Scottish team in this round. Perhaps the BBC are wanting to negotiate with both SPL sides and see which game is cheaper to broadcast (as Falkirk/Motherwell will have a similar scope for televised fans). Perhaps Falkirk at home to Vaduz, is probably cheaper than sending cameras out to Vlore etc.

Yes.