David

It isn't ridiculous at all. I'm simply highlighting that fact that I'd take consistency over the course of a season rather than the odd win over Rangers or Celtic. Three points is three points at the end of the day, and we managed to amass more points than any other non-Old Firm club last season despite only taking one point from a possible twenty four against both Old Firm clubs. Not too shabby at all.

I viewed last night as a game we could win just as easily as we could lose. The bookies obviously thought the same. This talk of us losing to a 3rd division side, as though we were beaten 2-0 by Annan Athletic or Peterhead simply doesn't wash. The Rangers side that was on that park last night would give any club bar Celtic some trouble at Ibrox, especially coming in as fired up as they were. Couple that with the fact that we played nowhere near our best and you get what happened last night. Disappointing, without a doubt. But not the catastrophe that it's being made out as. The memories are all well & good, but I'd take a season of us challenging for a European place and losing against Rangers & Celtic over us sitting mid-table with nothing to play for, and getting the odd victory over the Old Firm. Yes.

That's how I view every game against the Old Firm. Celtic have much better players than us, and short of us pulling the odd shock we're always going to be up against it. Our games against the likes of Dundee United, Hearts, St Johnstone and Aberdeen will dictate where we finish in the table this season, not games against Celtic. I'd take a draw all day. I wonder if any of those teams would trade us our past few league positions in exchange for the odd victory over Celtic?

As someone mentioned, McCall will be judged when his time with us comes to an end. If he manages to steer us to another cup final for example, and maintain a high league position every season then he will go down as a Motherwell great. Only a cup win will see him become a legend though. That kind of status is rare and hard to attain.

Yeah, that'll be it. Both of those sides were simply better than us. I understand the frustration, but when a manager is leading a club like ours to third in the SPL I just don't think we can complain too much. Calling for his head, saying that he's thick and suchlike is ridiculous. There's a shitload of knee jerking going on in this thread tonight.

No doubt, but the reaction that we're seeing towards McCall is fucking ridiculous. We're top of the league, and have suffered one domestic loss this season. Rangers may be a 3rd division club, but I think we all know they're not a 3rd division team. Their wage budget still dwarfs ours, and they're still the 2nd biggest club in the country. That team would finish mid-level SPL I reckon, and if we'd gone to Aberdeen, St Johnstone, Killie or Inverness in the cup and lost 2-0 I'd be disappointed, but not to the extent of some on here.

Well, to each their own I guess. I'll take three points in the league over a win in the league cup any day of the week.

I'll take that if you don't want it?

They may be a shadow of the team they once were but they'd still do well enough against most SPL sides.

I knew we'd see some over-reactions in this thread tonight if we lost, but I didn't think it would be this bad.

At least Lee McCulloch was happy with the three points, the tit

The odds would suggest so, considering the quality Celtic have in their side.

At least I'll have this thread to cheer me up after that disappointing performance tonight. C'mon lads, let's hear it! McCall must go! Ojamaa is shite! Higdon can't jump! McCall's a H*n in disguise etc!

Are you shitting me? A win against the SPL champions, pushing us five points clear of them won't make up for us losing 2-0 at Ibrox?

We're sitting top of the SPL, have been playing some decent stuff this season and had our first season in the Champions League. Away you go.

Rangers may be a 3rd division club, but their team would finish mid-SPL I think. If we'd went away to Aberdeen, Inverness, Kilmarnock or Hibs in the cup and lost 2-0 I wouldn't be overly disgusted. Disappointed, yes, but not disgusted. It's not Annan Athletic we're playing.

This is the same lineup that faced Aberdeen. There's really no reason why we should have fallen apart as we have, other than it being a mental block. You could stick Wishaw Juniors out there in Rangers shirts and we'd lose.

All that means is that they've been battered a right few times

Best wishes and safe travels to those who are going to the game. I'm going to sit at home and watch it on the telly, where I won't get treated like a c*nt and given pelters (the wife is going out tonight as well).

I know we have Rangers in the cup first, but has anyone heard how ticket sales are going for this? It'll be interesting to see how this game draws considering it's a 3pm Saturday kick off.

A different era though, wasn't it? Finances are tough now, and there are more things to do these days as well.

There was an issue with comments in general on Facebook yesterday. I believe it's been fixed now.

Whilst the opinion given in the statement is pretty much what I'd expect the official position of the club to be, I don't quite understand why they felt the need to make it public. Strange.

With the hysteria picking up a bit after us dropping two late goals at Pittodrie, and the fact that it'll likely reach breaking point if (and I personally don't think we will) we lose to Rangers this week and Celtic at the weekend, it's maybe worth keeping things in perspective. The aim at the start of the season is surely a decent cup run if possible, and a top six finish? Anything above and beyond that is a bonus, no? We're clearly well on track to succeed in that respect as things look at present.

As has been mentioned, this team is Rangers only in name. They aren't even a shadow of the teams that we've faced over the years, and for that reason I have to be confident that we can get a win. It won't be an easy game, and I don't see us winning by many goals, but if we don't progress I'd consider it a disappointing result.