David

I hope i'm not tempting fate here, but apparently with Porto winning the Europa league this season the winners of the Scottish cup will only have to play one qualifying round. Anyone heard anything similar?

It's a non-story, but if it serves to wind up the more paranoid among the Celtic fans then so be it

That's a fair point to make, especially considering the fact that the prices these guys charge aren't all that much cheaper than the official shop does. You can bet that the quality will be much lower though, plus there's no comeback if you end up with something faulty.

Speaking of Jeffers, has there been any update on what he's doing after this season? I'd like to see him stay on until at least January.

I doubt there's anyone more deserving of lifting the trophy this coming weekend.

In 1991, just like there will be this year, plenty of locals come out the woodwork to support the team in a national cup final. There's nothing wrong with that. Plenty of people who aren't really football fans get caught up in the excitement of it all and are happy enough to come to the game with their Motherwell-supporting son, daughter, husband, uncle or whatever. As for there being double the fans in 1991, it may simply be a case of more people having less to occupy their lives back then.

I don't think anyone is being critical of the actual sponsorship deal itself, as it will likely be the best offer we had on the table, more the idea of actually wearing a shirt with Cash Generators emblazoned across it. I know that in a season when we have a pretty nifty new 125th anniversary shirt also on offer I'll personally not be buying a shirt with the new sponsor.

According to the Motherwell Times every ticket we have has been accounted for, so if anyone hasn't gotten the call yet it looks unlikely that they will.

Indeed. Cash Converters may be a decent sponsor, but I'll not be wearing a shirt with it on it.

How much does qualifying for Europe affect our signings? Does the bonus of offering a run in Europe appeal to players that we wouldn't get otherwise do you think?

Seriously though, does anyone actually know any Celtic fans who want to sit in the Motherwell end? I don't.

Or, why not go to the big Motherwell cup final party that's happening in Motherwell instead?

I'll bet you're a right bundle of laughs at parties, aren't you?

It's a one-off game, with a one-off atmosphere. Except for the men opposite us being in green & white it'll bear no real resemblance to todays game at all. How many of our players have played in a national cup final? They'll be amped up. It's their world cup final, and most of them will know the respect and legend that has been created by the class of '91. I have absolutely no idea how it'll go, but I just hope we don't come away from the game with any regrets. If we lose, we lose whilst giving 100%. That's all I ask.

Come next Saturday there will be two managers in the Hampden dug-outs. One of them displayed an unbelievable will to win as a player, for both club & country. Taking no prisoners and always leading from the front during a career that saw him win league titles and domestic trophies. He backs every one of his players to the hilt, putting 100% into the job every day, and has instilled a sense of pride in a club that had suffered recently under a former manager who doesn't even compare to the man in the job today. He's taken his team to the Scottish cup final, and the chance to win some silverwear this season, and will deserve every accolade he gets after doing just that. Regardless of the result though, he's given his clubs fans hope for the season ahead and managed to create a buzz around the club again. The manager in the other dug out will be Neil Lennon.

Do you mind if I steal this for my Facebook? Wind up a few bhoys before the final!

To be fair though, if you take all the shite out of the equation he's done not too badly. He brought in some good players, and has reached two cup finals whilst taking the league to the final day of the season. That's not why the fans are staying behind to cheer him though...

Does anyone know when next season kicks off? Did the plan for an earlier start go through?

The league is over, now it's time for the build-up to "the" game of the season

Forget Wilson, we need to put the boots to the likes of Izzaguire, Hooper & Brown.

I'd get used to it. We're just the supporting act in the Neil Lennon show, and it'll be the same next week. That's why we really need to beat them and win that cup.

Well, it looks like it's up to us to secure our own European spot for next season.

An excellent corner from Hateley there, Hutch almost scored with a header.

I was just thinking that! Not too sportsmanlike I guess, but when it comes to winning our first trophy in 20 years I'm all for it. If I were a young player on the field today I'd look to take out Izaguirre first

What? The greatest supporters in the world? Of course not.