MelvinBragg

Francis-Angol for giving me the only laugh of a miserable night. Only because I can't vote for McCulloch for his three points comment...

It's an interesting question. Finish eighth (or thereabouts) as St Johnstone are likely to do but have a win against Celtic or finish higher up the table by being more consistent against the other sides? Obviously in terms of measuring success, financial and sporting, the second option would be the way to go. But as fans, we don't tend to sit around waxing lyrical about the season we went unbeaten against St Johnstone or Inverness. What really sticks in our memories are the victories against the odds. Which tends to mean against the old firm. Great memories is what we as fans want. To be able to look back and say "D'you remember the night...?" Would I swap a third place finish for a couple of nights like we had in Butcher's first season (6-1 vs Hearts, beating Rangers) and an eighth placed finish? I probably would. But I'm a fan, not the guy balancing the books...

Is that racism or just ignorance?

Anyone who didn't see this coming was kidding themselves on. Can't blame McCall if the players don't turn up..

That thought did strike me. A sign of how good the last few seasons have been is the fact that we consider the likes of Kilmarnock and St Mirren as weaker teams than us. Teams frankly that are a similar size to ourselves. Losing a two goal lead with ten minutes to go obviously isn't ideal but looking at it after the fact, if there's not a lot between most of the SPL, a draw probably is a better result for the away team..

Ojamaa in for Murphy is the only change apparently...

I tend to agree with that but you do know if we win, it'll be a case of "Well, Motherwell should beat them" in the media. And if we lose, it'll be the biggest shock of all time. Don't mind admitting that I'm dreading next Wednesday...

Cup game shouldn't be the priority as such but that's the one I want us to win the most of the three. Not because of who it is but because cups offer our best chance of glory. I mean real trophy winning glory not the glamour of playing in Europe. Fact that the club has said that they made more from getting to the Cup Final than finishing third should also point us in that direction...

Michael Higdon. 6 games, 6 goals. Not a bad start to the season..

I'd have put McHugh on as we're putting ball in the box and he's more likely to find himself in there than Ojamaa...

Don't know about that. We seem to be second to the ball in midfield. Would rip yer arm for a draw right now...

Pretty poor to be honest. But Dundee aren't up to much so at 1-0, we still have a chance...

Unless Hibs win and we don't...

I don't imagine he'll sign but I'd certainly award McFadden legend status. Anyone who, as a teenager, has the hopes of a club put upon his shoulders and doesn't wilt under the pressure deserves it. Because let's be honest. In that first post administration season, everyone was looking to him to get us out of trouble. Which he eventually did by virtue of his transfer fee. After that season, McFadden or Butcher could wipe their arse with a Motherwell shirt in the centre circle of Fir Park and I still wouldn't boo them...

Tend to agree with Jay on this one, unless James McFadden has turned into a tough tackling midfielder, then we don't ned to sign him. As I said around the transfer deadline, I'm glad we didn't bring someone in for the sake of having another body. Money is tigh so let's not waste a wage on someone who won't improve the team. Could Mark Kerr have done a job? Possibly. Better than Carswell or Hetherington? Possibly, given his experience, he'd have performed on a more consistent level than them this season. But if these two young guys can come in and play a fair few games and we can survive this season, the long term benefits will outweigh the points having the likes of Mark Kerr in the squad would have won us this season...

What, you're not looking forward to being 2-0 down and hearing the home fans singing "SPL, you're having a laugh!"?

Haven't been to Ibrox since September 2001 when I was nearly thrown out before kick off for complaining about the fact that some scrote in the home end was waving a red hand of Ulster flag at us during the minute's silence for the victims of the September 11th attacks. Never been angrier than I was that day and frankly for my own health and sanity, it's probably best I don't go back there..

Players I have heard of who play for Rangers Alexander Wallace Black Templeton McCulloch Shiels Sandaza Kyle Little Don't know what the foreign guys at the back are like but definitely suggests they're stronger going forward than they are at the back...

Top scored in the first division? Two words. Richard Offiong...

Would this be the same Michael Higdon who scored against both Celtic and Hearts last season? And in more than one game against Dundee United? And a hattrick against Hibs?

Try telling that to the guy behind me at full time going on about how Humphrey wasn't good enough.. Don't think the East Stand linesman did him many favours but he kept plugging away. Certainly looked up for it today.. On a more general note, really good result today. Given the back four we had and ICT have been scoring plenty then it's a real achievement. I suspect that McCall played Law wide to offer Angol some protection today and Hateley was selected in midfield ahead of Carswell or Hetherington so that we had an experienced midfield in front of an inexperienced back four. It's a call he got right. Oh, and Higdon and McHugh look like the only true strike partnership we have. Murphy and Ojaama combine well with Higdon sometimes but today you saw the benefit of someone playing closer to him. Good day at the office...

Team is Randolph Kerr Page Cummins Angol Humphrey Lasley Hateley Law Higdon McHugh Ojaama, Murphy, Carswell and Hetherington among the subs..

I can see why some Scotland fans would want McFadden playing again so he can get back in the Scotland squad. Thing you Scotland fans have to remember is that with Levein in charge, he's got no chance...

Anyone picked up that guy Kevin McDonald from Burnley? Sure I read a while back he'd been released...

Thing is he's a free agent so he doesn't need to decide tonight. I wouldn't think up front is somewhere we'd be looking to strengthen though...