Robyn

See before you said that, you did know roadrunner is his maw, aye? Thing is, I like Fitzy and think if asked and needed he WILL do a job for us but, for whatever reason, he became a scrapegoat and everyone through the blame at him, when there was absolute no need to do so, god, maybe scoring in THAT semi-final was thw worst thing he could have done. For Darren, I WAS a great admirer of his and wished him to come off the bench and make an impact like he has done a few times. Like someone said, I don't they have been asked to leave and will be at the club for this season as we can't afford to let players go, especially when they are capable of doing a job. But I think both players now realise it isn't going to be very easy making the bench. never mind the first team and it'll show there character if they decide for the easy option to leave and play at a lower level or try and get themselves in the frame again.

To be fair, the few times I've seen Slane in Motherwell College he does swagger about and acting if hes hut the big time. Then again, it could all be a show infront of his mates and could be the quietest and softest of guys out. Peer pressure and all that.

There is a shit load of Darren Smiths through the lower leagues. But if he ends up there its turning into a Well XI - Kaiser, Kinni, Jim Hamilton.. Certainly don't think they have been shown the door. The must now know they are not needed at FP so I'd guess they'll be looking elsewhere and Motherwell will let them leave when they find a club.

Highlights

I don't see why the wouldn't be one or two bigger names albeit, oldies now. Giggs, Scholes or Neville would be good to see, not like there going to have a international game to play so keep them sharp give them a game. Along side a young team with the likes of Fabio, Gibson, Macheda, Simpson, Welbeck, Possebon or Rafael and who knows which side Ritchie de Laet will play in. I'm looking forward to it we know it won't be the Rooneys, Vidics and Owens. Ps. Vidic is only out for 2 weeks, plenty time to recovery for the 'Well game.

Only the highlights though.

Naw, I thought he says he "looks" like he'll be quality rather than he IS quality. Surely different?

Apparently Duff at CB. Awell, that has amused me.. wow!

You haven't much. But Pokerface etc are knob'eds.

Iraqgoals is much faster, use that!

Gotta say I'm looking forward to this one. Have to say bar O'Brien being on I wouldn't change much of the team. Murphy will come on and want to get his 5 Euro goal and run players all day - same said for O'Brien mind you. Mon 'Well, give it your best - thats all I ask! Edit: Anyone got more feeds to the game incase anything happens to mine, don't want to miss a moment of this game!

Incidentally, been looking through a few articles and can't find anywhere that states how long Gannons contract is for - anyone able to shed any light?

John Ruddy.

Just seen this on the BBC forum thingy, thought I'd post it up.. I'm trying not to to get carried away thinking we've won it (I know it'll be a tough test) but, it does seem more promosing, give it 6.45pm tomorrow and I'll think were doomed.

Dave, my mum was in other week getting me the Claret training top on my behalf but it's a size to big - it cool to come in and get the smaller size?

I'm not going but good God I'm getting excited. I know a lot of folk have started there line ups with Ruddy and people questioning it but for this game and due to them being a far superior team than us I think we need a big commanding keeper to help our defence out. So I for one hope he does start (not got anything against Fraser yet ).

Aye, it was Scooter.

Maria (I like it loud) - Scooter.

Yeah, but we are not the ones claiming your going to be intimidated in a 5,000 crowd in Airdrie. As previously said a few times, we have guys that have played in 50,000/60,000 stadiums albeit it silent as hell (Parkheids a morgue!).

Certainly not what I would have expected either but it seems Gannon doesn't rate anyone highly enough to play at right back so what other option do we have? Play 3 at the back. Of course it could work unbelievably well or totally bugger us up but, even though we (the fans) are taking this competition fairly seriously Gannon still needs to work on tactis, shape and formation for the new season - so why not? At least we can push O'Brien up more. Actually can believe come the start of the season we will see a Motherwell team with pace - Slane, Humphrey, O'Brien, Coke(?), even Forbes isn't slow. In Gannon we trust!

First of all welcome to the site, all fans are made welcome bar the cocky Flamurtari lot. But to our team, to be perfectly honest, we don't know our own team 100% quite yet, we have a new manager and lost a lot of players from last season. Our old manager never left us in the best of shape so our new one has had a tough job to get the right players in. As of the last 4 games we have seen a major improvement from the Llanelli defeat to the Flamurtari 8-1 win. We do not, and repeat DO NOT play the "British style" Gannon has drilled into the players to play the ball from the back and play "football". From what we have seen of new players and youth players the players that will cause most problems for you will be the likes of Paul Slane (number 45), smallish guy got pace to burn and a gtreat eye for goal (scored from 20yards against Flamurtari). Jamie Murphy (number 15) who grabbed a hat-trick in the 8-1 win who will run all day and again has a good eye for goal. Our "new" midfield battler will be number 8 Steve Jennings who ain't scared to put the boot in nor will Keith Lasley (14) - no idea which one will start. Chris Humphrey who got his debut against Flamurtati has pace to burn aswell, that really is the difference from last year a lot of our new players have pace and can beat a man. Other attacking players such as Jim O'Brien (no.17) and John Sutton (no. 11) will hopefully cause you one or two problems, Jim being a tricky winger and John being a "target man" (if we can even call him that). May aswell add a predicted team so you can see where these players play. Fraser Saunder/Page Craigan Reynolds Hammell Jennings Forbes Slane Murphy Humphrey Sutton All I can say is we are a quick paced team, that likes to play football on the deck - all I can hope for is we can cause you a few problems come Thursday. Ps. Fuck paragraphing.

Best tell everyone thats booked a charter flight that the team are away. (It leaves tomorrow morning?) We might have not signed anyone (or who knows, maybe its just a case of a signature?) but I feel its very very promosing that we have got guys on trial who fit the bill on what were looking for. What I can remember a Man Utd reserve player - Ritchie de Laet? a "big African centre-back" according to someone else. All looks promosing to me, I'd probably expect a signature or two when the boys get back and get at least a new face in for the following Thursday as a wildcard.

Norwich.

There you go..

Right, get the papers, cut out these stories and stick them on the changing room walls, Mr Gannon. Team talk done.