Welltastic

Good luck to Marc Reynolds who has been a sterling servant to the club both on and off the pitch. I wish him every success in his future career and he will be missed.

Best wishes and sincere condolences to you and your family at this sad time.

Too many people getting drunk would just promote all the worst views of football: - Violence Abuse (Sectarian or Homophobic or Just Vile Chants) Piss streaming down from upper stands Missiles thrown Football is wrongly/rightly regarded as tribal and has had a reputation for all of these things in the past. Throw in football hooliganism and we have a long way to go before we are ever seen in the same light as rugby. Either way, it's a no-brainer and no to booze at football.

Congratulations to Stephen Craigain and Family and good health to both mum and baby.

QUOTE (steelboy @ Dec 12 2009, 10:21 PM) 1. we probably disagree in the difference in quality but if the epl with near infinite resources and ten times the population with only 3.5xs the games can't solve every problem what chance do we have. 2. we need a certain amount of refs. changing how exams are graded isn't going to effect which refs are most capable of handling spl matches. it'll be the same people with the highest grades they'll just score lower in the tests. 3. i don't see how that would improve standards. it just heaps more pressure on the refs and undermines them. netherton - i honestly don't believe refs are incompetent. before the dundee united game i can't remember a single thread on here complaining about refs. Steelboy, in regard to point 3, I think that there are methods for improving refereing standards (although without resorting to public criticism) and these can be outlined as follows: - Use the grading official for the referees to address serious complaints from the manager(s) regarding bookings etc so that an independant observer is used to gage the performance of the referee on that game. This can be done directly after the game and might prevent the on-air tirades that have been coming from Manager's. Every Monday after the game, the independant official reviews the game with the referee to see what improvements/points can be made. Every Wednesday, a Managers/Referees panel can be convened to allow better understanding of the rules of the game and their application by referees in general. This should promote greater understanding between Referees and Managers. Publish a Referee Standards Table at the end of the month/season to allow people to see progress of the refs and thus dispel the notion that they aren't improving. If a Referee makes a howler repeatedly, then submit that referee for advanced refresher course to allow them to improve their standards. After the course, the grading official evaluates the ref to see if they have taken on-board the course teaching and it's application to a game setting. These suggestions could therefore in turn help promote better understanding and release some of the pressure on officials, so as to allow them to give more consistent perfomrances at the top of their game.

Yeah, well it will only make them PSIC

I actually think that Forbes works better with O'Brien on the left wing as their technical abilities and all round play compliment each other and give us an extra dimension in attack. The sticking point seems to be around who to partner Coke and/or Jennings/Hately. However, I think it would be useful to have both Hately/Jennings/Coke/Forbes in the team with O'Brien/Murphy in a free-role behind Sutton/Jutkiewicz. This will probably mean that we would need to have a compact midfield that can switch from defence to attack. However, that also mean we are likely to switch back to 1 up front: Ruddy Moutakill Saunders/Craigan Reynolds/Hutchison Hamell/Reynolds Hately Coke Jennings Forbes O'Brien/Murphy Sutton/Jutkiewicz This could work well for the next 3 games as we will be up against physical sides (Dundee Utd and Rangers) as well as against Celtic (possession-wise). It doesn't engender as much threat from open play as opposed to say, from set pieces. However, it would mean that we would win the midfield battle and that would mean that we can get width from our over-lapping full-backs (Moutakill and Hamell). I think Keith Lasley can fit into the Jennings role as well but does seem to be behind him the pecking order at the moment.

The reason why most people won't say too much to a gang of 35 adults is that that most people are scared off getting a kicking for asking them to behave like human beings and not acting like their is no consequence to their words or actions. The chants were out of order or if in doubt ask how your mums if that is acceptable behaviour for you to have directed at anyone or if they would be proud of you for doing it? All these chants has done is tarnish the reputation of Motherwell fans who don't do that. As for chanting at the game I do cheer on my team and don't resort to this sort of stuff.

Congratulations to all the girls teams on their recent results and hopefully they will have another successful season. Have a question for 'Flow or Angie1991 members: Can we not get a link to the girls' progress on the official site? I'm sure there are a bunch of other Motherwell fans (including myself) who are all equally interested in the progress of the young girls' efforts and their successes. It seems logical that this should be celebrated by the club as well as helping to promote the idea of our club being a family club.

Hopefully everything will work out Ok for Chris, his good lady and their baby. Will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Wasn't at the game but have heard our support using sectarian abuse before and have had an argument with someone over it . Don't accept for a second that it is acceptable to abuse someone with 'paedo' or 'f****n' chants and if this did occur then we deserve all criticism coming our way We are meant to be Motherwell and we are/should be better than that. All in all, McGhee's era as manager has more high points than low and he should be commended for that. However, Gannon has come in and revitalised the club and this is what we should be looking forward to. McGhee's era is gone and Gannon's is commencing. Howabout we all concentrate on supporting our team and that way we can revel in any forthcoming successes.

Anybody got anything re: rumours, etc?

We seem to have went off-topic because there isn't any news on potential signings. Also, is it not slightly depressing that we are actually discussing potential players that our own fans can then boo? Does anyone have any info about potential trialists that we are looking at? (& that can be disclosed without jeopordising our chances of signing them?)

I would urge everyone to go all 'Happy-Clappy' on the players any time they do make an appearance in a Motherwell shirt to show that we are all wishing every success in their endeavours. They may not be everyone's idea of silky soccer but I have yet to understand what can be gained from fans booing their own players (& this unfortunately has happened in the past). Leave the coach to give them a rollicking for a mis-placed pass and continue to cheer them on. At least that way they won't be too scared of trying the pass...

For some reason that I can't really fathom, neither Fitzpatrick or Smith have qiute made the impact that there initial skill has suggested that they could. However, as Gannon has publicly stated, he is there to improve the young players we have at Motherwell and they do fall into this category. Therefore, I would suggest that improving both Fitzpatrick & Smith into playing in the style that he wants should also be as much a priority as doing this for the likes of Slane/Forbes/Hutchison/Murphy. Both Fitzpatrick and Smith have proved to be important players at various stages in their careers at Motherwell and I hope for that to continue. However, finances may well dictate that these players may well have to consider their options come January if they haven't made an impact on the squad (as also McGarry). Either way, I would urge everyone to go all 'Happy-Clappy' on the players any time they do make an appearance in a Motherwell shirt to show that we are all wishing every success in their endeavours. They may not be everyone's idea of silky soccer but I have yet to understand what can be gained from fans booing their own players (& this unfortunately has happened in the past). Leave the coach to give them a rollicking for a mis-placed pass and continue to cheer them on. At least that way they won't be too scared of trying the pass...

Good luck in Europa League to Steau who were the better team over the 2 legs. Their ease and technique with the ball was a lesson for our youngsters as well as their clinical finishing (Fantastic strike for 2nd goal by Bogdan Stancu). However, quite a lot of positives to take from tonight's performance from our team, especially from Forbes, Hammell, Reynolds, Coke, Sutton and Slane . For about 60 mins they made it possible to hope that we might actually get something from a game in which we dominated Steau (at least up to that point). 2nd Goal was vital and they got it. It gave them a platform from which to exploit the spaces we left as we chased the game. However it does seem to augur well that we have a squad with the potential to have a good season as shown in the first 60 mins. Only other thing we need to work on is the denying those spaces for teams to exploit that Steau did in last 20 mins. Anyway all the best for the rest of season to the Steau Bucharest fans who have been kind enough to debate on the forum.

Definitely think John Boyle (and the people associated with this worthy Charity) should be lauded and I think it reflects beneficially on Motherwell as well.

Would agree with Wellfan 1984 as Hammell/Lappin combination was one of the big factors in assists as a club when we got 3rd spot the other season. I think that we just need to utilise Hammell as a potential left-mid to allow for Reynolds at left-back and then develop another centre-half to cover for Reynolds on the flank. What about the guy Pat Kuyanake(apologies if spelling is incorrect)? This would allow for the flexibility in all areas of the team that Gannon appears to be looking for in order to allow for the tactical shapes that he favours.

Craigan is a decent defender who excels at using his positional sense to help make that last-ditch tackle that can save certain goals. His only real concern is a lack of pace that means that he can get 'turned' by attackers and that can leave him in the position where he does get the odd 'own goal' as he is chasing back into the box to try and prevent someone from scoring. He is vital defender to the club (as last season proved when out of the team) and will be again this season. Our main worry will be in finding an able replacement as both Captain and Club ambassador. Anyway, mon the 'craggs!

Very shocked by this and it's saddening to think that's 4 of the 1993 squad that have now gone. Thoughts & condolences go out to Paul McGrillen's family.

Fantastic News! We definitely need genuine competition for places in the goalkeeping department that should hopefully bring out the best in Fraser/Ruddy/Kosiorowski Now all we definitely need is a right-back (competition for Saunders) and left-mid/striker (unless we convert Darren Smith back to that position as cover/competition for Jamie Murphy) and we're there! We've got genuine competition for all places in midfield if you add the youngsters into the equation. If can get a loan signing of a Sutton-like striker (in case he gets injured) then we're alomost there! Can't believe how excited I am about our potential and it's only pre-season! Long may it continue

Manager: Harri Kampmann I don't relly like slating players though there have been a few that didn't really do well after promising starts (Dubordeau and Davide Ferrier

Good luck in Cardiff Paul. You have always been a committed player for Motherwell and we will miss that. All the best and I will now be keeping an eye out for the Cardiff/Bristol City results.

Gripes I was at the game last night and it wasn't particulary pleasant viewing. Unfotunately, after we lost the goal (against the run of play) we looked fairly devoid of ideas to try to force our way back into the game. I thought both McGarry and Lasley, while obviously trying, didn't seem able to 'stamp' their game onto the midfield area. Hopefully with another week's training & fitness-conditioning this will improve as they were able to use their experience to good effect when combined with the youthful exuberence to dominate the 1st 25 mins. Things did improve in the 2nd half with the introduction of Slane for Lasley but that might also have something to do with Forbes and Slane knowing each other's strengths from the U-19's. Although Craigan was partially at fault for the goal, it was to the back post on the right-hand side and the youngster Saunders also should have been more dominant at the corner. Both improved afterwards and I thought that Saunders showed promise, although like all young players, was a bit wasteful at times when trying to sling in crosses. For the people who are slating O'Brien I don't know what game you were watching as he seemed to be the sole player able to 'create' a chance last night. Yes, he did mis-place some passes but these were in forward/attcking areas so there was minimal chance of us being exposed on the counter. That couldn't be said of Lasley or McGarry although Llanelli didn't really exploit those chances. Positives All the youngsters looked comfortable on the ball and we kept possession well for long periods last night. We looked the stronger side in the last 10 minutes so hopefully that will improve in the intervening week and we can exploit it in the intervening week. We actually managed some shots from distance last night and one or two might have resulted in a goal. All in all, there is still cause for optimism and hope for the season the 'Well rollercoaster!

Gutted for Motherwell as watching David Clarkson develop into the player that I always thought he could be has been one of the highlights of the last few seasons. He always gave 100% even in the season(s) where he wasn't quite fufilling his potential and I always thought that he was fairly selfless as a striker. We will miss his goals and his assists, especially in developing attacking moves. All the best David and I will now be keeping an eye on Bristol City's scores and hope to see you and Faddy in the premiership in the following season.