carlukemurray

WOOPS Page has played a few games to warrant 1st team squad status

Correct me if i am wrong, but this is currently our first team squad; Goalkeepers Randolph, Hollis Defence Saunders, Hammell, Craigan, Hutchinson, Gunning Midfield Hately, Humphrey, Jennings, Lasley, Forbes Forwards Murphy, Sutton, Jeffers, Casagolda Beyond that you are looking at u-19's. So when a few people are carrying injuries that means we are carrying players (full credit to them for playing on) or having to play players in positions that don't really suit them. So the squad is threadbare. McCall doesn't have a lot to work with at all. I hope the squad can stay relatively injury and suspension free and get the team into the top 6. However a lot of work is required in the summer to boost and improve the squad. Some clever loan signings and players available on a free transfer is the order of the day. Jeffers could prove to be a great signing if he gets some service. If McCall can get a few more signings like that, then we can look to kick on next season.

McCall can only work with what he has. Look at the players Motherwell lost in January. Reynolds, Blackman, Gow... Give the man time. The squad is threadbare at the moment. The result in Aberdeen last week was outstanding, we got 3 points on Saturday (should have scored more) and last night was maybe just a game too much as many players are carrying knocks. Honestly, this forum can be a depressing place to visit at times. Last night was a disaster but 6 points out of 9 isn't bad.

ticking along nicely? 0-0 against st mirren

I can only echo a lot of the words said already on here, thanks for everything John. He really tried to take the club forward, not always in the right manner (crazy wages) but his heart was in the right place. Some of the previous threads on this forum have already mentioned how important the next two years or so may be for Motherwell and Scottish football and John's departure underlines that. I am pleased with the team that Motherwell have in place just now. With some common sense, creativity, community support and a bit of luck I hope the club can move forwards.

I thought Gunning was fantastic throughout, Lasley played well, sadly there were not many on his wavelength. Humphrey was outstanding when he came on and could (and should) have scored a sensational goal.

Forbes is one of the best football players at the club, knows how to keep possession and keep the ball on the deck and spot an opportunity. Pace and fitness have never been his strong points, he certainly looks fitter. I'd have him in the team every week.

I think there must be no substance in the 'rumours' Either that or there is some kind of order in place preventing the media discussing it

I don't think anyone can be surprised about the questioning of McCall about his Ibrox days ahead of; a) the first time he faced them as a manager and b) his first return to Ibrox as a manager You don't need to be particularly media savvy to know that this is a 'hook'. The Tom Hately thing has been done to death though. The fact is that there isn't a great deal of media stories surrounding the Motherwell team just now. The introduction of McCall and subsequent two matches against Rangers meant that it was a no-brainer for the media regarding the Motherwell feature for these games. It probably resulted in more coverage for the team anyway. Hopefully someone will be playing well enough in the near future to warrant a nice positive new feature.

I'm not sure if I can add anything original to the post on here, but as it is something I feel strongly about I would like to air my views. Safe standing - Probably a bit of a dream, but I like the post that says Motherwell should take the initiative on this. Set aside an area. There will always be people that want to sit and there will always be those that want to stand. The atmosphere at grounds used to be so much better with terracing, whether it was in or next to 'the cage' at Fir Park, or being in the old Claret and Amber club in front of the Main Stand and marvelling at the Hearts fans twirling their scarves above their heads in their 80's heyday, or gazing across to 'the jungle' at Parkhead when my Dad took me to the main stand there, or standing at Hampden as we took on Italy and Baggio. Germany has shown the way, not only with safe standing, but also with reasonable ticket prices, drinking areas/fan zones.... Pricing - it costs far too much money to go to Fir Park and watch Motherwell, unless you buy a season ticket. Due to work and family I can't go every week. I think there are so many people in my boat, 'floating fans'. However the high prices don't attract me to go at times when i could, I pick and choose my games. I'd go more often if it was £15 or a tenner for some games. The price for kids/families is just far too much. Bring back the Claret and Amber Club, kids in for £1, or even £5. Likewise for students/unemployed/pensioners For those that say it will kill the club, I could easily argue that the club is dying on its arse anyway. Now is the time for Scottish football to take dramatic action to move forwards and it would be amazing if Motherwell could lead the way. Are some of our suggestions that unpractical? Boyle's cheap tickets a decade ago filled the ground at times, I remember Dundee United when McClair came back. However he was also paying outlandish wages. Cheaper tickets with more emphasis on youth shouldn't be too far fetched.

nice to see Sutton getting some praise, he has his limitations but he does wear his heart on his sleeve and gives everything. he didn't complain when brown stuck him out on the left, he kept his head down and got on with it.

One game at a time and all that, but we have to be looking at 6 points out of 6 from these two games at the end of February.

I'm not against a 10 team league. There are a lot of viable arguments for a 10-team league. These include several things mentioned in Motherwell's statement - sponsorship and advertising revenue. I think a 16 or 18 team league would not be a commercially attractive league to sponsors or TV. And I think supporters would get bored of playing teams like Queen of the South (should they reach those heady heights). By in large I would stick with 12 teams with one automatically relegated and then a playoff for second last place.

I think a lot of the answers are in two previous threads on the subject.

I think this table highlights the fact that Scotland simply doesn't have the football clubs or population to support a large Premier League. You can assume that some clubs attendances would go up when promoted (see Accies for an example) but the fact is that they are still too low to bring in large amounts of TV and advertising income. We need to look at getting bums on seats at football games, this will have a knock on effect on income, keeping and improving players, advertising and hopefully the standard of football. Motherwell's average attendance has gone down by almost 12% - a result of early kick offs and TV screening of the Old Firm games, price of tickets/on the gate, standard of football and the economic climate. Only 10 clubs have an average attendance of over 5,000. Dundee and Dundee United should merge and I hate to say it but it would make vast economical sense for Lanarkshire to have one large football club. Top 20 Scottish Football Clubs by Average Attendance - 2005/06-2008/09 Club Average 05/06 Average 06/07 Average 07/08 Average 08/09 Average Celtic 58,150 57,925 56,675 57,670 Rangers 49,245 49,955 49,145 49,535 Heart of Midlothian 16,765 16,935 15,960 14,400 Aberdeen 12,730 12,475 11,995 12,930 Hibernian 13,565 14,585 13,885 12,685 Dundee United 8,200 7,145 8,530 8,655 Kilmarnock 7,070 7,565 6,180 5,725 Falkirk 5,515 5,385 5,570 5,640 Motherwell 6,250 5,875 6,600 5,520 Saint Mirren 3,800 5,610 4,545 5,410 Inverness Caledonian 5,060 4,880 4,755 4,455 Dundee 3,795 3,880 4,250 3,955 Hamilton Academical 1,715 1,715 2,470 3,825 Saint Johnstone 2,665 2,810 2,915 3,515 Dunfermline Athletic 6,195 6,105 3,580 3,110 Partick Thistle 2,610 2,590 2,610 2,965 Queen of the South 1,805 2,210 2,030 2,680 Greenock Morton 2,760 2,765 2,730 2,250 Raith Rovers 1,625 1,935 1,785 2,225 Ross County 2,300 2,305 2,245 2,165 Domestic league matches only

well said that man, it is the whole package not the number of teams in the league

Don't you think that a ten team league is realistic for a country the size of Scotland's? I used to think a 14/16 team league would be the way forward, but there would be too many meaningless games. With a ten team league there should be title, European and survival to play for all season. I disagree with the comment that staying away won't make a difference. The Aberdeen fans staying away from the Aberdeen v Inverness game played a huge part in Aberdeen sacking McGhee. Clubs and the league need bums on seats and if that isn't happening then they will have to take radical change. Next season that may happen naturally anyway due to the recession. Look at Celtic's attendances, where are there so called 'loyal' supporters? The number of clubs in the league detracts from some more important issues such as ticket prices, safe standing, drinking in the grounds...all things that would get people back to games. As long as the split is removed I really don't care how many are in the league - minimum of 10, maximum of 16 I think

I did tell you, amazing what you can find out in certain pubs in Carluke!

ha ha yeah it's not the best, but call it festive spirit, I really think Motherwell could get 3 points from tomorrow. We need to give it a real go as their defence isn't up to much at all.

Me and a few mates have decided to go to the game tomorrow Can't find any info on the official site other than there will be no pay at the gate

Get your money on Stuart McCall Seriously

That probably cost £3k+ so the club will need to sell a lot of tickets in addition to those budgeted for already to cover the costs of the advert. I agree with the majority of comments on here. Interesting one about the attendances in the 20's and 30's, good point in that people didn't have the entertainment options they do these days.

Sorry couldn't resist! Must try harder to refrain from going to the messageboard with daft things!

Steve Jennings, Jennings He's scouse and he's fucking hard Puts a bet on a red card Steve Jennings, Jennings Innocent until proven guilty of course!

Now that would be a very interesting appointment. Maybe put a few bums on seats as well.