pretzel

Looking forward to the game, it'll be interesting to see how Hammell will approach it seeing he'll now have had a week to bed in some of his own ideas plus hopefully that match fitness is looking much better. I wouldn't be surprised if this game was won by a 1-0 scoreline again, hopefully by us as that would be an excellent start to the season all things considered. St Johnstone look like a side that might flirt at the bottom again this season, like us at the weekend they struggled up top and only had a handful of shots on goal before losing at the death, Callum Davidson has reshaped the squad quite a bit, defensively they will be a tough nut to crack but they still have May and Kane leading the line. Murray 'Elbows' Davidson may be out as he was sent off against Hibernian but they're appealing that decision.

Sligo pumped out the Irish cup at the first hurdle by a team in the division below them tonight, not that it matters to us now.

It wouldn't surprise me about Robinson considering we have already hired him three times previously and the board didn't want him to go last time. It'll cost us a small fortune as well should we go down that route.

I'm sure he knocked us back a few years ago, not 100% on if it was an actual job offer or the chance of an interview. Dick Campbell has done a great job with Arbroath as of late but not the most exciting of appointments due to his full track record, however I would fully support Uncle Fester if he was given the gig. The club have knocked back the likes of Valakari and Van Der Gaag previously while we were fighting relegation, saying it didn't seem to be the right appointment for that situation at the time, essentially we may see an out of the box decision seeing we're at the start of the campaign. I don't actually know who I'd go for, Dundee managed to get a guy who managed in the English Championship which seemed like a bit of a coup, names like Kenny Jackett and Nigel Adkins are unemployed at the moment. Who ever gets the role has some job at hand.

I'm not usually one for a knee jerk reaction but when he arrives back at Fir Park today he better be getting slapped across the face with a P45. I'll give the guy credit for digging us out of a hole during the 20/21 season, his first year in all fairness I'm sure he was best of the rest points wise but since signing that contract extension the football has been utterly abysmal as has the results that followed, it's like the same script every week. He's been given a luxury that most managers before him were rarely afforded and he has spent money signing quite a few players and we seem to have regressed massively, two of the players we spent a small fortune on seem to be backup now (Ojala and Solholm), Kelly probably the best sellable asset and it was rumoured he had a tiff with Slattery earlier in the year. In the prediction thread yesterday, in more hope than expectation I gave Motherwell a top half finish as I thought that having that consistency squad wise would put us in good stead but no we're in real trouble and their is no doubt's about that. I know as the side we generally maybe lose more fixtures than we win but this is the first time I've ever been angry. He had horrible performances early in his reign as manager versus Hamilton and St Johnstone, it's that standard that seems to have become the norm now.

I'd certainly agree our approach to the game was lacking, we done that with Llanelli in 2009 where we played one bounce game days earlier against Rhyl before getting beat in the Euro tie. I was led to believe that the team we played in Austria were a second tier team and not amateurs that we first thought, even so it was still not nearly enough prep. I think if we were even a handful of games into our league season you'd be looking at a different result tbh.

He was slipped through on goal in the first half, instead of taking a pop at goal from an angle he choose to tee up Morris who didn't seem to be expecting it he ended up messing it up. Frustrating though as Double V usually has that selfish way about him and if that was last season he would have taken it on himself. He did look really sluggish and a guy who was struggling but like you say hopefully he's much fitter and sharper this week and looking to celebrate that contract extension.

I've been reading the comments from Sligo fans the past few days and they seem to think this game will be a foregone conclusion. Obviously I would take any win just to get us through but I hope we actually pump them silly. It'll be no doubt a tough nut to crack as they defended really well after they took the lead but in saying that they did have a few shaky moments when pressed. The time wasting was something else, I know Scottish Football is terrible for it these days but we could have learnt a lesson from them, so my worry on that front is the longer it stays 0-0 we will see a repeat of that. I actually think last week will have served us well on the match sharpness front, you would hope Alexander will have learnt a thing or two, it'll be interesting to see what the team lineup will be tonight but it wouldn't surprise me to see the exact same eleven start.

In around 50 Scottish Premiership appearances he has scored like 8 goals, his record down the leagues with Ayr and Dundee Utd was not too shabby but he was stinking in the top tier with Aberdeen and quite average when he got promoted with United, tremendous business from all at Tannadice to get the fee that they did. I do however agree Hearts will be the best of the rest again as they have retained most of the side that achieved that feat last season. I'm not really sure what to make of from 4th to 12th tbh, Aberdeen and Hibernian you would suspect would be much better, the Dons have spent some serious cash so it will be interesting to see how they get on, Johnson at Hibs hasn't exactly endeared himself to the fans at Leith with his early League Cup exit, I thought McGeady would have been a decent signing for them but he has been poor so far. Dundee United have added a few impressive additions but much like us I felt they rode there luck last season, Watt didn't set the heather on fire when he joined them his biggest impact was derailing our campaign but I think he might have a decent partnership with Fletcher, on paper though their squad doesn't jump out as being all that amazing. I know we fit into this bracket as well but Livingston, County, Killie, St Johnstone and St Mirren will all be much of a muchness tbh, I suspect County will be fine as they have added some decent quality. Almondvale seems to be a tough but to crack for most teams these days so another mid table finish for them, McInnes at Killie has added some proven Scottish Premiership players but I feel they will still struggle as will both the Saint's. Cautiously optimistic but I actually think the continuity of our squad will actually serve us well this season and mid table mediocrity awaits, we have a favourable start fixtures wise so we really need to hit the ground running. Rangers Celtic Hearts Aberdeen Dundee United Motherwell Hibernian Livingston Ross County Kilmarnock St Johnstone St Mirren

My point was off the top of my head he produced two of our best chances obviously all if's buts and maybes but if Tierney shot across the keeper and Van Veen was his usually selfish self he could have had to assists to his name, out of the three midfielders playing he was the best by far tbh. Anyway I thought the game was so reminiscent of the Llanelli game of 2009 in Airdrie, Jamie Murphy had missed a sitter on the line and we were so slow out of the blocks. Hopefully last Thursday has served us well in terms of a real competitive fixture. I seen on Sligo's social media that they had mentioned they tried to extend the capacity for the game by installing temporary stands but apparently it wasn't feasible for whatever reason.

Delighted with getting the home tie and a side we don't play often these days, but no doubt it will be a tough task as we have been beaten previously on numerous occasions to a Championship Inverness.

Out of interest who would you have in front of him? Maguire certainly marries up to your assessment but add shooting to the list. I could be wrong as I would rather forgot Thursday but was it not Slattery that put both Van Veen and Tierney through for decent chances.

I don't know if it's just hindsight but it's amazing to think that 2002/03 side finished bottom, many served us really well and the following season we lost Faddy and Jason Dair was his replacement on the left, not to mention Craigan, Burns and Marshall were the summer additions and we done not to bad that year. The 6-2 win over Livi was great when McFadden scored a hat trick, long amazing run the luck of the bunch. That must be one of the youngest well sides.

I don't think Sligo will be happy with us fielding 12 men though. I know what you mean though, i quite like the 4231 formation and feel it would suit us better. Maguire and Morris had a few pops at goal the other night and the ricochet left us light in midfield. As we all know however Alexander won't be deviating from his preferred formation.

Born and bred in Motherwell, grew up a stones throw from Fir Park, a massive Sellick fan. Not that I am taking Sligo lightly at all as we have been beaten by worse but I would have loved to have slung five or six past him tonight. Looking forward to returning to Fir Park this evening, hopefully get the season kicked off in a positive matter, away goals don't count anymore which a bonus. I fancy us to win the game, but I'm sure we will make tough work of it.

According to the Daily Express tonight, we are getting a keeper in trial, Aston Oxborough, who is highly rated by Andy Dibble. Also sounds like Woolery will be away as he was given permission to speak to the Turkish club. Interesting to see if he's getting turfed oot or if we are getting a fee of such.

The club have just announced that Mark O'Hara, Darragh O'Conor, Justin Amaluzor, Liam Grimshaw, Liam Donnelly, Jordan Roberts, Peter Morrison, Victor Nirennold and Cody McLeod have all left the club. Liam Shaw obviously heads back to Celtic and we have offered a new contract to Ricki Lamie.

I was always confident going into games against the Old Firm at Fir Park in the past but in recent years not so much. They have a few missing today as Ramsay (no surprise) and Roofe are out so that means Fashion Sakala will likely be up top again, can't say I've been impressed with him but no doubt he'll be made to look like a world class forward. Hopefully they have their eyes on the European game midweek, the Rangers fans on social media love to call us hatchet men and that, I would actually love it if we lived up to that rep today and we kick the utter crap out of them as they'll not fancy a 50/50 surely. We done well for 40 minutes at Fir Park last time but all the hard work was undone in minutes, three points would be marvellous but I'd take a draw. Nick Walsh is the ref today, he officiated the 6-1 game at Fir Park last time the teams met.

Always enjoy a video like that capturing the reaction of both sets of fans and the goal, even managed to squeeze in wee Davie Martindale. Funny how the keeper wasn't holding on the ball and feigning injury then.

Callum Davidson has tested positive for covid so Steven MacLean is taking charge of the St J first team.

I wouldn't go as far as that to tbf. The fact that it's had such a mixed response between 'Well fans, oppositions team fans and pundits over the last few days says it all really, I actually enjoy getting the different perspectives. Personally I've struggled to make my mind but having seen the tackle from the Celtic game last night it begs the question what was the difference in the challenges that merited one player getting a red and one getting a yellow for offences that would fall under the same bracket. Liam Donnelly was on the end of a similar robust challenge from Richard Tait only a month or so ago and not a word was spoken, I think it's the consistency from incidents like that which don't help matters. I had actually forgotten but Willie Collum isn't a stranger to an early red, as he sent off Michael O'Halloran off for Rangers after 4 minutes in 2017, sadly Mr McDonald put in a idiotic challenge 20 minutes later and also saw red.

I also love how Porteous after cheering the red card just steps over his team mate injured on the ground without checking on the poor guy, seconds prior he was screaming murder.

I don't think you'll be too far off the mark with that selection, I wouldn't be surprised to see him play Goss instead of Slattery and I'm sure he'll pick Efford as he has scored 2 from 2 in the last few games. It'll be a tough game, I know St Johnstone are desperate for points and with Dundee in action against Rangers I'm sure they'll see this as a must win as it would likely give them a nice 4 point cushion. Hopefully we can get a result here and enjoy a solid run up until the spilt, it's quite sad to think even a handful of wins in our keech run would have seen as sitting pretty. St J have plenty new additions since we last played them in December including Ciftci who is still searching for his first goal for them.

It's frustrating to say the least, I've said it in a few threads this season I have accepted our refs are pish but I just wish they would be consistently pish for both sides. I'm still undecided on the Mugabi tackle, I was leaning towards the yellow at most but it is worth mentioning it is Collum after all he has sent people off for a lot less, in the three games he's been at Fir Park this season someone has walked in each of them. Not to mention he is the ref we have won the most appeals against since that was introduced. I'm quite surprised he only gave the Hibs forward a yellow for the flying elbow, less than a month ago he sent off Charles Dunne for a lot less he received a red for an apparent elbow where his feet were on the ground and he simply tried to head the ball but this was overturned on appeal. I thought we done alright considering we played 89 minutes with the ten men, I feel we would have been in the semi finals had we had a full compliment on the field.

Yeah you're right if the the foul (pulling) starts outside the box and carries into the box its classed as a pen but the guy was going down outside the box defying physics in the process and landed in it as per TV pictures, so it's a nay.