jo.mcr

hey gus, got my tickets yesterday, but iv been put in the east, instead of the main. Any idea if the east is going to be pretty full as im tempted to go back down and asked to get moved into the main to get a better atmosphere if the easts going to be empty...

We would be far worse off without Craigan. Being a defender myself, you cannot underestimate the importance of having someone in your back four who talks throughout a game. Even if its just to say ''you got him?'', or ''right shoulder'', its essential to have someone with that experience and who is willing to stand up and be counted and command the rest of the defence. Just because he isnt shouting his head off doesnt mean hes not leading the players, most of the time all it takes is a quiet word or two, and nobody does that better than craigan. I guarantee that Stephen Craigan is the only man in that squad that has the respect of everyother player. Theres no need to go out n find a Daily or Alexander, Craggs does the job just fine

GANNON EXPECTS WELL IMPROVEMENT Motherwell manager Jim Gannon expects a vastly improved display from his players after devising a tactical plan to break down Europa League opponents Flamurtari. Gannon's men fell to a 1-0 defeat in the 38 degrees Celsius heat in Albania last week to give them a difficult task for the second leg of the second qualifying round. But there was little between the sides and John Sutton had a goal controversially disallowed. Motherwell beat Llanelli 3-0 following an identical defeat in the previous round and Gannon believes his players are gearing up well for an attacking onslaught. "I'm really pleased with what we have been able to achieve this week," Gannon said. "I think as we showed in the last round there was a massive difference in our approach and the way we played from one game to the other. "We went a little bit into the unknown when we went to Albania. Now we know all about them, we have got the video analysed, we have broken it down and prepared ourselves really well. "We expect a vastly improved performance. They set out in a certain way and it worked really well for them and we have to be mindful of that, but the onus is on us to go and get the goals to win the game." Former Tranmere midfielder Steve Jennings and ex-Shrewsbury winger Chris Humphrey are in line to make their debuts at Airdrie. "Steven had a slight rib problem from last week's training but he has got a good 10-12 days under his belt," Gannon said. "Chris is in fantastic shape and comes into my thoughts because we are going to need all the attacking options across the midfield and front line. "It's not going to be just about the 11 who start - all 14 players are going to play a big part in this tactical challenge." Gannon yesterday recruited his third signing but Giles Coke's switch from Northampton proved controversial. The Cobblers announced they would take "professional advice" as they claimed the 23-year-old midfielder's agent had agreed a contract offer. Shrewsbury manager Paul Simpson last week criticised 21-year-old Humphrey's "underhand" move but Gannon is sure Motherwell have done nothing wrong. "I think in both situations, the players were made offers of re-engagement but when you are talking about international transfers you are talking about slightly different rules," he said. "They may well have done everything by the book in terms of the English rules but UEFA rules and FIFA rules are different. "Giles was 23 and out of contract, so he was entitled to move cross-border. "Chris wasn't informed in the correct regulation time of the renewal of his contract and therefore became available on a free transfer." Gannon is expected to add further to his squad by the end of the week in order to have more players available for a potential third qualifying round clash. The Steelmen are likely to face Steaua Bucharest, who hold a 2-0 advantage over Hungarian side Ujpest. "I would like to see three or four more players coming in," Gannon said. "I talked about five to six players previously but I think it's going to take more than that. "I would like to have a stronger, wider squad and a well-balanced squad. "I think we will be looking at a couple more permanents and I'm hopeful of securing some loan players. "I'm hopeful that will happen over the next 48 hours so if we were to progress, we would have them registered in time for the Steaua Bucharest match." Interesting times ahead

6ft 1in and plays anywhere across the back

Big Jim certainly knows how to use the transfer window... mark who???

Gimme aberdeen

you always give the option of the short corner because at worst you have pulled two defenders out of the box. if o'brien and hammell come out for the corner, then the other team should react by hammells marker coming across and also their front post marker, leaving then exposed, so u whip the ball in. if only 1 player comes over then your left with a 2 on 1 at the corner, so u take it short, make an angle and either drive into the box or deliver from the better angle. Simple really, atleast thats what every half decent team in scotland is taught. As for the goal kicks, why would you want to punt the ball and give your team a 50/50 chance of winning the header, in our case its more like a 90/10 to the other team, surely its more sensible to retain possesion and build from the back??? i dont know about you, but i get frustrated when i see my team just punting and hoping for the best, and taking corners without much thought. but thats just me.

i didnt notice any of our players in the box when it was being taken, but that could be because their player in line with the penalty spot caught my eye.....

Could 'well survive with the new deal??? i think we could. Could the old firm survive, or at least maintain their unquestionable domination by such a large margine?? i dont think so. Surely with 10 out of 12 clubs agreeing to the new deal this is enough for the deal to get the goahead? then we'll no doubt here all the 'we'r moving to england' crap we hear every other season. In a way this new deal could end up being the shakeup the SPL needs

I've said this before, but the type of football we played with patty at left back was far far better than the football played with Hammy. With hammy everytime the ball is at left back its a case of head down and chip the ball over the right backs head into the channel, whereas with patty it was a bit more adventurous. Both are class players, i just prefer Patty.

Surely with McGhee wanting Jim Paterson back at Aberdeen, and with Plymouth looking ready to allow him a season long loan, John Boyle could step in and offer him another season at firpark along with a new manager exciting manager to work beside??? Anyone know anything about Klimpl? i know he was going back home to see his family and then coming back over to have a meeting with the manager and Boyle, but with McGhee away does anyone know if this ever went ahead? surely with Boyle giving the go ahead for us to sign Boyle and the other lad, he would be persuing Klimpl?

Any real need for the 'dickheid'? or did u just feel like acting big behind your computer? I'm not dissagreeing with that mate, all i was trying to say was that out of that poll, the possible candidate who is first choice for the biggest majority of 'voters' is Mr Nijholt, therefor he is the 'favourite' amongst voters. I'm not for a second saying that because of this he should be given the position, obviously theres all the interviews and CVs. i was just making the point that from the poll its evident that Luc has the largest number of votes.

Point taken Stall, changed accordingly.

if we do get nijholt im pretty sure season ticket sales would soar compared to a jim jefferies/davie hay appointment. plus luc is a free agent. We'v already budgeted for the new pitch. So we could combine the McGhee Comp and McGhees old wage to tease Nijholt with a good pay package and a little transfer kitty. add into that the wages we save on Smith, Hughes and Klimpl and suddenly the Motherwell job seems a good 'project'.

^^^^ that aswell

Dear Leanne, Please can you make Mr Boyle aware that Luc Nijholt is the fans choice for the next manager of the club. in relation to a poll taken on Steelmenonline, the largest Motherwell Supporters Website. Many thanx, PS. Feel free to send this to hall of the damned (Once Leanne has read it ) Editted as to Stalls comment.

McGhee Out.....Nijholt In. SIMPLE And i'm pretty sure Luc would jump at the chance, and with him worked abroad you would think he would have a few useful contacts, unlike McGhee's contacts in germany found this wee video of Luc playing for swindon against Man Utd, with Luc putting the boot in on keane.

hey at least the socks are the same colour as the shorts this season, that always annoyed me about last seasons.

i feel like a wean on christmas day

Dont know if its true but according to this site we're there clicky

its claimed on P&B that BBC Final Score reported that St Mirren hasbeen awarded the euro spot, but on the Final Score website all it says is that motherwell led the fairplay league going into the final round of games. and with us both getting 1 booking at the weekend i fail to see how they could have overtaken us???? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7969096.stm EDIT: link added

got 2 pairs of full length leg skins, 2 pairs of underarmour shorts and klimpls underarmour, all for £45. chuffed

am i right in saying thats a mcfadden everton shirt on the left of the picture on the site??? called it first!!! :)

The thing thats worrying me is that IF we do manage to qualify and the first game is 2nd July, then what will our squad look like? with the possibility of no smith, hughes, mclean or klimpl, and with the transfer window only opening on the 1st July ( i think) Mcghee is un;ike;y to have brought anyone in, our squad will be very small and very depleated.

Not 100% sure on this, but according to this table as of the 4th May Inverness were our biggest challengers. Scottish Fair Play League Edit: obviously i cant read, table says st mirren are our closest threats