bobbybingo

Probably depend how close to fitness he is. Sounds like Stuparevic has recovered now.

3-1 win for Udinese. 70 odd minutes for Miller.

I doubt they're too bothered about whether he comes back here on loan or not, given they've obviously still been paying a significant part of his wage. He was likely taken back to make a point, and playing him - as weeyin said - enforced that point. If they had a decent offer for him, from us or elsewhere, he wouldn't have got near the pitch.

Osong's gone back to Nottingham Forest.

I don't believe he brought him back and played him just to cup tie him. Given he couldn't have played against them even if he'd stayed with us, that makes no sense. If you read O'Neill's reasoning behind the recall, it's all about being down to the bare bones due to a lack of signings. He spoke about one of the young defenders being a great prospect - there was absolutely no suggestion Welsh has a future at Celtic. 10 changes tonight doesn't suggest a lack of players, but their performance did scream a lack of quality. O'Neill plays the bewildered pensioner, but he knows exactly what he's doing, and reading the Celtic fans reaction to the recall shows they got the message, loud and clear.

O'Neill recalling Welsh purely to show up the board's lack of signings isn't much of a conspiracy theory, given he basically said that was the reason he did it.

I don't buy the 'deliberately cup tie him' angle. Unless we were planning on buying Welsh, he couldn't have played for us against Celtic anyway. Playing him today shows he wasn't brought back with the intention of flogging him to anyone else in January, and subbing him proves he has no future at Parkhead. That suggests O'Neill brought him back as a fuck you to the board, or a fuck you to Welsh. No idea what he could have against the player, so my money would be on the first - but that still results in the second.

For Aberdeen.

Bastard just took Welsh off anaw.

He couldn't play for any other club who signed him this season.

When you take into account the important games he couldn't play in, is it worth bringing him back?

They may well do, but it wouldn't make much sense. He couldn't play against them in the cup either way.

O'Neill might be on the level, or he may just be playing games here. Recalling Welsh - or anyone else from a diddy team - because he has no other options available, highlights the lack of spending at Celtic and pisses off a fanbase who are already furious at the board. Nothing I heard suggests he has any intention of giving Welsh a run, but we'll maybe get a better idea tonight.

Aye, he's sick of Dingwall. Kettlewell said most of what's been reported is 'factually incorrect', but he didn't actually deny Hale had put in a transfer request.

His pal, the unnamed source, should tip Celtic the wink he's available, then we can get Welsh back. Sorted.

Hale's apparently handed in a transfer request.

O'Neill saying there's a chance Welsh could be sent back to us if he can get players in and they have no further injuries. Sounded apologetic to Welsh, said he was enjoying himself 'immensely' here, complemented the football Motherwell have been playing, but said it's needs must. No suggestion they're punting him to anyone. Great as that would be, it puts JBA in a tricky situation, as there seems to be a will, but no guarantee.

Stick Eythor Martin Bjorgolfsson up front with Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and make Derek Ferguson report on the game.

Is there any suggestion Aberdeen are looking to loan him out?

Full of praise for Motherwell. Says he'll be really surprised if we don't finish top 4.

Neither did I, first look. Hopefully just a wee knock.

Watt's not on the bench. Injured, mibbe?

We can question team selection etc all day, but to me, it felt like the magnitude of the occasion really got to the players as a group. We've seen plenty of examples of how 'risk and reward football' can go either way, but if you're too scared to take any risks, the outcome is almost inevitable.

Just under 20k, though I think they're talking about increasing that. I totally get the better atmosphere argument, but it would be ludicrous if anyone missed out on a ticket for a semi-final between 2 provincial teams because there weren't enough seats

Some of our fans would've missed the game yesterday if it had gone to a smaller stadium. In hindsight....