The African

I am finding it ironic in the extreme to hear of Ian McCall, of all people, complaining of anyone being "disrespectful" in any context whatsoever. I just ask myself how respectful was he being when he shat in Simon Stainrod's shoe?

I have absolutely no time for him, or his political party, but think that leaving the officials to get on with their job is a better policy. They get enough abuse from every angle without adding any personal grief for what they do beyond football.

I'd like to see us start with Stam up front. Dundee's semi-porous defence might be just the tonic he needs to bag a couple and get on a scoring run. How much of this game is about confidence? Also handy to have him on the park for the almost inevitable penalty. If I have jinxed us in any way with this post, I can only apologize most sincerely.

Previously I'd say that a point would not be a bad result. Many years ago, I studied in Dundee and never saw us win there. We were at the start of the Tommy McLean era whereas they were flying high and reaching European finals. Given recent form and confidence from our new approach, this is now a fixture we should be looking to collect all three points from. Not a disaster should it not work out that way, but it would be great to keep the "feel good" factor going for as long as possible.

I certainly don't think that we are anything other than a "work in progress" and that any chance to improve the squad should be looked into. My main point would be that it takes time for any new players to fit into a new club. Previous successes like Baer and Van Veen only flourished in the second half of seasons. Bringing in anyone in January therefore becomes more of a gamble, especially if we are looking for immediate results. We may also have players coming back from long term injuries. Perhaps we will get more from seeing what they can offer, rather than taking a chance on someone from outside the group?

With the January transfer window only a few weeks away, is there really the need for us to get involved? I can only think of a couple of reasons we might want to bring in some new faces. Firstly, if we have some squad members going out the door and the manager thinks it is necessary to get in replacements. Secondly, if the manager is aware of players from Scandinavia who might be available because of their contracts ending and who would bolster our squad. I genuinely feel that there is no urgent requirement to tinker with the current squad. The general standard available in January is not always great and the desperation of others together with the limited supply of any quality tends to inflate prices. Continuing to work with what we already have is probably the prudent course of action. Longer term plans for improvement in the playing stock can wait for the summer.

I remember a nil nil against Aberdeen at Fir Park, very early in Roger Hynd's short tenure, so that would have been 1977/78 season. Bobby Clark pulled of a great save to deny the late Peter Miller. This would have been well after Martin Buchan had left the Dons so possibly not the match you recall, but it was exceptional game considering it ended goalless.

Excellent result and decent performance. Inspired selection by JBA and proof we are building a squad to compete with teams above us. Lets hope we can keep it going on Saturday.

Seems to talk a lot of sense. I'm delighted he is our manager and wish him every success in implementing his system. We have tried other ways with previous managers and where has it got us? Lets show some patience when things don't necessarily work out at the beginning, like last weekend. Given time and some resources to improve the squad and I believe we will see the improvement in both performance and results.

If you don't like the circus, just ignore the media.

Very happy to see young Miller get his first Scotland cap as a Motherwell player. I had hoped that such an accolade might even add a little to his value before his imminent departure for pastures new. Now I am not so sure.

They undoubtedly had some experienced players but most of these were on a downward curve, careerwise. I cannot think of any of them who went on to bigger and better things after the playoff defeat. Collectively they were a shambles and, always a sign of a poorly coached side, less than the sum of their parts as a team.

Delighted though I was by the results and outcome, and without the desire to piss on anyone's chips, the one undeniable fact about both games is obviously just how awful Rangers were. Yet, as I recall, the likes of Hugh Keevins were still convincing themselves that they were still in the hunt. They saw and reported what they wanted to see, based on what they wanted to happen. A less than subtle combination of laziness and incompetence. Plus ca change.

Genuinely very sorry to see Michael Wimmer leave. I believe his appointment was a bold and positive move by the club and there were signs that it may have worked out well for us. I liked the way that he seemed to want us to play and he came across as a very decent man. The circumstances of his departure have been explained to us and seem both reasonable and understandable. As such, I can only wish MW all the best for the future, especially with any family issues, and thank him for his efforts in keeping us in the top division.

While the signings so far might not be the major 'clear out and replace" style revolution that some might see as a requirement for next season, it is perhaps worth looking at the situation as a whole before discounting it completely. For a start, Wimmer has a background in coaching rather than management, so the whole buying and selling aspect is probably new to him, and an unknown. If he believes that there is a good chance that he can improve the players and performances of current players individually and the team collectively through coaching, then he needs to be given a chance to do it. I think it is fair to say that most of the players have, for whatever reason, underperformed this season. It must be within Wimmers remit to try and get more out of them as there is undoubtedly some quality there. It also should not be forgotten that all players can improve and that a change in environment brought about by new people at the helm and revised tactics and ideas can work wonders on some individuals. I sometimes despair at the speed with which certain players are simply written off as not up to the required standard after one or two games. If Wimmer has the vision to see us getting more out of players already on our books, then perhaps it should be seen as being less of a gamble than trying to replace them from the limited market that we operate within. He will need time, patience and the support of our fans while he attempts this. I hope he gets it. That is not to say that I am against some comings and goings within the squad. He inherited a bloated and unbalanced group of players, caused at least partly by a horrendous run of injuries. Once the loanees are returned to their parent clubs and the out of contract players head off to pastures new, I will get as excited as anyone over the possibilities that new faces will bring. Give them, and Wimmer, a decent chance and let's see where we end up.