The African

Following the match online, I found myself in a bit of a dilemma. I would be beyond myself on every level measurable if we were to win the league but am realistic enough to realize that this is highly improbable., I lived in Edinburgh for most of my life so have a well merited dislike of Hearts. I have no real liking for St Mirren either when it comes down to it. I really detest the Old Firm. As such, I am prepared to accept the possibility of Hearts winning the league as being better than either of the bigot brothers doing so, especially as I now live on the other side of the world from Edinburgh. As such, Hearts losing is, from my original perspective, a poor result. This quandary has caused me to pause and consider ultimately what would be a good result for us tomorrow. I originally felt that a win would be fantastic and a draw, away from home against an improving Dundee side, would be acceptable in the circumstances. However, having taken the opportunity to delve deeply into my soul, I have come to the only logical and reasonable conclusion that only a win for us will do. It is not for any personal hope that I may revel in the glory of my team's success, or any misguided idea that their victory will make me, in any way, a better person. I am saying this because I honestly think that this Motherwell side winning the league will be a universally good thing. I believe that us winning the league will be a win for the good guys. The little guys who play by the rules and play the game the way it should be played. As such, I can claim with all honesty, sincerity and altruistically that a win for Motherwell is a win for football, a win for Scotland, and, in these dark and troubled days, a win for the whole of mankind. Too much?

With regard to the Welsh situation, I think it is probable that a few people are overthinking the whole thing. Celtic are simply doing what they consider is best for them. They are in no way trying to screw us over. They don't care. The same goes for the player and his future. As such, I think it would be wise for us to act in a similar manner and ask ourselves what would be the best course of action in this situation for ourselves? If we can get Welsh back to Fir Park on the same terms as before, for the rest of the season then great. He has been an excellent player for us and there is no reason to think that will change. If they are thinking about making a move for JT and using Welsh as a bargaining chip then they can take a hike. Selling our prized assets to anyone in our league is generally a poor move as it, quite rightly, upsets our own fans and they will be offering less than we can get elsewhere if we really feel the need to sell.

The goal he scores after the opposition goalkeeper is caught upfield, around 2 minutes 30 seconds in, looks offside to me.

Sound suspiciously like the type of rumour you would start to offset the painful truth that your team cannot match the asking price for a player from a diddy club.

What sort of value would we put on TJ? A couple of days ago I had an article from a South African football site appear on Facebook regarding TJ and bemoaning the fact that he didn't get picked up by Kaiser Chiefs when he left Leicester. Now that he is near top scorer in the Scottish Premiership and having briefly shone at the African Cup of Nations, they reckon he is valued well beyond their budget with a price tag of between 5 and 6 million. Seemed unrealistic to me but if that is what others are thinking....

Any kind of win will be very much appreciated. St Mirren got the better of us in the semifinal but we would be foolish to get wrapped up in any thought of revenge. We simply have to concentrate on finding a way to beat them for our own benefit now. The past is in the past and there is nothing we can do about it beyond learning from it and using that knowledge to our advantage. They will undoubtedly have a plan for us on Saturday and should prepare accordingly. I am confident that JBA will be ready both with a gameplan and a few ideas to mix things up should they be required. Here's hoping we can start 2026 with another win to keep the feel-good feeling going. I think we can do it, though it will undoubtedly be hard fought.

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.

I reckon Ox would be an improvement in goal for Barraclough's playoff team. Not by much maybe, but his early season form was excellent.

If we lose all our remaining games, then we are stuck on 39 points. With then three points from victories over us, Kilmarnock are on 38, Ross County are on 38, Dundee on 37 and St Johnstone are on 32. They would therefore need a further 2, 2, 3 and 8 points respectively, without getting into goal difference, to get above us on the table. Given each has four games remaining it does not seem beyond the realms of possibility that at least the first three might achieve this feat. On a more positive note, it is obviously better that we have this lead and the premise is based on the idea that we are going to get nothing from the remaining games. My main point was suggesting that the idea that we could lose all our games and still be safe was flawed and somewhat optimistic.

One factor which may have been missed when looking at the arithmetic possibilities here is that, should we somehow contrive to lose all five of our post split fixtures, then every other team in the lower half gets an automatic three point boost to their position. As such, our current situation is not as secure as we would hope. It would probably also be the case that, with goal difference being remarkably tight between all the teams involved, five defeats will not help us if we are level on points with anyone else at the end of the season. The solution is still in our hands thankfully. Pick up points wherever we can, as early as we can, and we will be safe for another year.

Has to be seen as a "must win" game for Saints. As such, they will be very dangerous opposition. We need to be ready for a battle.