lady-isobel-barnett

But you've just got to admit that in the last 2o minutes there were too many heart in mouth moments with Pat Clarke on the field strutting his stuff.

That effectively rules the lad out. I'm sure the McHugh deal would have been costing us as I doubt Motherwell have the finances to loan their players out foc. I agree we're a bit thin up front and it may be McCall will bring in an emergency loan forward outwith the transfer window. Just going on Hardie's first appearance when he played off the striker I feel he'd be worth the gamble rather than a loanee striker but that was just the one game to go on. The appeal of Dunfermline may be the not that unlikely player bonus if Pars win the league. That said yesterday wouldn't have helped with their league aspirations and as Will says the increased crowd might just help our chances of affording him. That would be ironic if Pars fans helped financing a signing of a guy they were after.

Definitely. I also feel he's delegated well and credit should be given to the youth coaches.

Quite a fair account from their manager HERE

True. What I was really saying is that I feel it's over simplistic to blame Halliwell for all our sins and praise Fox for all our glories. Granted the difference between the keepers is like night and day but there's more to our change of fortunes than just between the sticks.

That's a valid point but I wonder how many would prefer Sid coming off the bench in preference to Grehan. Not really having a go at the latter but the only possibility of us not winning today was tired legs and thus getting pushed continully onto the back foot. There was a wee bit of evidence of that as the game went on and it could have been alleviated if we had someone up front good at hold up play. Sid? Horses for courses.

I'm not sure what timescale your on there, BB. If you're meaning last season Boyle was poor and this season he's been turning in vastly improved performances then I agree 100%. But if you're meaning he's only coming on to a game in recent weeks or the last two or three months then I strongly disagree. If we had to name a PotY today Boyle would get my nomination.

I think I'd be right in saying Fox has only lost 4 goals from open play in 10 matches. Yet in all those games I can't remember that many exceptional saves. So I'd put the turn around down to an overall increased confidence within the defence as a whole. While that's got to be down to Fox in part I don't remember Halliwell getting slated week in week out in the games gone before. My own opinion is that coupled with our scoring difficulties our largely experienced central defenders were off the boil too often earlier in the season.

Winning Manager of the Month might be a wee bit hollow given the amount of postponed games but McCall really appears to have got all the important decisions spot on. The introductions of Fraser at Falkirk and again at home v Stirling and Campbell v the latter paid dividends. In addition playing Erskine in a more forward role and the timing of the switches from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 have been tactical successes. I don't suppose for one minute the re-signings of Mssrs Campbell, Fraser, Doolan, Erskine & Fox will be of influence to whoever decides who to call MotM but imo that's every bit as important as our results.

Well said, hj. I can't add anything to that.

Not sure, GJ, I'd guess about 500.

I too thought that Fox was MotM but in a way I'm glad Erskine go it. When you hear of our goalie being top performer you're kinda saying we stole the game. That's far from the truth as I thought we won the game with a bit to spare. Besides I felt the team as a whole today were way above the sum of the individuals.

First thing's first, can you point us to the relevant thread & posts? It seems more than a bit strange to stay away from Firhill for that reason. Also...FAO Crazy Davie or Jaggernaut. Is the apostrophe correct?

I'd be uncertain about Grehan. I think Fraser's close control is better but with Donnelly out and Buchanan away someone has to play up front with Doolan and I can't see McCall starting a youngster. Perhaps he'll play 4-5-1 or stick Erskine up front with Doolan. Flannigan looked the part on Tuesday as did Campbell but Hodge usually gets the nod.

Best drinking establishment by far near the ground is the Glover Arms. Pints for under £4. Spirits sold in generous 25cl measures for not much more than £2.50. If you're peckish I'm sure a plate of soup and a burger won't set you back much more than a tenner. Place is delightfully bedecked with discarded balloons from kiddies parties and this drinking den is highly popular with a wide variety of clientele from highly strung youngsters, elderly Perthshire farmers to the local Young Conservatives. Not just that the Glovers is so handy for Dobbies who are currently doing a fine line in early budding plants. I've no doubt "sold" the boozer to the likes of uberteeb and his cronies but I'm sure it'll appeal to other fans as well.

Best part of a couple of miles but plenty of buses go out that way. Not sure how easy it is jumping a bus going back tho'. Plenty of pubs in the town but I can't think of any en route till the 208.

Who in particular McKennan? I thought McGeough(2) and MacBeth(8) both were rusty (good players but obvious they needed the 90mins sfter their recent injuries). I've seen Lochhead(7) play better but he's a guy that really gets stuck in. That leaves Fraser(9) and Campbell(3) both of whom imo had excellent games. Genuinely interested to hear an other's opinion.

Do you really see us next season as promotion candidates? I feel the benefits of a Hibs relegation would far outweigh the negatives.

There's every chance Liam will score against us. For a wee guy he feeds off wing play (I thought he was at his best when Corcoran and even Twaddle were at their best) and as we all know the Pars are strong when it comes to wide play. btw news to me about Brady giving us the vicky but if ever a player had justification then Darren's your man. Others can disagree but no matter how out his depth the lad was with us (and we were on a pretty low) I don't think the guy was either a shirker or a bad influence.

Seams sew. ps...there's a BGOF offer in Punworld today.

Do you know that for a fact re the pre contracts? While Motherwell were undoubtedly financially cheating we lost those two not so much on wages but on length of contract. I don't like to criticise Lambie but the make 'em sweat attitude he had to re-signings backfired big time on this occasion. We were promoting Collins to manager, a risky enough venture as it was, and doubling the risk by letting him loose in the transfer market. Craigan to me was the biggest loss but keeping Burns would have helped. Him & Grady in tandem would have scored a fair amount. So imo the bigger culprits were PTFC in not having tied up Burns & Craigan the season before.

Take your point, Davie, but I very much doubt those cretins could keep schtum and not come out with some racist crap.

I hope we slaughter them too. I just hope they're still about to be slaughtered that's all. Funny how different fans have different views of other clubs. We certainly don't differ re Livi but I would still hold Dundee in contempt even if their financial dealings had always been clean and they'd never been in debt. Horrible inhospitable attitude dating back many years, flirting with bigotry (albeit a toned down version compared to their west coast cousins) and a splattering of thuggish shady characters masquerading as respected businessmen connected to that club. What's to like about them?

But will the bookies accept his coupon?

Put the cuddly toy thingy to the side for a moment. The disdain for the likes of Dundee & Livi goes much further than just the way they've run their finances. They're imo excellent examples of self centred clubs and self interest is the very thing that's stymieing any hope for change in Scottish football. If we want to show disinterest to clubs we deem less significant then we're no better than the very clubs we deride.