BigTamMuller

Dipping in again now that we're at another point of interest. For what it's worth on Valakari, he does acknowledge in a video, the Captain (I think) put up, of a conversation with Tromso fans that the Scottish game is a lot more fast paced and "kick & rush" than the slower paced Scandinavian games that he can play his preferred progressive passing style. Perhaps with this acknowledgement he wouldn't come in and go straight for the Maloney/Glass approach that evidently just doesn't suit the 10 other teams in the league & build towards it as an aspiration over time. It does feel a completely different game watching the slower paced Finnish match from a few pages ago, versus a typical Motherwell v St Mirren (for example) game up here - the cycnic in me says trying that slower possession Valakari style up here with our budget just wouldn't work, but won't know until you take that risk and try I guess.

Not posted much this season, out of a general apathy than anything else. Popping up to say I too enjoy Paneer. Signing a 34 year old from St Mirren would ordinarily struggle to have me whelmed at normal times. But, given the current circumstances and we're seeing players like McGinley seemingly coming up and struggle to settle due to only being able to look at their own 4 walls, then going for players with ties to the somewhat local area that can do a job will have to do.

Not the most glamorous of names in comparison to the Ariyibi and Aarons' that we've signed in previous January windows, but proven and reliable at this level is probably what we're needing right now.

Ordinarily if one of the OF had been on the end of a bad result in Europe a few days before I would be fearful for a backlash (After chucking a lead, I'd expect Rangers to put >3 goals into Accies on Sunday). Celtic appear to be a club in a bit of a meltdown, where last night's result for them wasn't a one off and you'd imagine they'll be a bit mentally vulnerable because of poor results of late. While I'd naturally expect some sort of a reaction from them, if we can weather a bit of an early storm then I'd hope our firing forward line can take advantage of how leaky they are at the back - to put it kindly. 2-1 home win. Although I wouldn't confidently put money on it, I'm more confident than previous occasions we've faced on Old Firm team.

Not much notice in terms of the pre orders, completely missed Amazon selling out this morning. Having amassed £300 in vouchers from Amazon over the year, I’ve somewhat committed to buying from there. May take a look at Argos tomorrow and put the vouchers to other things, or just wait til after launch for Amazon to restock it. Fair play to Sony on the price though!

Was wondering that after last night on seeing Celtic go behind - they do not and games go to ET/Pens if a draw. Best link I could find.

No problems at all with Hastie being back, or indeed when he left for that matter it's a short career, better the devil you know at the top end of the pitch. As long as he gives his all when on the pitch for us then that's all I'm interested in. Would argue it would be in our interests to see him do well with us, try and put him in the shop window for a move a club down south that would see us bring in some sort of sell on percentage.

* Ewan Murray. Ewen Murray is a golf commentator and I don't think would enjoy having his name associated with that ehm, objective journalism.

Shudders on that last one ...

Memories! Haha, I'd need to use my work's laptop if I wanted a disc drive, to play the game. Probably best not ...

Inspired, had a rummage for my FM09 disc but couldn't find it. Is FM09 the one with the infamous Mascio? The dirt cheap Italian wonderkid that didn't actually exist, IIRC.

Pie and Bovril delivers one again. What a Friday!

If the ball fell to Danny Johnson in the box, I’d fancy him to stick the ball in the net. That’s probably where it ends with positivity I could say about him - beyond that he’s limited in almost every other aspect of a game of football and is far more suited to playing in the 4-4-2 teams down south. Tony Watt. Without having the stats to hand, my opinion of him is underwhelming as a goalscorer. Alas, with the goals that we have throughout the team at the present - with Div Turnbull to return too - I’d be fully onboard a hype train of Tony Watt leading the line and helping the team out that way with his all round play as a number 9, which is very good from memory.

On a slow news day, a piece of news somewhat related to us - it would appear our chances of receiving that elusive sell on from Dom Thomas at Killie continue to diminish with him now being papped out on loan to Dunfermline. Interestingly, opinions of him at Killie seem to be similar to what we had of him, that he got better and better in fan estimation with each game he didn't play.

Didn't catch the Longer Listen podcast, apologies Andy, and had completely forgotten about Ferguson/that Killie game being a Robinson game. Definitely makes sense! My basis for Livingstone was the Celtic game he came on as a sub for last season IIRC? Where he'd played reserve football a day or two before, and got sub-subbed. Wasn't seen much after that.

Pretty much everything covered that I can think of from last night, as Swello says - the 89% of turnover query seemed to drag on forever! One interesting thing that Robinson noted - out with enjoying his trip to see the Lion King in the capital on Friday ... - on the "some youngsters being ready for inclusion" was using an example of a player which he put in too soon, and it ended up ruining him (or words that that effect). He never referenced a name, but I took it to be Adam Livingstone? When you consider the young players that Robinson has brought into the team and made successes out of - Campbell, Turnbull etc, as well as the Scott's, Maguire's that are very much still being integrated into first team football, the only one I could think of that hasn't worked out was Livingstone..

Not overly sentimental towards what happens with our stadium, perhaps its the business head thinking but I'd rather see us playing somewhere that doesn't end up costing us ridiculous amounts of money every year to keep playing at. Last years AGM hinted that it's still a good few years away yet that we'll be in a situation where it would make sense to build a new stadium than pay whatever it would take to maintain Fir Park. Also got to factor in property markets and such for when the land Fir Park is on will be at its best value to sell - an issue right now for Aberdeen it seems in selling the land Pittodrie is on for their new stadium plans. On Robbo, can't begrudge him the opportunity to earn a larger salary with a bigger club (budget, stadium size etc). I come and go on whether I can see it happening, as I do subscribe to the argument that he's a "good fit" at Motherwell and has built something exciting this season that he wouldn't want to leave this early into a project. Perhaps that's naivety though as it is a hard one to say no when the chance to increase your salary comes along from a big name in football. Time will tell at the end of the day.

No interest in actually going to the game. Been a fantastic week from us, with 2 wins from the games against Killie and Livi, which set up both Rangers away, and this one away being effectively "free hits" as others have stated. As much as it is a free hit, I don't see any sense for long term morale if we go and match Celtic up 4-3-3, go for it and end up coming away with a bit of a pasting. Can't imagine Robbo - assuming he's still in charge - deviating from the back 3 formation that worked well against Rangers last week. Tbh similarly to the Rangers game, if you offered nothing worse than a 2 goal defeat I'd probably take it right now, when you compare our usual 4+ goal defeats at Parkhead over the recent years.

No reason to be pessimistic with how we've been playing of late - and how we dispatched of both Edinburgh sides already this season. Add on to the fact that Aberdeen this season don't seem to have clicked yet and have a mountain of injuries - particularly in midfield - you'd be putting your money on a home win. As noted though, you don't have to look too far back to find instances of Aberdeen turning up to FP and "shitfesting" a result against us. So a definitely understandable cautious view of things on this game from Motherwell fans. Fancy us to get a result though, and maybe even see Polworth get on the scoresheet this time round. 2-0 Motherwell.

A few days on and I'm still wondering which is Maguire's stronger foot! Especially in the first half before the game became a bit more end to end, I thought Maguire was every bit as good as Polworth in his play on the ball. Would be harsh on Allan Campbell, but if Maguire is Busquets then I look forward to the game we have Polworth and Turnbull in front of him as our Xavi/Iniesta!

Right now my priority with whatever budget we have left would be a centre forward suited to the lone striker role that Robinson is trying to play with - whether it's Lafferty, or someone else that appears. I don't think Hendry is as bad as he's made out to be in fairness to him, but I think we're well enough stocked with Gallacher, Dunne, Hartley and then Maguire and Donnelly who can fill in there if needed.

Did Jake Hastie get called up?

Hopefully a little more prominent/prolific than our previous number 44 ...

How do you fail a medical? With the 15 goals Turnbull scored last season, I’d express my doubts he’s been playing with some mysterious injury! In all seriousness out with football manager land, it's not something I've ever heard of despite it being something that players have to get before signing. From recent memory, even Arsenal managed to sign Kim Kallstrom on loan and it turned out he had a 2 month injury to run. Last I heard along with others was that Turnbull, along with Aribo (sp?) that Rangers are signing have had to get their medicals done in Manchester because Scottish facilities aren't available. Nothing would surprise any more mind you in this transfer saga!

Part of me thinks a part of this is actually the agents influence that’s rejected whatever Celtic have offered - as funny as it is to say that Div has turned down Celtic! Thinking back to the prolonged wait we had trying to sort out a new contract for DT, IIRC there was a snide comment or two from Stephen Robinson at the agm about his agent being a dick around the several offers we’d made. So that wouldn’t surprise if something similar was played here. If there’s not been any acceptable bids already from England, or further afield, then I’m not sure if they’ll come in a hurry. Either way, hopefully Div is enjoying his holiday and would more than happily wire him a beer for this bit of patter today!