Marinello

Appreciate its a different issue but as I'm heading out next week to see Austria Vienna vs Sturm Graz I thought I would check out the Austrian league split which seems more fair than our version. 12 teams like ours. In short , each team plays each other twice before the winter break. The split then occurs with top 6 playing each other twice again and the bottom 6 doing the same. This ensures no anomalies of 3 at home and 1 away. Slight downside is that ' slow burner' teams can be consigned to bottom half before their form picks up which in our system allows them to still get a top 6 berth.

If commented elsewhere I apologise in advance. At the risk of anyone thinking I'm dabbling in illegal drugs or have become detached from reality , I'm wondering if anyone has noticed that technically we can still get top 6. Yes we are talking about snookers and perhaps the alignment of the planets but if we win our next 2 games ( more than likely) and get a draw at Celtic Park ( improbable but they may have won league by then and have an eye on cup semi the following week) we would be sitting on 40 points with a healthy goal difference. If Hibs lose all 3 games ( not unlikely as they are already in freefall) and Livingston fail to pick up 2 points ( more than likely according to Livi mates) we would sneak in to top 6. I could have extended my theory to St Mirren losing all their games as they do have a hard run in but for us to overtake them we would need to beat Celtic!!! Regardless of my ramblings it does mean that our last 3 games pre split still carry interest looking up the league rather than looking down. Nurse, nurse where's my meds?

Couple of rumours circulating that KVV might be off to China in next few days!

Any sign of Kettlewell at the game?

Perhaps I'm being naive but my recollection was that rather than Hammell hanging around the directors office waiting to take advantage of Alexander's dismissal he was instead in Arran with his family. Hardly the behaviour of an opportunist hell bent on career advancement. My take was that because of Motherwell's predicament Hammell out of loyalty to the club was open to the offer.

Watching Hammell make his' long walk' at Starks Park I couldn't help but give him sympathy. Here was a guy who IMHO had barely got a break during his tenure. Remembering that he hadn't sought the job when giving up his secure post and showed by the victories in Dingwall and Pittodrie that he had a sound football brain, he was to suffer a catalogue of bad luck which I have never known in over 60 years of watching football; * Loss of Carroll very early doors. * Denied services of his marquis signings Louis and Aron's * Inexplicable player failings costing us several points eg Perth Saints in August, Utd at home, Killie away, Rangers at home ( even Hearts at home) * October/ November injuries to the improving Efford, Mugabi and temporary loss of Mc Ginn. * Scandalous deniel of penalties at Hibs , home to Aberdeen and more recently in Paisley. * Of late , the amateurish failings of players at home to Hibs and County . * The unfortunate loss of Blaney and Mandron. * The unforseen implosion of SOD * The denial of a settled back 4. All of the above taken together resulted inevitably in a loss of confidence by the team as witnessed by the horror shows in the last 3 games. Don't get me wrong as I'm not exonerating Hammell for all the team failings- his tactical limitations recently bear this out-but to me he just didn't get a break that could have helped turn the tide. Even on Saturday when we were on top at 1-2 down a deflected clearance by RR hit the crossbar. If that goes in I'm pretty certain that our momentum would have seen us win. But when your luck is out your luck is out. Yup by Saturday there was no way back for Hammell as the rot had truly set in but I do hope those shouting " sacked in the morning" take time to reflect on the many circumstances that contrived to work against him.

Livi fans say he has been useless all season and the quicker he loses 2 stone the better for him.

As threadbare and as untried as our defence will be tomorrow our weakness is perhaps balanced by the number of players ( especially up front) missing for RR. Hope springs eternal!!

Whatever happens with SH will be. But however dreadful we are I offer hope today that we can at least be optomistic in finishing above Kilmarnock. Took in the Livi Killie game today and I can safely say that Killie are truly awful. They were totally overrun by a committed Livi side . Watching Killie confirmed my view of them at FP in late December that they are a talentless crew with little threat or creativity. Add to this is the fact that they barely did business in the Jan window , leaving them pretty bare for the run in. This really worries the Killie support. I do therefore feel that once we bed in the new recruits and see the return of some of the injured players we will be well placed to finish ahead of Killie. Our match at the end of the month should show this. As for finishing above County and United that's less certain but with our playing pool we shouldn't get too despondent regardless of Hammel's situation.

Currently at Livi game vs Killie. Killie are as poor ( if not worse) than we were on Wednesday. A ray of hope perhaps

By way of highlighting the dreadfulness of last night I was able to compare Livingston's performance last Sunday when I watched them live against Hearts . In brief without being blessed with great players and yes they didnt win ( but should've) Livi played as a strong unit and with team spirit. Above all though it was clear that the players individually and collectively knew what they were doing and had the confidence to do so. In addition, they had Martindale on the sidelines directing strategy often in his colourful way! Last night we were the complete opposite. Even allowing for new players needing time to bed in etc, the problems we saw last night have been evident for months during Stevie's tenure. As an admirer of SH and a person who has never called for a manager to leave , it really pains me to say it that I believe his time is up. We still have time to get ourselves out of this mess . If however we persist with Stevie in charge then its really difficult to see any other outcome than relegation. A call to Martindale wouldn't be the worst step to take. l

Re Obika. I ain't redrawing history by suggesting he is was Drogbaesque but I do have a chilling memory of him ragdolling our defence at FP. I think it was the cup tie that went to pens. Appreciate it is 2 or 3 years on and his scoring record of late is unremarkable but Obika may prove to be a very good option up front and quite different to the other forwards. Or am I straw clutching?

I'm probably not up to speed with whose available but I thought Slattery would today serve the second of a 2 game league suspension. Given his form of late I'm actually not to fussed if he plays or not!!

M'day know if Slattery is suspended for St Mirren game tomorrow?

Seem to recollect that some weeks ago there was a hope that Efford would be back this month. Anyone got any news?

Just wanted to echo the thoughts of many that AB has been a great ambassador for the club. Even at a personal level I always found him helpful and approachable. He will be a loss.

SH tells us that many a long night is spent mulling over signing targets. Can only hope that this will yield a Devante Cole type signing rather than a Justin Amaluzer hunch.

Just putting it out there, but with him barely starting for Utd I wonder if a wee enquiry about Tony Watt would be worthwhile???

Aware it may sound like grasping at straws but having taken in the Livi/St Mirren game tonight we shouldn't have much to fear from Livi on Monday. Livi very limited in midfield and pretty ponderous at the back. Will be without red carded Pittman who is their ' go to guy' in midfield. Add to this Holt's redcard may be upheld from Saturday and Nouble's no show for last 2 games. Biggest threat is their number 7 ( Moyo) who carries the ball well and puts in a shift. Pitch bye the way is hellish ( no surprise) and only serves to help grafters not playmakers. Will be close but a draw is certainly within our reach.

Hearing that the club is no further forward in establishing Mc Ginley's health situation.

Can guarantee its no wind up. Source is impeccable.

Hearing that Moult has been released back to Burton having failed to recover from an ankle knock. So disappointing.

Thinking ahead to the possibility of Penney returning to Ipswich in January, does anyone know how Mc Ginley's rehab is progressing. Saw him in hospitality recently and he seemed to be moving well enuff---- albeit that he was only stretching for a sausage roll!!

Lamie incident IMHO ain't simple manhandling. Its a clear shirt pull, therefore a pen. Why not given. I think like Michael Stewart that the VAR guy has had his attention diverted by the second incident( not a pen) which happened quickly after the first incident. Conclusion-- we were the victims of circumstances. Still bloody sore to take.

A heads up . Wheels within wheels Might not be anything but there are suggestions of Turnbull moving from Celtic today. May have been asked before but are we due 'add ons' ?. If so, this could have a lovely bearing on our dealings today.