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I'm not really sure what's hard to understand. We didn't do well last year. We played poorly for much of the season, and aside from Dundee who took a beating from teams following the split, we were among the highest goals conceded teams in the league. In fact, I think we were joint-worst outside of the bottom two. The defence was a problem. Even the most optimistic fans can see that. This is why it makes little sense to approach a summer when we would have the opportunity to revamp the defence by re-signing many of the players who caused our defensive issues. By re-signing O'Donnell, McGinn, and possibly Mugabi, we would now have those three, along with Blaney and Casey, under contract. What scope does that leave for significant additions to the defence beyond a couple of loan players? If we go into the new season with largely the same individuals in defence, and we start seeing the same results, then it only makes sense Kettlewell will be under pressure from the off. I could understand that if we had to go back to those players later in the summer after failing to get other players in, but that's not the case. We offered Mugabi, O'Donnell and McGinn new contracts as soon as the season finished, so how do we know who we could and couldn't get? 100%. Which is why wasting money on players like Mugabi will see questions being asked, and rightly so. This situation has nothing to do with investment. It concerns our immediately offering new terms to players who didn't perform well last season.

Reading some of these posts about how garbage our players are really has me thinking about which team folk think they are supporting!! We can't simply go out and sign Virgil Van Dijk (although folk on here would be suggesting he is sh*t and past it as he is in his 30's) our players are going to have limitations, its a simple fact. People throwing comments like "disgusted" at players being signed on again need a dose of reality!!!!

Build the statue 🤣. On a serious note that's over 3000 season tickets sold.

Why would Kettlewell be under pressure and from where? This is what I struggle with to be honest. On the one hand we have fans who want top six and a good cup run every year (and that's fine) and others who are happy enough if we remain in the top flight. There were points last season where I thought we were in real trouble but things picked up. As far as I'm concerned it all comes down to money. If he had more cash at his disposal he would be able to afford better quality players, that's obvious but he doesn't. That's not me slating our players either. He can only do so much with the budget he has. He did the job he was asked to do two seasons in a row. There are fans who don't want outside investment and fans who would consider it. There are fans saying we don't need outside investment and at the same time unhappy with the players that Kettlewell is signing. I'm just not sure what it is they want him to do. And I think some fans across the board on social media have an issue with Kettlewell full stop. No matter what he does it wouldn't be good enough. As everyone knows we are a club with a small core support, fan owned and it's fair to say that Kettlewell won't have a large transfer budget at his disposal. I'd expect the team not to have many changes with a few signings added in and some loan deals. Particularly when we are competing with other clubs who can offer players more. Paying off two managers in two years hasn't helped either. We won't improve without investment - wherever that comes from. If Kettlewell did go next season the next manager would have exactly the same issues to deal with in my view.

It seems like we offered them a packet of Space Raiders and some Panini stickers, so it’s not surprising we were told to bolt.

O'Donnell played more games for us than anyone apart from Spittal last season. As far as I can see, the only league game he took no part in was the final game. Whatever folk's personal opinions, it's clear what Kettlewell thinks of him, so I don't understand why it would come as a surprise to see him get another deal.

Not necessarily. We don't know the details. It could be that St Mirren saw him as a squad player, whereas we see see him as a starter. Who knows? I wouldn't read much into this.

Were they okay, though? Really? The results wouldn't really suggest that. Blaney and Casey will stay unless someone comes in with an offer for them, which is unlikely, given our form last season. So they're both here for next season. For me, we should be looking to assess players with a number of criteria in the summer. That including: 1. Are they a sellable asset? Is it worth keeping them with the hope of selling at a profit in a year or two? 2. Are they on an upward trajectory? Or at least maintaining a standard of form that we deem acceptable? Looking at O'Donnell, he clearly doesn't fit the first category. And it's arguable that he's maintaining a standard of form that is acceptable. It could even be claimed he's on a downward trajectory at this stage of his career. At best he could be retained as a squad player and experienced head, but as I said before, his contract would need to reflect that. McGinn is a slightly different proposition in that while he doesn't meet the first category, he has at least maintained a level of form that is acceptable at our level. I would even say he should be our captain heading into next season. Mugabi meets neither of the conditions. If he is re-signed then it should sound some alarm bells. As far as waiting to see who we sign before stressing about who we've re-signed, it's worth noting that by that time, it won't matter. O'Donnell is here for the next two years. If Mugabi re-signs, he'll be here for the next year or two. For a club that consistently bangs on about having a smaller budget, we don't mind throwing money at people who don't really deserve it. Be it underperforming players being re-signed or injured players who will contribute nothing being signed under the category of "doing the right thing."

Possibly the most sensible and balanced comments I have read on here for months. With the emphasis on balanced. You are spot on regards SK (and others) being targets for some no matter what they do or do not achieve. They have been since the day they signed on. No rationale just an immediate dislike. All you have to do is look at how posters disappear for days on end when their obsessions contribute to a win. Then miraculously reappear busting a gut to sound off the first time a pass or a substitution does not come off. Every one of our players…past and present…has made errors. Same with our Managers. The difference is most fans…but sadly not all….are able and willing to acknowledge when certain employees contribute in a positive way. Also a factor is the refusal of some to accept that being fan owned, although great for the ego and bragging rights, limits the scope Kettlewell has for bringing in players of a better quality. And before anyone jumps in regarding offers extended to those that underperformed last season, I am also disappointed that the entire defence was invited back. I kind of understand it though. The reason being factors that nobody on this forum knows for sure - The terms offered to those players. Since January which players about to be out of contract elsewhere knocked back our early approaches. And others since season end. In the absence of any transfer income, what Budget SK has been given and whether that Budget could attract players of better quality than we currently have. That said, if Miller and/or Bair are sold, then I hope SK will be given a far greater Budget to secure replacements AND improve quality in other areas. But I am dubious about whether he would be adequately funded given the new CEO’s comments about the need to stop operating at a loss. In the absence of transfers out, I understand why we might be limited to loanee signings, perhaps towards the end of the transfer window. None of that hides the fact that other issues and efficiencies within the Club appear to need addressing. The sooner the Barmack situation is put to bed, one way or the other, the better.

I'm in the camp of being happy to have O'Donnell and McGinn mainly as squad players, but the caveat to that is that they should be on reduced terms. We obviously have no way of knowing that. I wouldn't have brought back Slattery, and I wouldn't bring back Mugabi. if Kettlewell decides that both of them are in his plans, he best hope they perform.

Talking about singing...it's SK's big 40 today......ALTOGETHER NOW.........HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU......🤣🤣🤣

That's our only choice, right? We either re-sign the same players from last season or bring in top-tier English Premier League players to replace them. Personally, I'm fine with O'Donnell and McGinn getting new contracts, but I understand why some fans might not be pleased given our team's performance last season. Being Motherwell doesn't mean we shouldn't aim to improve. Butcher played fewer than 20 games for us last season, so his departure doesn't significantly affect our starting defence. I don't mind the re-signing of O'Donnell and McGinn, as long as there's a clear plan for their roles this coming season. Mugabi's situation is puzzling because he was a significant part of our poor defence last season. Offering him a new deal is baffling to me; he's simply not good enough. There's a good chance we'll start next season with a team that looks much like the one that finished last season, with a few new loans and punts added in. If that's the case and we continue our poor performance, Kettlewell will have no grounds for complaint when the pressure mounts early in the season.

I think there is a point to be made about squad harmony and unity, as well. You can see from the team that even when we were going through our bad run last season, they never stopped playing for Kettlewell and as a unit. Yes, the football was absolutely shite at times but it was clear the players hadn't downed tools. Kettlewell wanting to keep players with that kind of attitude and willingness to play for him isn't a bad thing in my eyes. Building a squad is a very nuanced and intricate process, not at all easy and is thankless for a manager because some fans will never be pleased with signings that are made.

The managers primary job is to keep Motherwell in the top division. The players he is resigning have done that so having them in the squad does make some sense. We are never going to sign 22 top quality players so have to cut our cloth to suit our means. Hopefully we can then add 3 or 4 better quality players, either as permanent signings or on loan.

Kelly has gone. Butcher has gone. Mugabi is still negotiating clearly and surely other players will come in. As far as I'm concerned the entire team was poor on that long winless run with the odd exception. I personally think SOD has been singled out a lot. I don't just mean on forums but at games. I think he gets a lot of stick and some other players when they aren't performing don't get the same treatment. I personally don't think these players are bad players - I don't think Kelly is a shit goalie either. I think that long run of games without a win affected the players a lot. Probably haven't explained what I mean as well as I could have there. But hopefully you get what I'm trying to say

Probably the same guy who boos him everytime he comes on the park. Don't understand why anyone would get so wound up about a player. Good riddance if he does give it up and one less a******e to put up with on social media.

You're spot on. From what's been shared we made offers to S'OD, McGinn, Butcher, Mugabi and OX . Keep doing the same thing and expecting different results is insanity. From the current defence the one guy we really want to sign is Gent, which we may be able to do depending where Bair is headed but none if it inspires confidence that SK knows what he's doing in the transfer market. I'm not worried about who we haven't signed but offering so many contracts to so many who have proven not to be consistent performers concerns me.

Exactly we need a squad and perfect squad player that's why I am not to bothered if big Bevis signs up again unfair hate from people week in week out for me he gave one of the best performances of the season from any player Vs Rangers at Ibrox last season. Still need to address the defence but Bevis is perfect squad player just like O'Donnell.

We need a squad and I doubt you would get a better option out there than O'Donnell. He gets some quite unfair pelters at times but Im pretty happy he has signed on to fill out said squad.