Gadgey

A perfect example of the cynicism I spoke of earlier. This is a typical fact versus opinion scenario. What we (as fans) know as fact is that Lucas was an unused sub during his contracted period with the club. We know that McGhee has stated previously that he would have liked to to have signed Clay and Lucas but finances prohibited that. We know that McGhee has stated that he wants to play 433 but at this time can't due to injury. What we don't know as fact is why McGhee never used Lucas from the bench. We don't know if Lucas was match fit. We don't know if McGhee is sincere in what he says publicly about formations or his players. We don't know if Lucas is actually going to be any good. We don't know if his arrival will in actual fact reduce first team opportunity for a youth player. Indeed, all of which we don't know is open to assumption and conjecture. Both of which will be unique to us all and will be based on our opinions. To call McGhee a fud or be incensed in any way by our manager drafting in short term cover for a depleted midfield is in my opinion, bordering on the irrational.

The endorsements he has received at past clubs say two things to me. Firstly, there's clearly a need for a "marketing and fan engagement manager" otherwise he wouldn't have done it elsewhere or indeed been eligible for awards from others who have recognised the need for one. And secondly, he has won awards for what he has done in this or similar roles elsewhere. He is an acknowledged achiever. Given the situation we are in, I think he is a sound appointment. Our future lies in fan ownership yet we are seeing dwindling match attendance, sheer indifference towards the well society and widespread cynicism towards the perceived hierarchy of the club and correspondence coming from it. The bloke has a tremendous challenge ahead, and looking at where else he's been, it may just be his biggest yet. Good luck to him. Also, I did a quick google of marketing and sports fan engagement and this was the top return. It gives a bit more of an idea of what his job entails. http://events.q1productions.com/sports-fan-engagement/

It still angers me to this day that McLeish was given so much money to spend, especially given that one of the main reasons McLean left was lack of budget.

And Peter McCloy. Never saw him play in a 'Well jersey but do remember his final years at rangers. Yeh, I know, a career rangers man but was also a very good former 'Well goalie.

Aye, a quick google search tells me I'm a mile oot LOL

Going off the MacMillan line, is Derek 'ruby' Murray who played for us at left back during the late 80s Andy Murrays faither? I might well be a mile out, but I'm sure I'd read or heard on tv years ago something about his dad having been on our books.

If you don't mind me asking, what was your profession that would bring you in contact with these guys? And, who was filling hateleys pockets and why?

Tom Boyd only became a decent player when Davie Cooper arrived. Coop was able to exploit Boyds pace and was instrumental in transforming a guy that was (in my opinion at least) second in the youth development pecking order to Chris McCart to a quality overlapping fullback. The badge kissing thing was an err in judgment. I'm sure it was meant in jest but he made himself look a right cock. But then, that was largely consistent with Boyds behaviour the rest of the time too. He's just a bit of a cock.

Cillian Sheridan hardly set the heather alight. What about Nick Blackman, great for us, pish for wee turdy face Broon at Eberdeen

And Colin O'neill wants be the next Glenroran manager. Not sure if big Stevie Kirk would be as keen as him though. http://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/northern-ireland/glentoran/controversial-colin-oneill-wants-glentoran-job-35015305.html

Is this news to you then? When we played the Scottish cup final in 2011, we had only 3 scots in the starting 11. All but 2 of them (granted Lasley and Hamill amongst them) were acquired from English clubs. The difference being now that there's even more money in the English game today than there was then. There's also the simple matter of SFA youth development, club youth development or indeed the lack of youth development in our country. I'd like to think (and there's evidence to suggest they are) that the club are working diligently towards putting more emphasis upon home grown talent. However, that's a long term strategy and even in full fruition, will never stop us entirely from recruiting from lower English leagues....not when there are talents like Johnson and Moult to turn a coin and do a job on the pitch.

Having had a quick look at Bowmans wiki page (never the best source I know), it looks to me like he's a proven striker at non league level but has twice failed to shine in league 2 with two separate clubs. Obviously, each scenario must be taken into context, he was still young or 'up and coming' in a less than average Carlisle side and a play off semi York team. Either way, he dropped back into the conference after being at each of them. That said, we've given him a golden opportunity with us and I truly hope that he grabs it with both hands. He's now a Motherwell player and I wish him and Belic well for the season ahead. With regards big Marv, well, so far as I'm concerned, don't bang your big heid on the way out the door big man. Shame it ended the way it did and whether we fans like it or not, there wasn't a glut of teams rushing for his signature. Indeed, the club had little bargaining leverage other than brinkmanship. He was never a £1m player and despite the English transfer market being mental, I'm confident in saying he never will be. Any one who is getting airiated about an undisclosed fee and blaming managers at the club for making the club look like mugs are doing so unnecessarily and with claret and amber tinted specs on. We've lost better and survived before. On this occasion, we turned a profit and as such, is a positive indication that the business plan is working. League 1 is about Marvs level, and even then, he'll struggle for consistency. None the less, I hope the move solves his personal problems

I mean this in the nicest possible way....you need to go and have a wee lie doon.

As my old man used to call them, big Marv is a daisy player....daisys good other daisys fucking garbage. I was always a bit sceptical of the £1m price tag and based upon present trend, I never started to think about ways of spending it. And I think that's the difference. In terms of talent, Marvin is not the hell raiser that a championship club would feel comfortable shelling out a 7 figure sum on and in terms of fitness, doesn't have that engrained resilience that the league 1 fixture card gives a player.

I didn't see the game as I'm in Turkey and by the sounds of it, the only bomb scares I've heard of whilst out here were from our goalie last week. This thread makes interesting reading though. Having played at a decent level (junior) and with a relatively comparable team to Motherwell (much better teams than us with better resources around us), it is often the case that the things that you want to do as a team are not the things you can do against those with better resources. Rangers had most of the ball and though it may not seem like it from the stands, chasing the ball, keeping shape, tracking runners, breaking up play and counter attacking are much more tiring than when playing the possession game. Especially when those you rely on holding it and doing something with it on the valuable occasions when you have the ball don't do something. It saps legs and confidence. Somebody said earlier they were frustrated with the slack passing (they're right to be) of the first team and making the comparison seeing the u20s stroking it about. The inference being that we should have more u20s being used (lack of substitutions). But I just need to check, is this the same u20s who lost 'spiritedly' to airdrie? Whether we care to admit it or not, McGhee knows more about his squad than any of us do and he has spoken on more than one occasion about the lack of depth and it's self evident there's a lack of real game changing talent. Talented game changers cost money! To lose this way two weeks in a row is a ball ache but football is a confidence game and by all accounts, I don't think the team or IMHO McGhee deserve too much criticism after yesterday.

With the greatest of respect mate, that's a load of guff.

I am by no means a pessimist but I expected a gubbing tonight. It was Brendan Rodgers first competitive home game and it was a cup tie .... there was no way Celtic weren't gonna be at it tonight. I understand people's frustrations, there were few who deserved pass marks, the manner of the defeat always hurts and the fact that we're out the cup is scunnering. However, there should be no jumping to conclusions about the quality of the new signings based on that tonight. Sinclair had Tait on toast from the off and that very slow midfield were swamped throughout. The true measure will be against our contemporaries. Yeh, the change of system can leave the manager open for ridicule, but he and Craggs called it right afterwards, they should have done better with the ball when they had it. Passing was poor and the second touch was a tackle. Marvin looked like he had the wrong studs on and nothing came off for Cads despite his best efforts. But in context, that was a master class from Celtic tonight and they will hand out some serious cuffing this season. Rogic, Dembele and Sinclair were truly outstanding !!! Onwards and upwards....and although it's really fuckin hard to sometimes....keep the faith!!!

Well, I haven't seen a happier new signing in a long time. Baptism of fire tonight though....he got roasted!!!

Yeah, it's bloody great to see so many upsets. I wouldn't have thought it was because the "bigger" clubs didn't take it seriously but are certainly at greater risk of complacency against a "wee" team playing their individual cup final. Just curious, is it the case that the smaller clubs fitness levels are better than the top flight teams? And why would that be the case?

A grand a week 20 year ago, set up your own business and holiday for 6 months a year...aye, good for you. For all we know you could be a sad old wino sat in your piss stained joggers drinking Eldorado out a brown paper bag. And you know the truth of it? I don't think any of us really give a fuck !!!!

This. Cheers dude! As it goes, I'm not necessarily saying it either. Just asking a question.

I could be wrong, but it's my understanding (mentioned previously in this thread) that Moult had the injury rolling on from last season. I'm not being combatitive so don't jump on me, but isn't it custom and practise for a player to go under the knife as soon as the season closes in order to give them as much opportunity possible to be ready for the next season? In essence, I'm just asking a question. If we didn't have competitive matches so early in the season, would we or any other team like us for that matter have taken a different approach to squad usage and injury 'management' (for want of a better word) during the months of June, July and August ? McGhee said himself in an interview (I think after the final group game) that the LC had impacted upon his pre-season preparations and eluded to the need to catch up. It's a read between the lines but to what degree of impact does such an early start to a season have upon a squad already asked to play a long season?

Begrudgingly agree with pretty much all of that. I raised the point a week or so ago about the strain on the squad resulting from the pre-season becoming more pressured and having 'must win' games so early in the season and I got kicked to bits for it. I know I got kicked for this before but would we be without Moult now if we'd had a regular pre-season? Make no bones about it, a league cup run will make a difference to club finances and the likes of killie and Ross County will be doing some early season and unplanned recalculations. Elongating the season and shortening the close season makes little practical sense to me. I have absolutely no issue with the format of the cup but IMHO it can only work and be of more appeal if it were given room to breath within a less densely populated fixture card and a more open league structure. Square peg round hole.

Skippy is carrying a knock? Has that been reported somewhere and I've missed it or was he jaded yesterday? Either way, hope it's not too serious.