Andy_P

Versatility it's the Motherwell way is it not! Throwing another one into the mix as far as McMillan was concerned one of the players he was competing against at the time for a place over various positions was the similarly versatile Iain Ross who also had a few games at full-back, in midfield and Harri Kampman even had him playing just off Owen Coyle in a few of those insipid early season games when we were letting folk for in a fiver.

It would be good if you were right, but I rather suspect that the actual results of the Old Firm sides are largely immaterial.

And I'll get immediately into the spirit of the thing, if not's been mentioned elsewhere noticed that Jack Leitch, who had been on trial with Airdrie earlier in the season has now officially signed for them. Was he top flight material? I thought when he broke through at first there were hints that he could be but that looked a bit less likely as time wore on for one reason or another. Didn't think he would end up dropping two divisions mind you although perhaps significant that Airdrie are full-time.

Ok people, dedicated thread for all discussions, news, opinions and matters arising concerning those who've worn the glorious claret and amber at some point in the past. Do your bidding...

Don't get me wrong there will be various levels of interest I'll take on former players depending upon length of service and how much of a contribution they made etc. but I find the notion of shutting yourself off from how someone does the minute they leave Fir Park seems a little bizarre. Not least because half of them pitch up again at some time in the future! To use you as an example Dave, seeing as you've posted directly in front of my reply, weren't you only recently part of a discussion that where posters were enjoying reminiscing about Walter Carlyle which included a mention was made of an occasion after he'd left the club? But a good way to settle this debate, if there even is any debate. On another forum I read they have a Former Players thread for chat about ex-players and news or matters arising that involves former 'Well players. How about I set that up and those that wish to can use it to remark on the same?

Last day of the 14'15 season. Nil nil shitfest against Thistle when everyone's attentions were focused on Ibrox later in the week.

What a frustrating afternoon. Could have won. Should have won! Frustrating and annoying that we didn't. The first half was a masterclass in how to completely dominate a game without actually doing anything to trouble the opposition. The lack of cutting edge apart I actually thought the first-forty was pretty good. We played some neat and tidy stuff when we actually got the ball down and played. Much more effective and a damn sight easier on the eye than the hoof to the shortest and generally most isolated man on the park that's for sure. Several good performances, more to come from the creative types, keep it going and stick in during the second half and the goal will surely come, right? What the fuck happened at half time? Sloppy kick-off followed by possession given away, missed challenges and within seconds we're defending a corner from our own kick-off and the tone for much of the second half is set. It was really disappointing that we didn't pick it up and take the game by the scruff of the neck. It took us quite a bit of time to wrestle the game back from Dundee and even then they remained a threat on the break. It is early, we do have our main source of goals sitting injured but we are already missing out on points that could and arguably should have been attainable. Zip from a winning position against St Johnstone, same at Ibrox last week and only one from a game that should been three today. That's not a habit we want to continue. On the positive good to see Faddy back (again) decent displays from the maligned Chalmers and Clay again and Cadden was outstanding. When he is powering his way up the wing past people he is a genuine joy to watch. If he had a shade more self belief in his ability to shoot from distance and a wee bit more of the "greedybastardness" that perhaps comes more naturally to Marvin or Lionel and not check his runs when in full flow, that could take him up another notch again but he's a key figure in that team already. What a year it's been for him and long may his rise continue.

Your thoughts and votes please...

After wandering around Fir Park for the last 15 years wearing this Dave finally sees some light at the end of the tunnel...... I jest of course (mostly). I do agree that we are, as perhaps we have been just about all close season, an attacking midfielder away from having a reasonable range of midfielders that provide flexibility of formation. I actually think the principle of how we lined up yesterday isn't too bad when the occasion warrants it. Lasley and Clay were generally pretty decent yesterday and put in numerous blocks and tackles between the two of them. Alongside Cadden they allowed Lionel and Marvin to push forward and go from that 4-5-1 to a 4-3-3 pretty seamlessly when we were breaking. A fit McHugh would of course have offered scope for rotation/reinforcement between the three of them at a crucial stage and I believe that will be case as standard over the campaign. McHugh certainly shows early signs that there is the potential for a successor to Lasley there. The return of Moult and when we do go for a 4-4-2 you would assume would see Cadden on the right, Johnson on the left, one of either of the three and.....This is where the Pearson like player becomes all the more important and does seem to be missing ingredient there. But that's not something we don't know already. But as for the actual question itself? Wooft tricky to see. I'll dodge it slightly and say currently it's formation dependant and perhaps one to ask again once the transfer window is closed in a couple of weeks.

That was some way different from what I expected beforehand but ultimately no less painful. Really, really frustrating that we couldn't see it through. We looked like we were fraying at the edges a little for a good bit as the clock wore but with Clay looking done and Marvin looking either injured/knackered/in a huff or a combination of all three but to be honest I still didn't see it coming. From stuck up in the corner it looked like McDonald (I think) tried to be too fancy, too deep, too late in the game. It was a ball crying out to fucked as far up the park as possible but within about 15 seconds of the his clearance being intercepted we were done for. Result apart it was such a heartening display after the disappointments of Parkhead and last weekend. This was the kind of setup and performance I had hopes of seeing going into that League Cup tie that so clearly set us back. I hope in contrast we can now take some belief from this going into our next couple of games. For an hour we were defensively we were sound and were a threat each time we went forward. Chalmers will undoubtedly never have a better game in claret and amber. We had them at a stage their support were claiming for everything and anything and their players were throwing themselves down. And of course we'd scored and could even have had more when you think of Lionel miscuing and Clay's effort past the post. When they scored you feared they'd bombard us and a second would be inevitable but whilst they'd lots of the ball and loads of corners that feeling of impending doom was never there. For one thing we were continually breaking at them and getting ourselves up the park, albeit we never managed to do anything major with those breaks. It's just such a shame they managed to steal it.

Apologies for the belated posting but your thoughts and votes are as welcome as always....

Is it not actually easier just going to a few boozers and asking if they'll show it for you?

I really enjoyed that last night. I reckoned beforehand Airdrie might be on a bit of a hiding to nothing and so it has proved. Yes they've got through but it's our 20's who will take the credit and deservedly so. Airdrie were a bit more streetwise with experienced guys like Fitzpatrick, Russell and Conroy on the park and they always looked that bit more dangerous when they got in and around our box. But in terms of the style of play for long spells in the game we were the team taking the initiative and again played a patient possession based game that was easy on the eye. We rode our luck on one of two penalty claims they had which I think might have had a bearing on Luke Watt's claim without about 10 minutes to go. A good crowd and a wee bit of atmosphere added to the spectacle and Motherwell certainly seemed to respond to the backing. I think our 20's have most certainly done themselves justice and have benefited from their involvement in the tournament. I have to confess I still don't think we should be in the revamped tournament, but as a club we've more than played our part through fairly healthy crowd numbers and through a young team that has played some excellent football between the two ties we've been involved in.

Cadds I personally wouldn't consider. He's a first team starter whereas as Fergie and Dom are on the fringes. Either of the two of them get injured, would it significantly impact on the team for Saturday? Hmmm... However if Cadden was injured, that would have more of an impact.

I'm not at all clued up on the cut off dates that determine whether someone is eligible for this season U20's or this competition but if they were eligible this would seem a decent opportunity both to give the likes of David Ferguson and Dom Thomas some game time whilst adding to the "small" squad that Craggs referred to in his interview on MFC TV yesterday.

Your thoughts and votes,messages of cheer and goodwill for Joe Chalmers and all etc.

Not great, was it? Whilst I think we could make some justified complaints and observations about the performance we can't complain about the result itself. A fully merited victory for St Johnstone. There wasn't a huge amount to get excited about in either half bar a couple of long range efforts that were tipped over and the ball from Johnson that went across the goalmouth in the first half. Annoyance at the result is of course made all the more frustrating firstly that after being second best in that first half we managed to get ourselves in front, but couldn't hold it far less build on it, and that we gifted them their winner. Of course we're a few bodies light but it was hardly a display that filled you with great hope for the season ahead. I've done a power of whinging about Wednesday night but it really has seemed to have sapped whatever momentum had been building beforehand. It was fairly lacklustre and uninspired performance. One of the few positives was the opportunity to see Blyth make his league debut. Not exactly a game changing performance but he won a couple of decent headers and hinted that there may be a use for him, particularly if the hoof up the middle from the goalkeeper is persisted with. No, not great at all.

I suppose it's good that we've got a game so quickly after Wednesday that will have allowed the team to quickly look ahead and focus on a different type of contest. As ever it will have been an "on to the next one" attitude and put Wednesday behind them. I can't say I've personally shaken off my disillusionment from Wednesday just yet mind you so I'm not exactly overly enthusiastic about the game at the moment. I hope we can start well so there's no lingering negativity from the stands (I know I'm one to speak having written the above) and if not get a win at least show something that will suggest we're going to be a similar standard to a team that finished above us and beat us three times last season. Of course it's way too early to get any sort of indication of what our standing is likely to be this season, a good performance and result against a team like St Johnstone would hint at a positive league campaign ahead.

I genuinely think it's far less cloak and dagger than is being suggested. I'm sure he wouldn't have resigned on the back of a decent season with Ayr if he was getting vibes he wasn't wanted and there was interest elsewhere. It's still my guess he was told you'll get another year, but we'll send you on loan again to see how you perform at a higher level than last season. And if you do really well we'll pull you back after six months and see if you can cut it in the top flight? It's just unfortunate/mixed with a degree of poor planning that we allowed the loan deal to commence when Moult, McDonald and Blyth have all been at less than 100%

Yes, but not exclusively so. You'll remember of course the great play placed upon the investment in the scouting system and employment of a head of recruitment. Indeed both the scouting network and Martin Foyle, the current incumbent, were referenced in McGhee's presser in the build up to the Celtic game. I always got the impression it was a two pronged approach. Take calculated gambles on players outwith the club who may generate a transfer fee further down the line AND development of our youth. Not a case of either or. Time will tell whether Blyth is better Moore but what more can Moore do? Well for a start over the next six months he can prove he can replicate or better that same form he showed last season in a higher division and that he can come up with a similar return or better the return he produced did when he was with Cowdenbeath on loan. That, combined with seeing him in training, will give McGhee a better indication as to whether he's going to have a future at Motherwell. If he does he may very well be recalled and given an opportunity in the latter half of the season. I think what you are seeking is already happening to an extent. I give you the midfielder who netted our second goal against Edinburgh City Tom Fry who was been identified and brought up from Bristol City. His name escapes me but there was an ex-Sheffield Wednesday full-back who I believe was signed in the summer for the U20's too. Alongside that you have the local talent that is going through the Academy process and whilst the argument about compensation is one for another time, has in recent months produced players that have gone on to the English top flight and Championship. But of course that development doesn't always happen in a day so what are we to do in the meantime whilst we wait for them to be first team ready? Clearly we need to identify players for the here and now. I could see your point if we had brought in the likes of John Rankin, Kallum Higginbotham or Gary Harkins who were simply marking time and benefitting from another payday but when we appear to be making a concerted effort of identifying players that will hopefully help us in the here and now and then turn up some form of return, I find it something of an eye raiser that you would find fault in such a policy.

The actual outcome, not so fussed about. Celtic away in the League Cup? Always going to be hard and as much as it became a little tiresome hearing Stuart McCall come away with it every time, he was right. Yeah you do need them to be off their game and for us to have a blinder. But you actually need to try to play for that to have any hope that it might happen and that's the annoying thing for me. It felt like we hardly gave ourselves a chance. What might have have happened had we started the game the way we approached the first 10 minutes of the second half, with a team selection and formation that at least hinted at showing ambition? You know what we might still have lost 5-0 but at least we would have left there feeling that we'd at least had a stab at winning a Cup tie. Instead it feels like tonight was a complete waste of time. Roll up, sit back and wait for the inevitable. Pretty pish really.

Your thoughts and votes please...

I do that when I'm buying tickets to see Glasgow Warriors. Works a treat. You do need scanning facilities at the ground for the bar code on the ticket mind you and their ticket sales are centralised through the SRU which is probably why such a scheme is within their mean. But I agree, if we were to move grounds or upgrade FP this option would definitely be something to aspire to.

One of the positives for me yesterday was seeing Lionel get on the scoresheet with a cracking goal and the lift it clearly gave him. Trying to chuck in a wee gag or two during his post-match interview you can see he's buzzing. He has plenty of deficiencies, perhaps most notably his leisurely approach to tracking back and defending, but a Lionel Ainsworth who is motivated, feels the love and is confident is the kind of player that can give us an edge over many top flight sides. Don't get me wrong I'm sure it hasn't gone unnoticed that he's going into the final year of his contract and a cynic may suggest that a marked improvement on last season won't be co-incidental but whatever his drivers and motivations are it will certainly do us a power of good if we can get Lionel back up towards the double figures mark in assists and goals this season again.

Potential return to Fir Park for a Motherwell player in the next week or so........though not in the time honoured tradition of re-signing for a second/third/fourth spell. Well not yet anyways. Airdrie mate told me last night that Jack Leitch is currently on trial with them.