weeyin

The pitch is a problem mostly because of their recent sharing with Queens Park. The reason I don't have a soft spot for them is because when I first started watching Motherwell, Thistle used to be our bogey team and regularly get a result regardless of the form book, My old grandpa used to wind me up about it. He wasn't a Thistle fan, he just enjoyed a good wind-up (like most good grandpas) - and I was young and impressionable. I don't hate them, though, and would have been quite happy to see them beat Killie on Friday.

When van Veen was booked for kicking the keeper was that also Rangers related?

I see we've gone from writing of players that we've signed (like Mugabi, Lamie etc.) to writing off players we haven't signed - just watched on a Friday night in January. I've no idea if he can cut it a the top level, but guys like Faddy were giving some good insight to his strengths last night. I imagine that is what coaches and scouts review, and they tend to have much more ability to assess than we do. As far as first touch goes, I don't think it's that bad, but things like that can be coached much more easily than instinct for scoring. As I said earlier in the thread, for now, he looks to me like he has potential - nothing more than that. If there is competition for his pre-contract signature, however, I'd be surprised if he ends up at Fir Park. (And if we want to talk about poor first touch, we don't need to look any further than Woolery, but he is in the lineup every week).

Roberts has only signed until the end of the season, so a pretty low risk move. Worst case, he's good cover on the bench.

Nice try by your mate trying to throw off the scouts! The few times I've seen him play he's looked decent, but how that would translate to the Premiership is always the big question. I think he's firmly in the "might have some potential" camp right now.

That's a lot of Nando's. (Also explains why Rangers scramble to raise additional millions every six months to stay afloat).

That's usually how we sign players in January. The other ones cost money we don't have.

When we cruised to a 3 - 1 win against Accies on their plastic, Campbell bossed Gogic the entire game. I still like Gogic as a player though. I'd just hope our scouting system is more advanced than watching one game against us - I believe that's known in the trade as the "Simon Mensing Strategy".

I'm OK with Gogic as a player, but not sure we need another defensive midfielder (unless we're moving another one on, of course).

He certainly knows how to wind up a lot of the Motherwell fans.. And Peter Hartley... I'm glad we have a game before this one as we've struggled in the past coming off a break and playing Championship sides who don't take a break. I think we'll win this one 3 - 1.

Seriously, mate. Take it Compost Corner if you like, but can you keep it out the match threads?

Their loss.

I think Shields will end up being the best replacement - at least over the next few months. He has been training with the squad all season and well up to speed now with our shape and tactics and looked decent enough in the games he's played. Unlikely we'll find a 10 goal/half-season replacement in the January market.

Can we maybe have one match thread without this nonsense?

If TW's goals help you move up the league an extra place or two, £100k sounds like a bargain. I'd be asking for closer to £200k.

Talking of which, I see Dundee Utd are about to sell Kerr Smith to Aston Villa for £800k plus add-ons. Smith has made 12 first team appearances. That might give them some spare cash to pay for Watt's early move.

A good article earlier today in The Herald does a good job breaking down Hastie's career to date.

I doubt there are many SNP votes in the 6 nations crowds.

2 - 1 to us with Shields opening the scoring.

I was trying to figure out who our last manager was that was resident in Scotland rather than commuted home to England/N. Ireland at the weekends. I think it might have been Craig Brown.

As an owner of the club, I approve this signing.

I remember when we tried to sign Çiftçi the first time, Stuart McCall said we lost out because Dundee Utd were offering literally double what we could afford. So it might not be too far off given he should be one of their senior players.

Talking (in the Rebuild thread) of pre-contracts:

Saw Campbell getting half an hour in his side's win today. Bowman unlucky to have a goal chalked off when the crosser was marginally offside. Trevor Carson keeping a clean sheet as Morcambe take a lead into half time against Spurs.

And Ben Heneghan about to lose to a National League team.