weeyin

There's certainly multiple factors to consider. Despite what GA said about playing him, I get the feeling TW might have been on the bench more often than not if he stayed. In which case, it was tying up a wage. Also, if GA didn't think he had adequate cover in the striking department, it may have been a different story regarding his release. GA also mentioned they had been aware of the possible situation since the summer and always have counter-signings planned. If there is another signing planned, even if it's not a direct replacement, getting money now might help move things along. Finally, GA and the club might be of a similar opinion to some on here that TW won't be as a big a goal threat at Utd as he was here. It would have been good if TW had waited until the summer to announce his move, but while I'd have liked him to stay, I'm less concerned about losing him that I was about losing Louis Moult, as I feel we are better placed to cope without him. Time will tell.

Given how inaccurate the papers can be when facts are actually available, I have even less faith in any accuracy regarding "undisclosed fees".

Griffiths has well documented off-the-pitch problems that he clearly hasn't been addressing. While I have some sympathy with that, until he takes dealing with them seriously, he's not going to succeed at any club. Unfortunately, that doesn't look like happening any time soon. Dundee was the perfect opportunity for him to show his progress, but all he managed to do was show nothing has changed.

Utd score as many pens as Coleraine managed?

I know some fans think players and clubs exhibit the same level of tribalism you see in the stands, but at the end of the day it's just a workplace. And same as most workplaces, when you leave, your mates and boss usually wish you well and keep being your mates. Our recruitment model continues to be bringing in players looking to boost their career for whatever reason. TW is a great example of someone who benefited from signing for us and someone we can point to when we are looking to recruit the next TW. If we bitch about them after they leave, it's not a good look.

Signed him for free. Got the best out of him. Sold him for a few quid when he was soon to be out of contract. Would have liked it if he had stayed for another couple of seasons, but we certainly did OK from the deal.

Shields can play through the middle, though. But it doesn't really matter what I think. Like I said, if we can convince a team to give us their goal scoring centre-forward in January, then more power to us.

I don't think GA uses wingers does he? Just forwards that play either side of the centre forward and keep rotating - which isn't quite the same thing. He plays the modern game of using full backs to deliver crosses. If we want to find a goal scoring centre forward in January then more power to us, but I'd be pleasantly surprised if there are any avaialble to us.

Now you're making me nostalgic for 70's pitches. (the fact that Wullie P excelled on these makes him even better).

The number of good striking options available in January is pretty limited. The number of striking options available in January that we can afford is even more limited. I'd rather we went with the 5 we have available than bring in someone that doesn't improve the squad.

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.