weeyin

a) McGhee is a clueless idiot with no strategy. b) McGhee is a shrewd operator who knows exactly what he is doing based on working with the players every day and access to the budget details. Choose one, it seems.

The "wheeling and dealing" begins.

I love it when our fans clamour for young players to be brought through, but complain when they don't have an instant impact. He doesn't need an "excuse" - he needs development and game time (and, perish the thought, maybe a little support).

Except he doesn't spend most of his time injured.

I think the moderators depend on self-policing and other posters to take care of offensive posts by calling them out in replies. I think it works pretty well for the most part.

Staying up should be the starting point of every season. As we showed recently, it's a fine line between top 6 and relegation play-off.

TBF, we aren't averse to acquiring youth players from other teams. Ben Hall being a recent example (although he was a little older). While it used to happen in the past, the interested clubs would often let the player develop in his local club and bring him in later. Money speaks now, even at that age, and clubs don't want to miss out on the next big thing.

Early season. 2 teams with new faces. Impossible to predict.

Regarding the playing budget, if we have a surplus of cash from income that doesn't mean we can spend it all on players. We have debt we need to service too. So a balance needs to be struck between paying that off and keeping the squad successful. Having said that, I fully expect at least one more new face in the team over the next few weeks.

No need to add headlines to your contributions.

To be fair, it was McGhee that made a much bigger deal than necessary with his German Contact patter. He was still in motor mouth mode at that time bigging himself up for the Celtic and/or Scotland and/or Hearts job. Thankfully, he's put his ego in check a bit more this time around. Not that I didn't enjoy his stories, it's just annoying when they give reporters a chance to write more about the OF than they did Motherwell. His press conferences are usually entertaining. You can't believe a word he says about new signings or team selections, but that is par for the course for most managers. No need to tip his hand when we are already at a financial disadvantege, but I'd be amazed if we don't see at least one new face before the window closes (or a free agent after it closes). Quite likely a loan if it's not a free agent.

McGhee also said a few days ago it would take some "wheeling and dealing" to bring in someone new. And that we were looking for another midfielder. Which, while consistent with his "no new players until someone leaves" line doesn't rule out more new faces.

The money in English football is mental. Conference teams are outpsending half the SPFL. But it seems our clubs are still happy enough with the half-arsed efforts our league makes to generate revenue, and then let the OF take the lions' share of the pitiful income.

Malpas was a disaster all round, not just pre-season. There are many types of fitness though from basic cardio, to core strength, to endurance, to sprint training to speed. And then there is sharpness on the ball. I expect cardio, core strength and some endurance at this stage, but I doubt we'll see speed and match sharpness for a few weeks yet. It's a rare season when we have hit the ground running. Even when McGhee was here the first time his tactics involved us playing hard for 60 minutes or so and then hanging on in the last third of a game.

It's competitive match fitness that is the challenge rather than physical fitness. And you don't get that in friendlies. I doubt Rangers will be any more advanced than us in that regard.

If we use Lewis Grabban's transfer fee as the benhmark (reported to be around 7 million) Hayes and Stewart are easily worth 2 million.

I've never been a fan of early starts to the season. I don't care who you are, it takes a certain amount of time to reach the acceptable level of fitness - at least in a way that ensures you aren't burned out by October. My bigger concern is getting the back 4 working as a unit. Seems they haven't quite gelled yet.

I think we will see a leaner and fitter team. McGhee has said a few times that they won't be fully geared up until later in August. 'Fit enough' for the League Cup was the term he used I believe. People still read far too much into friendlies. If we get papped out of the Cup group and have 2 points from 12 starting the league campaign, then we can start asking questions.

McGhee said it would be end of August before the team bedded in. Seems like he's right. Not too fussed about today, though. Can never get worked up about friendlies.

Given that McGhee likes to play 3 up top, I don't think lone striker options will be too much of an issue.

McGhee in his post match said there would be a crossover in players to the Hibs game. Sounds like at least McHugh, Moult and Ainsworth will get more time.

I like white shorts, but they only work with certain shirt/sock combos such as these old ones:

I know it's all about brand awareness etc., but I'd be amazed if putting a logo on Motherwell replica shirts really drives up anyone's sales. That must come from the advertising inside the ground, matchday programme blurbs, TV coverage, first team photos and the like.

We should also open a badge stitching thread.

Same colour for shirt and shorts seem to be a trend these days, and not one I'm a big fan of.