gullane

I'm speculating all this talk is pure speculation. I know money talks in football but JG seems to be very principled and above the trend of simply following the dollar. I've watched this thread over the last few weeks and seen nothing come of it so far. Here's hoping we're all just gossipping.

I think we have done really well with loan signings. There is a common conception loan players don't give there all for a club as they are not properly affiliated with it. I think Ruddy, Yassin and Lukas have all showed willing for the Well. They are certainly getting a regular game and some fine coaching. Ruddy may have said he'd like to stay longer but like all three, money is a real problem. Someone here has quoted Ruddy being on £8k a week with Everton. This may be true or false. Nevertheless it is widely known there is a huge gulf between SPL and the English leagues. So all three might be enjoying their football up here just now, but unless they really fall in love with Lanarkshire culture and weather, they will only earn a small fraction of what they will in the Championship or League one down South. Six months down the line, if we read Ruddy, Yassin or Lukas sign for Peterborough, MK Dons, Swindon, etc. it will be no disrespect to Motherwell or the SPL - simply the reality of football in Scotland these days. The money's just not there anymore. Less than 5000 at the game on Saturday - and that's against Hearts too.

Don't know anything about his grandparents but maybe we should simply respect and accept the reality Sean is a born and bread Geordie and probably holds ambitions to play for his own country of birth.

Young Forbes may be banging in all the goals but most Well fans I talk with agree Sean Hutchison is the best of the home grown talent. I think he's a bit like John Terry - energetic and comfortable on the ball. If he carries on the way he is going, then the Premiership beckons. For now, it's great having you kid.

I feel there is now far too much hope and speculation knocking around regards Paul Slane? Is he the new Faddy? Is he holding out for a better contract? Is he off to Celtic? etc. How about simply going along with reality for now. Young Paul showed some good form in the Europa games. He is skillful and fast. He is a young player who is yet to establish himself in the Motherwell side. Celtic enquired about him but nothing happened. His contract is due to expire in June. He's been offered a new one but has yet to sign.He picked up an injury warming up at Perth and has required 2 operations. It is hoped he will be fit before Christmas. It would be great if he's available to provide another option as a wide player. What happens after that no-one knows. Let's see what 2010 brings for Paul Slane.

Cheers for spotting and posting this. Another good insight into the minds of Gannon the tactician. In fairness to most fans on here, we are aware we are witnessing a new manager mould a new team to play to precise formulae. Hence the transformation from last few seasons. Hibs and St Mirren games showed experiments don't always work. Now we know players like Giles are having to balance their natural game with exacting team formations. Good on Gannon for not only being an enthusiastic student of the game, but also communicating effectively with the fans. Just one wee thing - what exactly is the Milan formation and how is it supposed to work? Is Coke the new Pirlo???

I went for Reynolds - so did the BBC. I notice Big Sean is getting loads of plaudits. I could vote for him every week he plays so I thought I'd spread my vote about.

Not much to add to what's been said already. it will have been worth it if we use experience to learn from it. That goes for the players and manager. Reynolds is not an attacking LB. Yassin cannae cross a ball. Hately and Coke were out muscled and out numbered. Maybe Coke needs a rest. We have Jennings and Lasley (remember him?) All in all - a good reality check. We are a team in the making. I think our future is bright. I think St Mirren were quite good, but that's as good as they're going to get. The Well are in the process of putting a young, slick side together that will go one way - UP!

Sorry, I should have checked the official site before making last post. Hately is on a one year with an additional year extension. So how about making him an offer he can't refuse?

Yassin, Lukas, Ruddy -6 months loansup for renewal. Coke and Jennings signed for a season, but I think Hately and Humphrey are on 2 years. O'Brien, Reynolds, plus Smith and Lasley contracts are up. What about Fitzpatrick and McGarry? I share the view that Coke and O'Brien should be offered extensions. I'd love to see Reynolds offered a new contract - but the strategy for both player and club should be a big transfer, with a fee to match. I'm happy to see the 3 loans extended - and I suspect so are the players. They are getting regular first team football and putting themselves in the shop window. The rest of the squad players could move on and create space for others to come in. I hope Saunders and Slane both sign contracts offered. Future looks quite bright.

Tuesday should be a cracker now. However I await the comments from those who were at the game. How did the defence perform? Do you think we will be stronger for Tuesday or will it be more of the same?

In recent times, Clarky was jeered regularly for his diving antics and moaning at referees - sadly deserved too often. But in my lifetime, the biggest hate figure was post Argentina rage towards Ally Macleod. At least we just moaned at him for his suucess rate at Fir Park. Remember his post match interview after losing 1-8 at Pittodrie - "I thought we played well for the first 10 minutes."

Good to see discussion maintaining sense of reality. Although we are going well this season, I don't see much between the two sides. Paisley is no fun trip for The Well recently. I think O'Brien will come back if fit and we will win 1-0.

It was midweek and my boys were still quite young so I ended up watching alone. My memory of that night was a feak show and shambles. I'm sure one of the Aberdeen goals came from a free kick into the box and a free header. That sounds bad enough, but the free kick was a retake, and a carbon copy of the first. Tony Thomas - turned slower than an oil tanker, completely lost. I'd have preferred a dreich 0-0.

This story may have been reported in the press but I doubt its substance. One issue missing from this discussion so far - Jim Gannon's integrity. For five months, Jim has demonstrated nothing but professionalism and honesty. Unless a big club comes in, offering more potential, I can't see him leaving inside a season. I believe he will commit his immediate future to The Well.

I only started using Twitter a couple of months ago. Provided you don't just follow a heap of crap, it's quite effective. This week I've had updates on Jim Gannon's whereabouts and got informed of Paul Slane's injury set back well before it hit the official website. The guy seems genuine - as does his reports. Recommended.

Message for Paul. Just in case you read these boards kiddo - sorry to hear about your injury set back. On behalf of all Motherwell fans, I wish you a speedy return to fitness. Hope you get a run in the first team soon. If you've read this far down, you'll notice we have a number of manic depressives on hear. Please be assured that although heavily medicated, they are still prone to talking negative dross at the slightest whiff of a rumour. Cheers

Hammell was the best in a mediocre team display.

Thepoor guy has not had much lucky white heather lately. Let's hope life's better for him now. He's still to settle into the side. So far, we've only really seen what he can do once - the 2nd half against St Johnstone. We clearly lack a goal threat just now - so the stage waits you Chris.

Morning afterthoughts. Hibs offered the best opposition so far. It was known beforehand they were a team weak at the back but lots of flair up front. So it was no big shock to see the speed with which they could counter attack. However it was a shame that much of the defeat was down to our own making. Motherwell looked tired and mis-shaped today. I can see the merits in wing backs, but as was shown by all the goals, this leaves huge gaps at the back. I don't blame either Yassin or Stevie for this - its the tactics of the team. I think Hately and Forbes are meant to lie deeper to accommodate this. If so, it didn't work today. Apart from surrendering our full back positions, we also gave up our capacity to maintain possession and creativity in midfield. OK, JG got it wrong today. It got happen sometimes. We don't have a big squad - but we do have more than 14 players. I think this was an occasion for some rotation. Some players looked tired but only he knows why he didn't rest Coke with Jennings and Saunders with Craigan. Humphrey could have come on earlier. Lasley isn't a creative type but I think he could have snuffed out that wee Moroccan niaf. Something still at the development stage though is attack. We still lack both a killer pass into the box and a lethal finisher. Sadly young Ross seems to have the best shot in the team at present - but plays too deep to use it much. Lukas seems to be the preferred option but he's no Coyne or Pettigrew. On the bright side, I think Bob McHugh shows some promise and deserves a chance. He's still got a long way to go mind, but he moves well. Young Slane has yet to appear. I wonder what his pace on one wing, and Humphrey on the other could do. Let's keep the faith.

It was the full backs for me. I chose Yassin but I could easily have taken Hammell.

Hard to tell which Hibs team will turn up today - their mood swings n all. I'll go for a narrow win - 1-0

Last 3 games, Hammell's been solid. Good to see him working on his game and getting some confidence back.

I too would love to keep Yassin and big Ruddy. Bur sadly they are in the shop window and good performances at Firp Park over the next 3 months are likely to see offers that we simply can't match. In the meantime, let's enjoy them while we can.

One big positive to take from last night - we won!!! The script was reading as a banana skin right up until the end.