CrosshillWell

Will be interesting to see where Kennedy fits in, but certainly a better central defensive unit with McMannus and Laing. If you take those the two that Barraclough brought in and compare them to O'Brien, Kerr, Ramsden and Cummings, then I think we can all see an improvement. I'll be happy as long as the young lads show more promise and perform better than Kerr or Cummings.

A senior goalkeeper aside, we are in better shape than this time last year. I'm pretty excited about next season and our new forward line.

I thought Laing played well last season and I hope Kennedy is better than Ramsden, Kerr or O'Brien. Pretty happy with the attackers we've signed too.

Agreed. Dan was an easy and affordable signing. We've had great keepers I'm recent times and I'm sure Barraclough has a few tricks left.

Barraclough said in an early press conference tgat he hadn't seen a lot of the players and Leitch was mentioned. Vigurs, Lawson and Carswell are away with only Cadden and Leitch retained in tgat position. Really looking forward to next season. The players will be a lot fitter and there is much more excitement. I know the budgets are different, but I can't help feel, on reflection, that McCall was not imaginative enough in recruitment. Ross County and Inverness were streets ahead of us and, with last season's budget, we should have been competitive at least.

Hope van Zeelst and Kennedy impress. A goalkeeper and that will do me. Love to see a few youngsters along with Thomas pushing this season.

Hope van Zeelst and Kennedy impress. A goalkeeper and that will do me. Love to see a few youngsters along with Thomas pushing this season.

http://www.bd.nl/sport/voetbal/willem-ii/simon-van-zeelst-op-proef-bij-motherwell-1.5059231 I actually remember him playing really well against PSV and Ola Toivonen in what might have been his debut. Seems to have fallen since then. Never did quite work out why Toivonen never ended up in the EPL either.

The best Scottish player of his generation, perhaps succumb to injury, but still has plenty to offer the club and the game. Totally agree with the above post, but I'll also state that I love McFadden.

Having Faddy train with the players at the club is a very good thing. Ainsworth had said previously that he learned from him every day.

http://m.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheff-utd/sheffield-united-quartet-thrown-blades-lifeline-1-7327989 Seems that Long might not be back then.

I second this.

Any other striker who signed at twenty nine years of age then the whole forum would be shouting about a player at his peak. Yes, Clarkson has had major injury problems, but so did his uncle and he produced the best form of his career at Fir Park when he was well into his thirties. Once again, far too much criticism before even a ball is kicked.

Did Ainsworth not play as a striker in a game last season and was woeful? Saying that, the whole team was shocking at that point...

He's got a new child and reportedly feels settled at Motherwell. Hopefully he knuckles down and becomes the player he can be, consistently.

Well I would like to mention a certain left back who was at Queens Park, signed for Dundee United and went to Hull....

Sutton going to a top six side, where he'll get lots of chances in the penalty area with their style of play, is good move for him. A great servant for the club and I wish him well.

Kerr, Carswell and Cummings were young and had potential, two of them featured quite a few times in the first team the finished second in the SPL. Forbes had great natural ability and scored some great goals, but, like Paul Slane, didn't make the application required to be a full time athlete. Lawson and Saunders proved to be SPL standard players whose careers have been interupted by injury. Twardzik performed well whilst on loan. He's young,made mistakes that got punished,but many wanted him in to replace Long. So, before making sweeping criticism of the first team squad, take time to assess your opinions before posting them. Or just go right ahead with your usual modus operandi and present yourself as the muppet some have accused you of being. Barraclough brought in Johnson, Long, Grant and Laing. He gave Erwin a run in the team. I don't even have to mention McDonald or Pearson. Also, remember that Saunders was the last Motherwell player to be capped by Scotland and was a very promising young defender before a serious injury.

To be fair, I didn't read the date on it and I'm sure he will still be capable of putting in a more consistent performance on the right than Ainsworth.

I think Ainsworth has the ability to be an outstanding footballer, but his application is pathetic at times. Frustratingly, he always seems to turn in a good performance in his final months of a contract. I imagine that the Rangers games and their televised exposure have really put him in the shop window for many suitors abd we just can't compete with what others might offer. I'd like to see Dom Thomas get a real run of games from the start of next season, when we're not having to try and scrape points to stay up. Interestingly, I found thus article on Marvin Johnson and it seems that we might have him on the right next season. http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/non-league/kidderminster-harriers-fc/2012/05/10/marvin-johnsons-shock-at-england-call/ Thomas and Johnson supplying Sutton would be a great weapon.

Definitely.

Next season might see Johnson on the right and Dom Thomas on the left. What frustrates me is that McMannus can play, as we saw in the last two games. Unfortunately his performance level is one of the reasons we were second bottom. Hopefully Leitch and Cadden can push on next season. Barraclough brought in Laing, Johnson and Grant last season and I'm sure he'll have identified some other talent. I'd love to see Laing sign up on a permanent deal. Moore will be in with a good chance next season is Erwin goes and I've heard the discussions with Leeds have been going on a while.

Good move for Randolph. Hopefully he gets his chance as no1. Best keeper I've ever seen at Motherwell. As was said before, I'm sure he'll be backup to Adrian, but my mate us a huge Hammers fan and their keeper is the only one with pass marks in the team for the last months of the season and I'd be surprised if another club didn't come knocking. Love to see Ruddy and Randolph as opposing No 1's in the EPL next season.

Tenner on a win today. Got to get a result.

What did our players say about Gannon?