Joeboy

Not too surprised at any of those who we let go. Maurice Ross was decent, as mentioned above he was terrible against Rangers but other than that he was good, but obviously with Saunders, Hateley, Devlin and Page, the money could definitely be spent elsewhere. Jeffers could have been alright for one more year, but he was always only going to be a stop gap. The rest don't surprise me one bit. If Craigan and Jennings don't sign I'd say we need two defenders, a centre midfielder, a left winger and two strikers to compete for top six next year.

I for one would take Hughes back, granted his form was far better in season one than season two. I think we are crying out for some creation in midfield. As much as I highly rate both Jennings and Lasley, neither are the creative type and a midfield three of those two and Hughes sounds a good prospect.

Went for McGhee, only narrowly. The difference between the 2006/07 season and 2007/08 season is phenomal. McGhee managed to get the team far fitter than Malpas ever had them, which was strange given you need to football brain to get players fit and Malpas wasn't even able to do that. The difference in Clarkson, McGarry, Paterson, Smith and Quinn for various reasons was astounding. However, a lot of McGhee's bad luck was down to the lack of injuries in my opinion. We were only without O'Donnell due to tragic circumstances and Quinn to a broken jaw for any length of time. McGhee was able to base his starting eleven around the same 13 or 14 players all season. The next season he was found out a bit, as he never really replaced McCormack and had to cope without Clarkson and Craigan for long periods of the season. Butcher has to be commended for being the only manager I've seen who hasn't left a sour taste in the mouth (I am too young for the Tommy McLean era). The spirit he showed at the club was brilliant around the administration time and but for a bit of lady luck not relegating us, he guided us to three semi finals, one final and two top six finishes, whilst coping with losing numerous players throughout his tenure.

Would take Higdon in a second. Not traditionally the type of player we tend to sign though!

Disappointed to see him go, but far from gutted. Wasn't convinced by Sutton under McGhee or Gannon, but he began to find form when Brown came in. After his performances between January and May last season I thought it was harsh when he was either played left wing or left on the bench in the first half of this year. Especially when Gow flattered to deceive and Blackman's all round game wasn't brilliant. Although at first I didn't rate him you could never fault his application and work rate. He has been superb since McCall came in (13 of his 17 goals if I remember correctly). A 17 goal striker won't be easy to replace, but he's no Tommy Coyne or even Chris Porter.

I have a feeling Page might be out of contract. In May 2009, McGhee gave Hutchinson and Page two year deals, Hutchinson's has since been extended by Gannon but I never remember hearing anything about Page. As much as I haven't seen enough of Page to judge him completely, it doesn't appear he will be featuring heavily in our plans!

Hammell played on the left of a midfield four that day. A role which isn't entirely unfamiliar given the attacking nature of which he plays full back, yesterday he was played central midfield, where he has never played for Motherwell.

I suppose we would have been calling him a genius had it worked, but I think he tried too hard to fit Gunning and Hammell into the same team. Players can play in unfamiliar positions to help the team out in emergencies, not in a Cup Final with a full bill of health.

Ross and Jeffers I would let go, both were good as stop-gap signings but they should stay exactly like that. I'd be tempted to keep Jones on if he was a year or two younger. The other players, out of contract, I'd be surprised to keep. You'd think Craigan especially would have agreed a deal by now if he was staying. With Jennings and Sutton I think there is a slightly possibility they will stay, I'd think they would be seeing what was on offer elsewhere before commiting. Hollis and Casagolda are easily replaceable. As for selling players, I don't think Murphy is quite ready for the step up yet and would really benefit from another season at Motherwell and I don't think teams will offer anything unrefusable. Humphrey I'm not sure about, again the fee is a major factor. Randolph I can see going, he's been good enough to command a transfer fee from a Championship Club at least and one we won't turn down. It will be a big season for the likes of Forbes, Page and McHugh. All will need to start contributing as fringe players above the age of 21 are a rarity at Motherwell. McHugh I feel sorry for, he never seems to get on for long enough to make an impression. As for Page, I'm assuming McCall is seeing the bigger picture- if he thought Page was good enough for the first team, I doubt he would have brought Mo Ross in. That leaves Gunning, I'm undecided on him, he can be brilliant and frustrating in equal measures and I doubt Blackburn would loan him to us in consecutive seasons.

Proud we reached the final. Being second best isn't that bad an achievement for a team like ours. On the day, we didn't deserve anything, we were beaten by a better side as much as it pains me to say it. The referee was terrible but he bottled big decisions both in our favour and against us. One thing that did puzzle me was Hammell playing central midfield. Would the simple solution not to have played him left back and Hateley in midfield, with Saunders at right back? You pick your players round your formation, not your formation round your players.

My cousin Mark, was taken far too soon at the age of 31 in 2005. All the Motherwell contigent of my family will be at the game tomorrow, gutted he won't be there to share it with us but I'm sure he'll be smiling down!

http://news.bbc.co.u...ll/13443508.stm John Berry's piece on the BBC site about the final!

Superb result, worst we've played in weeks but we dug in and got over the finishing line. Bring on a return to fitness and the big league next year.

He's been pish everywhere he's been also, again not the type of player who would take the club forward, in my opinion.

Looks like it! Gow must be getting close to Jim Hamilton in games played for. A couple of good games for us along with many dreadful ones!

Precisely, plus he gets his credentials from goalscoring, something he wouldn't get just as much chance to do at Motherwell. At least Jeffers is good on the ball and can bring others in to play.

Don't know about Healy, Sieb. He has never really been incredibly consistent at club level and this season he struggled to make an impression in a Rangers team who were at one point just filling jerseys. Still, I've seen a lot worse at Fir Park, but I don't think signing players like Healy is the way forward.

Does SS4 red button mean you can't get it on Virgin Media. Can't disagree with Yir's team much. I'd go Hollis Page Saunders Gunning Ross Jones Carswell Forbes Pollock McHugh Casagolda Subs: Bradley, Meechan, Smith, Hateley, Hutchinson, Humphrey, Jeffers. Would bring Humphrey on for a bit in the second half but wouldn't give him a full game.

It does he signed an extension about November time. Can't see him getting a game at Liverpool somehow!

Well from my post on the previous page, allegedly and I stress the word allegedly, the board went to offer Jennings a new deal and he said don't bother. Which sounds like his mind is already made up!

Just now the team I would opt for: Randolph Saunders Craigan Hutchinson Hammell Jennings Hateley Lasley Humphrey Murphy Sutton Subs: Jeffers, Gunning, Forbes, Jones, Hollis.

Have to echo that completely, was the jist of what I was going to post. He was superb in his first season, when the whole team was on top form. In his second season, when the going got tough, he was playing hide and seek, not quite to the Brian Kerr or Kevin McBride level but still. We could sign a lot worse though, heard a rumour today, albeit from a third hand source (my cousin's colleague heard from a director) that there is no chance Jennings is staying beyond the summer. Story could have changed various times before reaching me right enough!

I'll wait to see it in person before I purchase it I think. Don't get me wrong, it is a cracking, traditional design but I was hoping for something slightly more memorable.

Perhaps one for AWP or Dave, but can you bring your top in to the shop and get the cup final logo printed on it?

Surely, there must be something in place? It would be ridiculous if I had to pay in to the first two games of the season or similar before I could buy a season ticket.