Lobey_Dosser

We were relatively comfortable in the cup tie after Skippy came on and we went 1 up. However, we were poor in the first half and rode our luck thanks to poor refereeing and a powder puff Rangers frontline. After a promising start on Saturday with the one man advantage we put in an abject performance once Skippy was sent off. Many neutral observers commented that we looked beat the minute it went to 10 v 10. Poor tactics imo to leave Moult isolated and play for a draw.

We know we don't have the same budget as Hearts but that doesn't excuse our approach. Rangers are average at best with a terrible defence yet we were too feart to have a go at them.

It was evident in the first half at Ibrox. Even though we put no pressure on them they were jittery as fuck at the back. We beat ourselves that day.

The inexperienced Cathro giving Mark '950 games' McGhee a lesson tonight on how to take on a bang average Rangers.

Thinking similar while watching Hearts here. If Jules impresses in training, I wouldn't be surprised to see us go with a back 3.

Crossed my mind that we'd look to offer him an extension with a minimum release clause. We might be able to offer him a few extra quid if we didn't spend our full budget in Jan.

Clay is on a 2 year deal.

SFA website confirms Laing was released.

Going by BBC Radio, Ciftci's agent was waiting for a call from Motherwell in the last hour of the window and it didn't come. He's a player I'd really like to see at Fir Park but not at the expense of losing McDonald.

Tom Fry out on loan to Annan.

Ah didn't realise that. Did wonder but BBC suggested the windows closed at the same time.

You would hope so but the pre-match quote from Burrows on McDonald left room for manoeuvre.

Much needed three points. Importance of McDonald and Moult underlined; hopefully both are still here tomorrow.

Fine timing.

Suspect this will be a late night waiting to find out if Skippy is away. I thought we might consider Watt as a replacement but Ciftci seems to be the preferred option. Fuck knows why Motherwell agreed to moving the Ross County game forward 24 hours to transfer deadline day...

Yeah, he seems to be well liked by his teammates. Always one of the first to be involved in celebrations too.

Luke Watt seems to be racking up the assists. I'd like to see him nearer first team. Obviously there have been doubts over his attitude/application but from what I've seen, he's far more accomplished than the likes of Ferguson and McMillan.

Craigan was looking to recruit a few...

That would be my team if they are all fit. McManus, Cadden and Moult were all carrying knocks by the end of the Rangers game though. Suspect Lucas will play.

Is the budget really as small as you can continuously make it out to be? The rhetoric is we now budget for 10th place but I struggle to believe that. We have an inflated squad at present and we have in all likelihood spent the best part of £100k on transfer fees in the last 6 months - something that seemed alien for many years. It looks like we are bringing in 5/6 players this January - again something that you couldn't envisage pre LH. Just now we seem to be benefiting from the favourable debt repayment terms. As time ticks on though and the debt has to be repaid our budget will become much tighter if we don't hit the jackpot with the likes of Moult or Cadden. While the financial landscape has changed, McGhee looks to have had a favourable budget during his two spells at the club.

If it is then he is taking Motherwell for a ride.

My main gripe with McGhee is we are 25+ games into the season and McGhee is no closer to knowing his best team and best formation than when we rolled over to Rangers in mid-July. Sure injuries and new signings have hampered us but he's went into this season without a clear plan as to how we should play. Furthermore our lack of style and fitness suggests we aren't spending our time on the training ground wisely. I was baffled to hear that McGhee didn't join up with the squad until Wednesday this week...

Ayr Morton live on Alba just now. Textbook 20 yarder from Forbes.

Thought Cadden looked a bit more lively today and McHugh was relatively assured.

Next 4 games - Ross County, Hearts, Aberdeen and Celtic. Lose this and we are in real bother. There have been a few difficult midweek away games in recent years when we've pulled out a result when we've really needed it. With Skippy missing, we're going to need to shitfest our way to a result.