Welldaft Mk1

I have said it before I genuinely believe the appeals panel should ignore what is happening today. Is it even relevant ? They have to decide whether the original punishment was just at the time given the facts they had. It has been that long since the games were postponed that we now have 3 vaccines approved in the UK. Fwiw I think the decision will be reversed, the punishment downgraded and the games played. I only hope that we are in better shape ourselves and have a few welcome additions.

Agree. Annan are bottom half of the 2nd division and appear not to have won in the last five games. Still expect them to get through but not a formality.

It was a pleasant surprise for sure. I expect normal service to be resumed next round assuming we get through that is... It is based on fact, especially in relation to the Betfred Cup. Seeded more often than not and never drawn a lower division side is bordering on the bizarre.

I think we are at home to Rangers next weekend. Not that it will make any difference. I am sure no one will get complacent on the back of a draw v St Mirren. What is obvious is how many goals we concede in the 70-90 minute period. Almost every week. Which means if you are winning you will either draw or lose the game or if you are losing well.....This needs to be addressed ASAP. Not sure if it is fitness or concentration or what but we definitely become a poorer team the longer the games goes on.

Draw is tomorrow at 11am. I will not be watching as we will draw a top flight side at home or away. Meanwhile Hibs will get a random non league side at Easter Rd followed by a division 2 side in the following round. In our Cup stratosphere there are only top flight sides. Is the way it is and always will be...... And to top it all the baldy fud that is Madden will referee the game and award 8 penalties for our players walking on the white lines....

If I had a penny for every time I read that about Mugabi.... That plus Bobby Madden is odds on us giving away a penalty. He has rarely if ever done us any favours Madden.

Ouch....just got to Q which one of a red card, penalty or goal he will give away this week. Still I suspect GA would rather have OHara in midfield.

I would as above swap Watt with Cole but leave Crawford in over Maguire. As for Spuds team. I saw Lamie in the line up and switched off.

Am I the only one wondering how we can afford 4 1st team coaches exc goalkeeper coach. I guess both Mo Ross and Lasley have contracts which would need to be paid off, so probably best they stay to provide an overview of the squad and league but in time that surely has to be reduced as it is a significant overhead.

I would not have been against Tommy Wright but my preference was for Graham Alexander. Given the options reportedly available and listed at the bookies he stood out as a young(ish) Manager with bags of experience most notably as a player but also as a Manager. Only 1 of 3 players ever to play 1000+ senior games. Whether this translates to success with Motherwell time will tell. At least our players can listen to what he has to say knowing he had been there, seen it and done etc. Where I do disagree is why anyone believes we could have appointed any semi decent Manager on a short terms contract. Given all the background noise we would have still ended up appointing Graham Alexander only he probably would have had another club by then. It may well not work out and let’s face it as has been pointed out before. He has a HUGE task to turn what is currently a pigs ear into a silk purse. You could take Guardiola or Mourinho and it may not work. You will never have 100% agreement but it is encouraging that from message boards / twitter 90% of Well fans are behind this appointment. I doubt you will ever get better than that. ..

His theory would be as valid as me saying this is the best appointment we could have made and that we will finish in Europe every year with Alexander at the helm. Every appointment carries a risk and the reality is that our ability to attract the best Managers is akin to players. Not going to happen. We can neither afford them and they know will get better or more attractive offers. I think it is a good appointment and Alexander had had moderate success at all his clubs. Notably early on in the relationship. I would also point out that our player dealing this month will be every bit as important as who we appointed as Manager. We need to try and move out underperforming players and any of our better players that move on with players that are less of a risk. So that would probably mean making cash available for a few good loans until the end of the season until we can regroup and take more time to build for a successful future. Players like Jordan Jones / Greg Stewart etc. Proven players at our level. If he manages to keep us away from relegation this season he will have been deemed a success in my eyes.

Not a biggie. 3 points on Saturday is more important. Glad he is onboard. Fingers crossed it works out for both parties..

Depends what the club actually wants. If they want to do a big reveal like they normally do then I suspect that an hour after the news has broken and still nothing official.

In all seriousness the club need to do something about constant leaks. It is a red neck that it is being reported as a done deal on Sky, BBC, Sun and Rancid before an official announcement.

On Sky Sports News ticker !! Where is the official announcement ?

My Q is can Yodo start the Alexander out thread before he is even officially announced ?

Often you don’t get your 1st choice. You offer them the job and they think about the circumstances, resources, potential and decide they will get better opportunities. I have done it myself and when hiring have had people stay in current role or move to another opportunity. Assuming it is Wright or Alexander Motherwell will be the biggest club they will have managed. Not by a lot granted but I always recall the time Wright bemoaning the coverage Motherwell got when we were successful v St Johnstone successful period. I think it was Tommy Wright. Worse case scenario is you offer 1st choice and they say no. Second choice now know they are second choice and... Plus any successful candidate would need to agree terms and also discuss with family etc. Theses things take time. Although judging by OTFringes we may yet get to hear later this evening, would think if it was not before 7pm they would be as well waiting until tomorrow morning.

Love these exclusives.... Not having a dig but I heard it would be Alexander etc etc. None of the red tops have surprisingly got any news this morning so surprised some fans have. Don’t know who Onthefringes is but I think his handle is a bit of a giveaway so I would tend to believe his / her comments are. Others.......

Aye but Lobey Dosser is a guid honest laddie and gives his all on the message board.

Maybe we can burn it in some late night ceremony.....

A bit left field: https://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/1061354007?-1321:810

Alexander is as short as 2/5 on Oddschecker and clear favourite. Would not be overly upset with Tommy Wright but I wonder whether he would be that much of a different Manager than Robbo. Alexander would know the lower leagues down south as well as anyone and like it or not that if our marketplace for affordable players. Also 40 Scotland caps. And managed 350+ games twice as many as Robbo. So surprisingly the more experienced Manager also. I would lean towards Alexander as my preference but would be quite happy with Tommy Wright as I feel he would provide stability in the squad which is what we need. If the rumours are correct we should find out by Thursday. I would be surprised if Lasley gets the gig. But he may well stay as Assistant. Not sure whether that is a good or bad thing but would mean no pay off or settlement required and if it helps new Manager then given his history with us I am all in favour.

There are likely to be quite a few players leaving this window. Sadly it is also likely to be our better players who are in demand. Even if Celtic are interested in Gallacher I hope there are more clubs otherwise we can expect the usual derisory bid which would take us right back to the Carson scenario. We would quite rightly tell them to do one and we are left with a disgruntled player / captain. If he has a contract that means he could be here for another year after the summer that makes it very interesting as we are less likely to accept a poor offer. If there is any truth in this story and Celtic played fair and offered say £750-£1m+ then we could hand a fair chunk of that to any new Manager for the obvious rebuilding job that would be required. That would still leave the Turnbull money or most of it ring fenced. It could be a win win for both the player and the club.

As you say Dave - very interesting if true. Of course this could well get messy if Celtic as they will do offer us £75k for a 1st choice Scotland centre back and we rightly tell them to F off. A bit like the Carson scenario only would Deccy take it as well as Carson did... We need a new Manager quick to help sort this out once and for all.

So in summary our better players want to be elsewhere and possibly might well be. Our poorer players have no where else to go.... Our shite players are well.....shite. Hard to see where things have gone wrong right enough.