MelvinBragg

You'd think so but given how badly we need a win, my feeling is Baraclough will play the first team and hope for a morale boosting victory. Injury might mean we get to see Chalmers have a full game at left back. Not sure if Taylor's suspension will count for the league cup. If not, might see him paired with Leitch in order to make sure we're not missing Lasley and Taylor next Saturday. Thomas may feature. Don't know how far away Watt and McLean are. Hoping to see them both in the first team soon...

Facts: Taylor has played three games. Chalmers also played midfield against Dundee United. We lost. Lasley has been one of the few players to get pass marks from the majority of the support in most games this season.

Given Baraclough's obvious decision to go with two wingers, I'd be interested to see who Irvine would have come in for. Lasley, for all his advancing years, has been performing pretty well this season. Pearson is your first choice centre midfielder. Obviously, we need to be looking for a replacement for Lasley but he shows little willingness to give up his place in the side without a fight. Cadden has the physical attributes to do Pearson's job. Game smarts and tactical awareness may be lacking but we have to, as a club, take the approach that Accies, Falkirk and Dundee United take. Best place to learn is in the first team. More concerning to me than results (and they're worrying), is the lack of game time seen by our young players. Watt and McLean have been injured but Thomas, Cadden and Leitch have been marginalised...

Irrespective of cost or whether we could offer Irvine what County were offering him, could this be part of the reason he went there? If we wanted him to be backup to Pearson, and they were offering a greater chance of regular football? The players are there, but are the players there that are willing to sit on the bench? Lasley is captain and Pearson, when fit, is and should be one of the first names on the team sheet. Not much scope for any new midfielder being a regular starter. Be interested to see the lineup when Pearson, Taylor and Lasley are all available...

In addition to the wins over Rangers, there were a couple of handsome wins over Accies and St Mirren and a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock with effectively what would be our first choice team this season (Ripley for Long and Fletcher for Erwin excepted). Obviously the absence of Pearson makes it difficult to replicate that team, but I suspect that these results (along with the Rangers games) have given Baraclough the idea that this team and these tactics could be successful. The injury to Pearson is unfortunate as he's the one player in the squad that we don't appear to have a replacement for (although I would like Cadden to be given a shot there). You could argue that Baraclough was irresponsible or unwise to put his eggs in that one basket but a player of Pearson's quality is difficult for a side like us to have backup for. Should he get more time? I think until he gets his first eleven fit again, then he deserves time. If results don't pick up then, obviously the answer may be different...

Motherwell fans talk a good game but for a lot of them it's all bollocks. "We need two or three new signings" kind of goes against the ethos that the kids will get their chance. Any player we bring in now will just get in the way of a young player's development. Perhaps those calling for new signings want Dom Thomas, Luke Watt, Ross McLean and Chris Cadden still playing 10-15 minute cameos when they're 21? I despair...

For those moaning about the right back position, I suspect we'll see Luke Watt there as soon as he's fit...

I think if we lose five games in a row with "his" team, then people will have the right to ask the question. You're right, it is early, but the question will be asked...

If we don't win next week, Baraclough will be gone...

Taylor sent off. Next week is massive now...

Hammell injured, Chalmers on at half time...

Also means we'll be facing a new manager or a managerless side next week...

Craig Moore scored early today for Ayr...

@Absolutebollocks..?

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" - Albert Einstein...

Not our concern...

Do I think that Stevie Hammell is without flaws in his game? No, he wouldn't be playing for Motherwell otherwise. But (takes a breath) Billy Davies, Eric Black, Terry Butcher, Mark McGhee, Craig Brown, Stuart McCall and Ian Baraclough have all thought him good enough to play SPL football. Don't think they all think that because he's "one of our own". Stevie Hammell will have poor games from time to time, and is not getting any younger but to suggest as some on here are that he's never been good enough is frankly nonsense...

Still haven't replaced him though. Tom Hateley was the closest we've come. I have high hopes for Luke Watt...

Lasley off for Leitch. An admission that tonight is gone...

And sounds like poor goalkeeping for the second goal. Not promising...

McDonald's not having the best of luck with penalties this season, is he? Doesn't sound good at all tonight. But probably not a game we would be looking to win. But a decent showing in defeat like Saturday would be less disheartening...

I'd get used to seeing McDonald playing deeper. Seems to be the role that Baraclough has in mind for him, someone to link the play by dropping deep and supplying Ainsworth, Johnson and Fletcher/Moult. Also gives us an extra body in the middle of the park to occupy the opposition's defensive midfielder. I think what will change is that McDonald's fitness will improve (bear in mind, he missed a fair bit of preseason) and so his ability to get from those deeper positions and join in the attack will get better...

So after 2 starts, you're writing off Fletcher? And after 50 minutes for Moult? How does someone become a proven striker if they're not given a chance to prove themselves? Fletcher has started two competitive games and scored one goal? I'd reckon that buys him a bit of time before we start talking about needing a "proven striker". All strikers miss chances, even McDonald. Do I wish we'd taken more of our chances against Inverness or even one of our chances against Dundee United? Absolutely, but it seems a bit early to be saying that our two new strikers aren't fit for purpose...

I agree but given most people's stated opinion on Saturday's match, it would appear we're in the minority...

Defensive shape was fine until Leitch went off. If the concern was Leitch picking up a second booking then bringing on Cadden in his place or bringing Kennedy on at right back and moving Law into midfield might have been better options...