MelvinBragg

Fairly or unfairly, for a game away from home against Inverness I would ask if Thomas has the defensive discipline or game smarts to start the game. Remaining solid would be the first aim in this kind of game. Thomas started away against Dundee last season and we found ourselves exposed (though I'm not pinning the defeat all on him). I suspect if we were starting the season at home to Hamilton or Partick, then Thomas might get the nod...

And that's why I listed him...

I suspect that Luke Watt is also being considered as a first team squad member but you never know how young players will develop so I only listed those who've started a few games for us..

Interesting comparison. Start of last season Goalkeepers Dan Twardzik Gunnar Nielsen Defenders Reid Ramsden Kerr Cummins O'Brien McManus Hammell Angol Midfielders Lasley Lawson Vigurs Carswell Leitch Law (signed as a midfielder) Wingers Ainsworth Strikers Erwin Sutton Moore (injured) Ojaama Start of this season (so far) Goalkeepers Dan Twardzik Defenders Reid Law Laing Kennedy McManus Hammell Chalmers Midfielders Lasley Pearson Leitch Wingers Ainsworth Johnson Strikers McDonald Clarkson Moult Fletcher Moore Obviously, you can add the likes of Watt, Cadden, Thomas and McLean who have featured this close season (and some games last season) but at first glance, we're down in terms of numbers in midfield and defence but have more attacking options. On the other hand, how much did Lawson, O'Brien, Cummins, Carswell and Vigurs (second half of the season) contribute? Surely the very definition of getting rid of dead wood...?

The point I think that was being made there was that in your original post, Dave, you suggested we hadn't done anything to address the issue of an aging left back. As you admit in this post, we have attempted to do so with the signing of Chalmers...

While I agree that we need another midfielder, I'm hoping to see Leitch and Cadden feature this season. I'd be happy with Leitch or Cadden alongside Lasley or Pearson, but I wouldn't want to see a midfield of Leitch and Cadden this season. Start of next season, if they get a few games under their belt and prove themselves, then it may be something I'd be more comfortable with. Until then, we do need someone with a few more games under their belt should the worst happen and Lasley and Pearson both be unavailable for a game...

Bad news for Wes Fletcher...

I would hope that we'll be casting our net pretty wide in search of a new goalkeeper so figure we shouldn't worry too much when the likes of Bell and Langfield fall out of favour at their clubs. Having said that both Langfield and Bell, it could be argued, would be improvements on recent keepers...

I said something similar before the game on Friday. Happy enough to go into August with Twardzik as our only senior goalkeeper but would be concerned going into September in the same situation. Haven't changed my opinion. Would rather wait for the right goalkeeper. The fact that the club seem to feel we need two players in the positions that fans feel we need them suggests that where we are short is obvious to everyone and it will be addressed...

According to..?

Sad thing is, other gifted mavericks who have found themselves effectively done once they're past 30 have pretty much done it to themselves. Think of Gascoigne or Best. By all accounts, McFadden is pretty professional. Injuries have simply taken their toll on a player who was never blessed with pace to start with...

That's a distinct possibility...

I would say that outwith Celtic, we won't face a team as good as Preston this season. Maybe Aberdeen, at a push. So won't be too upset if we lose tonight...

No wonder Woods made some errors. What is wrong with his eyes...?

I took that to mean that he and Derek Rae had been watching him closely...

I'm sure a few folk, clearly including yourself, would. My only point is, it'll likely be a long sleeved football top of one colour or another with no claret and amber. So while I understand some might be keen to see it, can't understand the real impatience. Most teams goalkeeper tops are interchangeable, badges aside. Clearly I'm not a real fan as I have no interest whatsoever in the Motherwell goalkeeper top. It could be zebra print for all I care. In fact, that might help put off opposition strikers...

It'll have long sleeves mibbe and a Motherwell badge on it. It's a feckin goalie top. Might be green, blue or black. Even pink... It's a feckin goalie top. Not that exciting...

I think rather than get a player in on loan, we'll see the likes of Cadden, McLean, Watt, Ferguson and others get their chance. And I'm fine with that. Not familiar enough with the U20s to say if others will be pushing on..

Interesting that we've not used the loan market yet this summer. Whether that's simply down to the fact that English clubs haven't finalised their squads yet (although this didn't stop Aberdeen picking up a goalkeeper from Liverpool) or whether it's a conscious decision by the club, I don't know. Maybe even the fact that some of the players that we had on loan last season didn't feature as much as their parent club (thinking O'Brien and Grant) would have thought and would that put some clubs off from loaning us their players? Surely if you're loaning players out, you want them to feature regularly? Just a point I raise, simply because I expected our goalkeeper signing to be a loan signing, be it George Long or another player. The Craig Samson rumours does open up the idea of an experienced signing but that seems to go against the approach the club are mostly taking with the likes of Moult, Kennedy, Laing and Johnson being players to develop and sell. The boy Atkinson (and he is just a boy) would fit the profile there but goalkeeper is a position where it feels like a massive risk to go with such an inexperienced player. This is a massive decision. Not a huge fan of Twardzik but I'd rather wait and get the right signing in even if it means starting the season with only Twardzik and Brett Long...

Watt and Cadden are the youth players I'm most excited about...

Nah, save some goals for the real stuff...

Are we basing our opinions on Twitter now? And he did set up the goal...

Looks decent? On what basis??

Interesting that the trialist is starting behind what you could consider our first choice back four. Smart move to see how he interacts with them...

Must confess that I've been expecting us to bring in a goalkeeper on loan. A trialist suggests we are looking at a free agent. Surprised...