MelvinBragg

Having thought about the Pearson deal, it strikes me that although we are planning on going with a younger team next season that I can see the thinking behind it. Lasley has been excellent alongside Pearson recently but he can't go on forever. My feeling is that Pearson will take the Lasley role as senior man in the midfield as next season progresses, playing with and helping the development of Leitch, Carswell or potentially another young centre midfielder that we may bring in. With the expected departures of Vigurs and Lawson, we will find ourselves with only four centre midfielders on the books. I expect Ramsden, Kerr and a couple of others to be on their way so our squad should be down to a more manageable size (particularly with the four loan signings returning to their clubs). Plenty of scope to reshape the squad with young players. So having Pearson, McManus, Hammell and Lasley as an experienced core is not a bad thing. Obviously, a lot will depend on whether Sutton, Ainsworth and McDonald return but, for me, there's a decent starting point for us. I just wonder if we may see some of the loan signings returning (thinking Long and Laing) or more Johnson style signings, lower league players with potential sell on value...

If we stay up, Baraclough was a good appointment. If we go down, he wasn't. That's how it's going to be decided. To me it's pointless to say 'if McCall has been given the money that Baraclough was given in January...' because McCall wasn't sacked, he walked away. Would he have walked away had he known such funds would have become available? That's a different question. First couple of months under Baraclough weren't great. So much so that pundits were taking the mickey on the radio. At one point, the situation looked untenable. But, and here's where those who blamed Kenny Black for some of our problems can say 'I told you so', things seem to have picked up since Robinson has come in. Were we too loyal in keeping Black on as assistant? You judge managers on three areas. Signings: Mixed bag. Is Long better than Twardzik? Most fans would say they're much of a muchness. But it would appear from McManus' recent interview where he talks about now having a strong spine to the team that the defenders prefer Long. Laing after a couple of dodgy games, looks like a decent player, although similar to Hutchinson in that he's prone to the odd rash moment. Straker, given some of his performances, people are never going to feel confident with but as a third choice left back (given Angol and Hammell are unfit, that's what he is), he's not the worst. Johnson, Pearson and McDonald all successful signings. Grant looks decent in the middle, wasted on the wing. Nathan Thomas, haven't seen enough of. Tactics/team selection: It seems since McDonald's arrival that he has a shape that he likes. Bold move pairing Erwin rather than Sutton with him that's now paying off. Seems he's also reinvigorated Ainsworth, although that could be the usual case of a player suddenly finding form towards the end of a contract. He's also solved the right back issue. Criticism would be that it took him too long to address issues with the shape, although only having Sutton, Moore and Erwin as available strikers limited him. Could he have tried Erwin and Moore and benched Sutton earlier? Maybe but would Moore have been as effective as McDonald? Fitness: Improved, down to Robinson or Baraclough, either way it's improved. In all areas, things are getting better. Criticism is that they took a long time to get better and seemed to get a whole lot worse first. Has he turned it around in time? We'll know in the summer. Other thing that's gone against him is the fact that no one saw Ross County's run coming...

Incidentally, a word on Josh Law. Forty right backs at the club, but he's quietly gone and made the spot his own. Fair play to the guy, he was pointed at as being a symptom of all that wrong with the club in the first half of the season, he's just knuckled down and changed a few opinions. Could live with him as first choice right back going into next season...

To be fair (and given I posted facts you could use to slate Baraclough, only fair I contribute to the other side) -McCall had money to spend, not always wisely (Nielsen, Lawson, O'Brien, Ojaama, Vigurs, wages well spent this season?) -Adding guys better than others? Pearson and McDonald only two with pedigree. A guy we brought from Kidderminster looks a player. Suggests that he wouldn't be outwith budgets of other sides. If he's better than what they signed on similar, then kudos to the manager.. -If we're aiming to be self sufficient, surely someone who'll play Erwin, Moore, Thomas and Watt is a manager we want...

While I like Baraclough, a couple of things.. -he's been backed financially -the two signings that really set the recent tone (McDonald and Pearson), his signings? -we're still in 11th Just playing devil's advocate...

Only one negative tonight. Some guy a few rows in front of me decided to give Straker a hard time all through the first half. A couple of hairy moments aside, Straker hadn't done anything to merit it tonight. Players getting a hard time when we're winning 2-0, sometimes I wonder...

Could have given it to anyone but gave it to Dom Thomas. The sight of Goodwin getting turned inside out, and his look of horror after it were the cherry on the cake tonight...

Highlight of many a season...

Aye, but generally you're away after 60 minutes...

Am I the only one who gets nervous when people post on here that they think we're going to hammer teams?

Massive blow if Johnson doesn't make it. Wouldn't start with Dom Thomas. Maybe start Erwin wide left and play Sutton up top alongside McDonald? Problem is that leaves Straker even more exposed than normal...

I notice from an article on the BBC website that Les Ferdinand agrees with the original poster in this thread. Stating that underage leagues don't provide as good a grounding for young players as the old reserve leagues...

Think he was talking about McGlinchey...

Aye, defeat last night really cost us. We're totally cut adrift after today's results...

We may finish bottom two but that wasn't an absolute garbage performance. Solid first half undermined by two minutes of madness in the second...

I don't mind us getting beaten if teams outclass us. What gets my goat is giving away points through our own stupidity...

Equally scary is the fact that he's already signed to Nike as well...

It always amuses me when people say that Sutton offers nothing to the team and then advocate for Ainsworth to start. Just saying, like...

Must confess that I think people are overstating what we'll need to stay up or underestimating our ability to get it. We're currently two points behind Ross County. Match their results til the split and we'll be two points behind with five games to play. Not impossible. They have Tannadice to go to and St Johnstone go to Dingwall and they're more than capable of getting a result there. A defeat next week won't have me reaching for the panic button...

Funny how people see things differently. I thought, free kick aside, McDonald was poor. Lost possession a lot by holding on to the ball too long. Johnson, I really like the look of. Final ball is variable but I have a funny feeling if he stays with us, I can see him becoming one of the most fouled players in the league. Can draw a foul, gets his body in the right position.. Law is the answer at right back. Similar to Hateley in that he's not the best defender in the world but he's good enough there and offers a great deal more on the ball than Reid or Ramsden.. On the Ainsworth debate. He is without doubt the most frustrating player at Fir Park. He has the ability but sometimes his decision making and willingness to take a chance can leave a lot to be desired... Would have been nice to win today but the commitment and shape remained from last week. If we keep that up, we'll pick up points...

No. 26, not sure which one that is...

No real options at full back on the bench. Bit of a concern. Could have sacrificed Ainsworth, Moore or Thomas and still had plenty of attacking options...

Ref apparently coming in at 11am for an initial look at the park. Should know one way or another sooner rather than later...

I'm already making alternative plans for this afternoon...

Important that we don't get too far ahead of ourselves. Saturday was a vast improvement but it was only one game. Winning our home games would set us up well ahead of the split but easier said than done. Left back remains an issue and let's not kid ourselves, other teams will be aware of this. If we can keep Pearson and McDonald fit and find a solution at left back, we'll give ourselves a chance...