MelvinBragg

Thought the guy we allegedly had on trial was Hungarian? Although given the club have said that they had to look up the name of the keeper we allegedly had on trial, maybe take most of the names with a pinch of salt...

If you'd have O'Brien in your team ahead of Kerr, Reid or Ramsden at centre back (we have Law or Watt for right back) after Saturday, can I suggest you use deadline day wisely and get your eyes tested? Kerr as dead wood? He's had two decent games at centre back (his natural position) in a row. Have any of our other centre backs managed this so far this season?

Not necessarily a question for today (and I know someone posted this on this forum before, can't find it), but maybe time to look at who we have out of contract in the summer. No need this season to wait and see whether we'll be top or bottom six to determine budget, so looking to secure guys that Baraclough thinks he's going to want next season might be an idea. Thinking of young guys like Erwin, Moore, Thomas, Leitch, Watt and Kerr. From Les Hutchison's interview the other day, he said that we'd be a bit stronger in our transfer dealings. Like to see us take an approach like Hamilton and Dundee United and get our prospects on longer deals with the understanding that we won't stand in their way should a suitable offer come in. Hamilton achieve this despite not having more money than us so don't see why we can't replicate that model...

Unusual feeling as a Motherwell supporter, actually expecting us to do something on transfer deadline day. Not sure if I'd prefer a forward or a midfielder. Both is probably asking for too much...

Looking at the pics from yesterday's game on the club twitter. Who's that standing next to Baraclough? Thought it was Kenny Black but not so sure now...

That kind of blasphemy/common sense could see you run out of here..

Erwin for me. Moore, Thomas and Kerr all improved things when they came on...

Red card was a stick on 100% correct decision. Can pick many flaws in Collum's game but he got that one right...

Red card was a stick on decision. Didn't get too many big decisions wrong. Bit fussy for my liking but not anywhere near the worst refereeing display I've seen this season...

I tend to agree, although have to figure that Pearson and Lasley being back in a fortnight will make a bit of a difference. Moore, Erwin and Thomas certainly showed enough to suggest that our attacking options aren't as bad as we feared. Certainly enough to ask the question as to where we need to strengthen the most...

For the next game, the centre back partnership should be Kerr + A.N. Other. Sadly it won't be. Erwin looked good today as did Moore when he came on. Sutton was decent and Ramsden came on to a game in the second half. New guys. Straker looked like he was going to challenge for the Abel Thermeus Award for worst ever Motherwell player in the first half. Looked better when he went to left back. Laing and O'Brien look a disastrous partnership. Whether one or the other would look better alongside another player, I couldn't say. O'Brien hasn't impressed really so maybe Laing would be better with Kerr or McManus. A point gained given how things were at half time. Problem is we don't seem to know a good starting lineup but occasionally stumble on to a better team...

No Motherwell manager is going to find it easy if he's missing four key players. Today we're missing two of our first choice back four and two of our first choice midfield. All we can do is give our backing to the eleven that are fit and starting. Even given the injuries, would it be the team I'd have picked? No, but the team needs our support so they should get it. Time for both players and fans to stand up and be counted...

Midfield of Law, Carswell and Ramsden/Reid in a 352? Creative. Or a 442 with Laing partnering O'Brien and a midfield four of Straker, Carswell, Ramsden and Law? Only good thing is that if we as fans don't know how we'll set up, Tommy Wright probably doesn't know either...

If Vigurs is to leave during the window, we could probably do with replacing him unless Lawson and Leitch are nearing fitness. Pearson and Lasley both doubts today leaves Stuart Carswell as our only 100% fit midfielder (I know Ramsden and Reid have played there but talking actual midfielders). For me, centre midfield was always the priority this window. Up front, happy to give Moore and Erwin their chance. Even without Laing, we had cover at the back. Obviously if Lawson, Leitch and Vigurs return to the squad then our options will look a bit better. All depends how long the club expects them to be out...

Injuries would, I suspect, make it pretty unlikely for us to move anyone on. Looking at the bench last week kind of tells you that any experienced player we have that isn't in the first eleven is injured...

Pearson being a doubt is a massive blow...

Aye, that caught my attention as well. Seems to have gone under the radar, that change...

I reckon one more might be our limit. Unless we can engineer any swaps similar to the Dayton-Vigurs one that was mooted...

That's the puzzling thing for me about the signing. Young championship centre back on loan to partner McManus? O'Brien and Laing seem to both fill the same role... Or as has been said, are we going three at the back? Only thing about that would be that none of our right backs strike me as wing back material more orthodox full backs. Law or Watt at a stretch. Pearson, Lasley and Carswell in the middle? Kind of renders Thomas, Ainsworth and any other winger surplus to requirements though...

I, like you, don't feel six players that can play at right back are enough...

If Laing comes in tomorrow that gives us McManus O'Brien Ramsden Kerr Reid Cummins Laing that can all play centre back. Unbalanced squad?

Share your feelings on Watt. Right back as he seems to be right footed? And, aye, I know we have about twenty other right backs...

I still maintain that a large portion of the blame for the number of goals we've conceded is the amount of possession we gift the opposition. Not as if we're getting beaten 3-0 by a team only creating three chances. Inability to retain the ball is bringing a lot of pressure on our defence, which I'll admit hasn't covered itself in glory on occasions...

Left back wasn't the area that I'd have addressed first but a few on here wanted a pacy, powerful full back. Who's to say Straker isn't that player? I said on another thread that we tend to get hung up on a player's pedigree rather than what he can bring to the team. Prior to his injury last season, Ramsden was in the running for POTY. Ramsden, released by Bradford. The potential arrival of Laing baffles me a bit. If we hadn't extended O'Brien's loan, then it would make more sense. Maybe a defender on the way out...

Can play left back or left midfield, is pacy, plays internationals for a Caribbean country. Sounds familiar to me...