MelvinBragg

I tend to agree with that. Ramsden was a big miss and irrespective of your opinion of our keepers, it probably would have helped having the same keeper all season in order that the defence could get an understanding with him. Carswell is a funny one. I rate him quite highly but it'll be interesting to see where he fits into McCall's thinking. On the face of it, we have a surplus of guys who can play central midfield. Lasley, Lawson, Leitch, Carswell, Law, Vigurs, even Craig Reid in an emergency. If you assume that Vigurs will play on the left, you're still looking at five players for two, maybe there positions. Unbalanced squad, or do we think Lawson may get moved on? And what is Leitch's contract situation? If Cummins is to be released, you'd figure that a new defender would be a priority, particularly given McCall's comments on releasing McFadden. Looking at the squad we have signed up just now... Nielsen Twarzik Kerr Ramsden McManus Hammell Murray (?) Lawson Carswell Vigurs Law Leitch (?) Angol Sutton Anier Erwin Moore McHugh Add Lasley, Reid and Ainsworth to that and it's not a bad squad. Maybe a defender and a winger short of what we'd like but given the financial reality, I could live with that squad...

I don't think it's so much that McManus was the problem last season, but that he and Hutchinson were too similar in style. Both centre halfs who like to go for the first header. Hutchinson's best form has come alongside centre backs who are not as dominant in the air and will let him deal with the first header. Thinking of Craigan, Ramsden and Clancy... Other reason we were more defensively suspect last season was, for me, the fact we gave away possession more therefore invited pressure. In that respect, the signing of Law and the emergence of Leitch may help, despite not being "defensive" players...

Don't remember him playing in centre midfield in the Cup Final against Celtic then...?

McCourt? No. Not suggesting all our players have to be magnificent athletes, but his lack of any semblance of fitness would make him a luxury we couldn't afford. A wage for a guy that can only play 30 minutes every week? No thanks...

What I was told is that McCall wants to replace McFadden despite his talk of five players in that position. He saw McFadden as a link up man rather than a striker and none of his "five options" are comfortable enough on the ball to play that role...

Heard a rumour Jim O'Brien might be coming back. Don't even know if he's out of contract, so as to how likely it would be...

Obviously if McCall thinks he can offer something then that's good enough for me. The only concern would be how it impacts on the amount of game time Leitch and Carswell get...

Not that I rate Van Zanten, but could probably have said the same of Clancy when we signed him...

Sad to see McFadden go but probably the right decision. Never blessed with pace, injuries have taken their toll. Did he contribute? Particularly last season, yes. Did he provide value for money? Probably not but there were real moments that will live with me. Three stick out.. The 2-1 win over Celtic last season. He sprinted back from the opposition half when someone was down injured to have a word with Randolph who was about to take a goal kick. Two minutes later, Randolph drops said goal kick on McFadden's head who flicks it on to Law. 1-0 Motherwell. Knowing he had the beating of Matthews in the air he could see the opportunity... His first goal on his return against Hibs. From our seats in the back row 25 yards from the Cooper, as soon as he cut in, we just sensed it coming. Almost like against Dundee all those years ago... His goal against Partick at Firhill. Not so much for the goal, but for his reaction afterwards. Having scored for Scotland, at Old Trafford for Everton and in a Scottish Cup semi for us. Yet he still had that joy in scoring a goal. Given what he's done in his career, he could easily have been blasé about goals against these types of teams. But that joy at a win, at a goal, is a mark of the man's desire to play and to win... I'm glad he came back, sorry it couldn't have been for longer and it couldn't have involved a cup win. A guy with his natural ability should have at least one medal to show for it. Thanks, James...

Impressed when Strachan on Sunday, when asked whether Blackpool might come in for McCall after being knocked back by McNamara, said "He's better than Blackpool". And I think that, together with the fact he enjoys working here, might mean we keep McCall a bit longer. Having knocked back Sheffield Utd, a club he had a great deal of affection for, seems to me that he's only going to move for a really good job. And given Malky Mackay, Steve Clarke, Chris Hughton and Tim Sherwood are all out of work, chances of him being offered a decent championship job are slim...

League finishes in McCall's three full seasons in charge: 3rd, 2nd, 2nd. Some record...

If McCall had gone for it today and we'd got done in the first twenty minutes by McGinn and Pawlett's pace, there'd be people on here slating his naivety. Guy can't win at times...

McCall favours caution?

A piece of advice given to me when my wee boy was born. Don't buy him a baby kit, buy him a adult size (figure on your child growing into roughly the same size as you). Wrap it, put it in the loft. In 16 years time, your child has a high quality retro kit...

Thought struck me after the game on Wednesday. Are our defece missing Humphrey and Ojaama? Ainsworth is quick over short distances but doesn't take us from one end of the pitch like those two guys could. Hence when we're defending a lead we end up sitting deeper as we simply don't get high enough up the park? Not suggesting it's the only factor, or even the main one, but reckon it's having an impact...

I think Dave's been saying the same things about Keith Lasley since Lasley's been in our team. He's never been a fan, which is fine. I struggled at times to see what others see in certain players. As I get older, I'm trying to remind myself that the manager of Motherwell knows better (I forget that sometimes, but we all do). Keith Lasley has been used extensively by every Motherwell manager in our most successful era in god knows how long, with the exception of Jim Gannon. He obviously brings something to the team...

Has to be Sutton. The two players under most scrutiny this season were always going to be whoever replaced Randolph and Higdon. Replacing the top scorer in the league was a big ask. Big Handsome has done it, in a team where compared to last season, there were less attacking players creating space for him. Lasley has been good. Ramsden, until his injury, was excellent. Since the turn of the year, we seem to have worked out how to use Vigurs. And Ainsworth has made a big difference since Christmas. No other names should be mentioned...

And still contrived to finish in the top three? An astounding achievement. Probably explains why the Player of the Year thread only lists two or three players. Everyone else has has a spell out. Lasley and Sutton have somehow managed to stay fit all season, impressive given they're two of our more experienced players...

I tend to agree but he's not getting any younger and will he be fit for preseason training? Could make a case for him at centre back and Reid at right back. Personally, if we're replacing Hutchinson, I'd be going for someone less blood and thunder to play alongside McManus. Feel he and Hutchinson are too similar in style...

Not that concerned about this summer. I seem to remember a lot of discussion last summer as to whether McCall was a manager capable of rebuilding a squad. I think he's answered that question. Other reasons for my lack of concern? For me, our two key players for next season, Sutton and Vigurs, are under contract. I fully expect Lasley, Hammell and McManus to stay on. I'd expect Reid to sign a deal. That's a pretty decent framework of a team there. Add in Anier, Leitch, Carswell, Erwin, Kerr, Angol and Murray and it doesn't quite look as bleak as some would like us to think. Obviously Ainsworth and McFadden, if they go, would be a big loss but I have faith in McCall to be able to find replacements. The real hope for next season has to be not a top three finish, but to see guys like Leitch, Carswell, Murray, Angol and Erwin develop into players to fill the large hole that will be left when Lasley, McManus, Sutton and Hammell aren't around. Summer shopping list? A keeper and a center back. And possibly replacements for Ainsworth and McFadden. Not out of the question if we free up wages of Hutchinson, one of the keepers, McHugh, Cummins and maybe Ramsden (although, I could make a case for keeping him). I'm not worried...

Moving away from tonight's performance, any word on the extent of Craig Moore's injury tonight...?

Do you think McCall would continue to play him if his attitude in training was suspect? On a more general point, we're going to finish at worst third in the league. And yet, some of our fans find it necessary to single out players for their perceived shortcomings. Ask Hibs or Kilmarnock fans how many of our players that are "lazy" or "aren't good enough" they'd like in their team...

I totally agree. I said as much at half time. I actually thought that Vigurs had a good first half and won a lot of the ball, more so than Lasley. He doesn't have the drive of Law or the engine of Lasley or Carswell but you can't complain about our inability to keep possession and see out games and then berate our best passer of a football. Sometimes his decision making lets him down but in the last three home games we've got seven points playing him in a midfield two. That doesn't happen in the SPL if a player doesn't work for the team. I actually expect Vigurs to possibly be our key man next season. Earlier in the season, we seemed unsure how to use him. Since the turn of the year, McCall seems to have found a way to get the best out of him. Best passer we've had since Billy Davies played for us...?

I think it's strange in a game that we won that I can't think of a single outstanding candidate for MOTM. Vigurs had a good first half, Lasley a good second. Ainsworth and McFadden had periods where they looked to be creating space and looked inventive. Sutton was starved of supply but put in a shift. Going to go for Hammell. Most of the problems that ICT caused us came down our right. Angol, for the second game in a row was also decent.

What was his crime against us again? Must confess, I struggle to keep track of which inept buffoon is which these days...