MelvinBragg

No point in wondering what might have been there. Form of Humphrey, Ojamaa and McFadden (and Murphy before him) would have ensured Lawless wouldn't have got any real game time with us last season. Aye, he could've had the minutes that Daley and Higginbotham had but what would that have amounted to? Had we kept him, it would only have stunted his development...

Apparently in the Express this morning that we've agreed terms with Gunnar Neilson...

Could live with McManus for Hutchinson if it meant a decent fee allowing us scope to bring a couple more players in...

Not sure, but the fact I'd even consider it is worrying..

God, no. Fans seem to have a real issue with us bringing former players back...

Scott Burns ran the story in the Express this morning that Sutton was the striker we were after. His track record isn't bad regards Motherwell...

6 goals in 72 appearances. How many of those appearances were 10 minutes or so at the end of a game? Say on average he gets 20 minutes every time he's on the field , that totals to 1440 minutes, or 16 full games. 6 goals in 16 games. Not Higdon-like scoring but not shabby either. Bear in mind that a lot of the time he's coming off the bench when things aren't going well, team aren't playing well so not an ideal situation to nab a goal. I'm convinced if you give the guy a run of starts, you'll get goals from him. Having said that, I don't think he'll get a run of games. I was surprised that he was offered a new contract as I don't think McCall rates him that highly...

I think you'll find the reason he's at Hearts is the fact he had a great season with us and they were moved to offer him more money than we could offer. Fact that he's not performed at Hearts? Frozen out by a couple of the managers there, not getting great supply and all the off the field stuff going on, these could be factors. Sutton would not be my first choice but let's not rewrite history here. He was a good player for us and that's how he ended up at Hearts. Would he score as many as Higdon did last season? No, but given Higdon scored more than most of our post war strikers managed in a season then it's hardly a criticism...

I think a Sutton/McHugh combination could be decent...

Not on Twatter, so don't know what's been said but if it's a current SPL striker who's a "familiar face" then Sutton is the only one I can think of. Would I want him back? He wouldn't be my first choice (I'd rather have Higdon or Lee Miller) but I think some people forget how effective he was for us. When I think of the 6-6 game against Hibs, as much as Jutkiewicz's goal, I remember Sutton and his attitude as reasons we didn't lose that game. So I wouldn't be distraught if he returned. Good solid pro. And we may need that kind of character next season if it's going to be more difficult than this one...

While I reckon you underrate Hateley, I'd tend to agree that the two players we'll miss the most are already away, to Birmingham and Preston. We had good performances without Humphrey as others have pointed out. But to replace his kind of terrifying pace will be more difficult than finding a solid right back who's good on the ball. And I say that as someone who thinks Hateley is a good player...

I think some of the stick is due to the rumours (true or not, I have no idea) that Hateley was one of the highest earners at the club, maybe even the top earner...

Was thinking Hamill for the vacant RB slot? Depends on how much Hearts can afford to hold out for fee wise for any player. Anything other than "nominal" and we can forget it...

Kirk for us..

Not wishing to be a vulture but anyone at Hearts worth having for a nominal fee?

Strikes me that all the players whose names have been mentioned in rumours are Scottish. Even those based in England. Leven, Miller, Arfield, Allan. Sign that the Scottish league is even less appealing than before to English players...?

Not surprised. He's had a decent career down south and can make a lot of money at a club like Preston or Blackpool. Although I do wonder how much of a factor the fact that we ware waiting on a definitve answer from Higdon and maybe perhaps haven't pursued him as strongly as we might have is? Guess we'll never know...

I'd argue McFadden was more effective playing down the right. Thinking of the game against Hibs at Fir Park. Thinking 4231 Hollis _____ Ramsden Hutchinson Hammell Lasley Lawson McFadden ______ Vigurs Higdon/Miller Sadly I reckon McFadden might be off elsewhere...

I think we were unlucky in that we signed Martinez at the same time as we signed some other players that weren't quite up to scratch. I seem to recall his league debut was in a midfield two with Andy Dow at East End Park. I thnk if we'd had a Lasley or Jennings type player alongside Martinez he might have done ok. I think the Martinez we signed would have done a great job in the Nicky Law role of last season's team. Clearly at that time, things were going badly for us and it wasn't the best time to join Motherwell. They loved him at Swansea and Wigan so he must have showed something there...

Only saw Ross County once last season so can't say I've seen a lot of Vigurs. Nine goals and nine assists does sound decent. Could be he wants to talk to McCall before signing as he knows centre midfield is somewhere we're well covered and wants assured that he's going to be playing...

I'd hope that even if we, as fans, don't know who'll stay or go that the club will have a fair idea of which way each if them are leaning by now...

Not overly concerned as I figure McCall had a fair idea this summer was going to be a major rebuild and will have had potential replacements in mind. But like you, I wouldn't mind a couple of earlyish signings just to confirm that was the case...

You've taken that too far...

Ahem...

W I find it funny that you say a keeper should be the priority at the same time you're saying we've lost (or look like losing) two strikers, two wingers and a creative midfielder. Not saying we don't need a keeper but is it the priority...?