MelvinBragg

Van Zanten would definitely give us a few options at the back. One I'd consider assuming his wage demands weren't frightening. Which, given he's unemployed at the moment, you'd have to think they won't be...

Thing you have to remember is that there will be deals that have been signed that just haven't been announced to the press yet. I don't mean with us, becasue Flow has been pretty prompt with news but I reckon there'll be a few transfers emerging in the next hour. Just heard that Mark Brown is away to Killie on loan...

You've lost me. And I normally look for every loophole that there is in the hope we might get another body in...

Apparently Gannon has a dossier containing details on quite a few players in each position. He keeps up to date with how these players' careers go and adds new names. I'm not talking about someone he has a rough idea about, I'm talking about him using his extensive knowledge of the English market so that if someone is released today (as a few have been) that he knows all about, he'll be well placed to snap them up. I'm not suggesting this will be the case, but I think we have a manager who is ideally plced to take advantage of a number of players in England still being without a club...

Correctamundo, Cunningham...

Another reason I reckon we might see another signing tomorrow. If anyone is going to be able to look through the lists of players released today and spot the name of someone who could do a job, I reckon it could be Gannon...

What I do find interesting, Flow, is that Moutaoukil is referred to as Signing #7. Unless my maths are crap (they are), does this mean that Michael Fraser is not considered one of our summer signings? Indicative of where he features in JGs thoughts...?

I go for an hour's sleep and it all kicks off... Well, we sign somebody. Decent pedigree and once again for a Gannon signing, looks like a bit of an athlete. Let's hope there's time for one more signing...

I'd love to think we might sign a striker and a right back today but the longer the day goes on I reckon we're going to have to settle for a right back. And I have my fingers crossed on that one...

Ye told me to try and avoid some of the open goals that were left on here. Trying to follow your advice...

Does he not know that we football fans live for rumours...?

You singing about Hitler now???? Sorry, couldn't resist. Not that I tried that hard...

Looks like Hammell's staying if you believe the latest posts, so it could be 1-2 leaving. Given McGarry has at least made the bench in a few games, you have to figure that Lasley and Fitzpatrick are the guys furthest from first team action (Darren Smith is injured). I can see why Fitzpatrick might attract clubs (young, low wages I'd imagine) but I can't think of any SPL club that would be coming in for Lasley. Maybe Killie but they're skint...

I'm not saying it was 5% who were singing it on Saturday. I'm saying that 5% of fans I know could be perceived (not by me) as scum by some due to their behaviour. I'm not trying to out anyone, Frazzle, and I hope you don't think I'm leading some kind of witchhunt (you know it's not my style). If I disagree with what someone says at the football, I tend to speak my mind (ie tell them to "Shut the fuck up!!"). And as I've already said I'm not horrified or disgusted by the paedo songs (perhaps I should be, maybe I've been going to the football too long) but I do think it was a wee bit unnecessary and painted us in a bad light...

Wouldn't be stunned to see one of McGarry, Lasley or Fitzpatrick go given we have midfielders coming out of ears. I suppose as the youngest Fitzpatrick might attract the most attention. I don't know if I agree with Lobey though. Letting one of them go is one thing, but to totally clear out leaves us a wee bit short. I know I said we had midfielders coming out of our ears but letting go three doesn't make that much sense...

Just got a text from a mate saying he'd heard that Fitzpatrick was on his way to Accies. Anyone else heard anything...?

Come on, Gannon. I'm nightshift tonight and am supposed to be trying to sleep, get the player(s) in and I can get some shuteye...

It is indeed the day for daft rumours. Winder if we're trying to move Hammell on in order to finance the move for the Stockport captain Raymes... EDIT Having read Well-Made's post, if true you have to applaud Hammell, be very easy to move somewhere guaranteeing first team football. However, if Gannon was banking on that money to finance another deal, he might not be applauding him...

Does that just prove that journos read fans' forums or do we think there's something in it...? Anyone heard any whispers...?

Just over eight hours to go, what are we looking for from our Jim? Just a right back? Are we expecting anyone to leave? And will we bother replacing them (I'm thinking not if it's a midfielder)? In case you hadn't guessed, I love deadline day...

Guesswork or have you heard something...??

While there will be differing opinions on Hammell's ability, I don't think you'll read many posters on here (maybe 3 or 4) who think he should definitely be moved on. I think what you're reading is a few posters (myself included) who think it seems he's on his way. Not many people are saying "Good riddance". While I think his form's been patchy under Gannon (great vs Steaua at Airdrie, honking at Perth), he's the only player at the club who has played more than 15 first team games at left back for any club. So if he goes and isn't replaced, it might be described as ridiculous. Certainly risky...

If that's his thinking, then fair enough. But one of these versatile guys would, for me, have to be able to play left back...

Kind of sums up how I feel about it. On the basis that there's no smoke without fire, you get the impression Hammell might be on his way. A combination of not being happy at the club under Gannon, Gannon not being impressed with him and the fact that there may be clubs willing to pay cold hard cash for him are all perceived reasons that are leading to people thinking that his time with us is up. But having said that, the last 3 transfer windows, Kris Boyd has been "on his way out of Ibrox" and nothing has happened so it wouldn't stun me if Stevie Hammell was still a Motherwell player after 5 o'clock tomorrow night. I would certainly hope that Gannon would not be giving the OK to any transfer until some cover at left back had been found. Were that not the case, it would seriously deplete our options at the back. I appreciate that should be bring in a centre back, it means Reynolds' presence at centre back might not be as crucial. But were Reynolds to suffer an injury, what would be our options at left back? Ross Forbes? Mark Fitzpatrick? Hammell's sale would leave a gap in the squad even if not a gap in the first team...

Perhaps a bad choice of words to say I wrestled with the issue. I haven't been fretting over how offended I am by the whole thing. I've been trying to figure out where I stand on it. Like it or not, it is causing some divisions among our support. Outwith that, at work yesterday a few colleagues (football fans and not) asked me about it. I think to have no opinion on it would be me copping out a bit. My gut instinct was to say "That's a bit OTT". The "wrestling" to which I referred was actually me having to think of what the worst thing I'd said/heard and accepted at the football before. I think it's very easy to be outraged/offended without thinking too much about it. Having considered all the examples I mentioned in my earlier post, I've still come to the conclusion that it was a bit much. Does it mean I'm horrified and offended by it and those who sang it? No, but it's not my cup of tea. A lot's been said about how Motherwell supporters will be perceived after this. I think (and without wishing to go off topic or overstate anything) there is a wider issue about how football fans are perceived by those non-fans who encounter them. I've never seen old ladies cower or cross the street to avoid rugby fans or parents tut and shake their heads at cricket fans on a train. Football fans in Scotland are not allowed to drink at a game when rugby fans can. Are football fans more menacing/aggressive than fans of these sports? Are we less intelligent? Are we somehow a lower class of fan? Probably not, but paedophile songs, the Old Firm sectarianism, the violence at West Ham recently and when Rangers reached the UEFA Cup Final all lead to that impression. Are paedophile songs at the lesser end of that scale? Yes, by a long way. But they still lead to the feeling that football fans are scum. That's the phrase that was used in a conversation with me yesterday. 95% of fans I know could not remotely be described as that, but the other 5% make a lot of noise and frankly give the rest of us a bad name...