MelvinBragg

Naw, it was better than that. I burnt Stewart Milne's chequebook...

Anyone ever consider that he only looked so good that season because everyone else (with the exception, grudged, of a fat Australian) was so terrible? And as the least experienced guy on the park, he was never going to get much stick anyway...

True Luckily, I had no need for a tin hat as I have a hard heid. Although I have to say that when steelboy mentioned about sticking rigidly to one formation irrespective of whether it suited the personnel, an individual with a big coupon in the shape of a shovel popped into my head. As an aside, I think I've done very well reining myself in as others have stuck the boot into our previous manager. Mainly, I suspect, because I'm just content that he left...

I know I started the topic (and I'm well aware we're still in "too early to know for sure" but we're fans, we speculate) but I can honestly say I don't know how to answer the question. Aye, we have more bodies in but is there the quality. Midfield is the one area I feel most confident. Given the choice between Klimpl and Hughes or Forbes and Coke, this season's duo wins every day of the week and twice on a Sunday. The fact that we also have Hately, Jennings and Lasley is neither here nor there, the two guys I mentioned are, for me, going to be our key guys this season. And the way they've played so far, I'm quite happy with that. My concern surrounds the two best players of those we lost. Clarkson left some pretty big shoes to fill and, not having seen the Pole play, I'll wait and see if he can step up and do the job. Quinn, for all his faults, will take some replacing. He was a winner and a good defender. Saunders is a good defender but I don't think he offers the same attacking outlet. Maybe the guy from Charlton will fit the bill. But Quinn (as Clarkson was to a certain extent) was a leader on the park. As gifted as the young guys in the team are, we're still waiting to see of any of them have the same character. I know Craigan is captain, but it won't do any harm if a couple of people step up to the plate to be his lieutenants. I just don't see who that is going to be at the moment. Coke? Jennings? Hard thing to do when you're just in the door. Having said all that, I don't know when I've ever felt as positive as a Well fan...

Jim Gannon certainly is a character who will divide people. He's clearly very self-confident but that may sometimes come across as arrogant. I can see why Gannon would have them watching DVDs of his side at Stockport. As others have said, if he'd got that team playing exactly the style of play he wants then it makes total sense to show the players exactly what he has in mind. Aye, Liverpool play the same 4-2-3-1 but if he shows the players that then they're likely to sit and think "Well, that's all very well but I'm not Gerrard/Torres/Carragher". I've heard talk from down south that he's very much "my way or the highway". And that's part of the reason for his fondness for young players. He seems them as easier to mould into the type of players he wants. Which is fair enough, it's his neck on the line. I've never heard of a club getting rid of the full first team but keeping the manager when results go badly. But for all perceived stubborness and foibles, he has engendered a positivity among the fans. Whether that goes for the players or not as well, I can't say. But the players who are in the first team will always be happier than those not playing, it's the nature of the thing. All I know is that 10 days before the Llanelli game, the only recognisable first team we could have put out would have read Fraser Saunders Craigan Reynolds Hammell McGarry Lasley Fitzpatrick O'Brien Murphy Sutton Not a terrible team but we now have options and irrespective of what you think of the teams he put out against St Johnstone and Aberdeen, they were certainly better than the eleven I have listed above. It's very early in his reign and I'm not ready to proclaim him the new messiah, but I saw more smiles coming out of the Kilmarnock game than I had in over a year at Fir Park...

Not since the days of Kampman, has there been such a radical change in the squad overnight. I thought it'd be interesting to compare the squad we had when the transfer window opened to the one we have upon its closing and see if folk think it's better, worse or about the same. I know it's very early to say anything definitive, but there's no game this weekend, we need to talk about something... Try and take off the McShovelface hating specs when voting. Obviously it's subjective in some cases who you consider in the first team squad. I haven't included Hutchison, McHugh or Slane in last season's squad since they didn't feature enough to be considered first teamers. But here goes... GOALKEEPERS Then: Graeme Smith, Artur Kryziak Now: John Ruddy, Michael Fraser DEFENDERS Then: Paul Quinn, Stephen Craigan, Mark Reynolds, Stevie Hammell, Brian McLean, Steven Saunders Now: Yass Moutaouakil, Stephen Craigan, Mark Reynolds, Shaun Hutchison, Stevie Hammell, Steven Saunders MIDFIELDERS Then: Stephen Hughes, Maros Klimpl, Bob Malcolm, Mark Fitzpatrick, Keith Lasley, Steven McGarry, Jim O'Brien, Darren Smith Now: Giles Coke, Ross Forbes, Steven Jennings, Chris Humphrey, Paul Slane, Tom Hately, Mark Fitzpatrick, Keith Lasley, Steven McGarry, Jim O'Brien, Darren Smith FORWARDS Then: David Clarkson, John Sutton, Jamie Murphy, Cillian Sheridan Now: John Sutton, Bob McHugh, Jamie Murphy, Lukas Jutkiewicz Obviously if you simply play a numbers game, this season's squad has more bodies. But that's simply due to Gannon bringing in young guys as well as his signings. You could argue that I've overinflated the size of this year's squad because the likes of Smith, Lasley and Fitzpatrick seem to have drifted so far that they may not be considered by some to be in our first team squad. You have to weigh up the versatility of Klimpl and Malcolm (stop sniggering) against that of Reynolds and Hately. Thoughts and opinions...?

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...?