MelvinBragg

I'd like to say I'm surprised by the (alleged) behaviour of McShovelface but I'm not that good a liar...

Good to get a win today against a team that, as others have pointed out, we have struggled against no matter how good or bad their team is. I thought we started quite brightly today and once we got the first goal, the result was never really in doubt. Kilmarnock never offered much today but a lot of that can be put down to the fact we spotted where the threat would be and nullified it for the most part. Kyle got one free header all day, and the whole back four need to take a lot of credit for that. But for me, Hutchison was outstanding. Against a guy whose goalscoring record for Kilmarnock is phenomenal, he looked like he'd been playing in the SPL for years. And as for his goal, as Craig Paterson said on Radio Scotland "will give centre halves a bad name". Aye, other centre halves... Going forward, the emergence of Forbes and Slane has overshadowed a wee bit the fact that in Coke and O'Brien, we've got two guys who've been fantastic. Coke looks like a great acquisition, the only fear being that we should enjoy him as much as we can this season because if he keeps up his form, he'll be hard to keep a hold of. O'Brien has done well this season, having been asked to play in a couple of different positions. Today, he was immense. He seems determined to score a goal with one touch from a throw in, similar to that effort he had against the post last week. He tried it twice today and went close again on both occasions. Strange to think that at 22 and 23, O'Brien and Coke are the senior men in our midfield at the moment. O'Brien is another guy whose contract is up next summer. Maybe time to start talking to him now? All in all a lot to be positive about today. As someone else stated, we never hit the heights we did against Bucharest (1st half in Airdrie) and in the second half last week, but still dealt with Kilmarnock with little trouble. They had a 15-20 minute spell in the second half where they had a lot of the ball, but we limited them to playing in front of us. All I know is that I saw more smiling faces leaving Fir Park today than I had in a while...

While I'd be overjoyed to see us sign another striker, am I the only one who thinks that the right back is the more pressing need right now? We have shown in every game since Llanelli at home the ability to score goals (a missed pen and woodwork struck in Albania, a missed sitter in Bucharest the only reasons for blanks in those games) from various areas in the team. Unfortunately, in every game we have also shown a real inability to defend properly for 90 minutes. I know Gannon is aware of this and is working towards remedying it, but if I was breaking my neck to get a player in this week, it would have been the defender. Don't get me wrong, I don't want the window to close with Sutton as our only recognised striker. But my main concern is the defence at the moment. We have over a week so I'm not concerned. Yet. Although it does seem different to the first couple of weeks when Gannon was quickly identifying people and bringing them in...

Fixed...

I'm sure that was an equaliser in a 2-2. I remember saying when we got the corner that whoever scored, I'd have their children. Mitch (I think) said to me "What even Pearson? Ginger weans??" I think I said aye. The goal celebrations where we were consisted of several people piling on top on me shouting "GINGER WEANS!!!"...

Aye, come on Gannon, this is two weeks in a row you've promised us a striker and still no sign of one. Who do you think you are?? McShovelface...?? PS Large wink, just in case anyone thinks I'm being serious...

If we're going as far back as Philliben, we have to mention Ian Ross vs Celtic...

Unless Gannon believes that he can turn McHugh into an SPL ready striker in six months...

Craigan? Reynolds? Just a thought...

£1.5mill each or combined??? I had heard Boro were looking at Miller. As Frazzle says, hard to believe that Lambert has identified targets already...

Given I've never stood next to him, you'll know better than me, but the first time I saw Forbes (vs Llanelli), my first instinct was "Well, he's a good bit taller than Fitzpatrick and Lasley". Not put together obviously...

According to the official site, he's 6ft1...

So, a traditional Hearts team then?

Fact is that both Coke and Forbes are both over 6ft tall. As is Hately. And Hutchison is quite a powerful big lad. And then there's Ruddy. And I don't think Jennings will be easily bullied. I guess what I'm trying to say is that Gannon seems to be addressing the issue...

Let's hope so. Although if his new contract includes a bonus for goals scored, we could be in administration again...

It's my understanding that Lasley is carrying a knock. Whether he gets back into the 18 when that clears up, never mind the first 11 is another matter. Personally I'd struggle to think of 18 players I'd have in the matchday squad ahead of him, but I'm not Jim Gannon...

You are correct, sir. But he's the kind of big diddy we struggle against. How many headers did Deuchar win on Saturday...?

The good thing is that I reckon only six players are guaranteed to start for us on Saturday(Ruddy, Hutchison, Reynolds, Forbes, Coke and O'Brien), the rest of the team is anybody's guess. What formation will we play? Who knows. Yes, we'll probably struggle a bit with Kyle, but at least Kilmarnock will be scratching their head until Saturday afternoon as to what our team will be. Hamstrings their preparations a wee bit...

I suspect your hunch might be right. The moving on of Darren Smith and Fitzpatrick seems inevitable at the moment, there may be others who leave before the end of August. Irrespective of any players leaving though, there should be some scope in the wage bill for giving some of these guys improved deals. Just don't know how much the wage bill has had to be reduced by due to the Setanta debacle...

Every club loses a fair few of their former players. But normally these will be guys who played in the 1950s and 1960s, guys of advancing years. The number of former Motherwell players who have died so young recently beggars belief... Tragic...

I appreciate what people are saying about not losing these players for nothing. But I'm more thinking in terms of what Steve said about keeping a hold of them for a wee while. Not just to enjoy them but also to try and build a team that might develop over the next two years. There's the potential there for us to have a team in a couple of years with a bunch of guys in their early 20s with nearly a hundred games under their belt each. That's maybe why I'm focussing on who I would consider crucial to the team, rather than resale value where Slane may outstrip the others...

I never stated that I wouldn't be looking to have Slane on a longer more appropriate contract. But in terms of list of priorities contract wise, for me it would be.. Forbes Coke Hutchison Slane and McHugh Again, just my opinion. We've been lucky at Motherwell to have players like Cooper, McFadden and McCormack, players that can create out of nothing, but most SPL teams survive and prosper without such a player. Like it or not, in our league perspiration is at least equally important as inspiration...

Never said that there wasn't a place for guys like Slane. But the key guys for us will be our centre backs, centre midfield and centre forward(s). That's why Forbes, Hutchison and McHugh would be my priorities. You are right that guys like Slane can offer respite to the defence. But once again, only if you have people who can get the ball to them. For me our two key players outwith the defence this season are Coke and Forbes. If they can get the ball and use it well, we'll be OK. Slane will be a part of the team. But don't buy into the hype he's a key player. Not yet anyway...

Don't get me wrong, I think Slane has potential. And I would be talking to him, but he'd be down my list of priorities. I'd be trying to sort out the spine of the team first. Do you want to know why? Because without a decent spine to a team, you'll not win or retain the ball. And I don't care how many men Slane can beat, he'll not do much without the ball...

Slane doesn't concern me that much as he is a luxury player but we must be looking at Forbes and Hutchison in particular. These are guys you can build the spine of the team round. McHugh would be next on my list of priorities. Oh and while we're at it, Coke's on a one year deal. Start talking to him as soon as possible would be my advice...