MelvinBragg

I don't think you're the programme editor, I think you're Derek McInnes...

Now the European stuff is over, I've been looking at the rest of the SPL. Obviously there are a few weeks til the transfer window shuts but it's only a week til the real business starts. Aberdeen will be slightly weaker without Severin but you have to figure they should still have enough for top six. Dundee United will be probably on a par with what they were last season. Hearts, I can't imagine being as lucky to finish third again without a proper centre forward. Aguilar, Karapidis and the two Lithuanian wingers (diving cheats as they are) will be missed. Hibs will miss Fletcher and Jones big time. St Johnstone, time will tell, promoted teams always seem to carry a wee bit of momentum (Gretna being the obvious exception). Falkirk, I reckon, will find it tough. If their loan signings don't turn out to be any good, they could be in real bother. Accies will struggle to replace the three (I'm assuming McArthur) guys they're losing and they'll be poor. Kilmarnock, for all the talk of their financial woes, haven't really lost any of their best players. St Mirren could be stronger, Higdon is better than Jim Hamilton, and Paul Gallagher is a good keeper. And us, well, who knows. We need a right back and a striker (even if only to give Sutton a wee bit of competition). For what it's worth, I reckon we'll finish anywhere between 5th and 8th...

I don't think anyone is getting carried away or has unrealistic expectations for the coming season. We all remember Butcher's first season and how young players' form can go up and down. Hopefully we have a wee bit more experience about the place now than we did then. But I think it's refreshing that there's a degree of optimism about Fir Park at the moment. Given where we were 7 days before the Llanelli game in terms of personnel and preparation, I think we've made some big strides. Bear in mind the squad that most of listed at that time had 13 players with first team experience, we sent out an 18 man squad last night minus at least 3 of those players (Lasley, Fitzpatrick and Smith) and gave a decent team a real fright. We've had six games to see what Gannon is all about, and I don't think it's getting carried away to say that most of us like the way he goes about his business. He seems driven, he seems to know what he wants, he has us playing the ball on the deck, he has really given some players a new lease of life (Forbes was being released apparently and Sutton looks like a new man), these are all positives. We know it'll be an up and down season (it is Motherwell) but at least we're looking forward to it now...

For 50 odd minutes, it was an excellent performance. It was understandable that the heads went down after Steaua scored and after that we gambled by taking Reynolds off and exposing the defence a wee bit more so there was always going to be a chance we'd ship a couple more goals. But let's focus on the positives. Coke, Sutton and Hutchison were all superb. I like the fact that although physically imposing, Coke has quick feet and seems to have a quick football brain. And Sutton seems to have found a new lease of life. Hutchison looks like the physically strong centre back we've been looking for since Partridge left town. He's a bit raw and he'll make mistakes but if we're going to deploy Mark Reynolds in front of the back four, he might get a chance to learn as he goes. I thought the referee was poor, no worse than that. Although I love the fact that Gannon was angry enough to get sent to the stand. Already I have more affection for Gannon than I ever had for McGhee. No more Mr Nice Well...

Tough choice between Coke, Sutton and Hutchison. In the end went for Coke. I think most of the team played very well last night, but for the all the praise of Forbes, I have to say that he will have to learn to release the ball a bit quicker. In the second half, he got himself caught in possession a few times. I know we'll not play against midfields as good as Steaua's every week but one thing we will play against on a regular basis is teams who will hassle and harry. And young Slane needs to learn that he doesn't need to do it all himself. And I think Murphy didn't seem to enjoy being stuck out wide. But these are minor quibbles in what was a great performance.

I don't think people are turning on Gannon at all. I just think we all know that our squad is pretty thin at the moment and figure we'll need every player in our first team squad at some point. And therefore it's a valid concern that some players don't like playing for the manager. I'm sure we'll add at least a couple of players before the start of the season but I would hope that would not be counteracted by the sale of the likes of Hammell and Lasley. I know it seems contradictory but I reckon Darren Smith and Mark Fitzpatrick will be surplus to requirements though. On the basis of Gannon's team selections so far, both are out of the picture. That and the fact we've signed 3 midfielders... I see some people mentioning about Gannon "feuding" with fans. I don't recall hearing this before. Stockport fans seemed to love him unconditionally so I don't see where this story came from...

And where did I say that he should take any bullshit? I agree his word should be law but in football, it's slightly harder being a boss. Managers often don't get themselves the sack, players get them the sack. All I'm saying is that he may have to rely on players who may (only rumour) not like him particularly. It makes his job more difficult than it needs to be...

Reading about him, he's played both right back and left back in the past. We do know that Gannon likes his players to be versatile...

Indeed. This is the concern with JG's abrasive nature. It's not like he's Alex Ferguson telling Stam or Beckham to get knotted knowing fine well he has the wherewithall, if not within his squad then within the bank, to replace them. I find it hard to believe that we'll go through a season without needing pretty much every individual in the squad at some point. The only thing I would say is that the experienced guys we're perhaps talking about (Lasley, Hammell, McGarry) all know that if they're brought in from the cold and seen not to be giving 100%, the East Stand will turn on them. The problem for Gannon is if he has to rely on these guys and they give 100% but don't adhere to his gameplan, what does he do...?

Can we assume that Kanyuka was deemed not good enough...?

Aye, I agree. Meant to say we'd played better last night than in Nancy. At least last night we dhowed some attacking ambition...

I'm quite surprised that there are so many people who haven't been impressed with Jennings. I know that he looks a wee bit overweight, but for me he's had two good games out of two. He and Forbes combined well last week and I thought he and Coke did well last night against technically superior opposition...

Beaten by a better team last night, there's no disgrace in that. I thought we played as well last night as we did in Nancy last year but Steaua were more ruthless than the French. An achievement in itself, given the comparative lack of experience in the team that started last night. Really impressed with Ruddy and Coke on their debuts. If they can maintain that level, we've got two great signings. If not for the big keeper, it could have been a lot worse than 3-0. And Coke's run the length of the park to slide in and put the guy off stopped a certain goal and 4-0. Coke got stuck in when he had to and also seemed to use the ball very well. If he'd stuck away his chance, our result would have looked even more respectable. The defence still needs work, but I think we all knew that. I don't think we'll meet many teams with such slick movement this season. Hutchison looks raw but certainly has the tools to be an excellent player. My only concern is that I don't know if Craigan is good enough to coach him through the games while maintaining his own level of performance. Saunders had his best game of the season last night even though he was done for the third goal. He has a good throw on him as well. A quick word for Sutton and Slane. Sutton didn't have a lot to work with last night but whenever we got the ball to his feet he seemed to find a Motherwell man with the ball. And Slane showed enough to suggest that he will be able to cut in the SPL no problems at all. As impressive as he was last week, we had to take into account the level of opposition. Last night, he made the step up, no problem. Gannon continues to impress me. He even seemed to notice last night that having given away the penalty, Forbes was letting it get to him and he withdrew him. I'm sure he'll have a few words with him and try and help him learn from it...

I know. Never watched football in a sauna before...

No one is rushing to judge these guys, we all know that early promise can peter out (David Ferrere anyone??) but Frazzle just asked for early impressions. And that's what fans' forums and pints after the game are for so... Ruddy His kicking from passbacks was poor last night but some of the passbacks were a bit iffy and in any case kicking is way down my list of priorities for a goalkeeper. On the basis of last night's game, he looks good. Commanding, vocal and made a few good saves. Glad I'm not going to be the one to try and make him wear the pink kit... Jennings I think he's looked the part. A less showy, more sensible Maros Klimpl. His positional sense has impressed me and although he looks to be carrying a bit of weight, he still seems to be getting about the park. Not wishing to stereotype but he looks like a Scouser... Coke Looked good to me last night. Athletic, could mix it when he needed to, but also looks like he can pass a ball. Missed a glorious chance but that to me was the only black mark on his performance. Really need to get a nickname for him though as I can't bring myself to shout "C'mon Giles!!!" or "C'mon big Coke!!"... Humphrey Looks nervous, need to give him time. Certainly has pace but his final ball has left a little to be desired thus far. He's surrendered possession a bit too easily thus far, maybe needs to be told that if he can't get past the man then look for an out ball. I reckon he'll look better if we have a good attacking right back playing behind him. Still young but at the moment he wouldn't be my first pick... The thing that has impressed me with all of Gannon's signings is the fact that they look like athletes. With the exception of Humphrey (who's not tiny), they're all big lads. Too often in the past we've seen ourselves dwarfed at corners and free kicks. Don't think that'll be the case this season...

The case of Fitzpatrick is a funny one. Sometimes I think that semi-final goal was the worst thing that could have happened to him. It cemented him in some fans' eyes as a natural successor to Stephen Pearson and there seemed to be an expectation that he was going to be the next attacking goalscaring midfielder down our left side. For me, he's not that type of player. He strikes me more as a left footed Lasley type. Good grafter, he does a lot of ugly stuff. He doesn't seem to have enough about him (at the moment) to be one of a central 2 in a 4-4-2 and has never really looked comfortable wide left in that formation. McGhee's formation seemed tailor made for him as he looked the part on the left side of a tight midfield three. Forbes emergence this season has meant that we haven't seen thus far whether he could have played the role of one of the two midfielders playing in front of the back four. Forbes certainly looks to have a range of passing that Fitzpatrick doesn't have but whether he will bring the same defensive qualities remains to be seen (my gut feeling is that the goal we conceded over in Albania, Fitzpatrick would have been more likely to track the runner that scored the goal). On Fitzpatrick's future, the fact we have signed three midfielders suggests he might find himself surplus to requirements. Maybe it's best for him and Motherwell for him to move on (though I don't imagine having him in the squad is a massive drain on our resources). As an aside, as Motherwell fans we appreciate young players coming through. The problem for me is that a lot of the time these young players have to be a McAllister, McFadden, Clarkson or Pearson to be appreciated. By that, I mean someone who will move on for a fee to a higher level. In the cases of the likes of Hammell and Fitzpatrick, it doesn't seem enough for us fans that these players develop into solid SPL pros, unlikely to garner us a fee but likely to give solid performances most weeks in the league. Maybe we need to temper our expectations a wee bit. If Paul Slane doesn't turn into the next McFadden but instead is the next Jim O'Brien, I hope the fans cut him more slack than they have cut Fitzpatrick...

Stevie Hammell has played three out of four games this season. Misses one and suddenly people have him getting sold off. I like Hammell and think he's a good solid SPL player. But I can't see Aberdeen wanting him. They have Mulgrew for that position. Now if you tell me Hibs are interested, I might believe you. Should we really be selling him on the basis of one game at left back from Mark Reynolds? For what it's worth, I reckon the only two guys in the squad who look totally out of the picture at the moment (and likely to be moved on) are Fitzpatrick and DL Smith. Possibly McGarry should be worrying if we have Murphy, Slane, Humphrey and Coke for attacking midfield positions...

Is the game on the radio at all...?

I remember a home games versus Hearts early in the 93/94 season when we "hammered" Hearts 2-0 and McGrillen and O'Donnell got the goals. Unbelievable that both guys are now gone. Was McGrillen not also the sub that Tommy McLean subbed for not doing what he was told...? Sad news...

That and the fact that he doesn't really know the back four. Fraser, for all his frailties (that's what they are, he's not shown himself to be "pish"), has at least had a chance to work for a month with the defenders who will be in front of him. The belief that Fraser is some sort of terrible goalkeeper seems to stem from that first leg against Llanelli when no one covered themselves in glory. Neither of the goals against the Albanians could be described as goalkeeping howlers. He seems a bit of a bombscare on crosses, but I'm not sure how that makes him any different from any other goalkeeper we've had in the last 15 years...

You're not the only one, but I have to ask the question? Why are so many people certain that Ruddy will be better than Fraser? If having seen him in action, you think that, then fair enough, but there's a few people rushing to get this guy in the team...

Could have? Mibbe. Would have? Not so sure. I think playing one up front over in Nancy was the sensible thing to do but it should have been Clarkson or more likely Porter doing it. the fact that he brought Bob Malcolm from nowhere near the team to start both games is a decision of McGhee's I will never understand. And deciding to go three at the back for the first time since 94/95 for the home leg was also baffling. And Hughes at right wng back. Christ, when I list it like that, it's a wonder we didn't lose 8-1... Nancy were technicaaly gifted, yes. But they were also strong and fast. There may have been more technically gifted players in both Old Firm teams last season, but the boys from Nancy could barge people off the ball then play football. Not something you would think of Nakamura or Ferguson. I don't expect Steaua to be as tough an ask as AS Nancy were. Were we going into this game with the Motherwell team of November 2007, I'd be predicting us to go through. As it is, we're going in with kids and signings we know very little about. How anyone can make an accurate prediction of how this tie is going to pan out is beyond me. Enjoy it for what it is. A European tie against a team whose name conjurs up all sorts of mystique. I mean, of course, for us fans to do this. For us to have any chance of going through, the players must play against the team Steaua Bucharest rather than the name Steaua Bucharest. Must confess that having a team half full of kids might be an advantage on that score...

Kind of jumping the gun there big fella. Going from, an SPL club is interested to Well have signed him. More likely to be Dundee United who would be after him...

For obvious reasons, I've held back from posting on this thread. Given my reputation as one of McGhee's harshest critics on here, it would have been easy for me to jump all over it. For what it's worth, in all my posts on the subject of McGhee I never denied he was a good manager. I maybe exaggerated the negative aspects of his management but that was due to the fact that for many, he had no flaws whatsoever. There were questionable tactical line-ups, his approach to the transfer market (which many are mocking now he's at Aberdeen - strange that they had no problem with it when he was at FP) and his public flaunting of his availability are just a few. And for those who say that he couldn't be blamed for most of the players who left, I ask you this: was it not his job to prepare for the eventuality (probability?) of these players leaving? Are we expected to believe that he threw himself into this task with gusto given he had a fair idea that two jobs he coveted were becoming available? Having said this, the McGhee bashing now is embarrassing. Have the balls to criticise the man when he's here if you think he merits it. As Jay and Lobey have pointed out, ye're a lot of bandwagonjumpers... And as I said earlier, he's a good (not great) manager. I'll save my gloating for if we finish above them next May (OK, a wee bit might sneak out if we hammer them this season )...

Actually, no. Relatively calm after last night's joyful experience. Just pointing out that he didn't mention Murphy by name. And I think given the number of games Murphy has featured in now for Well, he shouldn't need the kid glove treatment, as SD described it...