MelvinBragg

If we're talking favourite, rather than simply ability, I would go with Dykstra Burley Nijholt Teale McKinnon Gahagan Russell O'Donnell McFadden Clarkson Coyne Subs Cusack Valakari Lasley Quinn Kirk

Ye've got 12 players there, man...

You could also make an argument that Chris McCart might have given them a nod in his direction if you wanted to give reasons why it could happen. But, like I say, implausible...

As I've said earlier, I seriously doubt this will ever come to pass. But let's not say that Murphy would be a massive loss. A massive loss is a key player leaving (we should know, seen enough recently). This would be a surprising decision to sell a promising youngster (though not as surprising as Celtic's decision to buy him). Like Frazzle, I wouldn't be crushed if he left...

I'm so certain that this won't happen, I'll offer to buy a new hat to eat if it does. And anyone who's seen the size of my dome will confirm that would be a hearty meal...

You misunderstand me. For some reason, I think we'll get through on Thursday. The next two games against the Albanian side become our next pre-season games. Seems pointless going into them with half a team that won't be playing come August 15th. If these games are serving as our pre-season, then surely it would be better to have at least some of the players that Gannon envisages as being our first team available for them. That's why I figure he has to work on the theory we'll get through and get some of the players in this week. A run in Europe? Not that bothered, beyond the fact that if we go out on Thursday, we might find it hard to arrange worthwhile friendlies as most clubs will have theirs pencilled in...

Can anyone confirm that the signing deadline for the next round of the UEFA cup is Friday night? If so, should we at least be looking into getting a few bodies in this week for the next round? That's not me counting chickens but surely Gannon has to have enough belief to prepare as if we were going to qualify for the next round...?

I wonder if any Stockport fans would comment on Gannon's man management. Having spoken to couple of friends down south, the perception I got was that although he plays good football and is astute tactically, his man management leaves a little to be desired. The number of players he falls ouut with, the fact that if a player falls out of favour he's out of favour until he leaves the club. What have Stockport fans heard about the opinions of players who played under Gannon...?

I think that sums up some of my concerns perfectly. I'm not wishing to be like a Celtic supporter wanting "Celtic-minded" people only. But as you say, a couple of guys like Clarkson and Quinn who have been with the club since they were kids, can go that extra mile. Not always a guarantee of commitment being brought up at the club, but that combined with the right mentality can sometimes help get an extra 10% out of the others in the team...

Something about Gannon's comments from Monday's press conference came back to me today, something about "not dismissing the talent in Scotland, but there's lots of players in England who could do a great job...". Surely by saying that, he was effectively dismissing the players available in Scotland? And therefore offending a proportion of our players. I'm curious if he's wholly unimpressed by Scottish teams he's seen, or just our squad? It certainly sounds like any player we sign will be sourced from elsewhere (mainly England). Just wondering if he's underestimating the differences between the English game and the Scottish game? He could end up with egg on his face if he brings in a whole load of players from England who don't adapt. Particularly if they're seen as automatic picks ahead of the Scottish guys. It could be construed that Gannon doesn't think much of the standard of football in this country...

I tend to agree with those that are saying that six doesn't seem enough new faces to cover the gaps in the squad. By the description given of Jennings, it sounds like he could take the place of Klimpl in the squad. That leaves Clarkson, Quinn, Hughes, McLean, Sheridan, Malcolm and Krysiak to replace. Even if you accept that Malcolm wasn't really part of the squad for much of last season, that's still six players to be replaced even after the signing of Jennings. And now Gannon perhaps wants to replace existing members of the squad. Perhaps that'll be a job for January. I take the point that Hutchison, Saunders, Forbes and Slane may make the step up to the first team squad. But thanks to the lack of opportunities offered to them last season, none of us can be sure that any of them are ready to make the step up and be considered part of the first team squad. So if we're only signing 6 players, we're leaving ourselves aith an even thinner squad than last season. Let's hope the young guys can make the step up...

While appreciating his honesty, I think there was a risk in Gannon's comments last night. A calculated risk perhaps. He must know deep down that he will have to, in the short term at least, use some of those players he was critical of last night. He must hope that they don't take the huff and the kick up the backside motivates them to prove him wrong, to make themselves undroppable. Time will tell if his gamble pays off...

I think it would be easier to be optimistic if we had lost 1-0 last night and we had rained shots in and they had hit off every part of the keeper's body, defenders had got in the way, woodwork had been struck several times. I think the lack of chances created last night is at the root of most of the negativity...

Amen, brother. I think I posted similar thoughts in the match thread last night...

While I agree with your general point that it's a malaise that's been coming, I reckon if that early chance for Murphy had fallen to Clarkson, we'd have been 1-0 up and looking to add to it. That said, I think it's a pointless discussion. We might as well discuss whether we'd have won with McFadden or a young Willie Pettigrew in the team. We are where we are, let's focus on what we can achieve from this point on...

I think it'll be interesting to read Gannon's post-match thoughts. He can't be too scathing of too many of the players as he must know he will have to work with some of them at least in the medium term. However, if he seems unconcerned by the result/performance, I think it's safe to assume that he saw these European games as a distraction and simply as a warm up for the real thing in August. The only thing with that would be the fact that a lot of fans have paid a fair bit of money to go to Wales. I'm sure most of them don't see these games as simply a distraction...

Ha. Just saying to someone last week how I was dreading this game. My birthday is on Saturday and I'd always said how it was handy having your birthday in early July cos it takes away the possibility of Motherwell putting a downer on it for you...

The same Darren Smith you were discussing with me before the game...?

For those who are champing at the bit for news of Paul Quinn's departure, I would say only that I don't know if he would have taken tonight's result as meekly as some of the players seemed to. Would he have channeled his anger at the performance/defeat in the right way? That I can't promise, but at least he'd have been angry...

John Sutton must be cursing the fact that Fitzpatrick wasn't playing tonight...

Try and play someone up front with him til we find someone who can play the lone striker role...?

None

I'm not Sutton's biggest fan (far from it). But last season it was clear to us (as I'm sure it will be to Gannon now) that he cannot play with his back to goal. He does not have the all round game of a Porter or Clarkson as you said, but if we could get people to the byeline and get decent crosses in, he will score goals. He scored a few in a season of poor performances last year. He did his best tonight in that role, but it was not good enough. if we are going to persist with a lone front man, we might as well sell Sutton. I don't see any use for him with that set-up...

I thought Saunders and Murphy were both pretty poor tonight. Slane impressed me, and Forbes did well in a holding role (albeit against a team with no real attacking intent). McHugh looked keen. Let's not fall into the old trap of blindly praising young guys when they break into the team, then slag them for the exact same type of performance 18 months later. Fitzpatrick...

Oh dear. Have we come to this already...?