MelvinBragg

I honestly believe that our chances of getting that one win to secure seventh are not improved by playing guys like Hughes, Smith, Klimpl and McLean, guys who may not be here next season. Even those first teamers who will be here next year may have one eye on their summer holidays. It also gives us the chance to rest guys whose form is shading, Mark Reynolds being the obvious example...

I tend to agree with you that that's what will happen. I'd stake my wages on it. I just think that in doing that we will be missing a great opportunity to see what these players can do to get some fans having second thoughts about coming to the post split games, excited and through the doors to give some of the established stars a rest/kick up the backside (delete as applicable) to start planning now for next season (ourselves and perhaps Kilmarnock are the only two clubs who can do this on the field without too great a risk) have for the next 5 games against teams fighting for their lives, eleven players with a lot to prove working hard for our team But as I have said, I know football is a fear and results driven business. Many of his advocates on here claim Mark McGhee is a breath of fresh air. A willingness to break from the norm and think long term might have even me believing it...

I get the impression Celtic will be looking for a manager this summer irrespective of where the title ends up as I hear that Strachan is sick of the media/goldfish bowl that goes with the Celtic job. That and not getting credit for the job he has done. Though it's certain that McGhee won't be top of their list. I've heard the name Owen Coyle mentioned, believe it or not...

Other than Dougie Ramsay and Kenny Wright, the guys from that season have all done alright for themselves (half of them are are in our first team squad). The use of the word responsibility interests me. What responsibilty? I know there are certain financial benefits and league cup seeding to concern ourselves with but other than that you are not going to get a situation with less pressure and responsibility. And I've said earlier, the chance of discovering that someone is ready to be called upon next season may well save us a wage and a signing on fee. To go off on one for a moment, the Old Firm are criticised for not blooding their young players and often there is talk of the mentality of fear in football, the culture of playing it safe, avoid defeat rather than take a chance and go for it. We find ourselves in a situation we rarely have. Safe from relegation (that Falkirk team isn't suddenly going to win five on the spin)and with very little to play for. Surely a man manager of McGhee's calibre would be able to get these young guys in a mindset where they could play with freedom and without pressure. If we don't blood them now, then when? We have nothing to gain by playing players who will not be with us next season or who are tiring towards the end of the season. Playing these young guys might actually give a bit of spark back to the fans who felt let down that we didn't make the top 6. A bit more reason to get excited for the games to come. I know I'd be looking forward to the Inverness game more if I thought I'd be seeing 4 or 5 guys who might be the future of our club. And if they flop, McGhee will (hopefully) be able to look and say whether these players simply don't have the talent or whether they just weren't ready yet. Sadly, I know I'm wasting my breath, but it's something I feel quite paasionate about...

Quite. I know it must be a really remote possibilty, Frazzle. I haven't once heard you mention the word 'sombrero'...

While I take people's point regarding getting papped by diddy teams, I once again say that I can see that happening with our first team due to the fact that the teams we will be playing will be more strongly motivated than us. Playing Graham Smith, Stephen Hughes and Maros Klimpl seems to go against McGhee's declaration that the work for next season starts now given that it is unlikely that all three (maybe any) of them will be with us next season. Let's start trying to shape a team without them using our youngsters and in six weeks time we will at least now where our key weaknesses lie. Craigan is recovering from injry and I see no merit in playing him for the next few games with the risk of causing further damage. I also understand the idea of playing these guys alongside experienced players to help nurse them through games. There is the benefit though of playing with guys you are familiar with. For example, Slane will be more aware of the movements that McHugh and Murphy make up front. In the team I listed in my original post, Hammell, Quinn, Lasley and Fitzpatrick feature. I wouldn't like to guess at how many Motherwell games these guys have played in total (two have captained us on occasions). We flooded the team with youngsters post administration for a full season, and we finished bottom but it was the making of a few of those players. Here we are, in a relatively low risk situation, why not try and discover which of our reserves/under 19s has the mettle to stand up and be counted? As I have said, I understand people's concerns regarding league positions and the money this will cost us. I ask one question. Based on Saturday's performance, would you back our first team to amass more points than young guys and fringe players with a point to prove? I know I wouldn't...

Being honest here, are we any more likely to pick up points playing Craigan's ageing knees, Hughes and Smith with their minds on deals elsewhere and a couple of guys with holiday brochures in their back pockets? Given the types of games that we're likely to face, it could be argued that we'd do better with young fit guys busting a gut to prove they're good enough for the first team. And if one or two of them turn out to have what it takes right now, we've saved ourselves a couple of signing on/transfer fees. Could more than make up for any loss in revenue from league placings...

The reasons I'd start the younger guys rather than just give them 20 minutes here and there is so we get a proper chance to see if they can cut it (20 minutes as a sub tells very little) and it gives them a chance to get a proper feel for an SPL match so if we need to call upon them next season, they've at least seen some time on the pitch. I'd play Coutts simply to see if he's good enough. Might not need another pointless loan signing...

He hasn't let us down this season. You have agreed that all his tactics and team line-ups made sense...?

What would people like to see for the next five games? I would be in favour of playing the youngsters in every game to see if they can cope in the SPL. By playing them in every gamewe avoid being accused of favouring any of the teams fighting relegation. I'd make a point of telling them it's performances rather than results is what we're looking at. To that end I'd like to see a team of Coutts Saunders Quinn Page Hammell Slane Lasley© Fitzpatrick O'Brien Murphy McHugh The experienced guys that I have left in there are there because I don't know of any young players coming through in their positions and the fact that they are guys that are under contract next season. If you wanted you could alternate front twos, one week play Clarkson and McHugh, the next Sutton and Murphy. I think most of the support would at least cut this team some slack and we will get a chance to find out who might make the grade better than giving these guys half an hour in the last game of the season. What do results matter right now? I know this won't be the case but it's what I'd like to see. What do others reckon...?

As I understand it, Aberdeen are ahead of us anyway and I don't see them finishing fourth so why are we even interested?? It's not going to happen people, so can we all just start planning for the next season in the SPL by giving the likes ofSaunders, Page, Muprhy, McHugh and Slane a chance for to prove they're good enough for next season by giving them the next 5 games. By playing them in every game, we can't be accused of favouring any of the teams in a relegation battle...

You know part of me kind of hopes this is how it pans out at least until the final set of games. Imagine going into the last set of games with everyone having something to play for...

No, I just wish he'd done it behind closed doors...

Hughes is a decent player and will probably look better surrounded by the right blend of players. I still have my suspicions that he should be playing right midfield in the SPL because his tackling's not quite tough enough for a centre midfielder. On occasions this season he has been a Brian Kerr clone as others have said. On Saturday, for the first half he played between St Mirren's back four and midfield and was picking up a lot of second ball from their defenders clearances. But when they wised up in the second half, he didn't seem to be able to find the space to make a difference...

I think you'll find I wasn't his biggest fan last season either. But on this occasion, what I simply meant was the fact that he talks tough on a lot of topics instead of just getting on with it. Saturday's mind games. Last summer's Malcolm has to let us know then giving him until the plane was on the tarmac for Austria. His pursuit of Kennedy, Webster and others. Just shut up and get the job done...

How the hell has Stephen Hughes got as many votes when he didn't touch the ball in the second hald until after we were 2-0 down??? First half he did very well picking up the ball in between their midfield and back four. Second half (not for the first time), he was nowhere to be seen...

Key players for next season are Clarkson, Quinn and O'Brien. Clarkson and O'Brien are the only two players with any semblance of pace at the club (I'm excluding Murphy as I think it's laughable to consider him a first teamer yet). And Paul Quinn is the most natural defender we have at the club. What I'd like to see is Saunders get a game at right back for the next games and Quinn get a run at centre back. His distribution and pace is better than Craigan's, and he's tougher than Reynolds. Could do worse than giving him the armband back as well. The other players that are on our books at the moment? There are those I'd like to stay, but I don't think I'd break my heart if any of them left...

Have we not all learned from this weekend one thing. McGhee talks a good game...

Thank you, I didn't have time to type all of that. On the money every word of it, though...

Clarkson. If everyone else had his appetite for a fight...

Kind of similar to what Fatcalf says, I get the impression that McGhee has eleven players he wants to pick and he'll shoehorn them into a formation rather than try and find a balance in the team...

I'm sure there will be a few who sigh wearily when they see my name appear here. But I have a few points to make. McGhee is not a bad manager. But neither is he the font of football knowledge that many profess him to be. He gets cut a lot of slack because he talks a good game. However there are a few areas that could use some work. Team Selection Why for big games does he feel the need to play the team in a shape or positions that are totally alien to them? Four examples. CIS Cup vs Rangers last season. Went with Ross McCormack as a lone target man and played 4-5-1 against a Rangers team in order to combat the threat from their right back. Nancy at home. Stephen Hughes at right wing back and three at the back. St Mirren in the Cup. One up front at home in the cup against a team we should be beating at home. Today. Hammell at left midfield? It's an idea that a few have touted but was today really the day to try it out. Was this all to nullify the threat of Ross and Dorman? And for the second home game in a row, the midfield battle was being lost at the start of the second half yet no noticeable changes were made. Darren Smith and Jamie Murphy have both been used very sparingly this season despite these players having scored crucial goals for us in the last twelve months. McGarry starts despite his last useful contribution being in 2007. Marc Fitzpatrick being benched despite being a key part of our good run. Just questions that need to be answered... Signings Porter - Fantastic signing Hughes - Good s Neilson/Krysiak/Daniels - Not much to say Mensing - Wasn't given a chance Malcolm - Waste of money Grabban - Pointless signing O'Brien - Good signing when eventually used Klimpl - Decent if unspectactular signing. Not as good as some are making out. Sheridan - Better than DL Smith or Murphy? Hasn't shown himself to be. Hammell - Decent signing. Not great reading, is it? I'm not saying he should resign (I maybe was at 20 past two today ), but he needs to take a long hard look at himself. He's getting an easy ride from a lot of people...

I'll carry him. Where do you want me to drop him off...?

I don't know. One off play off, neutral venue, be like a cup tie. That might get the juices going a wee bit...

I'm assuming you're basing this on the theory that whoever is in the bottom 6 will have easier games? Never going to happen. Whoever is seventh on Sunday night will be lucky to win one more game this season. A team with nothing to play for against five teams under threat of relegation? I know you can argue that whoever gets the sixth spot in the top six will be playing against five other teams with things to play for but at least that team will have their own motivation...