MelvinBragg

While I agree that if test events were to be held, the relatively small crowd in comparison to capacity would make our game this Saturday a decent candidate, I think the current numbers will mean that it's unlikely there will be any 'test' events any time soon....

Then bring on Barry Maguire? Switching to a flat 442 surrenders control of the middle of the park and puts the team on the back foot..

I suspect the thinking is that taking off Campbell loses control of the midfield and increases the chances of conceding corners..

Dunne came back and played one reserve game, maybe even just 45 minutes last season. Clearly the injury recurred. We do really need at least one of our left back options back sooner rather than later...

I was mocked in February for asking where the goals were going to come from, mocked to be fair because I asked in the middle of the St Mirren cup tie. Some of us could see this coming. Fourth highest goalscorers, true. But with the exception of Ross County at home, the goals fairly dried up in the league after the turn of the year. Right after Scott and Cole left. Not saying either of those players were world beaters but they offered pace and strength that dragged us up the field that is now missing We're now left with Chris Long and Jordan White, neither of whom are good enough. Calum Lang, untested at this level. Tony Watt, may have qualities but in his spell with Hearts and St Johnstone in the SPL scored 4 goals in 34 starts. Don't tell me we've been unlucky and the goals will come St Mirren have played 5 games and scored 7 goals. We've played 6 games, dominated possession in 5 of them and scored 2 goals. Pretty obvious there's a problem and what it is. Inability to score goals costs points...

Then we'll be in a relegation dogfight...

I actually think we do look out of out depth. An inability to beat either Accies, Dundee United or Livingston at home suggests we might be. I appreciate what you are saying about taking each season on their own. But that's not how it works in the real world. If we'd started poorly this season having finished strongly last, you might be more inclined to cut a manager some slack and say it's a blip. If it seems like a continuation of the previous season's form then you have to start asking if the manager has either not identified or not addressed the previous season's problems. Putting our current form in context, we Ian Baraclough won 5 of his last 16 league games. Stuart McCall won 5 of his last league games. We have won 2 of our last 16 league games. Our last league win was 8 games ago. That is horrible form even if it is stretched over two seasons.... Of course Robinson's position should be under scrutiny...

A couple of times you've mentioned this about Donnelly. Where have you seen/heard this? I was under the impression he'd be back in October...

If 2 wins in 16 league games is too soon to be having the discussion, you'll never be ready to talk about it. That includes two home defeats to Accies, a home defeat by St Mirren, losses away to St Johnstone and Ross County and a home defeat to a Dundee United side that just got skelped by Kilmarnock. These are statistics, not opinions such as 'his signings have been poor, he has made the wrong substitutions'. Without wishing to go all Rafa Benitez, these are facts. In his defence, facts also show we finished third last season. But had the season continued, that might not have been the case. While not disregarding his previous achievements at Fir Park, managers and players are judged on most recent performance. What's that old line 'you're only as good as your last game'? I'm not saying sack him, but I don't think anyone having the conversation is out on a limb...

Agreed...

I guarantee you we'll finish in the bottom four and will not be clear of automatic relegation by the split. If you disagree, I'll wager £50 to be paid to your favourite charity if we finish above 9th and are mathematically safe from finishing bottom after 33 games...

See if you're in the bottom two of the the league after 10 games, as we likely will be, you're in a relegation battle. You can pull clear of it, but at that point in time you're in it..

Before the game my feelings were 'get out of here with 3-0 or less, no injuries or red cards'. My feelings haven't changed. Maybe we'll have a left back nearing fitness after the international break and will have settled on a front two that works and the back three will have had time to get used to playing together. Today is one to write off. We're in a relegation battle. Just need to use this game and those against Rangers and Aberdeen as preparation for more winnable games...

Odense, but other than that I think the details are correct....

His performances have been poor not only in a positioning sense (which you could put down to him playing on the wrong wing - although he played most of his games first time round on the right) but in the fact he's struggled to keep his feet or control the ball. Those basics shouldn't depend on where you're playing on the park...

I'm astounded at the number of people suggesting Hastie should be anywhere near the team...

You'll need to explain this one to me? How did we spend money on an agreement with a TV company?

I know the draw is on Monday, when is the next round due to be played..? EDIT Ignore me. 17th September is the date. Interesting to see that next round is drawn on Monday and the following round drawn on Tuesday so we should know who would await should we somehow manage to get through. .

A few people had good second halfs. I felt one player had a solid 90 minutes so I gave it to Mugabi. Thought Gallagher was very poor in comparison..

I'd like to make it clear that I'm not Stephen Robinson...

Let's just wait and see if we need to worry about that at half nine tonight..

They did say it was confidential. Assuming any sell on would be as well..

I really do think people need to shake the idea that three at the back is necessarily a defensive formation. Only problem we have with playing is the same one we had the last time we played it. No one suitable to play left wing back. If we had Carroll or McGinlay available, 352 would be our best option. Sad to say we'll probably play 433 even though we don't have anyone suitable to play on the wings...

You do realise that neither Celtic nor Motherwell have confirmed that?

Obviously the Turnbull story has distracted somewhat from the buildup to tonight's game. I suspect even more so because of the lack of fans at the game. Might have helped in a bit lessening the amount of negativity that has been (rightly) present regarding Saturday's performance. But it's a Motherwell European game and I can't believe the lack of speculation regarding the team lineup or how the game will go. Obviously recent form has dampened enthusiasm for all things Motherwell.. For me, I'd be looking at ways to get two strikers playing up front together. But for defensive injuries, I'd be inclined to go 352. Could even do that playing Maguire in the back three or playing Lamie in the back three with Grimshaw and O'Donnell at wing back, but these are far from ideal. However we set up, it shouldn't be the same 433 with two wingers. Our wingers are offering little and general consensus is that none of our strikers play well as a lone striker. Would almost be tempted with a McGhee style squinty 442 with 3 centre midfielders and one winger although who that winger would be is anyone's guess....