MelvinBragg

Apparently O'Hara and Carroll are doubts for tomorrow. O'Hara no real loss, Carroll a bit of a blow...

Are we in financial trouble akin to that of Inverness CT? If that's not the case, this is a bit premature. We made money off McKinsrty, McAlear and Hastie this summer, no need to be rushing to sell anyone. Also worth pointing out that it's the 9th October. Our league position and the players' form might be vastly different on 1st January. Scott, I believe, will leave Motherwell for a seven figure sum. But not until he adds regular goals and assists. Polworth and Gallagher weren't exactly secret players we plucked from amateur football. Any clubs that might be interested in them would have been aware of them in the summer when they were free so can't see suddenly them wanting to pay a fee for them. One of the goalkeepers will probably go, if we get a bid. We didn't get a bid for Randolph in three seasons so no guarantees there. Campbell is great but his main asset at the moment is his engine, energy and drive. I suspect academies down south are full of 18-19 year olds with that. Donnelly, likeTait and Dunne, is a decent player at our level but has limitations that would prevent him from moving much higher in the game. What I do expect is that any summer signing deemed not to have worked out will be moved on. Alex Fisher, Taylor-Sinslair, Petravicius, we have a habit under Robinson of moving people on if they're not contributing. Wouldn't astound me if we started February without Sloth or Ilic in our squad...

Thought we were excellent in the first half and with the Ross County game fresh in the mind, it's kind of understandable that a degree of nervousness crept in. Glad to see another team pull off our trick of missing a sitter and concede just after. Performance wise thought Campbell and Polworth were the stand outs and Maguire and Scott showed promise. Despite the sponsors' MOTM award, I thought Hartley was shaky, totally mistiming a few headers, although I know he cleared one off the line. Decent result and another three points towards safety. Anything else is always a bonus..

Is Carroll suspended for tomorrow?

If he was able to dictate play and contribute, I suspect he'd at least be on the bench. Do you maybe start to think that he's not that good?

More chance of Lasley pulling on the boots again than Sloth playing next week, I reckon. I would rather it was Maguire. Suspect it will be O'Hara....

Certainly the opposite of upping the tempo. Maybe looking to keep possession better...

That idea will never catch on in Scottish football...

Team as expected. Ilic and O'Hara on the bench and no Semple is perplexing. Sloths invisible man act continues to impress...

Midfield to front, I wouldn't change it. Created chances against Ross County albeit we didn't take as many as we should have. Would very much like to see Semple on the bench. Signing of O'Hara has pushed him down the pecking order even if they're not totally similar in style. To me, not having seen enough of Sloth, Semple looks the best direct replacement for Polworth late in the game. At the back, sending Livingstone out on loan, Carroll being suspended and Dunne being injured means that everyone knows exactly what our back four will be. Positive in that we have all week to work on it. Negative in that Tommy Wright and St Johnstone have all week to work out how they try and take advantage of it. Don't think there will be much in the game. Gut tells me that we'll lose by the odd goal, another 2-1 probably...

My take on the new signings. I'll hold my hands up and say that in the last few games Seedorf has somewhat changed my mind. First few games, I really couldn't see anything there. Inconsistent end product and tendency to make the wrong decision is still there but it is improving. He has time on his side. Hylton, first few times I saw him, thought he reminded me of Marvin Johnson. Tricky, could buy a foul and seemed to have more end product than Seedorf. I reckon he'll contribute but now not so sure of him. Carroll, we were all told would be rubbish. He looks solid enough to me, with decent delivery. Picking up a few cards though. Seem to remember Charles Dunne doing likewise when he arrived. He managed to remove that from his game so hopefully Carroll can do the same. Certainly our best left back since than Hammell although I admit that's a low bar to clear.. Polworth, I like. The midfield combination we have at the minute seems to be working for the most part. Cole and Long. Cole is a bit more physical, and seems to me best suited to a lone striker role. Long will run the channels all day but with two wingers, we probably need someone who will stay a bit more central. Gallagher looks the best business we've done this summer. Strangely I think his age works in our favour. If he were 22 or 23, I reckon there would be a stampede of clubs to take him off our hands. His being that bit older might increase our chances of keeping him. Maybe.. Ilic, looks technically gifted but casual and slow to me. Maybe a mistake.. Sloth, O'Hara, Manzinga and Mugabi, time will only tell. Sloth, I'd be concerned by the fact that he's been with us since early in the summer. The others at least can argue that they need time to settle in. What I would also add is that the performances of Scott and Donnelly are almost like having two new signings. Both would be among the first names on the team sheet right now...

Donnelly gave the ball away but there was a whole raft of bad defending between that and the ball ending up in our net. Not defending Donnelly, but not the sole culprit. For me, the manager and Carroll carry the can today. The change for Polworth would have made sense at half time when it felt like Ross County were controlling the game. The change was made when we were dominating. And although I'm not his biggest fan, Seedorf going off for Hylton didn't work Robinson can say all he likes about Carroll's second booking being soft but given he'd not long been booked, it was a rash decision at best...

Thought we played quite well but shape seemed to when O'Hara came on. Definitely wrong change. Carroll sending off looked fair enough from the East Stand (not the best view granted) and totally handed them the initiative. Positives? Confirmation that Brian Graham really is a Nightmare Opponent, it's not in our head. And our goal was a thing of beauty...

According to? I did say at a recent game that I did believe he'd get us seven figures when he leaves...

Flipside to this though is their pricing for young people. Under18s is £15, under 16s is £8 and under 13s and students is £5. Comparing that with Accies and their £15 for all concessions makes it look more favourable...

Unlikely. We've just signed a midfielder ensuring that Semple and Maguire will barely see any game time. Other than Campbell and Scott, it would appear that Robinson doesn't think any of our young players are anywhere near ready...

I'm in favour of us leaving it out of the club highlights. If another ref sees it, and agrees with the call and feels that Hylton dived, it may influence his decision if he's refereeing a game of ours later in the season and a similar incident occurs. It shouldn't but it might..

If, and it's a big if, we're after Mark O'Hara then for me it would raise questions about Sloth. For me, it sounds like lazy pick-another-SPL-side journalism for a player rumoured to be returning north...

Scott did well on the wing last week so not surprising that he's kept his place. In the last couple of games, Seedorf has looked no worse than Ilic or Hylton so not stunned that he's starting. Interesting one for me is Dunne and Tait remaining on the bench, two guys previously that came into the category 'if they're fit, they play'. Lot of faith being shown in Carroll, Grimshaw and Hartley. In terms of Hartley and Carroll, I'm not convinced. Still no Sloth either... I wouldn't read too much into Hibs struggling to break down St Mirren. Having watched their game against Rangers last week, St Mirren sit pretty deep and concentrate on being hard to break down. On the evidence so far, we'll be a lot more open than them. Looking at their lineup with Allan, Mallan and Middleton, so might they be. Both teams to score might be the bet to make...

No, I don't know where we need to strengthen. Tell me...

I find it interesting that I have read comments on here saying that Dunne can't play centre half in a back four. Thing that strikes me is that it seems very true of Hartley. All his best performances have come at the centre of a back three with two tall, quick centre halfs either side of him. If we're going to stick with a back four (and I don't know if I would frankly), he's simply a waste of a wage. Far better if he could find somewhere he will get game time and we bring in a guy who can play in a back four. I also agree that questions should be asked about why he was signed on a permanent deal while injured. A ridiculous decision...

Further confirmation that Saturday will be a dreadful game given the referee is Andrew Dallas...

Where could Hartley go realistically? Would another Scottish club be interested? English market is closed, which I would have thought would have been the obvious destination. Other departures? Scott on loan? Livingstone? Carson? Can't see there being much demand for other players in the squad and half the squad has just arrived..

Interesting to see since I read a rumour on here a couple of days ago that Tanner was going to be released as the club thought he was never going to be able to be back at a required level...

Oh, he was dreadful against Annan as well and should have been run out of the club this summer. But to have our highest earner (or certainly one of them) not even make the 18? Doesn't say much about how resources are being used. Suspect Sloth will also be on a decent wage and not contributing...