MelvinBragg

When you see that list, it is really quite something. Assuming we are able to (and want to) move on Donnelly, Hartley and Johnson, we're left with virtually no attacking options and very little in midfield. An opportunity or a problem? Depends on your belief in Robinson's ability in the transfer market. It certainly doesn't look like this summer will be about strengthening from 12 to 16 as last summer was.. Having said that, I wouldn't be astounded to see Donnelly, McHugh and Frear in our squad next season. Donnelly may look out of the picture but so too did Grimshaw at points last season. Frear and McHugh are players that Robinson talks up and I think there are a few factors as to whether they stay or not. Do they want to stay as squad players? Do we have targets we feel can replace them? Will they be happy with the contracts on offer if the offers are on squad player terms? Period of uncertainty ahead. More so if we get bids for Turnbull and Campbell that we can't turn down. .

Funny, I thought Aldred and Gorrin had their worst games for us. Shows you how we all see the game differently. Thought Ariyibi showed flashes but for me Campbell was the tallest dwarf today...

Two dreadful team performances there today and unsurprisingly the team that has had more money spent on it made less mistakes. I actually think that eleven Rangers had out today is worse than the one we beat last season in the league cup semi. But if you encourage teams by gifting them chances, they'll take one or two. For me, several Motherwell players had their worst performance in a Motherwell shirt today. Unfortunate but gives us an idea of what we need going forward. Frankly despite the result, I'm not massively disheartened. Poor performance but not the worst of the season (I reckon vs St Mirren at home pre Christmas). I'd be more worried if I were a Rangers fan. If that's the best they can muster with all the money they've thrown at it, their scouts and coaching staff need a good slap...

Was talking to my son about this very game the other day. Sore one...

Where was all this reported?

Whilst I admit I haven't seen Ferguson play, would any goalkeeper available as a free agent be an upgrade? And how fit/sharp would any goalkeeper be?

Far from ideal Gillespie getting injured. Definitely bad luck having both first and second choice goalkeepers injured...

Obviously I'm not watching it but anywhere I've looked, stats say they've had six or seven shots to our none...

I understand that from a lifestyle and financial perspective, it is an attractive move and can totally understand an individual making that choice. I'm afraid I don't see the sporting merits of such a move. And I say that as someone who enjoys watching all standards of football. I must do, Motherwell can produce the full range in one season...

Good question. And one I hadn't even thought of. If true that he's moving to MLS, I'd actually be more disappointed in him than if he signed for Rangers. As unwise as a move to Rangers might have been, it at least indicated a modicum of ambition to achieve something other than simply trouser a load of cash. Obviously MLS is improving but it doesn't feel like a move for career development...

Maybe they've seen his last couple of performances. Now teams are aware of him, he seems less effective. Still a promising player by no means the finished article...

Concerning that you don't mention Livingstone given we've already given him a contract....

I agree to an extent. Hastie didn't offer much, difficult for Ariyibi to as he was booted up in the air pretty much every time he got the ball. Always felt we were the team more likely to play decent football. Only period I felt they were the better team was the first 15 minutes of the second half. And that was changed by the subs. Winning while playing poorly is never a bad sign and it was good to have the option of Cadden and Frear to give their full backs different problems. Hastie is never going to power past people the way Cadden can...

I can see why the club and the players would want top six. Just feel as a fan, bottom six games might be more enjoyable without trip to Ibrox and the always enjoyable visit of thousands of Celtic supporters. And as others have pointed out, offers the possibility of relegating Accies at their own place...

Serious question. Do we want to finish in the top six? I know there are financial positives but for me the risk of Celtic winning the league at Fir Park gives me the fear. There's also the fact that games against the bottom six might be better games for us to blood the likes of Brown, Semple, Scott and Livingstone. Obviously I never like to see us lose games but just don't see the great appeal of finishing top six...

I'm not convinced that James Scott will be the answer up front but the club clearly feels he could be. Therefore my only frustration today was the fact that we didn't give him half an hour against a dreadful defence. Strikers are judged on goals so the sooner he gets his first goal, surely the better. Bringing him on the same time as Frear with both of them having something to prove might have given us fresh momentum in the second half...

At least we know in advance who's going to have most influence on the game today. Andrew Dallas is referee..

To be fair, if Hastie's going there he's going to walk into their first team. Kent loan ending and Candeilas is poor. Good luck to him and we move on...

Also on the subject of contract extensions, if Gorrin and Grimshaw are out of contract in the summer then that's an issue I'd be looking at right now. Gorrin in particular but if we keep striking out with left back signings then Grimshaw at right back and Tait on the left wouldn't be the worst option to go with...

It's a situation where I can see both sides of the argument. At a recent home game I heard someone say that we should have had him tied down on a contract before we put him in the first team. Our history is filled with players who impressed at U20 level but who never made an impact at first team level. Think of Dom Thomas, Bob McHugh, Luke Watt in recent years. There have been guys who have made an initial impact and faded, like Forbes, Saunders and Carswell. We as a club have made some mistakes in offering some contracts and ending up with players here who weren't good enough at first team level. That being said, we seem to get more decisions right than wrong. That old chestnut about how many young players have we let go who have gone on to better things. If Hastie has faith in his ability, the two examples he should perhaps look at are Lee Erwin and Robbie Leitch. They moved early to big clubs and made a fair bit of money by doing so. What the stalling in their development has done for their earning potential for the rest of their careers would however make me wonder if in the long term they will really end up massively better off by the end of their careers? The club have made the best offer they can. As others have said, there's no point in worrying too much about it. Players have left over the years, others come in. We move on. Semple is a player that has been much talked about, pretty sure those who watch the U20s will know of others. I would love him to stay but if Hastie leaves, then he leaves with my best wishes. He's given us some great moments and been a massive part in stopping what could have been a slide into a relegation battle...

Stand corrected on Riedle. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I had him as East German like Sammer...

Don't think Riedle was in the squad in 1990...

Juninho? Guivarch possibly? Andreas Mòller?

Why was Dunne playing left back?

Trips to Ibrox and Parkhead, I always take the approach that if you can get away without an absolute pasting and avoid injuries and suspensions then it's job done. Sadly on the injury front, we have suffered today. Thankfully we have points in the bank. What I did find interesting today was that when McHugh got injured, Liam Donnelly came on. How far out of the picture is Peter Hartley?