MelvinBragg

I'd heard he'd just come back from Holland where he was dealing with a personal issue...

I know we won't. Concern would be that £750k would see us the richest club in the second tier. Without his goals, we're toast...

Thanks but no thanks. Not a like for like replacement and no time to find one...

Again, like the Northern Irish midfielder who apparently signed the other day, one for the U20s...

Only thing I would say is that it would tend to play pretty narrow that midfield...

So if we can get Ciftci, we let McDonald leave? I'm quite surprised that Pearson is coming back. Just had a feeling that he'd fancy trying something new. Did Burrows give any indication as to why the Pearson deal is taking its time?

It's an interesting one. He seems to have fallen so far down the pecking order that it's difficult to see a way back for him at Fir Park. Yet a lot of people who watch the U20s say he stands out. There's a part of me that thinks as long as his alleged attitude problems don't affect his fitness or ability, is it something we tolerate or would that damage team spirit?

At 18, I reckon he's been signed with a view to going into the U20s initially...

Actually thought that McHugh was our best player...

While I appreciate some of them will not be on huge salaries, we'd still be paying wages to a couple of established professionals (as opposed to the likes of Allan Campbell or Jake Hastie) who'll be nowhere near the starting lineup. If true that Bowman and Blyth are both surplus to requirements, then it reflects really badly on McGhee's performance in the summer market. If you add those two to Belic and Brill, that's four signings that after less than six months have been exposed as not good enough. I make it five other signings in the summer with varying degrees of success. McHugh looks a player but has been unlucky. Heneghan has been good (although maybe not as good as some are making out). Tait will do a job, steady Eddie. Clay and Lucas, have been okay to solid which would be fine if we had a creative midfielder alongside them. So nine summer signings. Potentially four already moving on or surplus to requirements. Two or three decent signings and a couple who the support are unconvinced by. Am I the only one terrified at the thought of McGhee trying to replace Moult, McDonald and Cadden in the summer. His record in the transfer market is patchy at best...

If we sign Pearson, it makes extending Lee Lucas' deal bizarre similar to when we extended Mark O'Brien's loan and then brought in Laing a couple of days later. Pearson returning would give us himself, Clay, McHugh, Lasley, Lucas and Cadden all, I would assume, on a first team wage. At a time when we're trying to balance the books, seems excessive...

I thought he'd said that he had three targets but it was looking like we were going to bring in four players suggesting that one wasn't a player he had targeted for a long time. Given we've looked at a couple of keepers in training, I'd suggest Griffiths maybe wasn't someone we were looking at...

When is Mackin's contract up? Obviously behind Bowman in the pecking order given he's been allowed to leave on loan but would hope that a loan spell away if he applies himself could see him come back and make a Cadden or Erwin style impact...

I'd be more surprised that we'd be paying a fee for a backup goalkeeper as I don't imagine Dunfermline would be letting him go for nothing...

Left winger signed. Will be interesting to see which other positions we look to strengthen. Striker or central midfield would be strange and almost an admission that summer signings haven't worked out. Central defence? Would speak to a lack of faith in Kennedy and Ferguson. Left back? Given Hammell, Chalmers and McMillan can all play there, irrespective of what you think of their abilities, a fourth player in that position would seem to be an unwise use of resources. Maybe if we can move one of them on. Obviously looking at a replacement for Brill as well. Be interesting to see what else we do...

Cue a load of Well fans trawling through Everton U20s squad list trying to work out who we're going to sign on loan...

I'd need to watch it again but seem to recall him saying we'd like him to stay. Which is slightly different...

Interesting that McGhee says maybe four new signings when we were only looking at three. Taking into account his fondness for saying stuff that doesn't pan out, could the fourth be a replacement for McDonald....?

Suggestions that at least one of them might not play?

I won't ask for a name but what position does this lower league play in?

Still reckon Bowman may do a job. When he first came in he was playing in a front three with Moult and McDonald in a system that suited none of them. I think up top with a McDonald type playing off him, we'd see the best of him. Mackin would hopefully be ready to step into Bowman's current role as first reserve striker. I'm also hoping Ross MacLean can nail down the right wing spot vacated by Ainsworth. I don't think there's anyone in the U20s who can fill the McDonald role so that's one signing we'd need to make. Having said that, the fact that guys like Campbell, McMillan and MacLean have stepped up and not looked out of place should mean we're at least willing to look at some of the players like Fry and Hastie to step up and fill the gaps if players leave...

Louis Moult has been great for us. Not only his goals but his workrate has helped make him a fans favourite in a short time here. He has also managed to appear (whether it's true or not) happy to play for us (not always the case with players from down South). If he leaves in January, he'll go with nothing but good wishes from me. How much is he worth? He's worth whatever teams are willing to pay for him. He's a goalscorer and they are always in demand but he could (should?) have had a hattrick on Saturday and teams will see the chances he misses as well as the goals he scores. Flipside to that is that old adage that he keeps getting in the right positions which is a good knack for any striker. Is he as good as some players that have changed hands for seven figures down South? I think so but we have to accept that any player playing in Scotland is marked as 'unproven' to those in England and the price drops accordingly. I'd like £750k but think £500k is probably realistic. On whether we have a replacement lined up, you'd like to think that we as a club are preparing for the eventuality of Moult or Cadden leaving but way we looked totally unprepared for the loss of Marvin Johnson doesn't fill me with confidence...

This I agree with, 100%...

Assuming Lucas stays, and we sign Pearson, I reckon we won't be looking for another midfielder. That would give us Clay, Cadden, McHugh, Lasley, Lucas and Pearson. Irrespective of whether you think they're all good enough or the right mix, I can't see us carrying 7 midfielders on the books. Left wing and left back will probably be the areas we look at although I do like the look of Jack McMillan so wouldn't want to stunt his progress too much. Maybe a loan signing at left back to give him time to develop? Time will tell...

Carl McHugh. 2 league games, 2 wins. Just saying...