MelvinBragg

As you normally seem to be in the know on these things, I'll be interested to see which former player is returning...

It's a fair point. Cadden seems to have benefited from that. I seem to recall McGhee saying something along the lines of the aim was to have our young players ready for the first team at 18 or 19 rather than 20 or 21 so anything that helps should be looked at. What I would say is that Campbell has just turned 18. What level would we be loaning him out to where we could be sure he'd get first team games? There is no point in loaning him out if he isn't going to be playing most weeks wherever we send him and the same applies to anyone we send out on loan...

Have to say that I agree that our youth system should be the priority. Have been impressed with what I've seen of Ross MacLean and if he could have a similar impact to Cadden then we would save ourselves some money. Also not impossible to see Mackin jump ahead of Blyth in the queue for a first team spot. What we have to hope for is that we try and get these guys on longer contracts and try and avoid losing them or avoid losing them for less than their value as seems to have happened with Hall and Robbie Leitch. MacLean is only contracted until the summer and I'm not sure of the situation with the others who have shown promise. It's one thing for the fans to show patience and understand that the club is going down this route and for the club to develop these guys well at under 20 level. The club also has to plan long term, being wiling to offer contracts to some that might not make it is a risk but protects us if players do develop as we hope. Also there has to be a willingness at first team level to take a calculated risk. McHugh got injured with us 2-0 up at Kilmarnock. Chalmers was brought on rather than Campbell, a more natural replacement. It's great that the U20s are showing promise. The club have to make the most of it though...

Would need to be a "squinty" 442 with three centre midfielders as no one plays with only two in the centre of midfield for fear of being overrun. We were kind of doing this last season with Pearson, Lasley and Cadden playing as centre midfielders with Johnson out wide. Cadden had license to pull wide right when we had possession. McGhee however kept telling us it was 433 though with a front three of Johnson, Moult and McDonald interchanging. I think he's trying to replicate that this season but it's not really working without Moult...

I don't think Blyth being ineffectual was so much the problem as switching to 442 left us short in midfield handing them the upper hand. I don't disagree Cadden was poor but Lucas could have been brought on for him and Blyth for McDonald and kept the same shape...

I'd fine him for the handball alone...

Totally agree. I think a midfield three of Clay, McHugh and Cadden could work. All pretty mobile and physical. Clay didn't play too many incisive passes today but like McHugh any time I have seen him, he doesn't give the ball away too often...

Thought Chalmers made a couple of mistakes today but so did every single one of our back four. If Chalmers had misjudged the ball as McManus did in the first half letting their striker run in on goal or whack a clearance off a fellow defender almost leading to a comedy own goal as Heneghan did, the East Stand would have been all over it. The guy hasn't had a run of games in one position. Do I think he will turn out to be good enough to replace Hammell at left back? I don't know but he's not the trainwreck everyone is keen to paint him as. In the three games I've seen him this season, not once has he been the worst Motherwell player on the park...

Could make a case for giving him a go at Ibrox where expectations are low and he'll probably be busy enough for us to make an informed judgement...

Tend to agree. As things stand, I'd be going with a three of Clay, McHugh and Cadden. Lasley would be better used late in games if we're defending a lead and want to try close the game out...

Actually thought Clay did alright today and if I was going to sub anyone it would have been McDonald. He needs a boot up the arse. And at the risk of making myself even more unpopular, I don't think Chalmers had a bad game. Better than McManus. Manager made some bizarre decisions today that while I can't definitely say cost us the game, didn't seem to help...

Samson Tait Heneghan McManus Chalmers Cadden Lasley Clay Ainsworth McDonald Johnson Subs Brill Ferguson Lucas MacLean Thomas McFadden Blyth EDIT Just beaten to it..

Jacob Blyth making a late run for it...

I think you can excuse Johnson and McDonald to an extent as they were so isolated from the rest of the team, they had a thankless task. Cadden managed to drag us up the field a couple of times but picked the wrong option on occasions but having said that, there weren't too many options open to him. I agree about Samson though. He made some errors last night, but overall did more good than bad which you can't say about the rest of the team...

The thing with the playoffs, I don't know how much was down to that being a truly dreadful Rangers team. Having said that, and we all know how many flaws he had, Baraclough in the run up to the playoffs didn't talk down our chances. Whether that's down to him having nothing to do with Scottish football prior to his arrival and not being indoctrinated into the "we better not show up" mentality, I don't know but our attitude in those games seemed markedly different to our attitude going into games against the Old Firm with other managers who have a background in Scottish football. You would hope that with McGhee's background of playing for Aberdeen when they used to come to Glasgow regularly and win that he wouldn't have an inferiority complex about it but it seems the case. Would we have won with a different attitude last night? Maybe not. As Tweed pointed out, the match ups weren't in our favour. But perhaps I wouldn't feel as embarrassed this morning. What I take from this thread is that most of us aren't irate about losing or even the margin of defeat, more the manner of the defeat. At no point did we get in their faces and seem to make life difficult for them. That really sticks in the throat...

Must have missed that. Wouldn't surprise me if Leitch and Hall caught the eye, he probably would as well...

Not saying it's alright to lose badly because it's Celtic but given the difference in budget and resources, it can happen. The nature of the defeat leaves a bad taste in the mouth but realistically we're not competing with them...

Trying to be more specific. Cadden and Johnson when they could get the ball at least tried to be positive. Elsewhere, hard to give any positives... Full back is a major concern. Chalmers or Hammell at left back? Tait at right back will get done every time with pace. Positional sense doesn't actually seem that bad but a slight change of pace and a winger is past him. Maybe he'll adjust and pretty sure McGhee will persevere with him but Laing might be a better option just now. Midfield. Haven't seen Clay so can't comment on him. Alarmingly watched the game tonight and still haven't seen him.. Actually he had a chance in the first half so to be positive, you could say he got forward now and again. McDonald. Only fit striker we have. And he's not fit. Why did we send Moore out on loan? McDonald looks frustrated and unfortunately he doesn't always channel frustration well. Samson. Catch the ball. Once. Please. Made saves but often pushed it back into the danger area. Keep telling myself that Celtic are not the team we should be measuring ourselves against...

I don't think fitness is the main issue. Lack of belief is the problem. And as an aside, McGhee's post match interview didn't help my mood...

For those who missed tonight's game, good news is that there will be a repeat performance a week on Saturday at Ibrox. Why do other teams that are no better than us have more belief when they go to Glasgow?

The lack of fight and belief is the most galling thing. Or at least one of many galling things from tonight's game...

While I don't disagree, manager sets the tone. Players see the team lineup and they know it's asking for trouble...

Embarrassing. Disgraceful performance. Just scunnered with us turning up and not having a go..

Haven't seen Tait have a good game for us. To be fair, have only seen him against Celtic and Rangers so won't judge him too harshly...

Indeed. And BT Sport employing Moravcik who can barely speak English is a joke...