Well 4 Europe

Hollis, Hammell, Ramsden, Hutchinson, McManus, McFadden, Lawson, Sutton, Vigurs, Lasley, McHugh Subs: Nielsen, Francis-Angol, Carswell, Erwin, Kerr, Moore, Murray Assume we're playing a diamond again, didnt really work against Newcastle. Lack of pace notable. Hope both keepers are getting a half each and Hollis starting isn't a sign of him starting next week. Also no Anier, if he hasn't signed I assume we've missed the euro deadline?

Just watched McCall's interview on MFC TV and he says he still wants a winger in and I think we'll get one. Might be on loan but you've got to remember that the window doesn't shut for over a month and there's still plenty of time to get one in. We should hopefully get by with ZFA until then although if he get's injured we really don't have any alternatives. Still think a winger will come in, probably on loan but probably not for another few weeks till McCall's had a chance to have a look at potential loanees from down south. I would say we just have to be patient.

Anier til Motherwell In Norwegian, roughly translated using Google... Looks like Anier's coming till January.

McCall has made no secret in wanting another option up front, as well as a wide man. It was your assertion that we 'needed' a goal scorer that I took exception too as I don't think that's necessarily true or realistic as I outlined above. I would like another option up front but someone to play wide is and should be McCall's priority. Any striker brought in will be on the cheap. I think your hope of us bringing in someone of genuine quality, i.e a 'goal scorer' is just not going to happen. At best it will be someone like Anier to provide competition and cover to Sutton. You never know though, McCall might just go out and unearth another gem for peanuts like he did with Ojamaa. Easier said than done right enough and I just think we have to be realistic with what we can afford given who we've already brought in this summer.

Do we? John Sutton has 43 goals in 103 starts for Motherwell. James McFadden has 37 goals in 69 starts for Motherwell. I'd put money on both Sutton and Faddy hitting the 15 goal mark this season(if Faddy can stay fit), how many other SPL teams have two players in their squad that can hit double figures? The winger is more important than bringing in another striker as right now ZFA is the only option in the squad who could be described as a proper winger and even he's a left back by trade. That's got to be the priority. If there's enough room in the budget left to bring in another striking option then great but I think you'll be disappointed if you think it's going to be someone of quality that's going to be 'goal scorer'. If anything it'll be someone cheap to provide competition/cover for Sutton as there can't be much room left in the budget, especially if we bring in a wide man. That's why we're looking at Anier, as he'll come in on loan and be cheap but with possible potential to contribute. Sutton will be our main striker this season in much the same way Higdon was last year.

I disagree. I think we're doing alright in most areas considering where we were a month or so ago. Goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen Lee Hollis Ross Stewart We were always going to operate with just two senior keepers, we have that plus the young lad from the U 19's. Early days but Gunnar's looked quite promising from what I've seen of him and I've no problems with Hollis as backup. In defence... Right Back Simon Ramsden Fraser Kerr Left Back Steven Hammell Zaine Francis Angol Centre Back Stephen McManus Shaun Hutchinson Adam Cummins Euan Murray Kerr/Ramsden(whoever isn't playing right back) Baring a ridiculous injury crisis I think we're pretty well stocked at the back. Plenty of experience there and at least two players for every position. I know Kerr and Ramsden aren't everybody's cup of tea but I think there both competent fullbacks at this level. Centre Mid Keith Lasley Paul Lawson Stuart Carswell Three players competing for two positions. If we're playing a 4-2-3-1 this season I'd be comfortable with any combination of two of those three next season. Vigurs can drop in as well If need be although I think we'll see McCall using him in a more attacking sense. Obviously, the area we're lacking is pace and a bit more creativity. However McCall wants to bring another two players, one a wide man and one a striker. Given who he's brought in so far I trust him to get it right. Right now we could line up -----------------------------------Nielsen----------- -----Ramsden-----Hutchinson------McManus------Hammelll--- -----------------------Lasley©-----------Lawson------------------ -----McFadden---------------Vigurs-----------------ZFA---------- -----------------------------------Sutton---------------------- And have a bench of Hollis Kerr Cummins Carswell McHugh Erwin Moore As I said, if McCall can bring in a wide man and at a push another option up front I really don't think we can complain about depth. Sure a few of the younger lads like Murray, Moore, Erwin etc. might have to step up at some point during the season but I thought that's what the fans wanted? People complaining not so long ago about young, local lads not getting a chance. Or did that just sound good in theory but in reality when it comes down to the crunch would people be happier if we went out and filled our squad with experienced journeymen? Personally quite happy McCall has went for quality over quantity and I for one am also more than happy to see some of the younger boys get more game time this season. I think it promises to be another good season and I for one am optimistic for the season ahead. Just my opinion mind.

Not great at Central Park it has to be said. Fairly insipid game. Three late goals makes it look better than it was, although we were always comfortably in control. Pre season all about fitness I suppose. Euan Murray and Dom Thomas were the standouts, none of the other fringe players or youngsters made any great impact on me personally. Never seen Thomas play before but the boy looked a very good prospect, was very impressed by him on his first showing. Comfortable win and despite being fairly average we were still levels above Cowdenbeath.

It's games like this where McManus and Faddy's experience(and quality) could be vital. In McManus we've got someone who's been through the Champions League group stages on two occasions and Faddy was always one for the big occasions. Two guys who won't be phased by the opposition or the occasion. Of course it won't be easy but it was never going to be regardless of who we got.

Nielsen, Stewart, Kerr, McManus, Hutchinson, ZFA, Ferguson, Carswell, Lawson, Vigurs, McCafferty, McCall, Sutton, Anier, Shirkie Are going to Morcambe on Sarturday. Hollis, Currie, Hammell, Kellock, Murray, Cummins, Ramsden, Higgins, Thomas, Moore, Johnstone, Lasley, Erwin, McHugh, McFadden Are going to Cowden. According to the club twitter. McCall trying to get as many of the 1st team as possible 90 mins.

There's about as much chance of us winning the race to sign Wayne Rooney as there is of Faddy ending up in Dingwall.

I thought the Estonian boy was decent. Not as pacey as Ojamaa but similarly he had good movement and got stuck in. He could have had a hat trick and although he didn't score it's encouraging to see him getting in the rights areas. If he scored the 1st one I imagine it would have done his confidence the world of good. Some match sharpness and a goal to give him some confidence and you never know we might have a decent player on our hands. Too early to really tell either way but given McCall said he only joined the squad yesterday and was probably struggling to remember most of his team mates names I thought he done not too bad. Certainly deserving of another look.

The Estonian on trial appears to be Henri Anier according to the Express. My link Twenty two year old Estonian International. According to Soccerway he hit 34 goals in 48 games for Flora in the Estonian Premier League which won him a move to Viking FK in the Norwegian top flight. Didn't really make much of an impact in his 1st season and was used sparingly without scoring. He was loaned out last season to Fredrikstad FK(they play in the equivalent of the SFL1) where he scored 3 goals in 9 starts. He also has an impressive 3 goals in 7 games for Estonia, however two of his goals came in friendlies against Trinidad &Tobago and Oman. The other was in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra. According to Wiki he's still with Viking FK, he signed a 3 year deal in December 2011. Might be another loan deal, or given he hasn't featured much for them he might have been told to find a new club. Sounds interesting.

McManus should be a fantastic addition. Above everything else it's his experience that pleases me most. Seven winners medals in his career, played in winning sides against the likes of AC Milan and Man United in front of 50,000 plus people, part of the Scotland defence that won in France etc. That sort of experience should be invaluable and will hopefully help us through when it comes to these big cup games which was the one poor point of last season. Not to mention he's captained one of the biggest team in the country and as well as his country, all this and he's still only 30. A real coup by the club and I've been really been pleased with the business we've done so far this summer. IF we can get a certain other Scottish International to sign his contract and get in a winger with a bit of pace we'll be in great condition going into next season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbgU6IRXcko

Stephen McManus is set to sign for Motherwell today according to the Sun.

Motherwell: Nielsen, Hammell, Ramsden, Hutchinson, Trialist, Lawson, Sutton, Vigurs, Lasley, McHugh, Francis-Angol Motherwell subs: Hollis, Cummins, Carswell, Erwin, Kerr, Stewart, Moore, Murray

Agree with most of this apart from the bit about Reid being young and up and coming. He's 27..

Brian Kerr doesn't have 25 caps for Scotland, McManus does. Brian Kerr didn't twice play for a team that got to the knockout stages of the Champions League, McManus did. Brian Kerr hasn't won every major domestic trophy in Scotland at least twice, McManus has. A ridiculous argument. I've never been a massive fan of McManus but he'd be an excellent signing at SPL level. His experience of playing top level football, his leadership qualities that saw him captain the biggest club in the country at the age of just 25 and not to mention he might just help provide a winning mentality in those big cup games having picked up 7 medals of his own during his career. Would be delighted if McManus signed, however if this boy Reid is signing I can't see it.

Faddy is Well set Will wait for it to be official before getting too excited. At least we should know by Monday and we can all move on one way or another on both.

We could, Craig Reid may well feature. No chance either Faddy or McManus will feature in my opinion. Unless they've signed of course...

Craig Reid did indeed play for a Motherwell XI along with a few other trialists that lost 3-1 to Morton at Cappielow this morning.

Sadly he has, he played in the UEFA cup group stages when he was at Everton.

Well McCall said he wanted 5 in and since then he's brought in Gunnar Nielsen and John Sutton. I'm not entirely sure if the 5 includes Fraser Kerr because when he was interviewed on MFC tv Flow seemed to suggest the deal had been agreed a while ago. So I'm unsure as to whether McCall was already including him as part of the squad he had and had accounted for his wages. I'd hope so anyway as we apparently have deals out to Faddy and McManus. IF, and lets face if it's a pretty big if, they both sign and you include Kerr then that'd be your 5. Then our squad will be left with a distinct lack of pace. Suppose there's a long way to go for that sort of talk as I'm sceptical about either McManus or Faddy signing let alone both. We certainly do need at least one winger with a bit of pace signed up though in my opinion. ZFA is the only option we really have at the minute that fits that description and even he's a left back by trade. The squad go away for the pre season trip on Monday, if Faddy and/or McManus aren't on that plane I personally can't see them signing. McFadden especially, he's surely had long enough? I love Faddy as much as the next 'Well fan but surely it's time to ask for a definitive answer and if he's not prepared to sign we should move on and push on with signing other targets.

See some boy from the Herald saying on twitter that McManus will apparently begin training with us tomorrow.

St Mirren ICT Levante Man of the match threads for each of Kerr's first three starts Give them a quick read, full of praise for Kerr. He certainly showed plenty of potential and promise in those first three starts. Was also decent in the 4-1 win against Aberdeen on Boxing Day and the narrow defeat at Celtic Park. He'll be cheap, he's versatile and he's shown signs of promise. I for one think he's worth a punt and could develop into a decent player at this level.