el-pidge

Bare in mind we papped Hyslop as well. Hollis is probably going to be our 3rd choice... that or Fraser will now be 3rd choice. More to come i think.

PLeased about McHugh, reckon he has potential. Its also good to see we are tying players down to more than one year deals... still think we have to make 3 or 4 signings this summer... but hopefully we will be spared a big squad rebuild again next summer. I think now we need to retain or replace coke and hately with at least one midfielder... we need a striker and a keeper as priorities.... and an o'brien replacement would be nice but that probably isnt the priority. If we sell Reynolds and stick Hutch in maybe that money will go back into plugging those gaps in the squad. It never goes to plan though.

Only because they would be too proud to admit their careers have gone nowhere since they left!! Brian Kerr has most certainly gone backwards (probably both talent-wise and financially), while Smith hasnt exactly set the heathers on fire and will no doubt find himself far down the pecking order eventually. So maybe it still is a good idea, particularly in reference to Kerr.

Not a snowballs chance in Hell we would sell them Reynolds for that, and I doubt he would want to go there, he is looking to advance his career, not remain stationary. scoff scoff scoff. Hately maybe. But I dont see much point in that move either. ANY MOTHERWELL PLAYER THINKING OF JOINING HIBS... JUST GO TALK TO BRIAN KERR OR GRAEME SMITH.

Possibility of taking revenge on Mypa-47 in the 3rd QF Round if we (and they) make it as expected.... any takers?

I thought we paid around 50k for JOB

Here, Here! Spot On

What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?

I think Fitz is our best left mid when he plays there, happily keep him there. He played a blinder against aberdeen away. Had he not got injured i think he would have held down that place. Ridiculous to say he has never broken through, he had a great spell under mghee.

Im not too sure there is anyone in that list we could beat... they all seem like big names to me... all with at least double our co-efficient (mind you aberdeen have double our co-efficient). There are probably a good few we could have a right good go at though!

This site is worth a butchers. Seems to have all the teams, seedings and co-efficients and also seems to have put all/most of the teams in place on the assumption that the seeded teams qualify from their round. It has Motherwell making it to the play-offs based on our co-efficient. So it makes it easier to see possible opponents. http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/seedel2010.html Going by that, our best chance of getting to the group stage would be a game against Cliftonville in the 2nd QF, a game against Cibalia Vinkovci in the 2rd QF and BATE Borisov in the PLay-offs.

Aye but liverpool and german teams will likely make the play-offs from the 3rd round and be seeded. We might make the play-offs and wont be seeded. Then could play liverpool or a german team there. Probably what was meant. When you look at the teams already seeded for the play-offs... and the teams likely to be seeded who get past the third round... there is almost no chance of avoiding a glamour tie!

I do agree, but what about when they are gone? Who out of the current squad is even halfway close to giving us the kind of service the likes of Craggs, Las and Hammell have? Surely (a la Lasley and Hammell) that would require someone who has already left us coming back. Just as I worry about how many players we turnover and how young the squad is getting... I worry about the future absence of guys like these who are more than just part of the team, they are the heart and soul of the club. At the risk of sounding apocalyptic, I fear we are now just a small cog in a conveyor belt of young talent... and we are losing the essence of Motherwell FC, becoming something different. Better or worse, I don't know. Great to see Murphy sign, would love him to give us the service Craggs, Las and Hammell have given us, or the money countless others have given us.... but I remain sceptical he will do either and suspect he will head to the championship in years to come on freedom of contract or for a couple hundred K.

Perhaps I shouldnt of bothered with the last sentence of my last post. Although your points are certainly worth public airing so no complaints there. Obviously, like everyone, I'm sure, I appreciate the negative impact of the financial downturn. However I still feel its worth reiterating that we have lost at least 14 senior players and only obtained 3.... considering we axed something like 19 when administration hit (which isnt far off what we have shed in recent years) our fortunes of late have me more than a little concerned. How small can the SENIOR squad get? It seems to me that in the future we will be left with an U19 team in the spl! Yes it might sound great that we have all these 'prospects' but how often do they earn us fees similar to the likes of Porter and McDonald. I'm not saying there have been none... that would be ridiculous but its only really been Quinn and Clarkson, who were homegrown, who have earned us some dosh in years gone by. Reynolds is next in line to earn us a few hundred thousand... but once he is gone, who is next. Who are we going to be able to create revenue from next year. Our entire squad is too young. Maybe in 3 years when they have all matured we will make a mint, but what are we going to do now? To return to Hately and Coke. No I don't want players here who don't want to be here. I just wish we weren't having to give out 1 year contracts in the first place that force us into a complete overhaul each year... which more often than not, tends to be an 'under-haul'

I would be a bit disappointed if either left. I'm happy with them in the team and im nervous about our ability to replace so many players. It seems to me every season we lose more players than we replace as well. Its interesting to see just how the in's and out's of the past two years stacks up. Clarkson, Quinn, Porter, Hughes, Slane, O'Brien, Darren Smith, Graeme Smith, Malcolm, Mgarry, Connolly, McLean... thats 12 that were contracted to the club have left to my memory. Add Klimpl if you like. Replaced by... Jennings, Humphrey, Coke, Hately, Fraser. (Is that all?) If Coke and Hately go.. that makes for an exodus of 14 players in two years and only 3 that have been replaced from external sources. I know we have had an influx of youngsters.... Forbes, Saunders, and to a lesser extent McHugh, Hutchinson, and to an even lesser extent Page, Meechan (any others?) This is what worries me the most. I don't understand why its happening and why no one seems to notice.

Well that was an exciting thread

Aye mickey weir did all right... to my faint memory. I was a bairn.

Nice goal

Here here. On top of that, as someone maybe mentioned earlier. Motherwell v United games never seem to fail to entertain (in recent years particularly). I certainly dont like united but there is no good reason for ill feeling towards them. First time I ever saw motherwell play was against them. Its always been a special fixture for me. Probably all stems from beating them in 91. Very healthy competition.

Definitely want a United win today, but ive got my money on County so I wont be too disappointed either way. Can't help feeling jealous of both teams though, I'm dying to watch motherwell in the scottish cup final and against a non OF team. Ive experienced just about everything else I dare dream about as a well fan. Dream come true would be Motherwell V Aberdeen in the SC final next year... even at the expense of a poor domestic season.

Can't believe some people on her want Imrie. He is a dick. Hates motherwell. He would never come here! I would find it very hard to support motherwell with him in the team. Dont think we can afford him now anyway.

I think its more down to the fact that he just doesnt have the dressing room at pittodrie. He does talk some pish, in fairness.... but having lived in aberdeen for 5years though, I recognise how tough a job it is up there and I think the discipline of the aberdeen players just goes to show this. Aberdeen have unjustified expctations and delusions of grandure. The whole city is like that. Mghee did do wonders for our discipline and the fact that he has almost had an adverse effect up north just goes to show how much of a fanny club they are.

I think its an advantage to be going in at the second qualifying round, better chance of being match fit when the much more difficult third qualifying round games come. Imagine we had gone straight in to face steaua bucharest last year! would of been a lot worse than the 6-1 aggregate score it ended as. As for our chances... I expect to win the 2ndQF round, and at least be competitive in the 3rd. If we make the play-offs and get a real glamour tie in france/germany/spain/england its job well done.

I went for Hately, but I cant really decide between him and Sutty. I like a steady eddie, and I cant remember him missing again? Fair enough he has never been spectacular but he has done the dirty work consistently. Some think he hasnt been so great over the past few games. If that's the case, I think its down to the long season, bearing in mind it is his first ever long season. I can't remember him putting a foot wrong. Loved his goal against Rangers and his versatility. He has been a real asset at dead ball situations, I would love to see how many assists he has managed? If its as high as I think? Sutton has really impressed this season and as he grew in confidence he got better and better this year. I think the best of him is yet to come and I look forward to voting for him next year. But he was fairly anonymous to me at the start so he wasnt my choice. Obviously I considered Ruddy as well. At times he has been our most spectacular player, and quite consistent. But a few real howlers stick out in my mind, granted he plays a position where the odd howler can be expected. I still cant bring myself to vote for a goalie though. Have to mention the likes of Reynolds, O'Brien, Juke whose performances have also been invaluable.

Its in the news just now that Brown is resigning