The African

If he has gone to Sunderland, then it looks like Laverton was not really a n option, budget wise, for us. I tend to think that, longer term, using the second half of the season to give some of our youngsters an opportunity might be the way to go. We are safe for this season, so why spend money we don't really have n the type of player available at his stage of a season, when we could bring in young talent that would benefit from the experience of coming into a confident and, currently, winning environment. We always seem to hear that young players are not ready forthe step up, but at least we could give them a chance in an atmosphere where they are free to play their own game without a poor performance having too dire consequences. Show a little faith and who knows what we might achieve?

Excellent news regarding Carson signing on for another couple of seasons. He has proven to be both loyal and patient and certainly deserves a new deal, hopefully, for his sake, on improved terms. With regard to Mark Gillespie, the ball is very firmly now in his court. I am pretty sure that is form will have attracted attention from other clubs, so he may get other offers. We may even get a bid or two for him in the transfer window which we would then Ben a position to accept. More likely that he will sign a pre contract deal, which is fine. It is how the system works. As with Carson, he has been great for us and we could not seriously begrudge either of them a move which improves their financial position or enhances their career. It will be interesting to see how long our offer to him stays on the table though, and what happens with selection after the break if he doesn't resign with us.

A wake up call for us. The one thing that our history tells all Motherwell fans is that hubris is followed by nemesis. Or to put it another way, as soon as we get ahead of ourselves, sure as eggs is eggs, we come a cropper. The only upside from today, and this is clutching at more straws than someone doing a tandem parachute jump with Wurzel Gummidge, is that we may learn from this performance and not see another like it this season.

Any kind of win will do for me. Three points and keep the feel good feeling going into the break. Anyone who thinks it will be a canter is kidding themselves. The standard from third to twelfth in our league doesn't span too much of a quality gap. Throw in the local derby factor and you can take nothing for granted. Let's hope that the growing confidence within the squad from a great run of results and decent performances is enough to get the job done.

If we lose both it may be a farce, but not one of our making. The transfer market for goalkeepers seems to be very different from other positions. Verges clubs seem to be prepared to offer even half decent money for them. Both Carson and Gillespie have been made offers which is all we can do. If they are offered more elsewhere, and take it, then good luck to them. Having said that, I rate both of them highly and would be more than delighted if either were to sign on for a longer stay at Fir Park.

Agree that a point would not be the worst result. Ross County are not doing much away from home (dodgy smash and grab at Fir Park accepted) so going to Dingwall will undoubtedly be a battle. As for presuming anything about the following fixture, I've been a 'well fan too long to make that mistake. Concentrate on the job in hand, be professionally focused and up for the fight and then let's see what it gets us. Oh, and a Merry Christmas to all Motherwell fans, wherever it may find you, seeing as it is Christmas morning here in Aotearoa.

I think the only contribution we would be making would be to Rangers' wage budget. A fit Murphy would be a genuine asset, but one that we would likely struggle to afford. An unfit Murphy would be a waste of our limited resources. I like Murphy. He was a event player for us and did well after he moved on. The facts remain that a loan or permanent move for him would be an expensive gamble with a limited chance of a decent return. I think it is a risk we currently should avoid.

Key game for us. Need to get back on track before the winter break and not take our eye off the ball with distractions elsewhere, like Killie's management situation, or indeed our own manager's extracurricular activities. This has to be seen as the first opportunity of three to get a good haul of points from these three matches and put us in poll position for a good final league placing. No need for wholesale changes. We were doing okay until Sunday. All things considered, I'd probably take a point right now.

They will both get plenty of game time if we get a decent offer for big Declan in January.

On live in New Zealand as well. After midnight local time, but what the heck. I don't think my work schedule for the rest of Monday is too hectic.

So what, exactly, has he been charged with? Seems a fairly important fact to have been left out of the article.

I think the fact they are a bunch of cheating' bastards will possibly give them an age. Has worked well for them in the past.

Somebody will beat them this season, outwith their pals from the other side of Glasgow, so why shouldn't it be us? Get the attitude and the tactics right and we have to believe we have a chance. It isn't as if they gave us a scudding at Ibrox earlier this season.

As a Motherwell fan of a certain vintage, any win against Hearts is a good win. Nine ponts in a week when our squad is weakened by illness. This week could prove to be the defining point of our season. There will be ups and downs before the split, but we can all see that this squad is capable of playing better. Given the standard of our league, I'd say that top six is now our goal, not trying to avoid the drop. The stability that another season in the top division offers a club with our business model cannot be overestimated.

Great result. Keep winning the games we should win and we will be fine for a top six finish. There will obviously be the odd stumble, and we will have a bad run at some point, but given the turnaround in our squad in the summer, you would have to be reasonably satisfied with where we find ourselves.

Can see this being very tricky. Agree with the poster who thought a draw might not be the worst result. I think we will need to be up for the fight to take anything from this.

He didn't costs anything in terms of a transfer, so freeing up a, by our standards, reasonable salary, probably makes sense. Looked a decent bit of business, but for whatever reason, it just isn't working out at present.

Unless we lose players to decent offers or long term injury, you have to think that any squad movement will be along the lines of financial housekeeping. I can see the sense in Sloth looking elsewhere for game time, permanently or on loan. Carson is also too good a keeper to be warming our bench and deserves a move for first team action.

What you've never had, you'll never miss. No point getting too upset about transfer fees for young David when the transfer didn't happen. He is a contracted player for the rest of this season and for next season. We need to concentrate on getting him fit, healthy and back playing football for us. No shortcuts for short term gain. If we can get him back to where he was before the injury, we will all do very well out of the situation. We do need to, though, remember that he is much more than just an asset for our club, with a value, increasing or diminishing, on a balance sheet. He is a young man who has had a serious mental and physical jolt, with his dreams of a great career move, and all that entailed, shattered. He needs our help and support to get back on track.

Indeed. They are fighting for survival, but we need to get back to winning ways. We cannot afford to take them too lightly. Anyone in the bottom ten is capable of taking something from the other one members of that part of the league.

If it wasn't Ronnie Hellstrom then I am not really nterested.

Spurs must have sacked their manager. Seemed to be doing a decent job, but modern football has no place for long term planning or loyalty.

Watched the second half. Not much f a game and a disappointing result. Campbell was solid, as was Maguire. Think that playing Campbell as the most advanced midfielder isa strange use of resources.

A point, right now, is probably not the worst result. I do expect Jack Ross to bring about a marked improvement at Easter Road, though it may take a bit of time.

I am guessing the Aberdeen game?