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On the other place they are saying a 19 year old called Guy Bainbridge...... Edit: ex Airdrie youth academy apparently. Wiki says he is a "prolific goalscorer"

Team playing tonight in the evolution trophy has a trialist. Anyone got any details?

Wilson wasnt any good in any of those positions. That was on Kettlewell. He is a limited left back who looks like he could fill in at left centre half if we went to a 3 at the back. I would keep him around right now for the UEFA quota. But the minute we are out of Europe he should go out on loan again to give him another chance to develop. He isnt playing LB in front of Longelo, Williams, Koutroumbis, SOD or even Sparrow.

Mind n put your granpa pampers on your at a bad age now 🙈😜

Jesus the guy a saw was a lump 👍

He must be fittest guy at club, never stops. Not sure right back his best position but he is slotting in well

He can also play further forward if needed, and also in the middle to the left side as well in a pinch. Like I said, a useful, low-cost option to have around.

Wilson is fourth or fifth choice left back at the moment (Longelo, Williams, Johnny K, possible SODs), it is a difficult role to recruit for, but due to injuries to all of these players he has needed to play and he has done fine. I think we should be focussing elsewhere in the team.

Sparrow has been fabulous this season and would be one of the first picks . last season I thought he’d fallen away and appreciate he wasn’t playing his natural position. He’s someone who with game time has just continued to grow

The fact we are this far along and there has been no sign of us getting the top end of the pitch dealt with is somewhat worrying. Would like to see at least 1 AM and 2 striker options minimum.

Sorry hit the wrong button any word on any of the injured coming back?

And this shows me you haven't got a clue what I'm saying. I thought I was very clear but my bad if not. Where did I say we should have a squad of 13? Where did I say anyone not up to Turnbull etc standard should be shipped out? Where did I say anyone not first team ready should be moved on? Where did I say players should not be given time to reach a standard? What I did say, and I'll repeat it in the hope you get it, is that we should always be looking to upgrade where possible, from within or by recruitment. And that applies across the board, the entire squad which at last count was way more than 13. As for Wilson, I haven't counted the number of games he has had. But if your figure of 100 is correct then the progress he has made in that time is disappointing. In truth he was a better player when he first broke through. In my opinion he has regressed but you are entitled to disagree as you clearly do.

And if someone of that level is available, happy to play that role at a club like ours, and their salary reflects said role, then fantastic. Until we find someone, though, I wouldn't be moving Wilson out, because we'd only need to scramble to fill that gap and would likely end up with another no-name loanee who passes through Fir Park as so many have in the past. I also think Wilson is pretty much past the stage of "getting a chance" with us. He's played almost 50 games. He's at over 100 professional games. He is what he is. Which, to me, is a decent enough fringe player for a club of our size. He's a fairly versatile left-sided player and can do a job when required. How many managers has he been here under now? He's also had three contract extensions, so the club obviously see something in him. The truth is, we're Motherwell, not Man City. We most likely can't expect to have many players coming here who are happy to sit on the bench and try to force their way into the team. That's why in the past we've gone for late loans along the lines of Osong, Hegyi, Plange, Dickson, Tavares, and Buyabu to fill those fringe player gaps. I'll take someone like Wilson or Ross over those types of signings every day of the week. Ross has played fewer than 50 or so career games as a professional. Most of them came for Annan on loan. This has nothing to do with him being a nice guy (he might be an arsehole for all we know!), and it's more about the idea that we're in a position to give a kid who's just turned 20 years old and has played a small number of games for us the bullet for "failing to convince"? Jesus Christ, I know the standing joke is that we don't give players time to show what they have, but that's harsh in my book! Whyte is a different proposition altogether from what I've heard. There's talk of him being good enough to actually get into the first team and become a regular. That's a bit of an unfair comparison to a few guys who I have said are basically fringe players at this stage. You also mention Miller, Turnbull and Johnston. So that's the bar for a young player being considered worth a contract? You either have to be one of the top youngsters we produce in decades, or you're out the door and deemed not good enough? It seems if you were in charge, we'd have a squad of 13 players, because if someone is basically only good enough to be a backup, they're not good enough to retain. We don't need backups. We need a squad full of top-quality prospects and first-team-ready players, correct? Absolute insanity. Yes, but the question is "good enough" in what way? And for what? If someone isn't good enough to be a first eleven player they should be moved on? Christ. Anyway, I think we've both covered all our points, but I'm glad you're not calling the shots 😂

Haven’t been this nervous/excited about a game in a long time.

If Sparrow is fit he should play. He has the armband and his performances have been great. He seems to have turned from a boy into a man over the summer! Johnny K is great cover to have come off the bench in a number of positions.

Not sure how fit Johnny K is yet but completely forgot about playing him at RB with Sparrow pushing up to midfield.

I do think the home grown quota thing makes a difference to these discussions. Id have no issues including Booth or Whyte in Euro squads. Neither disgraced themselves last Thursday. But we need 8 homegrown in a 25 man squad, with 4 having to come from our own Academy. I guess Wilson and Ross are going nowhere right now, regardless of what anyone thinks about their abilities.

I thought JKL done really well on Saturday but I would definitely start JGR. Maybe JGR could start left back and we push Longelo further forward?

I heard Williams is definitely out but may be back for the cup game…. Where to be honest, I wouldn’t play him anyway on that plastic park. Give him another week to get fit.

My view is we should upgrade all areas when the chance presents itself, first choice or bench. If that means the likes of Wilson lose out then so be it. But only if we can do better. Maybe Wilson will prove to be a late developer but given the chances he has had here and elsewhere I have my doubts. How long do we wait before trying someone new? Preferably from within as you say but if no-one presents themselves then look elsewhere. Someone who is less of a quality drop from the regular first choice. Someone who will push the player ahead of him to maintain his performance level. Someone who convinces us he can eventually perform at a high level. Ross is at the stage Wilson was around a year or two ago. Failing to convince that he will prove good enough to ever command a first team place. Possibly has earned a wee bit longer but needs to prove he can contribute more when given the chance. We have stuck with players in similar situations in the past (possibly for financial reasons) and inevitably it does not work out. It's a tough and ruthless approach but we cannot retain players just because they are good guys who came through the Academy and give their all....... if their ability does not support our progression. As a comparison, Whyte has shown much more in his loan spell at Stenny and his limited first team minutes with us than either of the two under discussion. It seems likely he will grab his opportunity when it comes. Miller, Turnbull and Johnston from within as earlier examples. Priestman more recently from without. So no Whyte upgrade and it meets the preference for giving youth a chance. I suppose it boils down to the quality of player I believe we should commit to long term and how long we should give a player to prove he has that quality. As for Maswanhise and McGinn I take your point regarding their early careers.. But from a Motherwell point of view they delivered and contributed almost immediately. So it's not a like for like comparison. I should add 'when given the chance', because Maswanhise was hardly flavour off the month under Kettlewell. And It's not an age thing. If a player is not good enough we should move on....21 or 31 it makes no difference.

I agree with that. Ball is more likely to stick with Said and we know it doesn’t stick with JT so I’d go but might change my mind in two minutes 😀 Paulsen sparrow JGR Moorman Longelo faddy Oscar Lowry JT Said Cook What if Williams is fit? Does he replace Cook? Does it change our shape? we also need more movement from our front players. Make runs for ball in behind. Make lateral runs to drag defenders about. Interchange positions amd in general give the defenders problems to deal with.

Aye, looks like the Hunter is more or less sold out with the Cooper & POD well on the way. I see we have a big chunk for sale in the upper McLean as well.

I just like JT in the wide position where he can see right across the back line and wait for the ball over the top. Gives him so much more space to run into without having to wrestle with giants. Said is more suited to that.

Ideally at present that’s how I’d go if they are all fit. Keep Vogts away from the first 11. good to see the tickets selling well today, look likes there’s chunks of the ground sold out now. Will be a great atmosphere

I think the first 7 almost pick themselves. Maybe JGR in for JKL but either is good. Johnny at RB if Sparrow injured. It’s the remaining 4 that stump me, especially since we don’t have a real centre forward. Id maybe switch cookie and Said or perhaps Said for Lowry, Vogt right, Cookie left amd JT middle. Or Is it JT up top with 3 behind him for a 4-2-3-1 ? The 3 Being Said plus 2 from Vogt, Lowry amd Cookie.