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I’m too young to fully appreciate how good O’Donnell was in his prime but I’d rate Turnbull higher than Faddy, he certainly has a higher ceiling. Nobody loved Faddy more than me, particularly for his exploits with Scotland, but Turnbull has potential to be a top player for a top European club like McAllister. Being an integral player for Everton proved to be beyond Faddy. The unfortunate thing with Turnbull is that he didn’t get the opportunity cement his hero status by ripping Rangers and Celtic apart the way Faddy did.

Very much this^ Felt like the first time in decades we had a a squad worth developing, at a club who were equally in best financial postion in many decades, yes we had debt, but on very favourable terms, that most trading businesses would love to have access to. but the squad has been totally decimated, even the next phase of kids has been broken up we've not always been a selling club, the only success in most of our lifetimes came from allowing a manager to build a squad season to season for success, then Bosman reset that and it felt like last season was the first opportunity since that the club had worked to a position to build on, it will not hapen very often as the model includes offering players opportunity to relaunch career, so can only build core from within but it seems every single influencer in the club and society are chasing the income over the team capability, I'm sure they do it in good faith and with good will, but I just wish they hadn't been desperate to sell on the kids

Nobody disputes that, it just seems that for whatever reason right now, we're selling everyone at the same time, even hot prospects who've rarely or never played in the first team, when we don't have any particular financial need to do so. And while it would have been very easy to be excited about watching David Turnbull for a bit longer, it's much harder to be excited about starting the season with half a team of virtual unknowns.

I'd hate for anyone, including you, to buy or renew their season ticket under false pretences. We've always been a selling club and always will be. Other clubs are in exactly the same boat. At the age of 9 (showing my age here) I was heartbroken to see one of my boyhood heroes, Bobby Roberts, leave for Leicester City. My father gave me short shrift and said that if I couldn't accept that then I should give up football alltogether or go to Ibrox or Parkhead (he wouldn't help me to go to those venues and I'd have to do it under my own steam). I decided for better or for worse to stick with the Well and I've done so for a further 55 years or more. Since then I've seen scores of our players move on including : Joe McBride, Dixie Deans, Keith McRae and Tam Forsyth; and thats all before 1970. I could go on ad nauseum. David Turnbull is one of the best players I've ever seen in claret and amber but he'll not be the last to leave to better himself. I don't care. The club is bigger than any one player and if you can't accept that then perhaps its time to think long and hard about whether MFC is the club for you. Nothing wrong in deciding it isn't. We'll move on whatever.

I need to keep up or start checking things before I post

This is the crux of the issue. I know that many on here will disagree with you however you're opinion is more than likely the view shared by many who would otherwise be on the fence about attending games. Football is an entertainment game first and foremost and quite Frankly, it is not entertaining to watch hoofball dross which Robinson specialises in. I understand we reached two cup finals, but let's be honest, a few special moments apart (such as Louis in the league cup Semi) we have been absolutely shite to watch for the past few years. The exception to that was the backend of last season where all of a sudden, we looked to have an emerging core to the team yet we've either pissed away the chance to hold it (such as delaying the contract offer to Hastie) or actively touted it out (Turnbull). We've also lost McKinstry and now the other young boy before we even get to see them be Motherwell players. This hand to mouth existence is bloody draining and could've been averted, even by holding on to Turnbull for another half or full season, to give the support something to buy into. I'm not criticising Turnbull, it's the managerial and directorial decisions which are, by in large, demeaning an already dwindling support. It's why it's absolutely essential that we re-invest a. chunk in the playing squad, otherwise your opinion will be the prevalent one.

^ jesus wept

Which takes my back to my original point that, given Turnbull was happy to stay another year at Fir Park, I think we should have taken the small risk his value would decrease and had the pleasure of getting another season out of him. That would have given value to the fans as well as the club, as the main point of developing young talent is to provide the first team with players we'd never be able to afford to buy. Selling that talent is obviously important, but secondary. The basis of any football club is, after all, to put the best team it can on the pitch every week.

Some of our support are absolutely miles out. David Turnbull is a Motherwell fan. He signed an extension with us to ensure the club would benefit from his sale instead of doing a Hastie. Ok he has moved to Celtic. However, he has done so in the knowledge that a couple good seasons he will move on and our club will earn another significant windfall. He will undoubtedly go on to be one of the best talents to come out of Scotland in recent years. We should be delighted that he is one of us and that he got his start at Fir Park. It wont be nice to see him come back to FirPark in the green and white. But we need to suck it up and respect what he has done for us.

Your 8 year old not allowing you to go?

Agree completely. Apathy can quickly set in when every time a youth or first team player shows degree of skill, hes gone . Probably Mcdonalds keep staff longer than mwell. I'm certainly not getting another season ticket. 7 year old son was asking who our best player was today and I'm struggling to answer him. Family bored of it too.

Was he happy to stay another year and turn down the opportunity to make a huge move, both financially and career wise ? Did he have an agreement in place that if he signed a new contract with us he would be allowed to speak with other club should an offer at a certain level come in ? i’m not totally convinced he would have been happy to stay.

I would love to have kept Turnbull another season. Im sure the club would too in a perfect world. But the player has a say in that too. There is no way he would have signed his new contract without a clause in it allowing him to talk to clubs that met our value. Thats just modern day football.

I am sick of losing players after half a dozen good games. Hastie Turnbull. Moult Johnston Moult. Kipre.Aldred. Cadden . I cant explain to my son why we got to sell all our best players when his old firm supporting pals dont. Even he cant be bothered going as not interested anymore. Even guys of 16 yet to play are sold.. Yes football is meant to be about putting best most entertaining team on the park for the fans. Motherwell missing this point. Any new players coming in that look good will be off after 6 good games. I probably won't be back much next season. And some mates also not going back. Cant see us getting new fans either.

It's almost like players need time to adapt to a new level when they make the step up. Arsene Wenger used to say it took a player 6 months to adapt to a different league that played at the same level. Maybe he knows what he's talking about.

The guy was offered a contract months ago which was within out budget but he refused it so not much else the club could do.

Scourge of the Accies.

Other than that we're fine

Beat me to it. The difference with Faddy and O'Donnell was that they were here longer so we got to see more of them. Turnbull scored 16 goals from 30 starts in midfield and got the SFWPOTY out of that. He has gone quickly because everyone can see he is special.

Not many. In 40 odd years supporting Motherwell I can only think of...... Wullie P (heartbroken) McLair McAllister Lambert O'Donnell McFadden Thats the level David Turnbull will aspire to. Anyone who thinks he isnt that good is either in denial or hasnt really been watching.

He's gone to Celtic can we bin this thread now please.

Hylton could well be a starter

Personally I think we still need another four players. We’ve lost the whole spine of the team, Aldred, Gorrin , Turnbull, Main, on top of starters like Cadden, Hastie. Goals next season really worry me with Scott still not ready in my view, Johnstone not really up to the standard needed and huge question marks over Tanner.

My thoughts exactly all the best DT