Kmcalpin

Its not impossible we'll see Pearo back next January - maybe a gentleman's agreement. He scored quite a few vital goals last season, despite being played out of position at times. Much as I like Cadden, and he has similarities with Pearo, he hasn't yet achieved the same scoring rate.

If confirmed, Stevie Hammell's re-signing is interesting. At the very least it will give us some continuity and consistency which we'll need given the unexpected number of departures. It would also seem to confirm that no other club was prepared to offer him a markedly better deal than us even taking into account the drastically reduced offer - telling in itself. He may have received a slightly better deal elsewhere but decided to stick with us - who knows. Surprised however its reportedly for 2 years.

Does anyone know where this chant originated? Where did the Bois pick it up from?

We'll need 3 new central midfielders. At the moment its unlikely that an under 20 player like Alan Campbell will break through and hold down a regular starting slot. Assuming of course that Pearo will indeed be leaving us, that just leaves Keith Lasley, who I suspect will be "phased out" gradually this year. If we sign just two then that will in effect leave no back up whatsoever for this critical area of the team.

I too hope he manages to step up and gets some first team game time but we can't expect him to be a central midfield mainstay week in week out at this stage.

It has been for a few years now Greg and successive managers have done precious little about it. But yes, its now of immediate and pressing concern. If Pearo goes, which looks very likely, we'll need about 3 central midfielders I think. Pre season starts tomorrow and that doesn't give us much time to sign replacements and get them up and running. Mark McGhee has always liked a powerful midfield and he now has the opportunity to create his own, albeit hastily. That said, he will have known for some time Jack Leitch would leave, Gomis would return to Hearts, Keith Lasley is probably in his last season and that Pearo might leave. Certainly the rebuilding job is much more extensive than I had anticipated.

Bobby MacCallum was in the first Motherwell team I can remember watching. He seemed to leave the club very suddenly and never knew why.

It seems a bit of a strange move if I'm honest. Pearo scored a few vital goals for us last season but yes he was injury prone. In a transitional season for us I'd have thought his presence, experience and goal threat from midfield would have been vital. Chris Cadden to me has yet to prove he can play up and down the middle, as opposed to the right wing. Why is Pearo being allowed to move on mid deal? There's a release clause in his contract? The cash although modest is absolutely crucial to us (doubtful)? He is simply not in Mark McGhee's plans?

If confirmed it will leave us very short in central midfield in fact we won't have any if you accept that Keith Lasley will have a stop gap/transitional role on the field. We'll need at least 2 players for there if not 3. A lot will depend on youngsters coming through but we can't expect too much of them next season. A bit surprised that Pearo is leaving given that he has another year to go on his contract.

Almost certainly then a left back will be one of the four....

Interesting, as quite a few posters were suggesting a month or two back that we'd dispense with friendlies due to the early start of the new League Cup format. No doubt quite a few of the games will involve our Under 20s but not all. New seasons are starting earlier and earlier.

Thats true and there's no reason to panic. However other sides are making progress in re-signing their out of contract players. We should also bear in mind that the competitive domestic season kicks off about a fortnight earlier this year.

Thats ok if ordinary punters are getting paid and have a job to go back to. Not many without a job and pay coming in could afford to go away.

Yes we need confirmed signings / re-signings to be in place for pre season training. Apparently no deadlines have been set but that can't continue surely?

I wouldn't be so sure, as there are too many variables. Sevco were a better team last season than they were in the play offs, but then again so were we. A lot will depend on new signings made by both teams before the tie. In short its too early to tell.

This is what I don't get. Often we hear of clubs offering players £x per week or £y per week. However we don't know if these figures include bonuses or appearance monies for example. However the total wage budget will include these extras.

I'd imagine it would be to ask TV whether they'd prefer particular Rangers games at Ibrox or away. The Police also would have had a hand settling the dates and games.

Ray MacKinnon is quoted in the Dundee Courier as saying "I wish I had the funds to go and spend £1500 each a week on eight players but I don’t." I take it from this, that thats what United were paying their players last season.

All ticket I presume?

Sounds about right. As far as I know we never made our initial interest public.

Interesting post Iain. I know we've had a series of mild winters recently but there's little doubt our pitch has improved no end and its now a decent playing surface. I believe this close season, some additional drains are being laid and of course it has been reseeded. Credit to our groundsman.

I don't know about that. Yes, of course, on paper we should win these games comfortably but early season these games can be tricky due to lack of match fitness and lower league teams having something to prove. I recall Terry Butcher vowing never to play pre season friendlies again against lower league teams after we were kicked off the park at Stranraer in a real battle.

Its not the location thats important its what the players do there. Remember a couple of years ago we had a pre season jolly to the Algarve and look what happened after that?

I recall seeing this information recently and was startled by it. Ok it does relate to 2013-14 but was shocked to see St Mirren and St Johnstone paying above our rates. That contradicts anything I've heard about these 2 clubs being frugal on wages. Its also interesting that the Ross County figure was very low - probably before their resurgence and increase in wages. I suppose though you could have a club paying a small squad big wages being lower in budgetary terms than another club paying a large squad low wages. We don't know how the figures were calculated. In terms of weekly wages though, ie £1200 pw, does this generally include bonuses and appearance money or are these extras which aren't quoted by players and their agents?

A very short close season!