The African

Only in that both Smith and Wright left Raith at around the same time. Wright going to Dundee suggests that there wasn't a huge difference in cost at the time, though even then, I was fairly sure who the better player was.

The Ben Heneghan deal is Tommy McLeanesque. He was quite astute at bringing in players for small fees, getting decent performances from them and then convincing other clubs to buy them for decent money. Smudger Smith comes to mind - couldn't believe it when Dunfermline stumped up £60K for him.

Hopefully the guys coming in will both add something to the squad. I am certainly happy to have some more experience at centre half, even if I am not generally a fan of loan signings. I do think that we did have to sell someone and Heneghan was probably at the height of his value. The club seemed to hang on for a bid that met their valuation, which also is nice to see. There is no reason why the club cannot now sit down with Moult and his representatives and work out a deal which is good for both sides. If he stays healthy, he is away next year anyway. Why not get paid an extra grand a week and just concentrate on his football?

Cheers. Makes sense, and good to know that I was referencing a true classic.

Hopefully we have a plan involving a half decent replacement, if we are to be emptied by any offer for Heneghan. When we thought we might get a few more miles out of McManus and Heneghan's form was doubtful, I was all for letting him move on. Now McManus is done and Heneghan has looked better, we need to consider where his departure will leave the squad, as well as the cash we might bring in.

1957, so a few years before my time as well. Have seen the film though and it was a decent story, well told. The use of 'Hardy Kruger" as a euphemism for " the one that got away" is not my invention. I saw someone else use it, quite liked it, and decided that imitation was the sincerest form of flattery. I can't remember who it was, but it may have been Delboy in "Only Fools and Horses".

Scarcely a "Hardy Kruger" then. Just out of our price range.

Hoping we an get the ball rolling with the league campaign. Three losses from the first three games would not be a good look.

Selling Cadden now would be a high risk strategy. He is a key player for us and would be extremely difficult to replace. At twenty, he is only going to improve and he has two years left on his contract.

Good luck to Stephen McManus. All things onsidered, he should be remembered for having been a decent player for us. His retirement does leave a bit of a gap in defence, though his change of role should hopefully free up some cash fore an experienced replacement. You would assume that this has not come out of the blue to Robinson and co, and that some thought and planning has already gone into a replacement. We should hope to have someone in sooner than later.

Brilliant. Obviously a guy with genuine talent. I wish him every success.

It's all gone to hell in a handcart since Bob Crampsie died. Just one of the many reasons I immigrated.

Both Aberdeen fans. Also, both pointless twats. The fact that they are given free reign to spout their shite by the BBC is both indicative of the decline in standards of that organisation and just sad.

Home game, so it would be good to take something from this match, even if, as I suspect, it is only a point.

Chris Cadden is genuinely our biggest asset. Homegrown, improving and with two years left on his contract. As a selling club, we will always be open to offers, but you would have to think that it would take more than the likes of Brighton or Blackburn would offer to force our hand at this juncture.

A poor draw, no matter which way you look at it. Lets hope that we can get through it and make some money from the quarters and maybe beyond?

Blyth is a no brainer. I'd also look to actively move on Henegan and Moult. If we can get anything around £250k for Henegan,then that is a decent bit of business. Unfortunately, the talk of interest in him seems to have subsided for now. I'd love Moult to sign a contract extension, but seeing as that seems unlikely, I'd take anything north of £600k with a decent sell on clause from a club in England. We are a selling club and now would be the time to cash in. Both these players would need to be replaced. Elsewhere in the squad, we could do worse than look to loan out one or two of our better youngsters. This is less for financial reasons and more to give them more genuine first team experience, even if it is a level or two below where we are. Beyond that, you have to ask the question, what future does Luke Watt really have at Fir Park? Like Dom Thomas, he has failed to take his chance to grab a first team place, so either punt or send out on loan to save us a few quid.

No. I seriously hope that there is still business o be done, both in and out.

Been McDonald is a funny one. We have proven to be such a good fit for him, and vice versa, and yet he seems to have been almost constantly on the look out to move for something "bigger". While I admire ambition you have to wonder if the desired move exists? At his age, he will do well to get a two year deal anywhere , and are sides likely to want to change their set up to get the best out of a player in his mid thirties? I have thoroughly enjoyed what he has done for us, but any thoughts of him coming back would seem like a backward step.

I had high hopes that he would make the breakthrough with us, but that bus has obviously now left. There are fair few I would rather have seen going out the door ahead of him.

A quick look through our squad and you'd hope that the management realise that the job is only half done. Goalkeeper is sorted, we have plenty of midfielders, though the jury is still out on whether they will be able to do the job for us. The defence is looking sparse with only four players, two of whom are in the twilight of their careers and one of whom is reportedly attracting interest from elsewhere. In all honesty, given that we are a selling club, if we can get anything over £300,000 plus a sell on clause for Hennigan, it will be a great bit of business. It does mean that adequate cover does need to be brought in across the back four which probably means another three or four new faces. The situation up front is less obvious as there are currently players in the squad but the best of them, Moult, will surely be away when we get a decent offer for him, and two of the other options are generally believed to be not of the standard required. Before we can really see about improving the attacking side of the squad, we really need to see how we can get rid of the dead wood that is Blyth and Bowman ( Craig Clay too, if it comes to it). How e go about this, I am not sure. I can fully understand that finding other clubs to take them off our hands will not be easy, so maybe a spell out on loan, to at least cover some of their wages, or even paying them off to clear the decks. It would have a cost involved, but I feel that their presence at the club currently muddies the waters with regard to squad depth. If we are to run with a squad of 19 or 20 players,there is no room for passengers.

Hopefully there is no truth in the McManus rumour. He can be a bit infuriating but he is our most accomplished defender when he is in the mood and on his game.

I would have thought that it might be worthwhile registering Lesley, just in case of an injury crisis. Having said that, I have no idea of the financial implications of such a move.

Bobby Watson was my first Motherwell hero. There have been others in the ensuing forty odd years, but not many to match him. Perhaps Joe Wark and Willie Pettigrew, but that would be about it. I realise that this has a lot to do with being at an impressionable age and the circumstances of the time, but I can't help but wonder who the young 'well fans of today will look to for their inspiration. We have been lucky in recent years to have players like Lasley and Hammell who have been magnificent servants to the club,but it strikes me that their like will become rarer as the game becomes more and more about money and the merry go round of players coming and going increases. I guess I have been lucky, that my father was a Motherwell fan all his life and took me to games as a youngster, and that I have seen the players that I have seen.a d as we get older, I wonder if it is the case that every supporter sees things change and hankers for the good old day? As my Dad used to say" Watson is a good player, but you should have seen Charlie Aitken." Reminiscing time over. Thanks Dad.

Could have been a lot worse.