wee g

Smith got 2 (1 penalty) and one of the french trialists scored 2 (not the same 1 who scored 2 against falkirk last week)

The reserves won 4-1 against celtic today. Poor 1st half, getting beat 1-0, but what a second half.

All the fringe players have a game tomorrow against celtic at lennoxtown, so i think the game against Shotts will be mainly under19`s

5-0 Yes

On seeing the game that the 3 trialists were playing in, my personal opinion was that the coloured 1 that scored 2 goals was the better of the 3. he played right midfield then left midfield, but the 2 best players on the park were Gary Smith(scored 3) & Steven Lawless(set up 3). They may do a job as cover, but would not walk into the starting 11.

I have a wee feeling Gary Smith may start tomorrow.

The reserves won 5-0 today weeyin. Smith scored 3 and a french trialist scored the other 2. There was 3 french trialists on the park all in their middle 20`s. These guys played against the reserves last week in a game at the science parks.

After reading the original post a few times, i think the op is unhappy that the under 19`s don`t start pre-season until after the 1st team start, but WHY should they :- 1. The ones that are asked to start later than the 1st team have no chance of making the 1st team that year. The manager will already know who is ready for the step-up. 2. Their league doesn`t start until about 3-4weeks after the 1st team. 3. The under 19`s are not the main back-up for the 1st team. Every SPL team has guys too old to play for the 19`s and are maybe needing a 6month - 1yr loan deal to get them prepared for the SPL, or like our club have 7-8 guys who are 20-21 and have had the experience of loans and are now more ready to play their part in the 1st team.

1st half was a typical pre-season friendly, a wee bit rusty with some of them looking as if they were still on holiday, but a worth while run out. The 2nd half was a better game in my eyes with some of the younger guys showing that they can be relied on when needed. Lawless was the main danger, looks as if his loan deal worked for him and hopefully Motherwell, Pollock had a reasonable game with some lovely touches and took his goal well and Carswell also got stuck in about them and was solid. So all in all a good night and also it was GREAT to be back supporting our team, canny wait for the season to start, only 3 more friendlies to go.

Help required urgently please. I need to speak to the gentleman who plans the displays at Fir Park / Hampden. If anyone knows him personally can you get him to contact me please. Thanks in advance

Murphy was training today and there was 2 under 19`s training with the 1st team. They were needed for some training formations being done.

Out of the 19`s we signed this is the situation postie, Halsman (Dumbarton) 1 yr left on contract Innes (Albion) 1 yr on contract Lawless (Albion) 1 yr on contract Quinn (Linlithgow) 1yr left on contract Smith 1yr left Meechan out of contract June McHugh, Saunders and Hutchy have all signed extensions to their contracts. So hopefully we will see some next year.

Lots of activity up at the training today, the Scottish Cup was up and the players were getting some pics taken, then they all had a shot at hitting the crossbar from the half way (less said the better...lol) for the TV cameras (don`t know who). After the 1st team departed the reserves had a game against Accies. The team was mostly last yrs 19`s with Hollis in goal and 2 trialists from England (Everton and Spurs) they both are young, the boy from Everton played right back and the boy from Spurs played left back , both looked ok. First half the "well" just shaded it, but went in level at 1-1 with Lawless and the young boy from spurs our 2 best players. In the 2nd half Accies were the more stronger team and went on to win with a flukey goal, but none the less they deserved to win it. On a downside the standard of refereeing today was absolutely shocking! In the 1st half Lawless was halved in two in the box and nothing was given, a deliberate hand ball against Hamilton, nothing given and the young boy from Spurs halved an accies boy in 2 just as he was about to put the ball into an empty net, nothing given. If this is the standard of our referees, then god help us, cos they are dreadful.

seemingly he was utter pish in training today

2 goals in the last 2 games for the boy. Being played as a left mid/winger. Him and Peter Innes are playing really well at the moment (except peters sending off) and hopefully just get better and better as the season comes to an end. Big Dario`s also doing really well at Linlithgow, this can only be good for the Well, as all these boys are gaining experience and playing regular football.

Craigan taken off due to a right hamstring injury in the N.I/Scotland game.

No probs, you know where i`m coming from mt Totally agree with you mt. Your welcome mate. Most of the boys that have been signed support other teams, but "the well" are still in their hearts. One of the boys that signed has been at the club over 9yrs and is the second longest player after Murphy(i think Murph has been 10).

The reaction of some on this thread really surprises me. McCall`s, this and McCall`s that, for feck sake gie the guy a chance. He didnae sign a striker, but it wasn`t for the lack of trying in the window. As a club do we really see ourselves fighting for 3rd or 4th place every year....(my opinion NO!). Some years we will and others we will not. Last year we signed 9 lads from the 19`s and hopefully we can bring about 6 of these lads into the team NEXT year, but as for this year, we had a semi in the cup and if everything goes right we could be going back for another in the next couple of months (hopefully the final as well), we are not fighting relegation and if the results go for us we are still in with a chance of getting 4th. As for the squad at the moment, why all the negativity. As for Smith being shite, the boy never got a real chance with playing time at Dumbarton, only on for 10-15 here and there. we also have recall options on the rest of the lads that are out on loan...Innes and Lawless are flying at Albion Rovers (these 2 lads seem to be forgotten about on here!!) and if they stay there till their loans expire then they have a great chance of winning the league, but i know they have impressed McCall, also Dario Quinn is playing really well for Linlithgow Rose, so if we need a striker, midfielder or defender(which i think we have cover) then any of these lads can be recalled. Out of the 9 boys we signed last year, i know of at least 5 have been approached by other teams that have tried to ghost them away from Fir Park, but all refused. We have real talent amonst these lads and their hearts are set on playing for the well, and when they all break through (hopefully soon) we will have a really good team of youngsters who have all played together with each other for 3-4 yrs. So as for all the doom and gloom merchants...get real at least give our new management team some vocal support. If we are fighting relegation at this time next year, then yes we can start shouting for heads to roll. Mon The Well.

All staying in the hotel in hamilton, so they don`t need to stagger too far fae the Palace.

Halsman back at Motherwell. he refused to sign another loan contract at Annan. Another left footer.

3 good left footers at the club at this moment :- Halsman, Pollock & Lawless and also the young boy McKinnon in the under 19`s. Halsman is a left back and is playing well with Annan. Pollock and Lawless are the most skillful but need built up a bit more. So the tradition of left sided footballers at the club is still there. We should start to get the benefit of these guys beginning of next season or if not sooner.

Yes Shaka i think Dario is better than Hutchy at Centre Half. He`s fearless, good in the air, really strong. The 2 that are at Albion just signed till the end of the season, Halsman is at Annan till the end of the season and i think Dario is at Linlithgow till then also. I also hope Meechan gets an extention, he was unlucky at Albion due to an injury early on, then was played at right back for a game and then in the next suffered another injury. Meechan is a better midfielder than a few we have in the 1st team, so hopefully should see him get some game time before the end of the season.

Halsman, Lawless and Innes all have 18months left on their contracts. Meechan only has 6 months left, this is the reason the boy has went back to FP. He wants to win an extention and thought he would have a better chance doing it back at FP. All the boys have re-call clauses in their contracts. Also Dario Quinn is also got 18months left. In my opinion he is the best centre half at FP out of all the young guys. If Reynolds goes McCall should give him a chance. I personally think we will see most of these guys next year in the squad. Halsman, lawless and Innes are all impressing for their loan teams and it seems McCall is impressed with the young guys he has. I also think it is unfair that Bob McHugh is taking some stick from members. It is really hard to impress when you only get the last 5-6mins in most games, but the boy will come good if given games.

Only played a handful of games for albion due to injury,and has knocked back the chance to re-sign, opting to stay at Motherwell. He only has 6 mnths contract left.

Spoke with the big chap today and says he is enjoying it. He had three staples put into the head wound, but he`s as strong as an ox. Stolls through games at times. Really good strong centre-half.