Leaderboard

Makes a change from being usurped by St Mirren.

I love the group stage of the league cup, genuinely excited to see where we’ll be playing. Always a good day out to some unfamiliar grounds. The football’s usually pretty terrible though, to be fair.

To be fair it must be torture for them just now, season finished, transfer window not open no rumours about incoming players they can label as pish, so every chance for a whinge is taken.

Same, I love the League Cup group stages and would take it over a series of pre season friendlies or ‘European’ games any day of the week. We’ve also got a pretty good record in this stage of the League Cup since the current format was brought in and it’s a good way to start a season. I know we’ve played the same sides more than once at this stage over the years but it’s been good for us. We just need to get through this round and then actually start taking the knockout stages seriously. Whoever we draw tomorrow we should be looking to win our group and be seeded for the last 16.

I honestly don't see the point in giving squad players who aren't ever going to be first 11 a new contract. I'd prefer to have youngsters as a back up and go and recruit some decent players. Personally I'd have been more brutal and let the likes of S'OD, Mugabi and Ox go. Although easier said than done now is the time to recruit a very good goal keeper, central defenders and quality defensive midfielder.

I would say that the lower league teams tend to have a more settled squad who know each other and have a set style of play and formation whereas we are usually blooding new players and trying out different things so can look a bit disjointed in games. Can't say I've noticed much difference in general fitness levels in the games I've seen tbh. That's my theory anyway.

Thing that always bothers me about the League Cup groups is whn we get beat or look shagged, people say 'ooooh it's early in the season, they're not ready yet' Do the lower division opposition not play to the same season and close season as us ?

Dont want to start a tit for tat, but you gave multiple reasons at the time why Kelly wouldnt and shouldnt be dropped for Oxborough last season. Are you admitting now he should have been given a chance?

I'd say that midfield is an area we badly need to bolster. In addition to replacing Spittal we also require a physical defensive type to shield the defence. The absence of just such a player was one of the reasons we conceded so many last season.

But surely we can start saying that he's shite and a wage thief already?

Steady that's Grizzly territory you are heading into, no doubt someone will bite.

Should have been a midfielder 🤣

Watching the playoff final, RC are crusing it, but if Simon Murray is available we should be after him, 22 goals this season now.

Calm down ffs, the transfer window is not even open yet, it will be the same as every other year weeks of rumours every one of which will be labelled as pish etc. Then we will bring in a few in the last few days and hours, who incidentally will also be labelled pish before they've kicked a ball, it's the Motherwell way.

I find the whole Kelly debate quite boring. Theres too many posters with entrenched positions digging in for the long haul rather than engaging with any meaningful debate. Kelly was a good keeper once. He hasnt been for some time. He doesnt come of his line which leaves us vulnerable at set pieces and his distribution is awful. He is far from the worst keeper we've ever had, but also far from the best. Looks like he is signing for Rangers and we can get his rather substantial wages off the wage bill. Might free up some money for better defenders to better protect the next incumbent.

I remember getting trashed on here for having the audacity to say he was our best midfielder at the time he was with us. I never got the hate for him, really talented lad. He’s been a revelation at st mirren, good luck to him.

No chance, not a premiership player. He looked decent enough for Raith in the championship and should be left in the championship. 30 years old, never been good enough for the premiership, never will be good enough for it Besides the point but midfield is probably the position we least need to add to at the moment.