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🤦‍♂️ end of season, nothing to play for vibe with that effort.

I think he'll sign more than 4 players, although it won't be a complete overhaul. If the squad, as is, can't play his intense high prerssing game, he'll bring in a few new faces to enable that change in style. Also, he won't want to upset current squad members as we still have 4 competitive fixtures to fulfil.

I think we injured most of our loanees at some point didn't we? No favouritism in our training regime.

I should add, that I dont have any problem with loanees in certain circumstances. For example to cover a short term injury when we dont have a player of sufficient standard on our books (Furlong / Gent) or the player coming in is of a standard we couldnt afford to bring in on a full time contract (Mika Biereth) But the loanees this season have barely contributed, so they clearly havent hit the levels required of them.

100% agree. Kinda hoping that this is one of the main reasons for going for someone like Wimmer who has a strong background in youth development. Otherwise whats the point of thinking outside the box?

I agree 100% with your comments re strategy but worry that it will take several years to rebuild a youth programme that has been diminished over a number of seasons under several Managers. Certainly the Loanee numbers are farcical and those you highlight are certainly no better than the youth quoted. But that bar is pretty low. And unless they have improved leaps and bounds I'm not sure any of the current crop are first team standard, or have that potential. Wilson looked to be the best of the lot but he has fallen off a cliff of late, although I believe he can bounce back given strong support. The players currently out on loan are doing ok, but no more than that. I guess what I am saying is that, like the first team, the youth squad has been weakened over a number of seasons and it will take quite some time for both squads to be rebuilt to an effective standard. I suspect that long term aim was why Wimmer was chosen for the job in the first place. It will be interesting to see whether he makes changes to the coaching staff at several levels over the summer. I know a few think Wimmer will move on at season end no matter what, but I hope he stays and is given scope to develop a coherent strategy that covers all age groups. A complete reset is required. In my opinion anyway. Others will disagree.

I agree with that, but really don't know much about which youngsters are ready to step up, if indeed there any. The organisation of youth football has a lot to answer for, but thats a separate debate. I've heard of the likes of Wells, Ross and Whyte, but thats about it. Hopefully there are some about to fledge. Long term developing our own youths is the only way forward. To balance that we need a sprinkling of old heads like Halliday to show them the ropes.

Any Motherwell manager who relies on brining in numerous loanees each season in favour of developing the Club’s own youth players is not working in the long term interests of the Club. There is obviously a balance to be struck, particularly when the first team is blighted with injuries and there isn’t enough youth players ready, but the latter will remain the case without development opportunities being consistently offered, and the former is bad luck and bad recruitment policy. The amount of loanees we have signed this season is not acceptable. It stifles opportunities and sends the wrong signals. I challenge anyone to argue that the likes of Plange, Dickson, Thompson, Tavares, for example, are better options than Wells, Ferrie, L. Ross, Wilson, for example. We should be running with a smaller squad of better first team players (quality over quantity) and have a crop of youth players baked into the manager’s ideas, every season, and particularly to cover injuries and rest others. We’re a selling club and we do well from developing our own, both financially and performance wise. I hope Wimmer shares my views.

Maybe he'll go with a smaller squad and use our best youngsters.

Think we needed clear out. Wouldn't have extended Halliday or ODonnell.. I'm ok with Sparrow. Think we need more pace in team and attacking flair. I'm hoping Wimmer has contacts but it don't look like it if he's just extending contracts of some if team that been part of worst well side in years.