Goggles & Flippers

Until we see who we'll have available for selection post transfer deadline day, anything on here is wishful thinking. Current squad - Bottom 6, however I don't think I've seen enough quality being added by too many of our competitors. As for 11pm on 1st September - We could be well placed to finish in the Euro places. Let's see how things pan out, still 6 weeks of acquisitions, deals and loans to iron out.

Oh geez peace

You could do with learning how to use the MultiQuote button

Maybe explains the meeting they had back in March at Virgin Active when I saw them.

JJ pushed or walked? The fact he hasn't left to go anywhere else as yet makes me think it wasn't fully his decision. Better get ready to be surprised http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2015/07/10/craigan-makes-his-motherwell-return/

And don't you think with hindsight Baraclough may have thought that Long didn't really add much more than Twardzik offered?

Tad unfair comments all round. A few on here got their knickers in a twist as his arrival as an emergency loan coincided with a run of good results. Some seen him as the shining answer to our Hollis/Nielsen issues. At the time I thought it was more down to the fact the whole team were performing and team-wide confidence increased, Dan also benefitted from a change in fortune and form while putting in some solid performances. Don't think his game was particularly bad to actually need upping. When it comes to keepers, I must admit I'm a tad sizeist, we had two +6'2" guys in Randolph and Ruddy who were built like brick shithouses which helped inspire a degree of confidence in me and no doubt in the four guys directly in front of them. That resulted in some of the best and consistent performances in our league form. I don't think anyone can deny Dan has very good shot stopping skills, he's agile and fast, the issue is he doesn't command his box that someone with a little more physical stature would. Can't ignore his age and decision making, however he's made less gaff's per game than Long did and he came with a better pedigree. Issue I think we as a support and the management have to ask is, do we take a punt on him as the primary keeper for the season ahead or go for an alternative? Can we afford to take a punt? Sadly for him, I suspect he will be facing a lot of bench warming time unless there's an injury or we get a flop.

Decent pedigree and CV, only thing that concerns me is longevity. It wasn't that long ago he was working with Premiership clubs and now finds himself with the 7th/8th biggest club in Scotland. 300 miles away from where I guess he's put his roots down. I sincerely hope he doesn't go the way of our former head of recruitment in a few months. What I am looking forward to is who he has worked with and his contacts to get a 15 point per season keeper.

Even though we appear to be the Dons feeder club at times, they tend to take our leftovers when they're past their best. Marshall should have been shown the door a long time ago after a few poor decisions.

And thought, "Jesus a 3 year old club, playing in the second tier has a facility like this, wait till I see a premier league club has to offer, that Barnet Formula thing is really benefiting Scotland disproportionately"

Have you two turned into Delilah? Got yer scissors oot, removed his luscious locks and now his power? The downward spiral from the EPL to where he is now has been rapid and unforeseen, but he is hardly ready to be put out to pasture or sent to the glue factory as you appear to think he's worth.

To be fair, you judge players on the level of their previous club

On closer inspection I see they didn't bother to re detail the badge, the scroll round the outside is messed up.

I did get that but last season when Thomas made an appearance it was mostly to replace Ainsworth and then switch sides. Johnson looks like he'll last 90. Regardless, as I said earlier, not enough depth in central defence and central midfield, more signings still to come, not to forget the last minute scramble come deadline day and a few loanee's. All very promising. Keeper in the Randolph mould to gain us 15 points a season and it's back to the top 6/Euro qualification (fingers crossed).

--------------------------------- TBC (Twardzik) ----------------------------- --- Law (Watt, Reid) -- Laing -- McManus -- Hammell (Chalmers) --- Ainsworth (Thomas) - Pearson (Cadden) - Lasley (Leach) - Johnson ------------- Clarkson (Fletcher) ------- Moult (Moore) ------------------- Correct me if I'm wrong but this is our current lineup with backup (some players can be used elsewhere). No doubt there is cover but I've only listed players who have made a consistent jump up to the first team in the past.

Give our latin friends some credit, Football Manager took from the Italian noun for the role. Literally means "3/4's", the area in the park in which he inhabits and works his magic. Faddy at his best all in really.

Sad to see his stock reduce to such a degree however Baraclough may like the idea of a cultured Trequarista ...... Can see Dom Thomas getting used from 15-20 minutes as previously Ainsworth has struggled to last a match, maybe that will change this pre-season. Can see Johnson being dynamite now he'll have a decent pre-season as he admitted the difference in fitness levels between us and the Kidderminster was quite a gulf. Moult looks extremely promising. For me we're lacking a 15 point per season keeper, a centre half and a backup for Lasley (if possible). McDonald would be the icing on the cake.

Away strip is an homage to my favourite ever away top, the Pony one from the mid 90's. I'd prefer wider amber stripes to distinguish it from Hearts as has been mentioned, would Macron have accommodated that? Doubt it! Not a fan of a sash, I look at pictures and footage of the era of the first incarnation and my initial thought is it isn't Motherwell, but obviously it is. As for the letters, I like our badge and really dislike the lettering, both the sash and the letters had their day in my opinion and should remain there. I'd only welcome a change from the current crest to a reworking of the badge a la Everton or Arsenal and even then a fans vote. Fluorescent should be reserved for Dortmund and only Dortmund, I imagine it's a punt by PS to see if it takes off. Would have been nice to have 2 different collars but the socks no doubt help out beleaguered parents a tad. Last years strips only got a year as we were meant to be changing our sponsor. Looks like they've extended either as the one Flow mentioned fell through and they got it cheap or they outbid them. 8 strips used over 5 years, not an ideal situation

He still could, but we'll get decent wonga for him and next summer too. We'll have increased his terms to get the extension so the hope either is to demand a bigger transfer next summer with 2 years to run or get 2 seasons where he shows constant improvement to put him in the shop window in 2017. Regardless all good. I suspect Sutton's wage will be part of what's being offered to McDonald but I suspect a few of the others who were released will also be added to that pot. Wes will be on buttons and Moult will be on a decent wedge, maybe as some have pointed out, too much to allow McDonald to be involved. I think that's the crux, WE .... as in the support. The new owner is facilitating these but ultimately if we don't sell them on for decent cash (Law and Randolph) then it will come from WS members. In Baraclough we trust, in years gone by if a manager made a bad decision then we may suffer on the park, in these days of potential fan ownership, our WS investments could be wiped out in addition to watching dross. However, to clarify I have great hope in what he can achieve this summer and everything I've seen so far appears to show a degree of acumen.

Skippy was always going to be wishful thinking, he's probably in real terms another season to 18 months from his signature being a realistic prospect for us, I still think he can compete at a higher level for that amount of time before looking to our level. Underwhelmed by Clarkson I'm sad to say, hope to be proven wrong.

Aye cause that stopped them signing Mo Johnston

Anyone else think Neilsen may star against Celtic for Starjnan? ..... Nope ..... oh well.

Safe to say regrettable all round, I'm sure our former employee feels a bit coy towards for his mate who got him the gig, I'm sure our manager hoped he may have found the role he gave him more attractive than the one he's now moving to and I'm sure the club could have done without all the upheaval and the extra expense and hassle of recruiting a replacement. This is definitely the most significant summer for recruitment since 2009.

I will never fail to wonder at the mindset of those in the shiney offices at Hampden, pretty poor to have two away games either side of Christmas Day.

All this talk of diagonal shirts, is there any substance to it or just hopeful optimism?