Well Well

Reece McAlear has left Motherwell to join Norwich City on a permanent basis, subject to international clearance. The 17-year-old will join the East Anglian side after 13 months as a professional at Fir Park. Motherwell tried to secure the player on a longer contract during the summer, but it was clear that any extended stay beyond May 2020 was extremely unlikely. Despite that, several approaches from Norwich were rejected, before terms were finally agreed on a deal which gives the club a short-term cash injection, coupled with the ability to claim future money should the player develop further. “It is very much our hope that the player development pathway we provide at Motherwell results in our academy graduates progressing to professional level, then eventually into the first team,” chief executive Alan Burrows explained. “We had high hopes for Reece. He was getting closer and closer and indeed, played several first-team friendly matches during pre-season. We had positive conversations with the player, his family and his representatives about extending his stay. “However, it was clear this was an opportunity Reece wanted to explore and probably would’ve explored, when his contract expired at the end of the season, had we not managed to agree a deal with Norwich now. “This will see the club secure cash in advance, as well as maintaining some economic rights should his career continue to develop. “It also demonstrates clearly the excellent work of our scouting and coaching staff, and further emphasises Motherwell as the club for young footballers to progress.” Everyone at Motherwell FC would like to thank Reece for his time at Fir Park and wish him every success in his future career.

I am fascinated (I know very sad) how clubs spend millions of pounds literally on players to fit a particular formation favoured by a manager, which got me thinking about how formations can win or lose clubs famous trophies, championships and make or break managers. How did formations evolve over time? I began reading some stuff online which just made my head spin as I couldn't understand a lot of it. I remember as a young lad many years ago that every team always had two strikers and was rare to see this change until the modern area. We discuss how x and y players don't fit into a certain formation preferred by Robinson or that he has completely changed the formation that resulted in a negative run of form (like pre christmas last season) and how not getting the formation right, with the right players can cause huge financial implications for clubs. It could literally mean the club being relegated or worse go out of business. For me it seems that this is a huge factor in football when we talk about how we can finance the club moving forward never mind attracting a quality manager and players. However finance also reflects which way a manager chooses a particular formation as they may not have the money to play his preferred formation. I think maybe this is something that causes issues for Robinson. Not being a coach or manager I would guess the evolution of formations would be a massive subject for guys studying to be coaches and managers and how they approach their chosen profession.

The video of the goal is on the official twitter feed. Peach of a goal

I thought he was away to some Belgian club?

FFS who needs strikers lol

Who are all the scorers so far, i have lost count?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48837235

Looking at the Hibs situation, If a multi millionaire came in offered to pay of all debt and put a 7 figure sum into the playing side would you welcome it. putting aside all the legalities of returning from a fan owned club and the appropriate levels of shares to become the owner. Just out of interest, what would be your opinion?

Why is this even being discussed..? Its not like there has been any official approach for Robinson. I know its a slow news week but by god a lot of straw clutching and ridiculous predictions

any links for the game, anyone showing it?

Disappointed that there is no screaming already after last nights game, sitting here with my popcorn waiting for the usual suspects to pour scorn all over the performance and result. No entertainment value anymore

link broken?

all sorts of rumours flying about twitter, some rather unsavoury about failed drugs tests which I find completely ridiculous

Absolute scenes on kerrydale Street if this goes through.

Someone just reported seeing him in Costa Carfin not that long ago on P&B.

Yeah seems a bit low to me but only reporting what i saw...hmm reported on @VivaMotherwell - no idea how reliable that twitter account is tbh

Saw a tweet from someone it was around the £200k mark

Absolutely. However if they have been working on it for weeks I would be fuming if I was Burrows.

What gets me is Burrows tweet about how the clubs have been working for weeks to sort out a deal. Did anyone consult with David prior to the publication of the fee agreed comment from the club. Not blaming Burrows before people jump on me just curious

I imagine Burrows will not be a happy chap

I Can't, nothing against the idea but I think priorities lie elsewhere

Would you..? He is giving everyone time to calm down.

never mind, it was a sideways dig at the way the club have done this piece of business which it basically is a business deal. In business these decisions always seem to benefit the shareholders more than the fans. I know we are a fan owned club but should have made my point more obvious. We just seem to be in a mad rush to get the debt out the way as quickly as possible no matter how we do it. We could have taken more time to have such a great player in our team.