Neilwell86

What Hastie has, that Thomas didn't is the physique, which is hopefully down to his attitude, that coupled with his loan spell in the championship which Thomas never got either. can only hope he returns in the same mould Cadden did after his spell with Albion rovers.

Obviously not delighted about the result, but it's not one I will lose sleep over. Nothing wrong with squad rotation, look at the state it left us in last season, not rotating, Carson Cadden Tanner Moult and Hartley all injured which rendered the whole of December a right off. Players get some minutes, keeps legs fresh, and those key players get a rest for three MUCH more important games before the turn of the year, which are all winnable, and provides us with a huge chance to gain some ground on the rest and get ourselves right out the mess with three at the bottom. Particulary when you look at the fixtures of the teams below us, Hibs as well don't have the best run into the new year.

I would say they will be, they have the same thing at hamilton, and at st johnatone too i'm sure, they both take them down for the game kicking off. Would be surprised if they decided not to.

well we have let his contract run down to the last six months, it only became evident we had started talking to him once he had a few games (and goals) under his belt. we may well have began contract talks earlier in the season but did Robinson not mention he had previously started talks with the youngsters round about December time. You'd like to hope that being a motherwell Fan makes a difference in his decision making, unlike the players you have mentioned who ultimately had no connection to the club in that sense.

I am starting to think that Turnbull won't be signing a contract with us which would be a huge shame, I wonder if leaving it this late to open up contract talks will haunt us. club were well aware how gifted a player he was technically and now he and his agent know he can cut it on the first team stage. I would be really disappointed to see him leave. Also read on pie and bovril that he has turned down 4 offers already.

Got some sympathy for Livingstone, thrown into a game like that is never going to be easy, he gets an early booking and is then on the back foot the rest of the game, almost in a position he can't touch Hayes or he's off. Certainly not a game I will be judging him. As for Sammon, I thought he done okay. Few nice touches, got in about the Celtic defenders. Arguably offered more than Johnson until he got his goal. he certainly wasn't a waste of a jersey. On Robinsons comments regarding fitness, surely he is referring to the difference fitness required in reserve football to first team competitive football against international footballers, which will only come with a run of games. the pace, power, strength of the game at that level is multiplied by ten.

long shot I know, but anyone happen to have a spare season ticket not in use tonight. Not being able to drive, I won't make it into fir park in time to get to the ground and queue to pick up a ticket for tonight unfortunately. There is a Pre match nerve settler in it for anyone.

' if we had conceded in that match we wouldn't have won it ' utterly ridiculous statement, if we hadn't scored two against st mirren we wouldn't have won. if we hadn't conceded four away to hearts we would have won. Anything to find a flaw in a victory.

I thought the same with Livingstone, but he was pulled at half time which is why I went with it. If Dunne isn't fit he seems really the only viable option?

Fortunately the team mentioned here won't be the one taking the field, i think with both Dunne and ATS missing we might well see Adam Livingstone. Carson Tait Aldred Hartley Livingstone Cadden Campbell Turnbull Frear Bigi Johnson A line up with players comfortable in every position, no square pegs in round holes, players out wide who will hit the bye line, bigi in a free role, with no defensive responsibility, Turnbull dictating the game, Campbell for some bite. two full backs who can get up and down all day. plenty of options on the bench to change it up, main, bowman, Mchugh to tighten things up.

i actually thought Shea Gordon was quite well thought of, certainly done well with the 20's.

You are saying this doesn't reflect well on the managment team, Ben Hall got a move down south for starters. Other than the ones who have broken through/on the brink of breaking through (Turnbull and Livingston) do you realistically think we have missed a trick with the rest? i doubt any of them would have made an impact on our squad now, we have a new crop of players in the youth who are making strides towards the first team, Liam brown, Jake Hastie, James Scott, Barry Maguire, all made appearances now in the first team. majority of the squad are now playing in the lower leagues of scottish football so I wouldn't be loosing to much sleep over 'the ones that got away'

Semple was on the bench on Saturday, he's only 17/18 i believe so is playing second fiddle to James Scott.

who is semele?

I too think there will be a decent turnout, international week against some 'overseas' opposition in the latter stages of a cup, not forgetting its a saturday 3pm kick off and very well priced. Massive test for the youngsters but after last seasons showing against crusaders we can go into it with some confidence, particularly on our own turf in front of hopefully a decent crowd.

apparently due to injuries he has lost most of his pace, not for me. As for the bring in Aldred to replace kipre chat, he's already made it clear he has no intentions of returning to Motherwell, has done since the day he signed.

I think i'm also missing the creative midfielder we have got of, we still have tanner to return and Bigirimana who likes to get the ball down and play, we also have David Turnbull who can do the same, cadden as well i'm sure many see him as more as someone to sit behind strikers and feed passes. with regards to recruits that's exactly why the Spanish boy was signed, to dictate play from slightly deeper. Allan Campbell also played more advanced with Scotland during the summer which is an option if we require it. So the lack of creativity chat is a load of nonsense, our system doesn't allow us to play with wingers however when we have to change up and go more attacking we have the option of using Cadden and Frear in the wide roles. so long story short, we have creativity but it's about how we use it. With regards to the signing of Connor Sammon, it's a bit meh however it seems as though some folk would have preferred some unknown from the lower leagues in england, at the very least we have someone who knows the league and has to an extent been there done that in Scotland which can't be a bad thing, If it was a flare player you were after, Nadir Ciftci was your man but for most he was to hit and miss, which is unfortunately part and parcel of having these type of players at our level, ainsworth for example. The club couldn't win on this occasion.

Grimshaw certainly came on to a game so I would take him off that list and even Hendrie wasn't a disaster, done okay I would say.

Tony watt officially with st Sohnstone now. any glimmer of a Citfci return? seems to have went all quiet regarding him going anywhere.

yeah i never suggested he was, I said he's not here to sit on the bench. thanks for clarifying though

I don't for a second think Gorrin is here to fill a space on the bench, based on Robinsons description....he will be a starter.

As has been mentioned, Kipre possess everything that is required to be a modern day defender, tall, strong, quick, comfortable with the ball at his feet. of course he is prone to an error but it's his first season as a professional which many forget. Not only that, he's managed an international call up and i suppose the cup finals too also add to his value, played on massive stages infront of massive crowds under pressure. A lot more than many players in his position can say.

After a quick Twitter search of his name, it seems there are clubs down south sniffing about, Liverpool spurs and Everton to be exact along with many people seeing the mass exodus at sporting being his chance.....however what a piece of business this would be.

Hibs away right at the start of the edinburgh festival as well, makes for a cracking day out

Michael o'halloran also set to complete a deal to melbourne city in the next 48 hours, so that probably rules the two players we have all heard of signing on.