thewelllfan

The reality is we're not going to improve that area because of the 2 we have there plus Jordan McGhee who can also play there. They're also 2 different type of RB's Sparrow is more attacking gets himself into decent areas going forward where as SOD is a bit more defensive and has simplified his game which has made him look better. I think people are getting carried away with how good we've been this season our target each season as stated by the board is 10th. The majority of the time we qualify for Europe is because 1 or 2 out of Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen have a poor season. We've also surely got to be looking at the seasons under Graham Alexander and SK where we've had like 30 contracted players with about 10 of them not making more than 5 appearances. I think 2 per position with academy players making up the squad when we get injuries is the approach we should be taking hence the reason I don't see us signing another RB.

I think RB is fine tbh SOD and Sparrow are serviceable Premiership Rbs. LB I would like an alternative that isn't Wilson but he's a HG and a Club trained player for Europe so we'll probably just stick with him and hope he's developed a bit at Raith. We need another Striker to create competition, probably a Maswanhise type that can play across the front 3. I'd like to see us improve the physicality of the team. We're quite a small side and have we scored a header from a corner this season feels like a string we need to add to our bow. Hearts are top of the league from being the best at set-peices. Other than Just at Aberdeen I can't think of another corner we've scored from.

I might be in the minority but I wouldn't give JK another contract we have SOD and Sparrow to play RB and both are already contracted as well as McGhee who can play there. For next season in Europe we're going to need a squad of 25 including academy players. The Squad should look like :- GK - Ward, Connolly, Academy GK RB - SOD, Sparrow CB - McGinn, McGhee, 2x New CB LB - Longelo, Wilson CM - Watt, Preistman, Fadinger, Whyte RW - Said, New RW AM - Just, New AM (If Just leaves 2x AMF) LW - RCC, New LW ST- Bjorgolfsson, Hendry, New ST For Europe that gives us 4 Club trained - Wilson, Whyte, Connolly, Academy GK/Can also be Luca Ross 8 HG - Wilson, Whyte, Connolly, Academy GK/Can also be Luca Ross, McGinn, McGhee, SOD, Hendry That would mean the other signings don't have to be Scottish in order to make the Quota numbers. The above layout assumes - (Maswanhise is sold, Welsh goes back to Celtic, Slattery, JK, Gordon, Balmer, Halliday, Robinson, Nicholson all leave at end of their deal.)

I don't disagree but I think what you also have to take into consideration is that these players are playing at this level for JBA there is no guarantee they will remain at that level under a new manager. For Example McKinstry under Hammell probably our best player under Kettlewell he barley played. Slattery under Wimmer/JBA to Hammell/Kettlewell. We also have to start planning replacements for each player for example if Elliot Watt leaves I'd like to see us sign Dean McMaster from Airdrie he's really impressed me every time I've seen him on the Friday night Championship game and is a similar profile to Watt. I think we could replace any of Watt, Longelo or Said with a similar player the ones we'd stuggle to replace are Just, Fadinger, Maswanhise because their profiles are quite rare and probably can't be replaced like for like. We would now probably struggle to replace Ward as his kicking this season has been excellent.

That's exactly what's happened. Other than Just we are devoid of creativity. The fact it's took till March to feel the lack of Lennon Miller in our midfield probably speaks volumes about how good Watt and Fadinger have been but today our midfield were poor. We also need someone who can shoot from range, we're overplaying on the edge of the box at times and Preistman and Fadinger both lack the shot power to score from outside the box.

We have to beat Falkirk at home after the break. I think after that if we pick up 7 points in the last 6 games that will be enough to get us 4th.

1 more game ticked off the schedule is all that game was. If we get into the split 6 points ahead of Hibs we should have enough for 4th. Maswanhise really should score the chance he got cut back to him on the penalty spot.

I just think our whole selling point to players is come showcase your talent and if the interest is there and the fees right. They move on. We could very easily be without a variation of JBA, Just, Maswanhise, Longelo, Watt, Fadinger, Slattery, Longelo, Ward I suspect they'll all attract interest elsewhere.

I can't imagine Dunfermiline are covering his full wage we gave him a 2.5 year deal when we made him our N1 when Kelly left

I think being realistic I expect that our Squad next season before signings will look like :- GK - Ward, Connolly RB - Sparrow, SOD CB - McGinn, McGhee LB - Longelo, Wilson CM - Watt, Preistman, Fadinger Rw - Said Lw - RCC St - Bjorgolfsson, Hendry Out - Maswanhise (4-5M), Just (2.5-3M), Stamatelopolous (200K), Slattery (Free), Gordon (Free), Nicholson (Free), Oxborough (Released), Koutrombis (Free), Halliday (Free), Robinson (Free), Welsh (Returns to Celtic). (Around 7M in fees) That would leave us needing a minimum of :- (8 Players) - 2 CBs, 1 CM, 2 AMF (Assuming we play same shape),LW, RW and possibly a ST

Anyways My team v Hibs would be Ward SOD McGinn Welsh Sparrow Watt Fadinger Maswanhise Slattery Just Bjorgolfsson Said needs dropped he's been poor last few games I'd of dropped Sparrow as well but he's played LB the most of the players available so he needs to play.

I'm going to enjoy the football on show for the rest of the season but I fully expect for the manager and the squad to get picked apart in the summer. Slattery is OOC. Welsh goes back to Celtic. Maswanhise will be sold. Just and Watt will have suitors and I'm doubtful we'll be blocking moves for them given we market ourselves as a place where you can earn a move. I suspect we'll be another new look Motherwell team next season and we'll have to wait and see how it goes.

I don't think we'll get the opportunity to build our gaffer will be off and unless your giving the job to his rookie assistant manager there's not going to be much continuity. Your also going to have to trust the recruitment to get it spot on again to replace Maswanhise, Slattery, Welsh etc which we all know at clubs our size is hit and miss. I'm not trying to be negative that's just the reality of clubs like ourselves. I have enjoyed this season but can't help but feel it's an opportunity to win something that's been passed up again. The only 2 other recent-ish seasons i've felt similar was the McCall 12/13 team and the Robinson 17/18 team.

Hearts have beat both the OF twice and sit top of the league. They're going to lose games their not a Celtic or Rangers type machine their in unknown territory to them and have been top of the league for the best part of 6 months. I also don't see how any other teams mentality is relevant to what I said. We haven't won any games with pressure on us this season. Went out both cups to teams we're unbeaten against in the league and when the media started talking about a title challenge we've lost the 2 games since. I like watching us under JBA but as far as I'm concerned our seasons basically been over since we went out the cup. I'd like to get into Europe but I'm also wary we'll most likely be without our manager and multiple key players (Maswanhise, Slattery, Welsh at a minimum) and probably Just as well. So bringing in a new manager and half a starting 11 doesn't fill me with confidence.

Hearts, Celtic, St Mirren (This season) you can argue Rangers. Before you tell me St Mirren are staring at a play-off I'd have their season over ours 100 times out of 100.