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Lots of talk in the press today: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/s...rem/8286436.stm - bbc gossip. The sun has an article and here is one from the record: MOTHERWELL manager Jim Gannon has offered new deals to Paul Slane and Steve Saunders as part of his long-term strategy for the club - and its talented youngsters. The Fir Park boss, who has already fixed up Ross Forbes and Shaun Hutchison on extended contracts, is keen to tie up both players as soon as possible especially after Slane was linked with a move to Celtic. He said: "Obviously I can't do all the deals at the same time so now Ross and Shaun are sorted I have made offers to Paul and Steve and looking forward to concluding them. "Once the younger players are settled and sorted about their futures at the club we will move on to the senior players. "There has been interest from Celtic over Paul but contract talks have not been at the forefront of his mind because he has been injured for the last few weeks. "I spoke to him a while back and there is an offer on the table. But like any young player he wants to be reassured of his position at the club. "We see Paul and Steve as players with a bright future here and they will play and train regularly with the first team. "There is no better place for a player to be than in a team that's playing good football and at the right end of the table. I think it would be in Paul's best interest to stay and play here for the foreseeable future. "I know Tony Mowbray and if Paul was to join Celtic then it would all be down to the progress he made at a club like this. It is not for me to say if Paul would or would not get a game there. "I know they have a lot of wide attackers like Aiden McGeady, Shaun Maloney, Paddy McCourt and Niall McGinn so young players do get a chance but I can't say what would happen. "Paul would obviously see Celtic as a good opportunity but he is still a young man. He is happy enough here and with the offer s he just needs to make sure he is making the right decision. "He knows how much we like him and value him as a player and the chance we gave him. He has had a real taste of things with European football and wants more. "In his formative years he needs to be in an environment where he is looked after, well supported and well educated and gets the opportunity to play regularly." In fact Gannon has vowed to try to build the Lanarkshire side into a force that will be respected and looked up to in the SPL in the foreseeable future. He does admit, though, that he doesn't feel any of his youngsters are ready to take the step up to the Old Firm or play at the highest level just yet. However, the Well boss conceded he would not stand in the way of any of his players making a big-money move but would let natural progression take its course. Gannon said: "We are building and want to consolidate things. We have a great crop of young players at Fir Park with the likes of Forbes, Hutchison, Saunders, Tom Hateley, Jamie Murphy, Slane and Chris Humphrey. "There is a terrific core of 17 to 20-year-olds here right now who are going to be the backbone of this side and I want to see them grow up together and perform as a team together. "I want to build a club and a group of players who are respected and revered at Motherwell and in the SPL for the next few years. That's what I would really like to see. "There comes a natural time when a player is ready to move on. Players and managers know it. "I don't think any of my young lads is ready to play at a higher level than the one they are currently at and I think Motherwell is a great environment for them to learn their trade. "We play a smashing brand of football, we are in an improving environment and the players are enjoying their football. "They are being looked after and are being rewarded. "We will continue to do that in the years to come and if there is a chance to move on and they are ambitious to do so we won't stand in their way. "At this stage of their careers they are being well served doing their apprenticeship at this club in their formative years." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/...86908-21716654/

Think it was an operation on both legs, last week. Still out for another month before starting any type of training. As to why there has been no official mention of this, who knows?

On-loan Charlton full-back Yassin Moutaouakil is in line for his Motherwell debut at Fir Park. Teenage defender Shaun Hutchinson will return after missing the 0-0 draw at Aberdeen but Paul Slane and Darren Smith are still sidelined. Rangers are set to hand a debut to French winger Jerome Rothen. However, Kyle Lafferty, now free of suspension, faces two weeks on the sidelines after suffering a medial ligament injury with Northern Ireland. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/s...rem/8249342.stm

From spotinglife.com: Jim Gannon has begun moves to secure the long-term futures of the youngsters who have lit up the start of his Motherwell reign. Midfielder Ross Forbes, 20, has scored five goals after Gannon handed him his debut last month while Shaun Hutchinson, Steven Saunders and Paul Slane have also become regulars. Their form is sure to have alerted other clubs and Gannon is keen to tie them to longer deals. The Motherwell manager said: "The likes of young Slaney, Ross Forbes, Hutchinson, even young Saunders and Bob McHugh are all players we feel are going to play a big part in the future of this club. "We are constantly looking at the situation of making sure they are here for the long term. "That process started several weeks ago and will continue, but we don't want to distract the players from just enjoying the game and performing well for the team on Saturday." Only Jamie Murphy from Gannon's young contingent was a regular under previous boss Mark McGhee, whose Aberdeen team Motherwell face on Saturday. But the Well manager has urged his players to forget who is in the home dugout during the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash at Pittodrie. "I think players understand why they weren't included last year - they were still young, they were still learning, there was quite a deep squad of senior players who were ahead of them," Gannon said. "I'm sure they showed glimpses of their potential last year but the opportunity didn't arise. "I don't think they will be going into this game with any concern about proving anybody wrong. "As I always say to people in life and in football, you should never set about trying to prove people wrong who doubt you, you should try to prove people right who believe in you. "I believe in them and I just want them to go out and perform, for us, for themselves and for Motherwell Football Club." Gannon's faith in youth has sidelined experienced players such as Keith Lasley, Steven McGarry and Marc Fitzpatrick. Some Well players have attracted interest ahead of Tuesday's transfer deadline but Gannon only anticipates one change to his squad - a new right-back coming in. "I've had some tentative enquiries regarding players going out and I've had a few players coming to me wanting to know where they stand," Gannon said. "I've been dead honest with both the clubs and the players about the situation. "If it's a good opportunity for Motherwell and a good opportunity for the player then I will certainly consider it, but at the moment I don't see any activity in terms of players going out. "But I know how things can work and in the next four or five days we could have some strange goings-on. "If that's the case and we lose one or two then we will certainly be in a rush to add one or two."

Doesn't look like it: Motherwell will not risk Paul Slane for the visit of Kilmarnock unless he has fully recovered from a calf problem. The 17-year-old winger pulled out of the starting line-up at St Johnstone 10 minutes before kick-off and has missed several days of training this week. Jim Gannon's only other absentee is Darren Smith, who is expected to be out for several months with a hip problem. Teams: Motherwell (from): Ruddy, Hateley, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Hutchinson, Coke, Forbes, Sutton, Murphy, O'Brien, Humphrey, McHugh, McGarry, Jennings, Fraser, Slane, Saunders. http://www.sportinglife.com/football/scott...Motherwell.html

From official site: The Steelmen didn’t have the best preparation when Paul Slane limped off just minutes before kick-off. The young winger had been struggling with a minor calf problem and despite the best efforts of the medical team, just wasn’t able to start the game. “He’s been feeling a tight calf all week but he was wanted to play, in fact, he was desperate to play but as a precaution we felt it best to take him out to ensure he doesn’t do any more damage,” said Gannon. “We made the decision to change it about five or six minutes before the kick-off. He came in complaining about the calf. He got a rub and a bit of treatment and he was keen to play but I could see from his body language that he wasn’t totally happy. “We made a couple of quick adjustments. Like I’ve said, you get paid to make these sorts of calls and we tried to deal with it dynamically. I think it was the safest thing to do but it was a shame for the lad but it gave Tom Hateley the opportunity to come in and done fantastically well.” http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/index.php?op...&Itemid=132

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/footb...-big.5536994.jp Hopefully the season will be as good as pre-season

Is commentary only on Radio scotland? Or is it on clyde?

Thats good to hear, Im sure everyone will have enjoyed the experience if not the result

Was there any racist chanting like predicted in the media? Or were they wrong as usual?

Thanks

Anybody know what time this flights due in at?

I think all four of the new signings will start! Not what I would want but I think the manager will go with his own men, so the team I think will be picked is: Ruddy Saunders/Page Craigan Hutchison Reynolds Slane Jennings Forbes Coke Humphreys Sutton