weeyin

Except it is. The only difference being that (as McGhee pointed out) in a real pre-season he doesn't have to keep easing back on (or missing) training sessions because of the games. The only other difference is that we are winning games.

Brings back memories of the 80s when players were booed off the pitch for drawing 0 - 0 with Berwick Rangers.

They were obviously hoping his injury would heal over the summer, but when it didn't, decided to make sure he'd be fit for as much of the regular season as possible.

Club's internet stream is active at: http://mixlr.com/motherwellfc/

Last season, Faddy, Hammell and Lasley were doing a lot of work with the U20s and I guessed one of them would be taking a more formal coaching role this season. Given that Faddy is likely to have least game time this season, it makes perfect sense - assuming, like in prior seasons, assistant manager will be running most of the training sessions etc.

Rangers beat them at a canter, but they only scored 3.

If they park the bus, it's never easy to bang in the goals. If we score early though, our fitness levels should help during the last 30 minutes. (Although it was interesting to hear McGhee's thoughts on how these games interfere with pre-season fitness levels).

Summer fitba', eh?

If we don't let players develop, we might as well give up. We bought him when he was 22, so were presumably aware he wasn't the finished article - especially as we had previously had him on loan.

I think you'll find that's because McGhee, like McCall before him, is shitting everyone about his transfer targets and budget. And rightly so.

Traffic Light, mjc and CMWellfan.

As long as the 5 yard passes are to our players, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

But, but.... that would mean McGhee was telling porkies when he said no new players and we had exceeded our budget. That would mean he wasn't being truthful about signings. Say it ain't so.

The manager is on record as saying he thinks Laing is "a footballer" that he thinks has the ability to make it as a midfielder. He also rated him at right back last season. Apparantly carrying an injury in pre-season. Not sure where the 'not rated' comes from.

I certainly have some sympathy with that argument. It's tempered a little by the fact that players expect a club to offer them a contract for security and then to honour that contract. Expecting to be able to just walk away from that smacks a little of cake-and-eat-it syndrome.

I'm still not getting the "option to sign with us". Is there such a thing as an employment contract where an employee has an option to force an employer to hire them? If there is, I'd like to be CEO of Apple, please.

Is there a Godwin's Law for transfer threads?

a) McGhee is a clueless idiot with no strategy. b) McGhee is a shrewd operator who knows exactly what he is doing based on working with the players every day and access to the budget details. Choose one, it seems.

The "wheeling and dealing" begins.

I love it when our fans clamour for young players to be brought through, but complain when they don't have an instant impact. He doesn't need an "excuse" - he needs development and game time (and, perish the thought, maybe a little support).

Except he doesn't spend most of his time injured.

I think the moderators depend on self-policing and other posters to take care of offensive posts by calling them out in replies. I think it works pretty well for the most part.

Staying up should be the starting point of every season. As we showed recently, it's a fine line between top 6 and relegation play-off.

TBF, we aren't averse to acquiring youth players from other teams. Ben Hall being a recent example (although he was a little older). While it used to happen in the past, the interested clubs would often let the player develop in his local club and bring him in later. Money speaks now, even at that age, and clubs don't want to miss out on the next big thing.

Early season. 2 teams with new faces. Impossible to predict.