joewarkfanclub

Having been at Barrow I was pleasantly surprised by the performance and result today. We started brightly, got a good goal and knocked the ball around nicely enough without being overly threatening. So we shat the nest with another defensive lapse and the rest of the first have was poor. However, we did turn it around, played some nice stuff, scored some really nice goals. I accept it was only Queens Park, and this group of players has a long way to go before they convince anyone, but it was a decent start.

First competitive game on a big wide pitch. I guess this is where we get to really see what our new players are made of! Looking for a significant step up in performance levels from the pre season games.

My main bug bear with the League Cup is that the teams in Europe dont have to play in it from the start. This immediately devalues it. I understand why we do it re Europe etc but for me its not right. If we had leagues of 16 playing each other home and away we would have less games to play and could use the space to incorporate a meaningful League Cup with all the teams in it. You could still have it as a season opener if you wished and push the league back into the empty spaces caused by less games. Unfortunately now that we are back to 4 ugly sister league games every season its never gonna happen.

I think the Dom Thomas debate exemplifies a lot of what is wrong with Scottish football. We seem to have a lot of youngsters who look to have the raw talent to become good footballers and who do well at youth level, but we dont seem to be very good at developing them from there to progress in the senior game. Im sure the reasons are complex and many, but until we figure it out, our ranking/coefficient at club and international level will continue to slide. As for Dom, good luck to the boy. I hope he makes it. But Im not devastated at his departure.

Looking forward to seeing some of our new players tonight. Hoping the game is "tastier than Barrow in Furness bus station". For those who have no idea what Im on about, I'll leave you to "Chewitt" over!

Given that the close season is only 6 weeks long now and our best weather tends to be April/May, Im not sure the summer football discussion is even relevant anymore. We are going to have to play in the winter months anyway. Its just a matter of when you want to stop/start.

Having listened to all the pre season interviews the thing that jumps out at me is that its all about the group and getting the right characters in to take that philosophy forward. I get the feeling that maybe that hasnt been the case in the last couple of seasons and some negative influences have been moved on. That being the case Im not sure Ciftci would be the kind of player we would be interested in. Talented, yes. Team player?

Sad to see The Houswives Favourite hang up his boots but it was time. Here is hoping he continues to be as successful as a coach as he was as a player and stays with us for many years to come. All the best Keef! #siwy

McHugh for Captain for me. He has all the attributes. Get him on a longer contract as well.

Goals for Motherwell FC This Season 1. Stay up 2. Play more entertaining football 3. Cup run 4. Expand Well Society 5. Stay up

I wish Lionel all the best at his new club. A bit sad that he wont be staying with us but Plymouth are clearly in a position to offer him more than we can. Its a nice part of the world to stay so sure he and his family will do well out of the move. He leaves us with some fantastic memories. None more so than that 3rd goal at Ibrox. #twistandshout

I would be deeply disappointed in our board if we sell Moult to another team in our league if there are other credible offers on the table. You have to consider the damage he could inflict on us over a number of seasons and take that into account as well as any financial package. I would hope that and O'Hallorans wage expectations will put an end to any possible deal. Much rather see our prize asset go south and flourish knowing we had played a part in his development.

Please explain how you come to that position from my post? Bowman is one player. Ive described certain circumstances where he might be useful. Given he is under contract he wouldnt be the first one Id be looking to move on. He wont be on much money and wont spit the dummy being a squad player. You clearly dont rate him. Thats ok. All entitled to our opinions but perplexed to how you make the jump to "carry on as we are". I havent said keep all our over age players who are clearly past it. I havent said lets keep our below average keeper who has cost us goals. I havent said lets not bother signing any new defenders to replace the ones leaking goals left right and centre. I havent said lets not re-evaluate our midfield. Move out those not up to scratch and get some in who will bring us balance and play more attractive passing football. I havent said we shouldnt try to keep Moult or at least try and use any transfer money wisely on trying to find a replacement. Lots of changes coming. I just hope at the end of it that we end up with a more balanced squad of higher quality with cover in all positions and the ability to play more than 1 style of football when required.

I think we might keep Bowman for use off the bench or in specific situations when we need to go route one. I wouldnt be relying on him to get me 15 goals a season far less 20 but he is a big physical lad and could be useful in certain games. Blyth we dont need......

I was jesting! A tartan top could end up being iconic, but could just as easily be howfing! Be interested to see if they could do a white away top with some sort of claret and amber tartan trim/design though..... You able to mock something up UBH?

Signing on fee for a years extension!

If we dont get more for Moult than we did for Lee Erwin I will be shocked, stunned and bitterly disappointed!

I'd like to think I'm a realist. I totally agree that Lionel has had a honking season but then so has more than half our squad. Not helped by the awful man management he was exposed to in the first half of the season. Add to that the awful style of football we've adopted to try and avoid the drop. Yes, Lionel could probably have done more to help his own situation but I think there have been plenty mitigating factors. All depends on how Robinson sees us playing next season. I like Frear and Ross McLean shows promise but Id love to see Cadden played through the centre as a box to box player as others have mentioned. That for me leaves a space for someone like Lionel. If he isnt going to be difficult to deal with financially why look elsewhere?

A Claret and Amber Tartan design.....oooh!

Football is supposed to be entertainment. Id rather pay to see a team with someone like Lionel in it with a chance that I might see something really special, rather than a team of journeyman, knowing fine well that I wont. Yes he is frustrating. Yes he hides at times. He cant tackle to save himself even when he can be arsed to track back but none of that matters if we have decent defenders. If we are going to be losing Moult AND Skippy do we really want to lose Lionels assists and goals from the team as well? I agree that the financial deal has to work for both parties and if that cant be done then he goes with our good wishes, but we are going to have a big turnover in the squad again this year. Keeping Lionel wouldnt be the worst bit of business we ever do.

We need the extra prize money. Lets win the game......

Be sad to see Lionel go. Simply, he can do things that no one else in our squad except maybe an ageing McFadden can do. Id make room for him in our squad even if just on the bench as an impact player. He certainly hasnt been the weakest link in our squad this season and has contributed a lot more than some. If he goes, good luck to him. He has left us with some cracking memories!

Some of the patter on here is chronic. I dont know Alan Burrows at all, so no axe to grind either way. His position is General Manager. He is accountable to the Board of Directors of which we have representation through the Well Society. Ive no idea whether he is the right man for the job (and neither does anyone else who doesnt work at the club with him on a daily basis) but the suggestion that he is some sort of oligarchal figure at the club is ludicrous. There are lots of things the club needs to do better. Player signing strategy being the main one. But for the first time in years we are on a stable financial footing living within our means. I'll take that as a starting point.