Ya Bezzer!

McHugh was a class apart today.

I try to give as balanced a view as possible. Seems like you are the one only seeing the negative. Didn't read the bit about liking the look of Tanner? Or me saying McHugh has the potential to be one of the best midfielders in the league? Or the positive contribution of Bigirimana? But I don't mind. Steam right in with your reading comprehension issues if you like. I'm all about discourse.

I've been told by someone at the club that the strategy is definitely to move Heneghan on.

A very low key match that was almost too easy for us. Morton, I thought, were abject. However you can only beat what's in front of you and we did that convincingly. Just a few thoughts on the new look side. I like how Carson looks to distribute the ball from hand as quickly as possible but you suspect if Samson had completely missed a cross, as Carson has in both games now, there wouldn't be a jovial 'swing on the bar' chant. Defensively we've not really been tested especially today with Morton offering next to nothing but I just have a creeping fear about the back four. Kipre is good on the ball but unfortunately that's about 10% of defending and I just feel that there are errors in his game. Dunne also looks like better opponents could perhaps take advantage of careless play from him and we know all about Heneghan. I suspect this is going to be the weak part of our game this season. In central midfield we look like we have a good pair in Bigirimana and McHugh. Both look good but I thought McHugh was tremendous today and if he can keep that level of performance up, and last season seems to suggest he might, he can be one of the best midfielders in the division. Bigirimana looks energetic and quick thinking too with decent ability. If we can keep both fit then it should be a definite improvement on last season and a strong central part of the 'spine'. I also like the look of Tanner. On what we've seen he perhaps doesn't have the technical ability of Henrik Ojamaa (Mk I anyway!) but I think he can play a very similar role cutting in from wider positions into the middle. Something we lacked dreadfully last season was midfielders getting into the box and being offensive minded and on that note it's good to see Cadden getting another goal and attacking those central areas of the 18 yard box. When you have midfielders doing that it makes it much, much harder for the team defending and it's something we need to keep doing, although it should be noted that Cadden did well in the league cup group stages last season before he reverted to type and his form dropped off in the league. It's something he needs to really work on and hopefully he can go some way in the coming season. On a less positive note I have to bring up Elliott Frear. There's that much thrown up "7 assists" stat but I remain to be convinced by him, both last season and from what I've seen this season. In all three matches I've watched so far this term Frear has really been a very peripheral figure who has contributed very little. RIght now he's the player that needs to up his game the most out of what looks like the starting XI. Up front Bowman looked more like the Bowman from last season than last week. He gives you a lot of effort but considering how dominate we were in the match he never really looked like scoring. Fisher hasn't really impressed me either which leaves us with Louis Moult. Another fantastic free kick from a class act. If Moult does leave before the window I hope we have a good quality replacement lined up otherwise we might be lacking in that department. Overall a decent display against poor opposition but it's one of those one's where you aren't sure how good we really were because the opposition was dead in the water after a couple of minutes.

In what little I've seen of him he seems a lot more comfortable on the ball than off it. Probably most of what makes defenders good defenders is off the ball, reading the game, positioning, communication, holding a line, discipline, awareness etc. Like the rest of the team we'll only be able to judge when they play better quality opposition when the league season starts. Morton will be a step up but still below Premiership level.

Morton supporting mate says they were poor against Queens Park and if they play like that "you should batter us".

Ciftci is a difficult character and a big risk. In terms of ability he's a big step up from what we've got but it's one of those one's where it's either going to be a master stroke or a disaster.

I agree and disagree. I agree we should have enough to see off Morton. They finished the season pretty poorly last term and it doesn't look to have improved looking at the results so far. They tend to raise their game against bigger teams so I'm sure we'll see that but we should definitely be looking for a home win at Fir Park. Disagree that we were miles better than Queens Park. We were fitter and saw them off in the end but I didn't think we were exactly convincing for the first 60 minutes or so and I doubt Morton will drop off to the extent Queens Park did in the latter stages so we are going to have to out perform them and not rely on a stamina game.

Word for word what I was thinking.

Will be interesting to see where McDonald ends up but it certainly won't be back at Motherwell. Was just looking through the squads at the weekend and noticed Kilmarnock currently have one striker - Kris Boyd. You'd imagine other teams in the league are on the look out for a striker too- Ross County, Dundee....and outwith the league but still in Scotland, Dundee Utd.

Didn't think any of the starting XI deserved it. Went for Bowman, came on, got two goals and finished them well.

Overall the score flattered us but you have to say we were pretty clinical at taking our chances and Bowman took his goals well. QP were blowing out their arses in the last 20 25 minutes and we dominated and got the goals later in the game but for the first 60 minutes it wasn't like that and we didn't look very robust when the opposition was on the ball. Step up in quality next week, we'll see how we fare then.

Well I was right about set pieces. Cummins isn't a good defender but he is actually good at winning headers at corners and free kicks. We look sluggish but the worst thing has been our final ball which has been dreadful. Must have played 6 long balls out to the left hand corner with no one there.

3pm

If Louis Moult is the whore, Motherwell FC is the pimp. We'll be desperate to get him out the door before the window closes, along with the opportunity of any chance of cash. Absolutely no doubt we'll be using every media contact in the book to make sure the whole world knows he's available.

I go along and watch Queens Park if Motherwell aren't playing and the last time I was there I saw them beat Morton 2-0 fairly comfortably however I don't think they will be at full strength as they are rebuilding their squad especially in midfield and forward positions. David Galt isn't a bad player and he can hit them from distance so I'd definitely suggest we don't let him get space around the 25 yards range. We will need to concentrate at set pieces as well as they have a few players that aren't bad in the air. This is a game we should be winning though so I want to see us keeping the ball on the grass, passing and moving and using the width of the Hampden pitch. If we are professional there shouldn't be any problems but if we slack off then it might be an uncomfortable afternoon. Slightly worried where the goals are going to come from.

Yes, which is why some valuations around here are not realistic. Also why I think it might not be worth selling him and just allowing him to leave next season. I think it will be a close run thing between what we can get for him and what's he's worth to us over a season.

If a name is anything to go by Cole Starrs is a multi million pound player!

Don't read the Record but I heard Moult on Radio Scotland tonight and it was pretty obvious he wants away.

The only striking Stockley does is with his elbows. Dirty cunt.

Literally no idea how to defend. Was better further up the pitch.

Based on last season Thomas just wasn't good enough. Amble opportunity to prove him self last term playing just over 90 minutes of league football, comprising 4 sub appearances, three of which we were getting gubbed in when he came on. The end for me was that 14 minute appearance against Kilmarnock when he failed to do anything to break the 0-0 deadlock. Mentioning that Scott McDonald, Louis Moult and Lionel Ainsworth started that match and did fuck all is merely a deflection tactic, one might even say evil and disingenuous sophistry. The blame for that performance rested purely on young Thomas. Personally, in an age when our youth side win cups and achieve superb league placings, the only way to go is to ditch these youngster with their track record of success at youth level and focus purely on our next signing from Dagenham & Redbridge. Bradley Hudson-Odoi, Oliver Hawkins and Mitch Brundle come on down. The heady heights of 3rd bottom awaits.

You've hit the nail on the head. The problem isn't a pre season defeat to Gateshead. It's the context of the defeat in the wider scale of things. Because Scottish football is without doubt is absolutely dreadful by any objective measure and Motherwell have consistently been poor even at the current level of quality. So when I put down £700 odd quid for a couple of season tickets and then go along to our first pre-season match and see a team signed from English lower leagues or even non leagues, most of them 6 foot plus, pumping high balls to a lone striker against part timers from the fourth tier of Scottish football, and not only that but actually being outplayed, what am I supposed to think? That's nothing to do with fitness or experimentation. It's a footballing mentality that's sub standard and should not be accepted. This is the conclusion I draw - Motherwell FC, 30 years in the Scottish Premier League, are being turned into Ebbsfleet United before our very eyes. The standard of player, the standard of manager, the tactics, the footballing mentality, the standard of professionalism. It's just not good enough for a top national league side and all the excuses and explanation in the world doesn't change that. I don't even particularly care about our league position next season. What I'm extremely concerned about is the standard of football. So keep telling yourself everything is alright, as another 200 fans drift away, then the season after that another 150, then the season after that another 90. It's not good enough - and if you think it is you are part of the problem.

Exactly. Our rivals are Ross County and Kilmarnock.

Remember the same being said when we were thrashed by Stranraer during the Malpas pre-season.