Lobey_Dosser

This is a concern for me. There is no guarantee that Moult will be ready for the Ross County game. And if even if he is, it will likely take a few weeks to get him up to speed. Blyth has been signed as the alternative, the big target man McGhee has been looking for since January, presumably to ensure we are more successful when we are playing direct. By the looks of it though, Blyth is a long way off being ready. Personally I'd have liked a more mobile striking option, someone that can run in behind and compliment McDonald.

Relatively content with a point. The first half performance was the best I've seen this season with the majority of our team looking good. There was a nagging feeling from early on however that we wouldn't score today and almost inevitably we ran out of steam in the 2nd half. With McDonald always dropping deep to link up the play, we had nobody stretching the play or offering presence in the box. I imagine McGhee would have hoped for more from his inverted wingers in that respect. The other big miss is in midfield. Cadden offers plenty of running power and Clay had a very impressive first 45 but neither offer that wee bit of a quality and composure Pearson possessed in the final third. Work in progress.

Is Les' daughter still on the Board? If he's ill but still has faith in the project, maybe he could transfer ownership to someone he trusts...

I reluctantly joined up in April but would be very disappointed if a deal was signed and sealed with consultation with the society members and more importantly, the core fan base. With crowds reducing and income revenues constrained, there is very little momentum behind this.

McGhee's views on Cadden. http://m.heraldscotland.com/sport/14706010.Mark_McGhee_speaks_out_after_Chris_Cadden_snubbed_for_Scotland_call_up_by_Ricky_Sbragia/ Important point towards the end of the article, given the form of our youth team I'm amazed we have nobody in the under 19 squad. Digressing, I'd love the press to question McGhee on McCormack's omission. Given what McGhee did for McCormack's career, I struggle to believe he'd agree with Strachan.

Jim McMahon was very clear in saying that any deal would hinge on ensuring a sustainable model that protected Motherwell's long term viability. I'd therefore be surprised if any deal was imminent, unless Les is willing to walk away without getting the bulk of his money back and/or we have a fresh investor.

Laing is miles ahead of Ferguson.

Is that not just a message for the Board?

So Hibs talking to Tom Hateley. Don't suppose he was the former player we were interested in?

Too many variables at the moment. Most would put McHugh down as a first choice but while his contribution has been positive, we've barely seen him over the course of 7 games. What we do need though is a creative midfielder to compliment Cadden and one sitting midfielder (McHugh/Clay/Lasley). Failure to complete that piece of the jigsaw will make for a difficult few months.

Good news if we got decent compensation for Leitch. Hopefully a proportion of it can be reinvested in squad.

Two clubs at a relatively low ebb early in the season. Would be happy enough with a point. Roll on the international break.

Clay may end up being a relatively solid acquisition. However, when you sell Pearson who is one of the most influential midfielders in the league, we should have had a better replacement lined up. A replacement that complimented Lasley and McHugh. Find it hard to believe Clay was in our original thinking.

Scheduled to return for the Ross County game on 10th Sept. You can often take these projected dates with a pinch of salt though. I think his injury was misdiagnosed when examined at the end of last season with rest the suggested remedy.

McGhee benoaning the lack of options on bench today. Doesn't bode well for Lucas.

Agree entirely with this. Recall similar discussions at certain points of the McCall era.

Wasn't there today but I think part of our perceived lack of fitness is down to our style of play, which is compounded by too many slow players. We spend large chunks of the game chasing the ball and when we get the ball, we lack quality, composure and movement. Consequently we are seemingly under instruction to go route one more often that not. Night and day from McGhee in 2007 when we swept teams aside with incisive interplay. Obviously we are operating with a far lower calibre of player though.

Didn't following the game but having feared a doing I'm relatively content with a narrow defeat. Sore one for those that travelled but it's no surprise to lose a late goal given our limited options.

Rangers -2 @5/2. Will hold off to hear our lineup but very tempting.

Think you are right there. There's also the possibility that McHugh could deputise. A young understudy to Hammell should have been a priority this summer but sadly there is no chance of any team taking Chalmers off our hands.

Lasley was frighteningly off the pace against Celtic and St Johnstone but I'm keeping the faith he'll be up to speed soon enough.

Semple it will be cheers, couldn't remember the name.

Towards the end of today's press conference, McGhee mentioned that he had a 15 year old who would be flirting with the first team if he was allowed to do so. Possibly a throwaway comment given the nature of the question but who's he talking about?

No team news was shared at the press conference but that's a blow if McHugh is still out. Find it hard to envisage us competing with a team that moves the ball about so quickly. We're going to need big performances from the likes of Lasley and Cadden just to get in the game.

Autumn 2017 before we'd receive the CL 'solidarity' payment according to Burrows on Twitter.