Kmcalpin

Luc Nijholt is only a phone call away. What about Simo?

At the very worst though, the club won’t lose out of it. At best it’ll make a good few thousand. If it makes even a modest return then it’ll have been worth it. What’s not to like?

It’s also worth noting that had Tait signed the club’s most up to date offer, it promised him that, as soon as there was clarity over fans returning this would be reviewed.

Agree 100%. For too long now, decades in fact, we've had players (or their agents) making controversial statements in the press and the fans jumping up and down slagging off the club as a result. The club is quite entitled to reply to defend itself and in this case it has struck the right note. As far as the BBC is concerned, it could have waited a tad longer to publish a balanced report. The story wasn't that urgent. Sometimes journalists can ring you up, pose a complex question/query and demand a reply there and then. If you say that you'll ring them back they'll just go ahead and publish, saying that the organisation wouldn't comment. When similar situations arise in future I'd expect and hope that the club will defend itself and reply, in a reasonable tone.

Neilson won't come cheap and Hearts will have to fork out hefty compensation to United. They'll also have to pay Stendel's contract. In the current and future financial climate how can Hearts afford this?

I'd like to hear the club's take on this. Just my opinion but I think he regressed last season, losing a fair bit of pace. Grimmy ousted him from the starting 11 at right back and we had a first choice left back. A good servant, but was he worth another deal and being a year older too? Probably not in Robbo's plans, or if so, only as squad back up - speculation on my part though. From a hard footballing perspective, not a great loss, but good luck to him.

It depends on what type of players are coming through the youth ranks. We seem to be well covered in central midfield and central defence with the likes of Dean Cornelius, Jamie Semple, David Devine and Yusuf Hussain progressing but we don't seem to have any young strikers or wingers coming through at the moment.

As far as centre backs go, management may not see Mugabi as a long term option and may view Donnelly and Maguire as midfielders - will the latter even move on. Gallagher of course could move on although I'm not aware of any evidence he will. Charles Dunne - on a short term contract and injury prone. In midfield, a player or two could move on who knows? You also have to take into account the type of player in there, where we need a balance of defensive and attacking types. Agreed, the way things are shaping up, we do look a bit stronger than last term, if we can add more firepower up front. All that said, it'd be great to see some home grown talent push through and establish themselves.

At the rate we're going now I think Declan Gallagher is taking the club over with his mates. Thats about 4 in recent weeks!

Any word yet if any of the following players have accepted the new deals they've been offered? They could be an important part of our squad this season. Charles Dunne Christopher Long Barry Maguire Peter Morrison Harry Robinson Yusuf Hussain

As far as I know Maguire has not yet signed a new deal.

We’re still a bit light up front as the only experienced striker we currently have is Watt. We need 3 in that department and are still awaiting Long’s decision.

Not sure about that. For every Hartley or Main, he’s signed a Gallagher, Polworth, Hylton or Ariyibi.

The club is now offering refunds for the final 4 scheduled but unfulfilled home fixtures of last season. https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2020/06/10/2019-20-season-ticket-refunds/

If confirmed, Lamie seems to be more of a utility defender than an out and out central defender. That could still leave us a little short in the middle, depending on whether or not Dunne re-signs.

A great top. I like it.

Good luck to Peter Hartley, a big character, and Richard Tait who both leave with a bit of class. Good luck too to any young lads who are leaving i.e. Adam Livingstone, a Well fan himself. Hope he gets another club soon.

Yes, a good summing up as usual. The new season will also be about how our rivals reshape their squads too. Teams such as Ross County seem to be trimming their squad numbers and that might well be the norm in these strange times. There's always the risk that one club will try to gain a short term advantage and not cut back or even strengthen slightly. Maybe clubs will rely more on youth? We'll find out in the next 2 or 3 months.

Has he not picked significant injuries in the past two seasons and missed quite a few games in both?

A good bit of business.

Maybe Mugabi isn't progressing/performing as well as expected so I get that. Tait has been a good servant and model professional but he lost his edge and pace last season and quite plainly Robbo preferred Grimshaw at right back. Could money be an issue? If Mugabi was to leave we would need to pay up his 12 month remaining contract. Apart from that Tait is a full/wing back and Mugabi is a central defender. I'm happy to leave the squad assessment to management. Robbo & Keef know the players well, know their plans for the coming season and know their budgets.

My overwhelming emotion was one of relief. I wouldn't want to go through that again.

Agree overall but don't forget gate money is subject to VAT and due to concessions our average £20 might be nearer £15. We would also have to fork out expenses to away games like Aberdeen for example. Other clubs will face exactly the same financial issues. It'll be interesting though which clubs, outwith the gruesome twosome, splash the cash over the summer (irrespective of whether they have it or not). Your points are well made though.

In all my time of going to Fir Park I consider the team of the mid seventies to be the best that I've seen and that includes the cup winning team of 91. Sadly they never won silverware. It had everything - skill, physicality, mental attitude, and pace and finishing ability. A joy to watch.

It is very low admittedly but its not effectively zero as you put it, and certainly not for those fatally affected. However although many of those under 45 may not be fatally affected by the virus they can be carriers and that must not be ignored. In this case I'm quite happy to leave such decisions to informed politicians, advised by scientists and medical experts.