MelvinBragg

We were discussing this in the pub around Christmas time, given an out and out centre forward is maybe the one piece missing from this team, which Motherwell striker of the past would complete this team...? In terms of the last 40 years, my answer to this question is always Tommy Coyne irrespective of style of team. However in this case, I think it's doubly true. Coyne's intelligent runs with Watt, Slattery and Just feeding him...? Good god...

I went with McGinn. Actually although he didn't have loads of saves to make, Ward had an excellent game in terms of positioning stopping chances even occurring. At the front end, Slattery was the pick of the bunch...

Fairly or unfairly, the manager is going to get the credit/blame for signings from Scandinavian football. So Daws is not likely to get credit for Said or Just. Fadinger, Wimmer will probably get credit for. But identifying and convincing the likes of Sparrow, Longelo and Priestman is to be commended. I'll admit that given the Danzaki experience and Stamatelopolous not setting the scoring charts on fire, I was sceptical of signing Priestman but he's been excellent (and Koutroumbis has been mostly solid). Number of players we were signing from the A League was making me think Daws had a house in Australia. But Priestman looks a find.. Generally positive just now about Daws and our recruitment. In his defence, previous failures we don't know if these players were our first choice targets (bear in mind how many keepers we had to sign last season?). So if we're signing maybe the third or fourth name striker on our wishlist, maybe the success rate will take a hit. Maybe having a manager with a strong personality and clear plan has convinced more of our first choice targets this season...?

The things you stumble across when the Well aren't playing. Graham Alexander's Bradford losing to Luton Town who have Devante Cole up front...

As others have said, I'd have liked a left back but given our performance against Celtic with Koutroumbis at left back, maybe we're saving a wage. It's often been a case of scrambling around in January looking for players to dig us out of a hole so this kind of relaxed window with a 'if nothing happens we'll be fine" probably feels odd as a Motherwell fan...

I think he meant 'done' rather than 'fine'...

Aye, if we were looking for midfield cover, I'd happily have had him back...

Ideally you want as many of your good players available so yes Watt being back would be great. But if not, I'm becoming increasingly confident that Priestman will be fine...

Quite cold today. Someone should have nipped and got him a bovril in the second half...

Fadinger or Priestman, take your pick. Although Just and Said are worth the entrance fee every week...

To be fair, I'm not sure what percentage of that is "if the opposition don't have the ball, they can't score". Not that I'm complaining about that approach...

Ideally I'd like a replacement for Gordon (who I reckon might leave in the summer) in now so that he can get settled in so that in the summer he's used to how we play and ready for (hopefully) European games. My thinking is if we're shopping in the Scandinavian market, their close season might make a permanent move easier...

The sarcastic response to the questions about Watt and Hendry made me wince a bit. I know it's a stupid question given he answered the same question last week but journalists need to do their job. Too much of it and there will be journalists who will be itching to put thr boot in should we hit a slump...

Must confess I don't normally watch any of the pre match press conferences but for some reason watched today's. The manager seemed very definite on the fact that no one was being sold this window...

£2m plus Welsh, assuming they also make it worth Welsh's while to take a pay cut...?