MelvinBragg

Sadly most of them will be thinking the same about a trip to North Lanarkshire...

No chance whatsoever...

I tend to agree that he's not that bad. Judging him on 20 or so appearances over three seasons with a variety of partners at the back seems harsh. His positional sense could be better and he is occasionally rash, but that could equally be said of Hutchinson. For me, the only thing that counts against him is his age. He's 21 now and you have to figure that not having made a real impression so far, younger guys from the U20s will be coming up on his heels. Time will tell, I guess, but with Hutchinson leaving, there is an opportunity for Cummins to play alongside a much more experienced partner, something that's not always been the case. One thing is sure: Hammell, Ramsden and McManus are all the other side of 30. Sooner rather than later we may have to put our faith in Cummins, Kerr and Angol, no matter what we fans think of them. Just need to hope that the young boys can learn from playing and training with the older guys...

Am I the only one that doesn't think Cummins is that bad a player? He's had some poor games, but also had a few good games as well. Bit early to be dismissing him as not good enough maybe. I think those looking for a direct replacement for Hutchinson will be left disappointed. We currently have five guys under contract that can play centre back. Given the number of options we have in centre midfield (assuming Leitch stays), for me what remains of our budget should be used to give us more options on the wing. Another thought. I felt Hutchinson and McManus were too similar as a pairing. Playing Ramsden alongside McManus might give better balance...

Given Reid played every game since he came into the team and Kerr was available and on the bench for much of that time, I reckon it's more likely we'll see Ramsden and Reid forming the right hand side of the back four. Who plays centre back and who plays right back will be the question...

The same...

What stuns me more, Frazzle, is the number of players people think we'll sign despite admitting we were skint. Reid, Lasley and possibly Ainsworth. I don't see much more movement than that...

But do we need another midfielder?

Funny, whenever I think of McPake, that's the night I think of. Fact we lost our two first choice midfielders in the first half of that game and still won said something about the quality and character of both teams. Give McPake his due, he was outclassed but one of the few Hibs players that didn't give up that night. Clearly the warning signs were there for Hibs that night but weren't heeded...

Listen, we're all entitled to opinions. How many goals did Sutton score for Hearts? There were times last season when I looked at the starting lineup and thought McCall had got it wrong. Occasionally he does, but most of the time it becomes clear why we pay for our seats and he gets a free one in the dugout. That being said, it won't stop any of us voicing our opinions. Because that's what fans do. Not convinced about McPake but I'm happy to give McCall the chance to make me look stupid again...

McPake wouldn't be my first choice, but then again neither would Clancy, Ramsden, Reid have been. McCall generally gets it right. I remember people on here complaining about the signing of Sutton last year. It worked out alright. Again, the only concern is what it means for the likes of Murray and Kerr. We won't see our young players develop into sellable assets unless they get time on the field...

Leitch is really a concern for me. A couple of Celtic fans I know picked him out as our best player in the recent 3-3 draw. I know he's had a stop start career for someone so young but there really does seem real potential there and I'd hate to see him picked up by one of our rivals or worse still, his potential ruined at the hands of Levein or McCoist. Sign him up now. If we have money to offer McManus a two year deal, there surely is money there for Leitch. I'd go as far to say that it's pointless signing a 24 year old midfielder as we have done while not holding on to an 18 year old that has shown real promise...

I tend to agree with that. Ramsden was a big miss and irrespective of your opinion of our keepers, it probably would have helped having the same keeper all season in order that the defence could get an understanding with him. Carswell is a funny one. I rate him quite highly but it'll be interesting to see where he fits into McCall's thinking. On the face of it, we have a surplus of guys who can play central midfield. Lasley, Lawson, Leitch, Carswell, Law, Vigurs, even Craig Reid in an emergency. If you assume that Vigurs will play on the left, you're still looking at five players for two, maybe there positions. Unbalanced squad, or do we think Lawson may get moved on? And what is Leitch's contract situation? If Cummins is to be released, you'd figure that a new defender would be a priority, particularly given McCall's comments on releasing McFadden. Looking at the squad we have signed up just now... Nielsen Twarzik Kerr Ramsden McManus Hammell Murray (?) Lawson Carswell Vigurs Law Leitch (?) Angol Sutton Anier Erwin Moore McHugh Add Lasley, Reid and Ainsworth to that and it's not a bad squad. Maybe a defender and a winger short of what we'd like but given the financial reality, I could live with that squad...

I don't think it's so much that McManus was the problem last season, but that he and Hutchinson were too similar in style. Both centre halfs who like to go for the first header. Hutchinson's best form has come alongside centre backs who are not as dominant in the air and will let him deal with the first header. Thinking of Craigan, Ramsden and Clancy... Other reason we were more defensively suspect last season was, for me, the fact we gave away possession more therefore invited pressure. In that respect, the signing of Law and the emergence of Leitch may help, despite not being "defensive" players...

Don't remember him playing in centre midfield in the Cup Final against Celtic then...?

McCourt? No. Not suggesting all our players have to be magnificent athletes, but his lack of any semblance of fitness would make him a luxury we couldn't afford. A wage for a guy that can only play 30 minutes every week? No thanks...

What I was told is that McCall wants to replace McFadden despite his talk of five players in that position. He saw McFadden as a link up man rather than a striker and none of his "five options" are comfortable enough on the ball to play that role...

Heard a rumour Jim O'Brien might be coming back. Don't even know if he's out of contract, so as to how likely it would be...

Obviously if McCall thinks he can offer something then that's good enough for me. The only concern would be how it impacts on the amount of game time Leitch and Carswell get...

Not that I rate Van Zanten, but could probably have said the same of Clancy when we signed him...

Sad to see McFadden go but probably the right decision. Never blessed with pace, injuries have taken their toll. Did he contribute? Particularly last season, yes. Did he provide value for money? Probably not but there were real moments that will live with me. Three stick out.. The 2-1 win over Celtic last season. He sprinted back from the opposition half when someone was down injured to have a word with Randolph who was about to take a goal kick. Two minutes later, Randolph drops said goal kick on McFadden's head who flicks it on to Law. 1-0 Motherwell. Knowing he had the beating of Matthews in the air he could see the opportunity... His first goal on his return against Hibs. From our seats in the back row 25 yards from the Cooper, as soon as he cut in, we just sensed it coming. Almost like against Dundee all those years ago... His goal against Partick at Firhill. Not so much for the goal, but for his reaction afterwards. Having scored for Scotland, at Old Trafford for Everton and in a Scottish Cup semi for us. Yet he still had that joy in scoring a goal. Given what he's done in his career, he could easily have been blasé about goals against these types of teams. But that joy at a win, at a goal, is a mark of the man's desire to play and to win... I'm glad he came back, sorry it couldn't have been for longer and it couldn't have involved a cup win. A guy with his natural ability should have at least one medal to show for it. Thanks, James...

Impressed when Strachan on Sunday, when asked whether Blackpool might come in for McCall after being knocked back by McNamara, said "He's better than Blackpool". And I think that, together with the fact he enjoys working here, might mean we keep McCall a bit longer. Having knocked back Sheffield Utd, a club he had a great deal of affection for, seems to me that he's only going to move for a really good job. And given Malky Mackay, Steve Clarke, Chris Hughton and Tim Sherwood are all out of work, chances of him being offered a decent championship job are slim...

League finishes in McCall's three full seasons in charge: 3rd, 2nd, 2nd. Some record...

If McCall had gone for it today and we'd got done in the first twenty minutes by McGinn and Pawlett's pace, there'd be people on here slating his naivety. Guy can't win at times...

McCall favours caution?