MelvinBragg

Hollis, Kerr and Ojaama in for Randolph, Hateley and Humphrey. Randolph on the bench, others not. Make of that what you will...

Not saying we're not interested but we wouldn't need to scout them given the number of times they've played against us...

I hope McCall stays but if not, the new manager threads are always entertaining. We could raise funds by having a sweep to see who's first to mention Luc Nijholt. And there's always a leftfield suggestion or two. I expect to see David Weir mentioned when the job comes up. Personally anyone but Peter Houston is fine by me...

Apparently during his first preseason at Parkhead, they were running and Artur Boruc was a mile ahead of him. That unfit...

I'm pretty relaxed about the quality of players we're going to be bringing in. We'd need to be very lucky to pick up similar quality or attributes that we've had at our disposal this season. Chances of a keeper as good as Randolph? Slim. Chances of a winger as quick as Humphrey to scare the life out of full backs? Negligible. I've accepted that it's likely we won't have as good a team next season. My concern is more with getting the right characters in. With the possible exception of the Gannon era, since administration the spirit throughout the club seems to have been a major factor in our continued success. Fir Park seems to be a pleasant place to work, if you listen to any player here or when they leave. If we're going to have a less skilful side next season, this team spirit could be even more crucial. McCall, for me, not only has to try and get players who will work hard on the park but who will fit in as personalities...

To be fair, Higdon regularly caused us problems, at least. Tade is quick but less of a threat than Humphrey...

Tade? No, thanks..

Aye, that's the worry for me about signing Lawson. Once again we might see Carswell's development impeded...

Stuart McCall to Everton...? I, of course, know this isn't going to happen. Just know someone would say it. Thought I'd get in first...

Ojamma sent off..

As I say, goal difference is a concern...

2-0. No real surprise. Players must have been going into today thinking the job was done. Risk may be goal difference...

Funny what you say about Clancy. Sutton's time at Hearts hasn't worked out for various reasons. Stephen Hughes at Aberdeen isn't setting the heather on fire. Just shows that, through luck or judgement, we've brought the best out of those players we've had. And that's what we've done this season. The small squad we have has performed as well as we could have hoped. Have we lost to teams we shouldn't have? Aye, but so have Celtic. The only 'what if' I have this season is the cups. I reckon if we'd still been in the cup when McFadden arrived, then it could've been our year. He seems to relish the big games. But that may have taken its toll on our league form. So I'll not dwell on that...

The debate about the current team vs the 93-95 vintage has gone on in another thread regards which is the better team. But the last couple of months, this team has been the most exciting attacking team I've seen at Fir Park. The second half today and the second half against Hibs will live long in the memory. I could worry about how we'll replace half this team but I'm too busy enjoying what they're serving up. Thank you, Stuart and the team. It's a rare pleasure watching a team committed to playing football in the right way. It doesn't always come off, but when it does then it's magic...

Which is being funded by the generosity of two directors. Can't sustain that forever. McFadden will be away, I'm sure. Fans of other clubs have been saying to me how obvious it is that he could cut it at a higher level...

Kind of illustrates my point really. Over a period of a number of years we've been outperforming other clubs of a similar stature to ours (and some would argue bigger clubs), despite the fact all clubs in the SPL are pulling from the same pool of players. It's not like we've brought in a higher pedigee of player than the other clubs by paying big money, more that we've brought in the right players. We're just going to have to do it again. And given that McCall has brought in nearly half of our first team, no reason to doubt that with a bit of luck and clever management of the budget, we mght be able to do the same again. I do take your point about a settled team though. If we lose three of four guys who've been fixtures in our first team, i will be a challenge to get the team to gel quickly. Having said that we lost three leaders last season, and we shuffled our pack and kept going. Should we lose Law, Randolph and Ojaama (who I reckon is more likely to leave than Higdon), we have replacements within the club who wouldn't let us down. Carswell may be a different type of player to Law but he would be provide legs playing alongside Lasley, and would protect tha back four allowing our wingers more freedom. Hollis has shown sigs he could be a solid goalkeeper, albeit not of the standard of Randolph. And for me McHugh could easily play alongside Higdon. Replacing McFadden? Well, we won't get a player of his calibre but I'd like to see us try and bring in Higginbotham. He seems to fit the way that McCall likes us to play and has shown enough to think he could contribute. Assuming we keep the three Hs (Higdon Hateley and Humphrey), we could be looking at a lineup of Hollis Hateley Ramsden Hutchinson Hammell Humphrey Lasley Carswell Higginbotham Higdon McHugh Would that team finish second? Probably not, but it nwouldn't be struggling at the bottom either, I reckon. This season's team has performed as well as any Motherwell team of the last twenty years. To be looking to match that again next season would be a tall order. I'd settle for mid table and the team still trying to play attractive, attacking football. For me the key is keeping Higdon and Humphrey (I'm assuming Randolph and Law are gone). Higdon for obvious reasons, Humphrey because, as erratic as he can be, he still gives SPL defences pause for thought and opens up space for other players by doing so. I'd like Ramsden and Hateley to stay but I think we could replace them if we had to. I reckon we'll sell a player that's not out of contract as well this summer. Hutchinson or Ojaama? Ojaama seems more likely as there's been stated interest in him already. Obviously the eleven I've listed above leaves not a lot on the bench, but I'm confident we'll see a few new faces this summer either to provide cover or to take the place of the players I've listed...

Not going to worry too much about next season, just enjoying the team we have. Looking at the team we had out last night and where they came from though, there are bound to be players out there Charlton reserves Released by Reading Released by Bradford Youth system Southend Shrewsbury Free agent Rotherham Free agent (ok, it's stretching the point with McFadden) St Mirren Free agent There are players out there, just need to rely on McCall to find them. Given he brought in five of last night's starting eleven, I reckon he's earned a bit of faith...

Am I right in thinking his average for us is better than a goal every two games? If so, frightening...

Part of me agrees with you, but after Ruddy and Randolph, I reckon we've been spoiled. A lot of SPL clubs would be happy with Samson as their keeper, we could do worse. Frankly, if McCall manages to pick up a keeper as good as Randolph, it'd be a massive boost. As you say, they must be out there, but it's finding them and convincing them to come to Fir Park. Not easy...

Not many players on that list that I'd be interested in. McGowan as a replacement for Law maybe... As others have said, I expect most of our signings to come from down South. Although McCall did pick up Higdon from another SPL club. Let's just hope it's only Randolph and Law we need to replace. McFadden will leave but I can see us picking up Higginbotham for the other wing if Humphrey re-signs. Higdon is the priority for me right now...

Haven't seen it yet, but apparently this morning's Sun has Derby joining Rangers (naturally) in being after Chris Humphrey...

While I love the big man (a goal every two games for Motherwell is outstanding), there have been factors that have worked in his favour. McCall since he signed Higdon, has focussed his attack around him knowing he'll put away chances. Looking at the other attacking options we've had in his time here, he's had good support and supply. Which other Motherwell strikers has had the likes of Law, Murphy, Ojaama, Humphrey, Higginbotham and McFadden playing alongside him? Maybe the reason he's having his best ever season? Don't take this as a criticism of him. More a statement of why he's doing quite so well and why I think he should think seriously before moving for a small wage rise. McCall seems to bring in the right players to suit his game. He's the main man here. He'd be daft to go to Hibs or Utd and have to adapt his game to their way of playing...

According to Kenny Black in the Wishaw Press, everyone's available with the exception of Kerr. Would like to see Carswell start tomorrow despite Law and Lasley being fit...

I think this might convince Higdon to stay at least. McCall has built a team focussed on getting Higdon the ball in the knowledge that he'll generally put it in the net. Go elsewhere for an extra couple of hundred pounds a week and have to adapt your style of play to a team not optimised to suit you?

Really pleased that Carswell has signed a new deal. I think he'll be a big player for us over the next couple of seasons...