MelvinBragg

The only problem I have with him walking down the tunnel is the fact he stopped in the dressing room. He should have kept walking... Can't take to the guy at all...

I thought that Higdon did all that could be asked of him tonight and when we started playing it to his chest and feet rather than his head, he linked play well. All four of the midfield had poor games. Likewise Ojaama. Defence had a good first half, mistake at the goal aside. Randolph was also decent. For me, the pick was Cummins. One of the few players who didn't seem intimidated. Poor at the first goal but otherwise a very good performance. His performances make me worry less about selling Hutchinson...

European teams will continue to beat Scottish teams as long as they can produce defenders who are big, strong but also mobile and midfielders who can control a ball. It's all about what you're comparing it to. In Scotland, Hutchinson looks pretty quick for a big guy because you're seeing him on the same pitch as Tokely or Kenneth. Law's technique looks good when he's playing against Harkins or Goodwin. Levante may struggle against relegation but they're not playing against Kilmarnock, St Mirren or Inverness. If the best Scottish players would struggle against the best Spanish players, why would we expect a middling Scottish side to beat a middling Spanish side. As to why that's the case, that's a larger debate altogether..

What do you base the fact we'll struggle in the top half of the SPL on? If it's tonight, then it seems a knee jerk reaction. We didn't play as well as we can, granted. But to suggest that Dundee United or Hearts would have beaten Levante as some have suggested seems ridiculous to me, baseless. As you'd expect with a Spanish side, they kept the ball pretty well. Probably helped by having an extra man in midfield but also by better technique. We had an off night but I suspect even at our best, we'd have struggled. As would any SPL side, I suspect including Celtic.

Cummins for Ramsden and Hammell back in are the only changes from Saturday...

What does this say about the management's opinion of Devlin?

Dunno, Scott Burns has a track record of getting Motherwell stories before anyone else...

Let's hope so. Wouldn't be ideal to sell someone the day before a game..

Had heard that as well. Apparently Dundee Utd in as well. They want to cash in on Mackay-Steven and see McFadden as someone to replace him without the fans getting up in arms..

Am I the only one who thinks that if we're going to bring in someone before the close of the transfer window that we're better to wait til after Thursday rather than try and integrate a new signing into the side just before a big game? Obviously the exception would be McFadden as he has been training with the players already but my understanding is that there won't be a deal there...

Aye, like I say, glad we won but when I saw the lineup on Saturday, I felt sorry for McHugh. Similar to last season, after scoring against Aberdeen. What chance does he have to get a run of form going?

Bit early to have started drinking for Thursday, is it not..?

As much as this is getting off topic, and as much as I'm glad we won on Saturday, I am a bit disappointed that McHugh didn't start in place of Ojaama given he scored the previous week. I know scoring goals isn't the only way strikers can contribute but our young players have to see that if they perform, they'll be rewarded with a place in the team. This doesn't mean ZFA should start ahead of Hammell but is Ojaama that much more experienced than McHugh?

McFadden coming back? In two minds about it. Great player but to me there's a risk it would taint his legend if it didn't go well...

Can we please put the Jennings stuff to bed? He did well for us but we move on.. Good news for me is the suggestion that McCall realise we need an experienced midfielder in before the window closes. Even if Law stays, a signing to do for the midfield what Ramsden can do for the defence will be welcome. A player that will help ease the pressure on Carswell and Hetherington to step up week in week out could be crucial...

A lot can happen in the next couple of days. Not saying that they'll be sold by Saturday but if negotiations are at an advanced stage by then, professional as both Law and Hutchinson are, Will they have 100% focus on the game...

Assuming Humphrey is out, I'd go Randolph Hateley Ramsden Cummins Angol Hetherington Lasley Carswell Murphy Higdon McHugh With Humphrey back I'd go Randolph Hateley Ramsden Cummins Angol Humphrey Lasley Hetherington Murphy Higdon McHugh Angol looks good going forward but I worry about Dayton tearing him a new one if fit. Don't think there will be much in it. One goal either way..

Ross Forbes apparently close to a deal with Dunfermline...

Way I look at it is that we have ready made replacements for Hutchinson. I'd be happy to go with Ramsden and Kerr/Cummins/Page/Saunders (when fit)... If we sell both, replacing Law would be the prioriity basically...

To be honest with you, I don't really know what either player is worth. Nicky Law is by far the better player but is older and has less time left on his contract. As someone else has pointed out, current salary tends to impact on transfer value as well. I don't think either of them are worth £1m. Probably about £500k each but we aren't in a strong bargaining position, particularly with regards Law. Which is unfortunate as Hutchinson is the guy we could afford to lose more out of the two.

I think before we rush to bring in another striker, McHugh must be given a chance. Don't have the stats to hand, but his goals to minutes on the park ratio must be pretty good...

Who have Hearts got? And who can we get? EDIT I type too slowly on this phone..

Agree, and as such we should be looking at what team would make the club most money. Liverpool out of those teams looks the pick...

Wouldn't surprise me if we make a move for him. I still believe Murphy will leave so another wing option would be welcome. Would like another body in centre midfield though. As promising as Carswell and Hetherington look, I wouldn't want to put the pressure on them if Lasley or Law were to be injured...

That is a pretty scary looking list of teams...