MelvinBragg

Hasselbaink lost his appeal today...

When fit and with a few run of games, the best centre half at the club. Gutted for the guy. Haste ye back..

As an aside, I bought a programme on Sunday for the first time in several years. Squads were listed on the back page. It really does show the challenge facing us this season. I counted maybe 16 recognised first team players (including Page and McHugh). Hearts, on the other hand, I counted around 23 players and that's not counting the likes of Gary Glen who has probably started more games than McHugh and Page put together..

As someone who doesn't give a damn about Scotland (last Scotland goal I celebrated was scored by David Clarkson), it's pretty easy for me to look at it dispassionately. Whose place would Murphy take in the squad? The only forward thinking player in the squad you could argue Murphy has more right to be there than is Forrest and he's a winger. I say this never having seen Mackail-Smith play. The Paul Gallacher question is an interesting one. At a time when playing well at Championship level is generally enough to get you in the Scotland squad, the fact that he's never really had a shot seems odd. If you were starting with a blank piece of paper, Murphy probably wouldn't be anywhere near the squad. Starting with the squad currently picked, you could make a case for his inclusion but you could equally make a case for McGuire, Gallacher and possibly others ahead of him. From a Motherwell point of view, I'm glad he wasn't picked. How much did a 20 minute cameo increase Saunders' transfer value because even if Murphy had been called up, that's what he'd be looking at. So no financial benefit for us. On the other hand, if he were to pick up any kind of injury in a meaningless friendly, it could be disastrous for our season. A cap would, of course, be a nice honour for Murphy. But I can't see any benefit for us from him getting a call-up for this game..

Didn't hear it and I'd be astounded if he was even on the list given he's always made it clear that he wasn't really interested in a managerial role with senior players. Having said that, does the Hibs job look any more appealing than the Hearts job right now? And that's without an insane owner. Who would they get for that job? It might be that they'd have to look at lesser known guys doing well behind the scenes at another club.. Though when Calderwood's departure was first mooted, I heard Mowbray and Kenny McDowall's names mentioned. Why they'd need the hassle, I'm not sure...

Sometimes it's not best to fight fire with fire. It all depends on the supply to the front men. If we have wee quick guys then balls into feet might work against "big lumps". But as I say, a lot will depend on the kind of service we give the strikers..

Stoke are the latest to be linked with Murphy. Doesn't strike me as likely as they seem to prefer stronger, more powerful players..

Nothing we didn't already know but the lack of depth in the squad really hits home when the bench is Hollis Saunders Halsman Carswell Forbes Smith Lawless Not much on there that you'd fancy to change a game if things weren't going our way. Could also mean complacency from the first eleven. Other than a Saunders/Hateley debate, the rest of the team don't really need to worry if their form dips..

Sorry, should have been clearer. The story I heard was the same as Finlay. That Blackburn had bid just under £2m and had been told to beat it. No, a deal worth potentially £2.8m, I knew United couldn't turn down..

Last I heard, United had knocked back Blackburn's offer. You only hope that if Murphy was a few clubs' Plan B if they didn't get Goodwillie then we can now engineer a bidding war that would get us the largest possible fee, and as a real bonus almost certainly rule out the Old Firm..

For the record, if you think Murphy is better than Jelavic, then you're off your head..

Didn't he do that on Saturday? I reckon we'll need to score two to win on Saturday as our defence rode its luck a bit against Inverness..

I'd be hoping for 5+ goals out of our defenders as well this season. Hanmell has one already and Saunders and Hutchinson are threats at set pieces. And Tom Hateley scores a free kick once every 40 games or so. If Law, Jennings, Lasley and Humphrey can muster 15 between them, then you're looking for Murphy and Higdon to supply around 30. 50 is doable. Not saying we'll do it, but it is possible..

I'd disagree. Higdon may not have been 100% fit on Saturday, but it was clear that he has positional awareness that Smith doesn't have yet. Yet being the key word. Smith could do worse than watch Higdon's movement off the ball and the way he plays with his back to goal. I would agree that physically he seems to have all the tools though..

Best not to heap too much pressure on the guy just as McCall has tried to ease the creative burden on him by signing Law. In terms of ability, it's all there. But I'd like to see him do it in a big game. Too often for me against the Old Firm he seems to have an inferiority complex and doesn't perform as we know he can. He needs to start believing he can rip the likes of Mark Wilson and Steven Whittaker to shreds. Because he can.. Will he still be here in September? I think the answer hinges on that question of doing it against the best the SPL has to offer. Any scout will want to see him doing it against Rangers and Celtic before they takes a chance on him. Doing it against Inverness (with the greatest respect) is unlikely to seal a big move. The comparison with McFadden that people seem to make backs this up. McFadden seemed to save his best for when the big boys came into town. Arrogance, cockiness, call it what you want, Murphy could do with a slice of it...

Just need to hope that Gunning has the sense to move somewhere he'll get first team football and where he knows the manager and the fans already rate him..

That would be a ridiculously good bit of business to be honest with you. If we pick Gunning up for free, then frankly McCall has pulled a blinder. Still rather see a striker arrive, mind you...

As long as none of them are called Stephane Chateau D'or, that's fine...

As I've said before, my concern with Porter would not be his ability (although as has been pointed out playing with Clarkson and McCormack helped him), but his fitness. Although fairly consistent with us, had injury issues both at Oldham and Derby. On paper, he and Murphy look a good pairing but I won't be distraught if he signs for someone else..

I think given we have Hateley, Jennings, Lasley, Forbes, Law and Carswell, another centre midfielder is unlikely. And McCall has been willing to even play Hammell in midfield so I reckon a centre midfielder is way down the list of priorities..

I'd be against us bringing Reynolds back only because my seat is within earshot of Frazzle...

While agreeing that looks a useful line-up, the bench could read Hollis Craigan Page Forbes Carswell Pollock McHugh The first eleven will have to be pretty consistent, as there don't seem too many outwith it that we could look to to change a game for us..

My gut instinct says no...

Aye, I remember thinking early last season that surely Archie Knox would do something about the hair and the pink boots. Sadly not...

As I've said before, injury problems before he came to us, injury problems after he left us. I get the impression we saw the best of Chris Porter. I wouldn't be fighting anyone for his signature..