MelvinBragg

Tend to agree that the hype/nonsense* (delete as applicable) that greeted his signing is counting against Casagolda right now. If his name was Steven Goldcastle and we'd signed him from Partick Thistle or Shrewsbury in the summer then his performance last night would have got a "Not too bad, but not great. Needs more games to see if he can cut it". Not the worst player on the park by a long chalk. Not if you consider Stephen "weans crossing the road" Craigan was playing...

Webster is an interesting one. Played a full season at Dundee United hardly missing a game. Went back to Rangers and couldn't stay fit. Either Rangers' medical staff are atrocious or there is something that Dundee United were doing something to keep him fit that Rangers weren't doing. I find that hard to believe as Webster himself must have been aware of how he had been kept fit while at Tannadice. The fact that he has struggled to stay fit at Ibrox might put some off. Still suspect we might see him sign for Dundee United or Hearts...

Incidentally, Andy Webster has just been released by Rangers. A new partner for Hutchinson or too ambitious...?

Aye, well, we were in a worse situation when Gannon took over. This summer will be the real test for McCall. Still not convinced we won't see Jennings (betting story might put some off) and Sutton (seems happy here) in the team next season. If we don't, someone else will come in. As I said, I remember when McGhee left, we lost Graeme Smith, Stephen Hughes, David Clarkson, Paul Quinn and had lost Porter in the January. A lot of the young guys that had to step up then will have to do so again next season. Difference is, they've got a good few games under their belt. One of the major jobs for McCall this summer aside from bringing players in, will be to try and figure out how to get the best of out the likes of Murphy (trying to turn him into a more natural striker who will play more narrow), Forbes (try and get out of him what Gannon got from him) and Saunders (is he a centre back or a full back)... It won't be dull...

I tend to agree but that's another reason for us to not dip into the transfer market this window. Again unless it's a free agent we can tie up beyond the summer. Jennings, you could argue is an example of short term thinking as he has only signed one year deals the past two summers. Getting Jennings on a two year deal and getting Sutton on a new contract would make a lot of Motherwell fans a bit more relaxed about next season. Lasley probably has at least another season in him, going by his performances this year. I think we need to think in terms of a back four minus Craigan for next season though. Whether that means two from Hutchinson, Page and Saunders or bringing in someone more experienced, I don't know. Bearing in mind how many games Saunders and Hutchinson will have under their belts by the end of the season, maybe it's time to give them a go. Problem with looking for players who'll make a commitment to the club is that most footballers who play at the level we operate tend not to sign deals for longer than two seasons unless they come through the youth system and these deals are signed when these players are very young. Randolph, Humphrey and Hateley are very much the exceptions to the rule...

Having thought about it, not that worried by the lack of transfer activity. As others have said, we should be seeing what some of the young guys have to offer ahead of next season. May save ourselves a signing or two in the summer. A lot of people seem irritated by the fact that we are "wasting" wages on Casagolda and Charambolous. Maybe this is a sign of us not wanting to repeat such mistakes. There's no point in bringing in someone for the sake of it. If we bring in a free agent over the next couple of days, let's just hope whoever it is that it's a signing for beyond the end of the season. A bit more long term thinking. As others have pointed out, why bring in a Premiership youth player just to stunt the progress of our own players with no real long term benefit for ourselves. I know the likes of Ruddy and Jutkiewicz did a job for us but at least if a player joins at the start of the season, you have a chance to bed them into the team and you're not disrupting a settled line up simply for a guy to get some game time for six months then go and sign for a championship team. No short term signings like Gow, Malcolm or McGlichey please...

Aye, 11 o'clock is the deadline for paperwork to be lodged with the relevant FAs, but quite often deals are announced after the deadline has passed. Particularly for the smaller clubs that don't have a Sky Sports guy parked outside their training ground. Not suggesting that'll happen with us, just something to bear in mind. I won't be crushed if we don't sign anyone else in this window. As Welldaft says, keep money in the bank for the summer when there will be more free agents available...

Winger apparently..

I gather we do our medicals at Wishaw General so not impossible we could be finalising stuff there...

According to Wiki, born in April 1981. That makes him 30 in a couple of months. You hear a fee of £20k?

I'm still of the opinion that there's no way we'll spend £200k on a player let alone a 29yo with very little sell on value...

11 o'clock apparently. Only midnight for the lower leagues. Don't ask me why, I read it on the Beeb...

So, anyone getting the feeling we're not going to see any new faces today? We normally have all our business done by five o'clock on deadline day. Someone told me it's because Flow likes to be home in time for his dinner...

As others have suggested, £200k on a 29 year old?? On any player?? Yer havin a laff... He may end up here but we won't be paying £200,000 for him..

Nah, they have Jelavic, Lafferty, Healy and Naismith. Replace James Beattie? Why would they want to pay someone else to sit in the stand wearing a club blazer and tie...?

You do know that we're going to sign a premiership/championship reserve on loan that no one has heard of? Question is whether he'll be an Offiong/Grabban or a Blackman/Jutkiewicz... I reckon we'll see one in and no one leaving. On the earlier stories of Murphy or Sutton leaving, can't see anyone parting with their hard earned for Sutton when they can get him for nothing in June and I reckon Murphy is too far from being the finished article to justify the kind of fee we'd hopefully be looking for...

One game a month he'd be totally unplayable...

Iwelumo, not so much. Clarkson, yes please..

Danny Invincible released today. Worth a punt? EDIT Just beaten to the punch...

I'd hope it would be Murphy. Larger fee and, while I think Murphy is an excellent footballer, it would be nice to have a guy who more naturally plays closer to Sutton. Even in games when he is played up front in a 4-4-2, Murphy plays very wide meaning any balls Sutton wins invariably go to the opposition. But as Lobey and Diggle have said, you'd hope that if we lost another striker we'd bring two in. I know it'd be asking a lot but if one of them could be a permanent signing rather than a loan, it'd be better...

What if he's better than Hutchinson and Page? Just a thought... I presume Halsman is one of those "not quite ready yet". Possibly he'll be backup for Hammell next season...?

Don't think he hasn't tried...

You've taken that too far... As I said, it does feel kind of odd knowing the game is on Sunday and I'm not going. I was offered a freebie yesterday and turned it down because quite frankly I'd feel like a fraud being there. Sitting surrounded by thousands chewing their hands off with the tension while I sit not that bothered, I'd feel like a fish out of water. Sad thing is, I have a funny feeling we might win. Obviously we wouldn't if McGhee was in charge...

If I'm still in the same frame of mind, probably not. I was at the Hibs game to catch up with the guys I go to the games with. I have my season ticket so I'll pop along to home games out of habit and for a blether. Beyond that, don't see myself getting to any games...