MelvinBragg

I honestly believe that were we to sell both these players, you're looking at the calculation being how much we received in transfer fees for them against how much relegation will cost us. Are they irreplaceable? No, but with a squad as thin as ours, to sell two guys who would bust a gut for your club as well as being two of your best players would be nothing short of folly. Of our marketable assets, Reynolds is the one I think we would find it easiest to replace. Sadly, I also think he's the least marketable at the moment. If we sell Clarkson and Quinn for £500,000 combined, we might as well change the sign above the door to Oxfam and register as a charity...

I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record here, but I would hope for the sake of preparing for the new season, it was done quicker than that...

Prepare to moan then. I reckon this Friday will mark the 2 weeks. And I don't see anyone being in place by then...

The Punch and Judy, the Welsh papers, now the Stockport Express. I'm telling you, big man, ye've got too much time on your hands . On a serious note, I'm wondering how accurate their list would be. I don't imagine they'd be too well versed in Scottish football and therefore might have plucked the last three names that they had heard of mentioned in the press and added them with Gannon. Gannon sounds like he's be a good appointment from listening to people who watched his Stockport side. Of the names listed, I reckon it'd be between McAllister, Nijholt and Gannon for me. Sanchez has all the attributes to make him sound like a good appointment, but there's just something about him that doesn't appeal and I can't put my finger on it. But as football fans we're allowed to be irrational...

Aside from the fact that you've just done his team talk for their manager, now you're suggesting it'll be "less pretty" if they don't let everybody in. Suggesting what? Violence? Aye, they're really going to want to move to the bigger stadium to let more Motherwell supporters down now, aren't they...?

Are we Cardiff's feeder club now? Seriously, if they're apparently interested in Clarkson as well, they better have a massive cheque in their pocket, well into 7 figures. If we lose these two guys, the heart would ripped right out of the team and for me, relegation would be inevitable... As for Klimpl, I say again, feel free. I don't see him being a priority for Aberdeen. Apparently they're looking to tie up Kerr and McDonald on longer contracts and if they're in for Hughes, I think they'll be fairly well covered in centre midfield...

From the BBC gossip page... JB trying to repeat the trick from last time of having a number two in place for a manager to work with? My guess, more likely it's lazy journalism...

Aye, if there's not much TV money, it goes to Nijholt, the one guy with experience of working with mainly young players...

I tend to agree with you here, Dave. With the list of teams we were drawn against being narrowed to four, it was very easy to do research into size of ground/probability of getting a ticket before the draw was made and therefore not have to rush into booking travel. I know it's very easy for me to say this as someone who had no intention of travelling, no matter where the game was. Having said that, I think the Welsh are being a bit daft if they normally move their bigger games to another stadium. Or maybe they've had a look at our squad and figured that the tie might not be over after the game in Airdrie and don't fancy turning their home leg into a game where their support is outnumbered or 7 to 1...

Interesting article in that JB is playing his cards very close to his chest. How many is "many candidates" to be interviewed? I'm glad we're casting the net fairly wide but would have hoped that the field would have been narrowed by now. I suspect that some of the new names mentioned have just been thrown into the mix simply to freshen up the story every day. And I reckon Ricky Sbragia will be more interested in sitting with his feet up for six months than any SPL job. My money would be on the fact that we're looking at Sanchez, McAllister or Nijholt (Nijholt if money situation is particularly bad). Anyone suspect that the perception of Llanelli as an easy tie has relaxed JB about the recruitement process and the time it's taking?

Those with Setanta might want to hold off on cancelling it for another month given that they did have the rights to the Europa league games apparently. If they can scrape together enough cash to keep those rights for the moment then, they might get Motherwell fans' money for at least July...

Darren Smith is a funny one. Doesn't seem to run like a footballer should, looks awkward. But the number of times he's come off the bench to score important goals, considering the number of appearances he's made, is phenomenal. His goal against Aberdeen at the end of last season will live long in the memory, if only for his sheer joy in celebration. Great sub to have. But never looks the same player when he starts a game...

I take it Colin Calderwood's not in the running then . You could argue then that it's in the club's interests to let us believe that McAllister and Nijholt are in the running given that they're populist choices. Then go with someone they feel might do a better job, but at least the fans's favourites have been considered. Or have I watched too many conspiracy movies...?

I would really hope that Gary McAllister is in the running. With the sort of talk that "there's no reason Motherwell can't be third or fourth", that's the kind of ambition that I'd like to hear from a candidate. I was backing Nijholt last week (and he'd still be my second choice) but as time's gone on, I've grown sure that McAllister would be a fantastic appointment...

Thank god the good lady doesn't read the Herald...

The squad at the moment GK Fraser DF Craigan Reynolds Quinn Hammell MF McGarry DL Smith Lasley Fitzpatrick O'Brien FW Sutton Clarkson Murphy If you add in Hutchison and Saunders as two guys who've looked like they could step up that takes the number up to 15. If you're looking for another 3 guys to make a step up, you're looking at a minimum of seven signings to make it up to a squad of 25. I think you're dreaming if you think that's going to happen. Beevers and Boyle would bolster the defence. A couple of centre midfielders would be required, and a striker is a priority. That would be five signings. If you want another goalkeeper, I reckon we're going down the loan route again...

I would say 5 is your bare minimum, assuming no one leaves. If the two guys, Beevers and Boyle, arrive then your new manager has three players to find. I'm thinking two midfielders and a forward myself...

I think it was as Craigan himself said, players have to be careful. The wince was probably more "I knew this question was coming...". Came across really well as always. The bit about being willing to clean the boots if it helps was good. Funny feeling the rest of the players will have theirs out waiting for him tomorrow...

Stolen from another thread but I think it illustrates the point I was making earlier. We're going into these two games with two recognised centre midfielders in the squad. Good job neither lasley nor Fitzpatrick could be described as lazy. Hardly easy to motivate players who have no pressure on them whatsoever. Actually, looking round the full squad, you could hazard a guess at our starting eleven and everyone on this site would probably get at least 10 out of 11. Saves Llanelli trying to guess, I s'ppose...

How many managers have we been through under Boyle now? Kampman: recommended by Alan Dick remembering our Mypa disaster. Davies: promotion from within down to Boyle and Nevin. Eric Black: Hired by Boyle and Nevin. Butcher: Here at the time we went into administration. Malpas: No real decision made, just passed it down the line, agreed when he knocked back a couple of other jobs? McGhee: Boyle appointment. Not a great track record, is it? Discount Butcher and Malpas as they were here when the job was going and kind of inherited it, and you're left with one success, one clear failure and Billy Davies and Eric Black (I know opinions will be split on those ones). However he's doing it, he'll need to and replicate the process of two years ago and hope for the same outcome results wise...

My concern then becomes the fact that the squad listed by WF1984 earlier in the thread is going to be the limit of our squad for a further "week or so". I know the SPL season is starting later this year, and being honest the European games don't matter that much. But if we are to use them as pre-season training matches, it would be a good idea to get as much of the squad together before these games. And it might help make sure we have four games rather than two before the Wigan game...

I take your point, Rev, but if other clubs like Lincoln are announcing that their players are joining us, it does make us look a bit daft. The media have reported that Boyle will be joining us and there is mention of the young guy from Queens Park. If these are targets we've agreed to contracts with, them having been agreed before Sheepy McShovelface went north then why don't we get around any embarrasment by simply saying that these players were identified by our scouts, who presumably still work for the club...

Oi! Travel Info forum, you should know better...

Kind of my thinking as well. I'm assuming that McLean is off as well for somewhere where he may get more first team football. Just wondering about the guys Beevers and Boyle we're supposed to be signing. I'm assuming they won't be ours til July 1st, but then again I thought the same about Michael Fraser. I'm wondering if UEFA will allow the registering of players who are due to sign for you before the tie but after the deadline? These pre-contracts open up a whole can of worms. Goddamn you, Mr Bosman...

Interesting. I didn't think he was officially a Motherwell player til July 1st...