MelvinBragg

I think you'll find that that the last six words are...

Good job we're not in the top six. You'd have five weeks to wait to see if we could qualify through our league place. Let's work on the assumption that as there have been no Scottish sides in UEFA competition that there won't be enough points accrued for a Scottish team to qualify via fair play. So it's unlkely that we'll qualify. If you think like this, any good news is a bonus...

It was indeed yerself. I remember drunken and incoherently ranting about claret and amber ribbons on a bit of silverware that night. It should worry you that you now agree with me...

Totally agree. I remember a fellow Well fan once telling me that they'd rather lose the Scottish Cup Final and get into Europe than win the League Cup. If I were a Falkirk fan right now, I'd be desperate for us to win the cup, and were we to lose the final, Europe would be very small consolation...

In what world is Mark Reynolds currently worth one million pounds?? If a club were to offer £350,000, I'd take it...

You are aware we're only at the end of April, Ricky aren't you? Or am I misreading this...?

Cesnauskas, aye. Not the other guy. Any Hearts fan I know said that Mikolunas only got a game because he was Romanov's favourite player...

I know I make myself an easy target on that score, but I don't think you'll find it's just me who can't fathom as to how McGhee hasn't addressed the issue thus far. I know our defending at set pieces has been somewhat better this season, but it is the manager himself who continues to make it clear that he is looking for a defender dominant in the air. Surely if this is something we have required for 18 months and he still hasn't found a suitable player, even the manager would admit this was a small failure on his part...

Two years is a long time to try and find a centre half good in the air on our budget...

On that basis, I reckon you'll be alright then...

I'd agree with you about Quinn. And as much as I like all of your targets, I think you're setting your sights a bit too high. I'd love them all at Fir Park, but we'd be very lucky to get one of them...

I don't known whether there's any substance to the story or not but Birmingham and Celtic doesn't really surprise me. On the form of last season, Quinn is a better player than Hinkel, Caddis or Wilson. And have you see Birmingham's defence?? The old McGhee/Strachan/McLeish connection maybe strike again? As I say, haven't heard this rumour myself but I'd be sad to see Quinn go. I think he's a better player than many on here give him credit for, and if nothing else he's one of a few guys at the club who always gives 100%...

I honestly believe that our chances of getting that one win to secure seventh are not improved by playing guys like Hughes, Smith, Klimpl and McLean, guys who may not be here next season. Even those first teamers who will be here next year may have one eye on their summer holidays. It also gives us the chance to rest guys whose form is shading, Mark Reynolds being the obvious example...

I tend to agree with you that that's what will happen. I'd stake my wages on it. I just think that in doing that we will be missing a great opportunity to see what these players can do to get some fans having second thoughts about coming to the post split games, excited and through the doors to give some of the established stars a rest/kick up the backside (delete as applicable) to start planning now for next season (ourselves and perhaps Kilmarnock are the only two clubs who can do this on the field without too great a risk) have for the next 5 games against teams fighting for their lives, eleven players with a lot to prove working hard for our team But as I have said, I know football is a fear and results driven business. Many of his advocates on here claim Mark McGhee is a breath of fresh air. A willingness to break from the norm and think long term might have even me believing it...

I get the impression Celtic will be looking for a manager this summer irrespective of where the title ends up as I hear that Strachan is sick of the media/goldfish bowl that goes with the Celtic job. That and not getting credit for the job he has done. Though it's certain that McGhee won't be top of their list. I've heard the name Owen Coyle mentioned, believe it or not...

Other than Dougie Ramsay and Kenny Wright, the guys from that season have all done alright for themselves (half of them are are in our first team squad). The use of the word responsibility interests me. What responsibilty? I know there are certain financial benefits and league cup seeding to concern ourselves with but other than that you are not going to get a situation with less pressure and responsibility. And I've said earlier, the chance of discovering that someone is ready to be called upon next season may well save us a wage and a signing on fee. To go off on one for a moment, the Old Firm are criticised for not blooding their young players and often there is talk of the mentality of fear in football, the culture of playing it safe, avoid defeat rather than take a chance and go for it. We find ourselves in a situation we rarely have. Safe from relegation (that Falkirk team isn't suddenly going to win five on the spin)and with very little to play for. Surely a man manager of McGhee's calibre would be able to get these young guys in a mindset where they could play with freedom and without pressure. If we don't blood them now, then when? We have nothing to gain by playing players who will not be with us next season or who are tiring towards the end of the season. Playing these young guys might actually give a bit of spark back to the fans who felt let down that we didn't make the top 6. A bit more reason to get excited for the games to come. I know I'd be looking forward to the Inverness game more if I thought I'd be seeing 4 or 5 guys who might be the future of our club. And if they flop, McGhee will (hopefully) be able to look and say whether these players simply don't have the talent or whether they just weren't ready yet. Sadly, I know I'm wasting my breath, but it's something I feel quite paasionate about...

Quite. I know it must be a really remote possibilty, Frazzle. I haven't once heard you mention the word 'sombrero'...

While I take people's point regarding getting papped by diddy teams, I once again say that I can see that happening with our first team due to the fact that the teams we will be playing will be more strongly motivated than us. Playing Graham Smith, Stephen Hughes and Maros Klimpl seems to go against McGhee's declaration that the work for next season starts now given that it is unlikely that all three (maybe any) of them will be with us next season. Let's start trying to shape a team without them using our youngsters and in six weeks time we will at least now where our key weaknesses lie. Craigan is recovering from injry and I see no merit in playing him for the next few games with the risk of causing further damage. I also understand the idea of playing these guys alongside experienced players to help nurse them through games. There is the benefit though of playing with guys you are familiar with. For example, Slane will be more aware of the movements that McHugh and Murphy make up front. In the team I listed in my original post, Hammell, Quinn, Lasley and Fitzpatrick feature. I wouldn't like to guess at how many Motherwell games these guys have played in total (two have captained us on occasions). We flooded the team with youngsters post administration for a full season, and we finished bottom but it was the making of a few of those players. Here we are, in a relatively low risk situation, why not try and discover which of our reserves/under 19s has the mettle to stand up and be counted? As I have said, I understand people's concerns regarding league positions and the money this will cost us. I ask one question. Based on Saturday's performance, would you back our first team to amass more points than young guys and fringe players with a point to prove? I know I wouldn't...

Being honest here, are we any more likely to pick up points playing Craigan's ageing knees, Hughes and Smith with their minds on deals elsewhere and a couple of guys with holiday brochures in their back pockets? Given the types of games that we're likely to face, it could be argued that we'd do better with young fit guys busting a gut to prove they're good enough for the first team. And if one or two of them turn out to have what it takes right now, we've saved ourselves a couple of signing on/transfer fees. Could more than make up for any loss in revenue from league placings...

The reasons I'd start the younger guys rather than just give them 20 minutes here and there is so we get a proper chance to see if they can cut it (20 minutes as a sub tells very little) and it gives them a chance to get a proper feel for an SPL match so if we need to call upon them next season, they've at least seen some time on the pitch. I'd play Coutts simply to see if he's good enough. Might not need another pointless loan signing...

He hasn't let us down this season. You have agreed that all his tactics and team line-ups made sense...?

What would people like to see for the next five games? I would be in favour of playing the youngsters in every game to see if they can cope in the SPL. By playing them in every gamewe avoid being accused of favouring any of the teams fighting relegation. I'd make a point of telling them it's performances rather than results is what we're looking at. To that end I'd like to see a team of Coutts Saunders Quinn Page Hammell Slane Lasley© Fitzpatrick O'Brien Murphy McHugh The experienced guys that I have left in there are there because I don't know of any young players coming through in their positions and the fact that they are guys that are under contract next season. If you wanted you could alternate front twos, one week play Clarkson and McHugh, the next Sutton and Murphy. I think most of the support would at least cut this team some slack and we will get a chance to find out who might make the grade better than giving these guys half an hour in the last game of the season. What do results matter right now? I know this won't be the case but it's what I'd like to see. What do others reckon...?

As I understand it, Aberdeen are ahead of us anyway and I don't see them finishing fourth so why are we even interested?? It's not going to happen people, so can we all just start planning for the next season in the SPL by giving the likes ofSaunders, Page, Muprhy, McHugh and Slane a chance for to prove they're good enough for next season by giving them the next 5 games. By playing them in every game, we can't be accused of favouring any of the teams in a relegation battle...

You know part of me kind of hopes this is how it pans out at least until the final set of games. Imagine going into the last set of games with everyone having something to play for...

No, I just wish he'd done it behind closed doors...