MelvinBragg

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...

Hughes is a decent player and will probably look better surrounded by the right blend of players. I still have my suspicions that he should be playing right midfield in the SPL because his tackling's not quite tough enough for a centre midfielder. On occasions this season he has been a Brian Kerr clone as others have said. On Saturday, for the first half he played between St Mirren's back four and midfield and was picking up a lot of second ball from their defenders clearances. But when they wised up in the second half, he didn't seem to be able to find the space to make a difference...

I think you'll find I wasn't his biggest fan last season either. But on this occasion, what I simply meant was the fact that he talks tough on a lot of topics instead of just getting on with it. Saturday's mind games. Last summer's Malcolm has to let us know then giving him until the plane was on the tarmac for Austria. His pursuit of Kennedy, Webster and others. Just shut up and get the job done...

How the hell has Stephen Hughes got as many votes when he didn't touch the ball in the second hald until after we were 2-0 down??? First half he did very well picking up the ball in between their midfield and back four. Second half (not for the first time), he was nowhere to be seen...

Key players for next season are Clarkson, Quinn and O'Brien. Clarkson and O'Brien are the only two players with any semblance of pace at the club (I'm excluding Murphy as I think it's laughable to consider him a first teamer yet). And Paul Quinn is the most natural defender we have at the club. What I'd like to see is Saunders get a game at right back for the next games and Quinn get a run at centre back. His distribution and pace is better than Craigan's, and he's tougher than Reynolds. Could do worse than giving him the armband back as well. The other players that are on our books at the moment? There are those I'd like to stay, but I don't think I'd break my heart if any of them left...

Have we not all learned from this weekend one thing. McGhee talks a good game...

Thank you, I didn't have time to type all of that. On the money every word of it, though...

Clarkson. If everyone else had his appetite for a fight...

Kind of similar to what Fatcalf says, I get the impression that McGhee has eleven players he wants to pick and he'll shoehorn them into a formation rather than try and find a balance in the team...

I'm sure there will be a few who sigh wearily when they see my name appear here. But I have a few points to make. McGhee is not a bad manager. But neither is he the font of football knowledge that many profess him to be. He gets cut a lot of slack because he talks a good game. However there are a few areas that could use some work. Team Selection Why for big games does he feel the need to play the team in a shape or positions that are totally alien to them? Four examples. CIS Cup vs Rangers last season. Went with Ross McCormack as a lone target man and played 4-5-1 against a Rangers team in order to combat the threat from their right back. Nancy at home. Stephen Hughes at right wing back and three at the back. St Mirren in the Cup. One up front at home in the cup against a team we should be beating at home. Today. Hammell at left midfield? It's an idea that a few have touted but was today really the day to try it out. Was this all to nullify the threat of Ross and Dorman? And for the second home game in a row, the midfield battle was being lost at the start of the second half yet no noticeable changes were made. Darren Smith and Jamie Murphy have both been used very sparingly this season despite these players having scored crucial goals for us in the last twelve months. McGarry starts despite his last useful contribution being in 2007. Marc Fitzpatrick being benched despite being a key part of our good run. Just questions that need to be answered... Signings Porter - Fantastic signing Hughes - Good s Neilson/Krysiak/Daniels - Not much to say Mensing - Wasn't given a chance Malcolm - Waste of money Grabban - Pointless signing O'Brien - Good signing when eventually used Klimpl - Decent if unspectactular signing. Not as good as some are making out. Sheridan - Better than DL Smith or Murphy? Hasn't shown himself to be. Hammell - Decent signing. Not great reading, is it? I'm not saying he should resign (I maybe was at 20 past two today ), but he needs to take a long hard look at himself. He's getting an easy ride from a lot of people...

I'll carry him. Where do you want me to drop him off...?

I don't know. One off play off, neutral venue, be like a cup tie. That might get the juices going a wee bit...

I'm assuming you're basing this on the theory that whoever is in the bottom 6 will have easier games? Never going to happen. Whoever is seventh on Sunday night will be lucky to win one more game this season. A team with nothing to play for against five teams under threat of relegation? I know you can argue that whoever gets the sixth spot in the top six will be playing against five other teams with things to play for but at least that team will have their own motivation...

I don't have a problem necessarily with what he said, but it should have been said behind closed doors to the players, not bandied about to give St Mirren any more motivation. My other concern is that other than a couple of occasions, when he builds these games up, the team tends to come out a bit flat...

Speedie was the one who spotted it during the Aberdeen game when he noticed my lacklustre celebration after our goal. As for pushing a pram, you haven't seen the size of my boy recently. Trying to get him into a pram would be like trying to get an alsation into a poly bag...

Therein lies the problem, big man. I've rarely felt mistreated or hard done to by the club off the field. I know others have, but it's never affected me directly. I know that sounds selfish, but that's not what's spoiling my enjoyment of the games. I don't know what is causing me to feel this way about it. If I knew that, I could talk myself out of this frame of mind. Cos, quite frankly, not bothering my arse whether I go to Fir Park or not is a scary state of mind for me to be in...

It's with a degree of sadness that I answer no. There are no financial reasons behind my decision. I had a conversation with someone during the Aberdeen game and the phrase I used was "it's just kind of lost its appeal". My friend interrogated me as to whether it was the cost, the quality of fare on show, my obvious dislike for McGhee or even the paint on the steps (he actually asked this tongue in cheek, I assume). I could give him no reasons. Having thought about it since, I would have to say that part of me has kind of fallen out of love with the Well. Or perhaps, more accurately, I've fallen out of love with the experience of watching the Well. This alarms and saddens me as for as long as I can remember, going to Fir Park was an experience I looked forward to and enjoyed. Now? Saturday against St Mirren is being touted as a masssive game for Motherwell, but right now I could take it or leave it. I'm kind of hoping that something will spark the flame again soon...