MelvinBragg

I wondered if Robinson might put Campbell in the Gorrin role, play Cadden in midfield and Semple on the wing. Certainly an option for later in the game..

You have to hope it's similar to what happened with Chris Porter or more recently Charles Dunne where we were told the player wasn't up to much by fans of their previous team. Sometimes it just doesn't work for a player at a certain team for whatever reason. John Sutton at Hearts? Stevie May at Aberdeen? Let's just hope it's third time lucky in terms of left backs for Robinson...

Don't see Tanner featuring but Polworth might fit in somewhere there. Have seen worse starting elevens for us. Balance of the midfield isn't right but if Cadden, McHugh and Turnbull all leave you have to figure that we'd make at least one signing in that area. With a few players probably leaving, I reckon there will be some room in the budget for signing at least one winger, maybe two...

We've signed a new centre back on a pre contract and the manager seems to think Maguire will be a real option next season. So it is an area that he knows needs work. He's brought in two (three if you count Plummer) left backs in two seasons. Maybe this summer we'll find one that fits the bill. Pretty sure defence is an area we're working on...

Indeed. Particularly given Robinson's interview when he made it clear his system will always be dictated by the players he's able to bring in. Wouldn't be astounded to see a return to 352 next season....

It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest...

Can I say midfield...?

What I find interesting with the two players we've signed on pre-contracts is that they're both from Scottish clubs. Is this a conscious decision to move away from signing players from the English lower leagues and non league? Was trying to think of other players we've signed from other Scottish clubs and other than Fisher, I was thinking you'd have to go back to the summer we signed Vigurs and Lawson...

When you see that list, it is really quite something. Assuming we are able to (and want to) move on Donnelly, Hartley and Johnson, we're left with virtually no attacking options and very little in midfield. An opportunity or a problem? Depends on your belief in Robinson's ability in the transfer market. It certainly doesn't look like this summer will be about strengthening from 12 to 16 as last summer was.. Having said that, I wouldn't be astounded to see Donnelly, McHugh and Frear in our squad next season. Donnelly may look out of the picture but so too did Grimshaw at points last season. Frear and McHugh are players that Robinson talks up and I think there are a few factors as to whether they stay or not. Do they want to stay as squad players? Do we have targets we feel can replace them? Will they be happy with the contracts on offer if the offers are on squad player terms? Period of uncertainty ahead. More so if we get bids for Turnbull and Campbell that we can't turn down. .

Funny, I thought Aldred and Gorrin had their worst games for us. Shows you how we all see the game differently. Thought Ariyibi showed flashes but for me Campbell was the tallest dwarf today...

Two dreadful team performances there today and unsurprisingly the team that has had more money spent on it made less mistakes. I actually think that eleven Rangers had out today is worse than the one we beat last season in the league cup semi. But if you encourage teams by gifting them chances, they'll take one or two. For me, several Motherwell players had their worst performance in a Motherwell shirt today. Unfortunate but gives us an idea of what we need going forward. Frankly despite the result, I'm not massively disheartened. Poor performance but not the worst of the season (I reckon vs St Mirren at home pre Christmas). I'd be more worried if I were a Rangers fan. If that's the best they can muster with all the money they've thrown at it, their scouts and coaching staff need a good slap...

Was talking to my son about this very game the other day. Sore one...

Where was all this reported?

Whilst I admit I haven't seen Ferguson play, would any goalkeeper available as a free agent be an upgrade? And how fit/sharp would any goalkeeper be?

Far from ideal Gillespie getting injured. Definitely bad luck having both first and second choice goalkeepers injured...

Obviously I'm not watching it but anywhere I've looked, stats say they've had six or seven shots to our none...

I understand that from a lifestyle and financial perspective, it is an attractive move and can totally understand an individual making that choice. I'm afraid I don't see the sporting merits of such a move. And I say that as someone who enjoys watching all standards of football. I must do, Motherwell can produce the full range in one season...

Good question. And one I hadn't even thought of. If true that he's moving to MLS, I'd actually be more disappointed in him than if he signed for Rangers. As unwise as a move to Rangers might have been, it at least indicated a modicum of ambition to achieve something other than simply trouser a load of cash. Obviously MLS is improving but it doesn't feel like a move for career development...

Maybe they've seen his last couple of performances. Now teams are aware of him, he seems less effective. Still a promising player by no means the finished article...

Concerning that you don't mention Livingstone given we've already given him a contract....

I agree to an extent. Hastie didn't offer much, difficult for Ariyibi to as he was booted up in the air pretty much every time he got the ball. Always felt we were the team more likely to play decent football. Only period I felt they were the better team was the first 15 minutes of the second half. And that was changed by the subs. Winning while playing poorly is never a bad sign and it was good to have the option of Cadden and Frear to give their full backs different problems. Hastie is never going to power past people the way Cadden can...

I can see why the club and the players would want top six. Just feel as a fan, bottom six games might be more enjoyable without trip to Ibrox and the always enjoyable visit of thousands of Celtic supporters. And as others have pointed out, offers the possibility of relegating Accies at their own place...

Serious question. Do we want to finish in the top six? I know there are financial positives but for me the risk of Celtic winning the league at Fir Park gives me the fear. There's also the fact that games against the bottom six might be better games for us to blood the likes of Brown, Semple, Scott and Livingstone. Obviously I never like to see us lose games but just don't see the great appeal of finishing top six...

I'm not convinced that James Scott will be the answer up front but the club clearly feels he could be. Therefore my only frustration today was the fact that we didn't give him half an hour against a dreadful defence. Strikers are judged on goals so the sooner he gets his first goal, surely the better. Bringing him on the same time as Frear with both of them having something to prove might have given us fresh momentum in the second half...

At least we know in advance who's going to have most influence on the game today. Andrew Dallas is referee..