MelvinBragg

I think the mention of five further signings was made prior to the signing of Rose and Griffiths. I think we'd like to sign another five but it will depend on moving others on...

Kind of hoping it's the Friday night or I won't be able to make it. Not sure of the Europa league qualifying dates but that might push it to the Sunday...

The trialists are of a pedigree that I would expect. Going by previous comments, if he is fit, Dunne would be the one that we're most likely to sign. The other two defenders will probably have come on recommendation. The striker, while not prolific, if you look at his stats has scored 11 in 36 career starts. Not dreadful although he has had a good number of sub appearances. Time will tell, I guess...

Quite...

Good decision...

That would be the one...

Heard a rumour this morning that ourselves and Dundee are after Stephen Hendrie, been released by West Ham..

So can we now ask the question, who's going to be captain next season? Smart money would be on Hammell or McManus but will they play enough games to make it a sensible decision?

There are examples where trialists have worked out very well for us. I'm not saying using that method of identifying players doesn't have its place. My concern (and it's only a concern, I'm not demanding resignations or anything like that over it) is that we released two defenders at the end of the season (three if you count Jules loan spell ending). We ended the season with midfielders at centre back and right back. I would imagine that due to this we would have had a list of targets for that area. I would imagine that we would only be looking at trialists before signing a single defender if we were unable to secure any of the targets on our list. That concerns me. As it is, I'm kind of hoping that a better keeper and a better midfield will take some of the strain off our defence...

I think we all agree that the defence needs work but you have to remember we have signed a new goalkeeper and several midfielders. You would hope that these signings would help the defensive side of things before you even get new defenders Having said that, my concern is (and I've already said this) that we're looking at trialists in this area. Smacks very much of last season's approach to centre midfield when we ended up with Clay and Lucas who were not seen as massive success stories. It may be that like the rumoured left back, Dunne, these are players that Robinson is already aware of and just wants to check their fitness or how they fit in with the rest of the squad but my concern with trialists is always that you're at the point of last resort and end up getting a body in just to make up the numbers who won't really contribute...

Apparently we have three defenders training with us so we can have a closer look at them...

Good luck to the guy. Never got a chance but had a decent record for the U20s. I'm assuming that the Premiership club in question was Accies...

Given Robinson's approach to players that can't match the standards of fitness he's looking for, I'd be surprised if we signed any players carrying too much weight. A centre back built like a brick outhouse wouldn't surprise me though...

Kind of hoped we'd be avoiding the trialist market as much as possible this year. Just feel as if that lends itself to signing guys simply because they're available (Lucas and Clay being the most recent examples). And I know we have had success in the past with the likes of McDonald and Ojaama but we have a better record when it's actually players we have targeted...

Someone needs to show the last couple of pages of this thread to Steve Robinson to show exactly how important it is to Motherwell fans' mental health that we make another new signing soon...

On the subject of Scougall, part of me hopes we don't sign him. Some seem to be building him up to be the solution to all of our attacking problems and I fear he'll not live up to expectations. We all know how tolerant the East Stand can be... On the defence, pretty sure Robinson knows it needs work. But he has addressed it to an extent by acquiring a goalkeeper who he thinks will strengthen it as a unit. And some who are concerned about it (I'm looking at you, Dave) have been saying for seasons it's been exposed by a weak midfield. Given we've signed Bigirmana (who Robinson thinks will help us control the game better) and Rose who brings athleticism and physique, perhaps it won't be quite as exposed as before. I know we need defenders but we should be looking at how the team defends as a unit...

While Stevie Hammell has his flaws and has missed games in the last few seasons, I think the number of times we've tried to replace him or sign cover for him and they haven't been able to match up to him tells me that he's not as bad as some on here make out. Either that or our scouts have a real problem identifying left backs. I mention this simply to point out that finding a suitable replacement for him might not be as easy as people think. Could argue it's the toughest position we have to fill this summer. Replacing a guy who's held that position for 13 of the last 15 years won't be easy. Whoever we get will be under real scrutiny...

Am I really old? Is it only me who read this and thought automatically of Elvis and Johnny Cash?

The accusation of being too close to the players is one that was always going to be thrown at him if he becomes assistant. Thing is with such a high turnover of players, there's only really McManus and Hammell left of the perceived old boys network. Too close to the likes of Cadden and others coming from the U20s? I reckon it's a good thing that the young players will feel able to go to him...

Tend to agree although the English market is sceptical of Scottish players and pays a premium for English players...

If it's true that Burnley want to send him out on loan if they sign Heneghan, what would people's thoughts be if the club were to accept a slightly lower fee on the understanding that Heneghan stayed on loan with us for a season? Not saying either of the clubs or the player would want to go down that road but it has been done before (the lad Craig Dawson at West Brom stayed at Rochdale for a further season on loan after signing for West Brom). Would mean less money in the coffers but would also mean the club wouldn't have to find a replacement until next summer. Not saying it's something I would do, but I can see us as a club at least asking the question...

Not that bothered about Scott Allan. Not convinced by his recent performances. Would rather have Liam Henderson from Celtic but I know that's a long shot...

Not that I'm necessarily putting too much stock in the story from that rag, but given he was linked with Rangers already, what would people think would be a decent fee for Heneghan?

None of us had heard of McDonald prior to him signing first time around...

I reckon that might be the case. Concern there is only 9 goals over the past two seasons. Looking closer he's only started 33 games (although has made roughly the same number of sub appearances). Not a fantastic return but if playing as a winger, 9 in 33 isn't terrible. Obviously I have no idea how long his sub appearances were so reluctant to include or exclude them to give a better idea of his average...