MelvinBragg

BrillBowman Lucas Thomas Maguire Campbell Hastings Bare bones...

I see Ross MacLean has signed a new contract which I reckon is good news. I've also been told that Ainsworth and Cadden will both be leaving. Not clear whether this will be in January or at the end of the season. Ainsworth isn't a surprise although I suspect we'll miss him more than some fans realise. In simple terms of goals and assists, he contributes far more than Johnson did. Cadden, I'm told that there are two clubs that are interested and it's been indicated to the player that the club are expecting him to move. Again not certain whether this will be in January or at the end of the season but perhaps the club are thinking the possible return of Pearson in January would soften the blow of letting Cadden go in midseason. Personally not convinced that would be a good move for us but can see the logic...

I think his loan was only til January so that day will come soon enough. A modern day Holm Kraska...

That amused me more than it should have...

Aye, I know...

Funny game. Didn't think we played all that well but looked pretty comfortable which says a lot about how poor Partick were. At 2-0 down, they reminded me of us 2-0 down recently. No belief, no real apparent urgency. On to us. No one really stood out for us. A few people had good games without being outstanding. Thought Tait benefited from the change of system, given he seems a better full back going forward than defensively. McMillan again stood up well. Didn't too anything too flash but looks comfortable on the ball and physically strong enough to cope in the SPL. Also thought Lasley had his best game in a while, making loads of good blocks and interceptions. Cadden has had better games but even today you could see Partick were wary whenever he got the ball. Ferguson got turned a couple of times but didn't look out of his depth albeit against a poor Partick side. And I'm not a fan of his, but McDonald had an excellent game despite his final ball letting him down at times. I think that's what frustrates about him. You know the ability he has, he just shows it so rarely...

Every time I watch Darren Randolph for West Ham or Ireland, a couple of thoughts pop into my head. How did we keep him for three seasons and never get a bid for him? And how much did he make a rod for the back of the keepers that followed him?

Indeed. The 352/532 may work today but too often in the past when McGhee has tried to be clever or adjusted the formation to counteract the opposition, it has blown up in his face. On another note, hands up who didn't foresee Ainsworth getting scapegoated for the last defeat? Anybody???

I agree. Laing has had some very poor games but over the last season and a half who in our team hasn't?

No one gets relegated in November so to say he's doing his job by not getting relegated is stretching it. Would it be stretching it to say we're showing relegation form? Not so much...

I think Chalmers has done well this season and given it's the first time he's had a run of games in one position, I reckon he deserves a chance on that basis...

I'd agree with much of what Joeboy says with the exception of the fact that Chalmers looks like a decent left back this season. If both he and Hammell were fit, I'd be starting Chalmers...

Not an ex Well player but I always thought Riordan was an example of a player with loads of talent that could have done a lot more with it...

Night and day from Wednesday night so far. Clay and Lucas doing ok in the middle of the park...

For me Lucas is the interesting one. Looking at a midfield (l-r) of Ainsworth Clay Lucas Cadden or Clay Lucas Cadden Ainsworth Option 1, you thought Lasley and Clay was a one paced pairing? Option 2, Wednesday night wasn't enough to convince you that Clay wasn't a left midfielder? If this team lineup works, great. If not, the manager has given so called "McGhee haters" plenty to work with...

Sure I read that Lasley was an injury doubt and Hammell has been injured so not that brave or surprising...

We are in big trouble already...

I have neither the time nor the inclination to post much tonight except to say that when it seems no one in the midfield or up front seems to know where they should be playing or what their job is, it begs the question what do we work on in training..?

McMillan injured? Is that all four of the left backs at the club injured.?

Shite news about Chalmers and McHugh...

Lack of ability, application or fitness?

Clay or Bowman. Went for Bowman as he was involved in pretty much all of the good things we did going forward before he was taken off...

Felt we were very poor in the first half tonight but despite that we were one deflection away from getting in at half time at 0-0. Thought we were creating some chances early in the second half although they always looked dangerous on the break. So I can understand why McGhee wasn't rushing to make changes. Of course when he did, he took off the one striker who was actually contributing anything. Feel that Bowman could feel very hard done by. Watching Hammell and Lasley is making me hanker for the return of Chalmers and McHugh. McDonald was another that was desperately poor. It's also brutally obvious how crucial Cadden is to the team right now. Tactically, we're narrow and predictable. Only Cadden seems capable of dragging defenders out of position. Could make a case for dropping one of the front three for Ainsworth to inject some pace and width. He blows hot and cold but at least his pace might make teams think about defending a bit deeper. Some of the players were very poor tonight but, for me, none of their performances were worse than that of the manager...

As always, good to see McGhee making changes early when things aren't working...

Bet365 just built my hopes up there. Showed 'Goal Motherwell' by mistake. Should have known better...