Celtic V Motherwell Sun 15 May 12:30

[Ya Bezzer!]

As for the ongoing man-love with Keith Lasley and less-so with Steven Hammell, you would have to be a blind man not to see that they are both struggling now at this level. Some of you have backed it up with stats to try and convince others that Lasley will indeed live (and play for Motherwell) forever. The fact that we missed these players yesterday says more about our signing policy and our back-up men than it does for our veteran 'stars'.

 

No one thinks Lasley (or Hammell) will play forever or that they won't need to be replaced in the near future. What we are saying is they are still CLEARLY hugely influential and important players for us and we can't afford to just ditch players of their importance.

 

Both these guys are still first choice players because they have seen off a decade of competitors so bringing in players now who are better when there is little money to spend is going to be almost impossible. It's unbelievably simplistic to think that any Motherwell manager of recent times could just go out and get a player of like for like quality to replace either of these two. It's no coincidence both these players came through our youth ranks because it is extremely difficult to find players of that grade on the market.

 

Any sensible person would pick Lasley and Hammell over players of the ability of Gomis, Leitch, Straker or Chalmers because it would be deleterious to the team and its results and at the end of the day that's what football is about, results, and results are a black and white issue, there is no opinion or debate to be had on them.

 

Right now we get better results with Lasley and Hammell than we do without them and therefore their first choice status is irrevocably justified. End of story. Until such times as that is not the case they should be on the team sheet and I couldn't care less what age they are.

[ONeils40yarder]

 

No one thinks Lasley (or Hammell) will play forever or that they won't need to be replaced in the near future. What we are saying is they are still CLEARLY hugely influential and important players for us and we can't afford to just ditch players of their importance.

 

Both these guys are still first choice players because they have seen off a decade of competitors so bringing in players now who are better when there is little money to spend is going to be almost impossible. It's unbelievably simplistic to think that any Motherwell manager of recent times could just go out and get a player of like for like quality to replace either of these two. It's no coincidence both these players came through our youth ranks because it is extremely difficult to find players of that grade on the market.

 

Any sensible person would pick Lasley and Hammell over players of the ability of Gomis, Leitch, Straker or Chalmers because it would be deleterious to the team and its results and at the end of the day that's what football is about, results, and results are a black and white issue, there is no opinion or debate to be had on them.

 

Right now we get better results with Lasley and Hammell than we do without them and therefore their first choice status is irrevocably justified. End of story. Until such times as that is not the case they should be on the team sheet and I couldn't care less what age they are.

you've more or less said what I said, except you have used far more words.

 

Currently we need to play both of those players when available, but they need replaced as their performances are on the slide.

[steelboy]

If Lasley and Hammell were to leave we would have to sign 3 centre mids and two left backs. The chance of them all being better at their respective positions than Lasley and Hammell is minuscule.

 

Kieran Kennedy is a bomb scare.

[scoojy]

 

it would be deleterious to the team

 

 

you've more or less said what I said, except you have used far more words.

 

I'm not entirely sure that is even a word!

[ONeils40yarder]

deleterious...an extremely fancy word for 'it would fuck it'

[Kmcalpin]

 

Currently we need to play both of those players when available, but they need replaced as their performances are on the slide.

Thats just about sums it up. Both central midfield and left back have been problem areas for us this season, along with right back, with or without Las and Hammy.