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2025/26 Ins & Outs Discussion


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On 6/17/2025 at 10:02 AM, joewarkfanclub said:
  • Aston Oxborough
  • Calum Ward
  • Stephen O’Donnell
  • Liam Gordon
  • Kofi Balmer
  • Paul McGinn
  • Johnny Koutroumbis
  • Ewan Wilson
  • Tom Sparrow
  • Callum Slattery
  • Andy Halliday
  • Lennon Miller
  • Dylan Wells
  • Lukas Fadinger 
  • Luca Ross
  • Zach Robinson
  • Apostolos Stamatelopoulos
  • Filip Stuparevic
  • Sam Nicholson
  • Tawanda Maswanhise
  • Olly Whyte
  • Jordan McGhee
  • In Discussions - Dom Thompson, Matty Connelly

Cheers. 

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3 minutes ago, Richie said:

Was he not getting fit at the end of last season, but Wimmer thought no point in risking him?

I wasn’t sure, glad to see him training as I think if he’s fit he’ll make a massive difference to us. 

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There was a short clip of him in the intro video where he tells Askou "a couple of weeks". Not sure if that's when he's due back, or how long it's been since his last haircut now that his permacrock pal has left .

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1 hour ago, fizoxy said:

There was a short clip of him in the intro video where he tells Askou "a couple of weeks". Not sure if that's when he's due back, or how long it's been since his last haircut now that his permacrock pal has left .

He was probably just saying it’s another couple of weeks before his chocolate knees give out again.

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10 hours ago, wunderwell said:

 I was interested in your previous last take on Stama - doubting ability, or the fact he wants to be here?

It’s not that I doubt his commitment or ability. I just don’t think he’s the big, commanding centre forward we need (e.g. Bair or KVV). That said, maybe JBA can get more out of him this season, especially if we play a 4-3-3 with proper wingers to support him. Still, I suspect the manager will look to bring in a more physically dominant striker. Ultimately, I can’t see Stama still being here by the third year of his contract, especially if this season mirrors the last.

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6 minutes ago, wellfan said:

It’s not that I doubt his commitment or ability. I just don’t think he’s the big, commanding centre forward we need (e.g. Bair or KVV). That said, maybe JBA can get more out of him this season, especially if we play a 4-3-3 with proper wingers to support him. Still, I suspect the manager will look to bring in a more physically dominant striker. Ultimately, I can’t see Stama still being here by the third year of his contract, especially if this season mirrors the last.

This 100%. 

If he is going to play then he needs a big physical guy to feed from. Of course, the formation we ultimately decide to play will also be a significant influence on that too. My concern is that Robinson and Stuparevic, both out long term, aren't that kind of player either. As it stands, he is our only out and out senior striker on our books. If he gets injured... No doubt JBA will aready have picked up on that.  

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1 hour ago, Kmcalpin said:

This 100%. 

If he is going to play then he needs a big physical guy to feed from. Of course, the formation we ultimately decide to play will also be a significant influence on that too. My concern is that Robinson and Stuparevic, both out long term, aren't that kind of player either. As it stands, he is our only out and out senior striker on our books. If he gets injured... No doubt JBA will aready have picked up on that.  

Surely, with the incoming Miller millions, JBA will be backed to bring in a proven striker capable of 10–15 goals a season.

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31 minutes ago, wellfan said:

Surely, with the incoming Miller millions, JBA will be backed to bring in a proven striker capable of 10–15 goals a season.

I would think he'll be backed for that without the Miller millions.

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1 hour ago, Ya Bezzer! said:

I think McGinn has been a good servant but I'd be concerned about a defence with a 33 year old O'Donnell and a 35 year old McGinn (October birthday) in it.

 

Agreed. As soon as O'Donnell's renewal clause kicked in, McGinn should have been shown the door...

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I would rather both had left,odonnell doesn't have the legs to play full back nowadays so we have shuffled him inside where he's an accident waiting to happen at centre half.mcginn has been a very solid player for us but it's asking a lot for him to come back in after missing nearly the whole of last season.were going to need back ups next season and that's the role they should be.

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We could all argue about this for a year. Some people like SOD and some don't. Sod isn't going anywhere as far as I'm concerned and neither is McGinn but I'm sure there will be other signings coming in and it's up to the manager if they play or they don't 

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47 minutes ago, wellgirl said:

Disagree. Happy to keep them both. McGinn has been a very decent player for Motherwell. Don't see any reason to get rid of him 

Both are past 30.

Both pretty experienced.

Both previously right backs who probably don't have the legs for the modern attacking full back role.

Both probably more suited to playing in a back three. 

 

Do we really need what is effectively two players filling the same role? Had I a choice of the two, I'd probably have renewed McGinn. But given O'Donnell renewed automatically, I'd have chosen to sacrifice McGinn in order to free up a salary for a younger defender with a bit more legs/energy/power..

But, hey, as it is they are both under contract now. I don't know how much value for money we'll get out of that fact, but not much we can do about it now.. 

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Putting the SOD and McGinn debate to one side, our biggest issue in recent seasons has been a leaky defence when playing with three centre-backs and wingbacks. At present, we’ve no natural wingbacks and only a few senior centre-backs. A switch to a back four is long overdue, and hopefully JBA makes that change. It might even resolve the SOD/McGinn dilemma in the process.

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1 hour ago, wellgirl said:

We could all argue about this for a year. Some people like SOD and some don't. Sod isn't going anywhere as far as I'm concerned and neither is McGinn but I'm sure there will be other signings coming in and it's up to the manager if they play or they don't 

When you become the manager you can then decide whether to keep the sod , but until then the Donnell detractors will have to grin and bear . I don't think this new manager will take too long to discover our weaknesses and the defence was the major problem in the season just ended and that included the sod on multiple occasions . And if you ever become the manager then God help us.

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