2025/26 Ins & Outs Discussion

[wellfan]

10 hours ago, dennyc said:

SPECULATION ALERT!  🙁    What I find a bit concerning is the comment that Celtic are aware of the price Motherwell have set. Hopefully purely media talk as they do Celtic's bidding. But it makes me wonder if the Board agreed a release clause of £4.5m when Miller extended his contract? An amount that seemed a good figure back then. IF they did, then then we would have little option if Celtic offered the agreed amount AND Miller wanted to join them. Perhaps in the absence of an overseas/English team meeting or exceeding the release figure.

If the Board really agreed to a £4.5m release clause, there’ll be plenty more clubs than just Celtic interested. The rest is just media and agent noise. 

[Ya Bezzer!]

23 hours ago, MJC said:

Why is it folly? He is a proven goal machine and scored 70 odd goals for Hearts in three seasons. Perhaps if Critchley had played him in his proper position (No.9 instead of a 10) last season then that tally would be even higher and Critchley wouldn't have got the bullet when he did. I'm sure McInnes will get the best out of him going forward though.

And 'fat Larry'? I keep reading this from his detractors, usually fans of Aberdeen, Celtic and Hibs. The guy is a professional athlete and there are plenty out there who wish they were as 'fat' as he is.

He definitely looked fat at the beginning of last season.  Struggled for fitness and form.  And while it's easy to blame Critchley for Shankland's lack of goals I don't think it was the full story,

Shankland is a proven striker at this level and it would be stupid to say otherwise but he does have a few 'off' seasons on his resume.  And his lack of pace means he was never likely to get the 'big' move that was suggested in the media.

[MJC]

13 hours ago, Mccus28 said:

I would question the sanity of those in charge if they accepted 4.5mil from Celtic for Miller.

 

I cant see that happening at all let alone him wanting to go to them

Does anyone seriously think that we would be in a position to turn down an offer of anywhere near £4.5m if we got one?

And does anyone seriously believe that if offered the chance Miller wouldn’t go to Celtic for what would be life changing money and the opportunity to win silverware and play in the Champions League?? 
 

Because if there is anyone who thinks either of the above then it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee. 

[Ya Bezzer!]

For me Cetic's midfield isn't that great.

You have McGregor, who's getting older, and Hatate but other than that I think Miller is better than Bernardo or Engels.

So it's not outwith the realms of possibility than Miller can go there and get first team football and he does look like the long term replacement for McGregor.

Celtic paid £11 million for Engels.  Now he was brought in from a bigger club and a higher level of football so I don't think we'd get that but surely if you are using Engels as a yard stick we should be looking for 6 - 7 million for Miller.

 

 

 

[Ya Bezzer!]

5 minutes ago, MJC said:

Does anyone seriously think that we would be in a position to turn down an offer of anywhere near £4.5m if we got one?

It's all about demand.

If 3, 4 or 5 clubs are seriously interested in him then we can turn down £4.5m.

If only 1 club actually steps up then you bite their hand off for £4.5m.

 

[Spiderpig]

24 minutes ago, Ya Bezzer! said:

For me Cetic's midfield isn't that great.

You have McGregor, who's getting older, and Hatate but other than that I think Miller is better than Bernardo or Engels.

So it's not outwith the realms of possibility than Miller can go there and get first team football and he does look like the long term replacement for McGregor.

Celtic paid £11 million for Engels.  Now he was brought in from a bigger club and a higher level of football so I don't think we'd get that but surely if you are using Engels as a yard stick we should be looking for 6 - 7 million for Miller.

 

 

 

I know we will never turn down that kind of money if its the only deal on the table, but for me selling your best players to a rival team in your league is never a good plan.  

[Mccus28]

1 hour ago, MJC said:

Does anyone seriously think that we would be in a position to turn down an offer of anywhere near £4.5m if we got one?

And does anyone seriously believe that if offered the chance Miller wouldn’t go to Celtic for what would be life changing money and the opportunity to win silverware and play in the Champions League?? 
 

Because if there is anyone who thinks either of the above then it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee. 

I honestly don't think he would go to the goldfish bowl that is the Old Firm.

Its been made clear that his preferred option is abroad and im almost certain that is where he will end up.

I also think that given some of the numbers quoted and the fact that he is now a capped Scotland player, 4.5mil is pretty low for him....................the question of "would Motherwell turn that sort of money down for him" is another matter.

I would be extremely surprised if he were to be wearing a Celtic top next year.  Miller would get the sort of money Celtic would be offering at any of the clubs that have been mentioned and regardless of the European football aspect, he would be playing at a far better level week in week out if he were to choose outside of Scotland.

[stv]

2 hours ago, MJC said:

Because if there is anyone who thinks either of the above then it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee. 

A large latte please. 

[mfc]

The fact that a bang average player like James forrest is the most decorated player is celtics history says it all,if miller really wants to reach his potential and get the very most out the talent he's got then he shouldn't even entertain for a second going there.turnbull took the lazy option and is paying for it now,no good can come of playing against the same crap teams 4 times a season.miller is good enough to go abroad and succeed and be the a mainstay at international level for over the next decade,celtic or rangers shouldn't even be on his radar.

[grizzlyg]

3 hours ago, MJC said:

Does anyone seriously think that we would be in a position to turn down an offer of anywhere near £4.5m if we got one?

And does anyone seriously believe that if offered the chance Miller wouldn’t go to Celtic for what would be life changing money and the opportunity to win silverware and play in the Champions League?? 
 

Because if there is anyone who thinks either of the above then it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee. 

I think I have been sleeping for 3 months cos woke up this morning and it feels like middle of October outside!

[robsterwood]

Possible signing Eseosa Sule. Ex Celtic and current west brom striker on loan. Looks decent although mostly played reserve games.

[Kmcalpin]

21 minutes ago, robsterwood said:

Possible signing Eseosa Sule. Ex Celtic and current west brom striker on loan. Looks decent although mostly played reserve games.

A bit of an unkown quantity at this level. We certainly need striking reinforcements before next Saturday. Got to be the right ones of course. 

[robsterwood]

15 minutes ago, Kmcalpin said:

A bit of an unkown quantity at this level. We certainly need striking reinforcements before next Saturday. Got to be the right ones of course. 

Yes more of a gamble than Biereth as he had already been on loan. 

[stv]

These are the loans we have to take a chance on when they come around . Talented youngster with something to prove.

[MelvinBragg]

43 minutes ago, robsterwood said:

Yes more of a gamble than Biereth as he had already been on loan. 

Motherwell don't sign sure things. If they're a "sure thing" for SPL level, they go to Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs or Dundee United. Gambles are where we live. Scott McDonald was rejected elsewhere. Moult had dropped down divisions. These ones paid off. Others don't. Just need to get more right than wrong. Fact we've not been relegated in nearly forty years suggests we tend to...

 

[robsterwood]

45 minutes ago, MelvinBragg said:

Motherwell don't sign sure things. If they're a "sure thing" for SPL level, they go to Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs or Dundee United. Gambles are where we live. Scott McDonald was rejected elsewhere. Moult had dropped down divisions. These ones paid off. Others don't. Just need to get more right than wrong. Fact we've not been relegated in nearly forty years suggests we tend to...

 

Yes agree we have to gamble but they are calculated risk that they have potential to inform. Biereth was more of a sure bet he would adapt to our league. 

[robsterwood]

1 hour ago, MelvinBragg said:

Motherwell don't sign sure things. If they're a "sure thing" for SPL level, they go to Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs or Dundee United. Gambles are where we live. Scott McDonald was rejected elsewhere. Moult had dropped down divisions. These ones paid off. Others don't. Just need to get more right than wrong. Fact we've not been relegated in nearly forty years suggests we tend to...

 

Teams you mentioned take gambles too. Many have not paid off. 

[MelvinBragg]

26 minutes ago, robsterwood said:

Yes agree we have to gamble but they are calculated risk that they have potential to inform. Biereth was more of a sure bet he would adapt to our league. 

Let's not rewrite history, Biereth had scored two first team goals before signing for us. He was in no way a sure bet...

[robsterwood]

22 minutes ago, MelvinBragg said:

Let's not rewrite history, Biereth had scored two first team goals before signing for us. He was in no way a sure bet...

He has been loaned out to RKC Waalwijk and played 12 games in Dutch league. Also had played at youth level for Denmark so had slightly more pedigree.

[weeyin]

39 minutes ago, MelvinBragg said:

Let's not rewrite history, Biereth had scored two first team goals before signing for us. He was in no way a sure bet...

There's more to it than first team goals, though. You only needed to watch him play for 45 minutes to see how good he was.

Unlike, say, Theo Bair, who was very much a "project".

[MelvinBragg]

5 minutes ago, weeyin said:

There's more to it than first team goals, though. You only needed to watch him play for 45 minutes to see how good he was.

Unlike, say, Theo Bair, who was very much a "project".

Aye, but before we actually clapped eyes on him, there was no way to tell. We've had good and bad loans (and signings) from big clubs. For every Biereth, Jutkiewicz or Ruddy, there's a Cosgrove, Bellic (?) or Plange...

[dennyc]

2 hours ago, MelvinBragg said:

Let's not rewrite history, Biereth had scored two first team goals before signing for us. He was in no way a sure bet...

Talking of history, did you look at his goals per match record in the U18 Premier League? 23 in 33 games......and 15 assists... in case you missed it. He was loaned out because he was far too good for that age level and his route into the first team was blocked by players who cost millions. If that is taking a risk then can we please find more risks of that kind.

[wunderwell]

Looking at the academy league in England is pretty intriguing. 

https://www.fotmob.com/en-GB/leagues/9084/table/premier-league-2

Ordinarily I'd be more excited about an Aston Villa youth than a WBA youth in that area, but certainly doesn't seem to be the case.