ICTRoughi

Esson Raven Warren Meekings Shinnie Draper Tansey Doran Ross Watkins Ofere

Was at the game today and I felt that the first half was a non-event from our perspective. Our passing was not slick at all and very sloppy and slow. If we want to dominate next week then we need to pick up in the intensity especially in the first half. Second half, they started well and there was no chance that Esson was getting anywhere near that bullet header from Laing. After we scored our equaliser, we sat back to try and defend the point but when they brought on Ainsworth we couldn't cope as Ainsworth is a very pacey player but I need to see the second goal as I think it took a wicked deflection. In terms of Ofere's debut I thought he done well considering he was only brought to the club 24 hours before today's game. I felt he added a good bit of strength up front to hold the ball and interesting to see him drop very deep at times to defend but I could see the logic when defending set pieces because of his height. Anyways fair play to him getting a goal today and from today seems like a very welcomed addition but I agree with Yogi that he is a few weeks short of match fitness, once he is training with the lads and settled in the team, we could see a decent player on our hands. Credit to Motherwell, despite being the 'Whipping boys' they put up a great performance today. A must win game next week - very important to get to the next stage of cup!

Step in the right direction. Looking forward to seeing this guy in the team and hopefully move Watkins back onto the wings.

With Watkins missing tommorrow, I'm glad the club have stepped up the search for a striker.

Did you ever think that maybe Watkins is staying and Hughes is turning him into a striker so then we would need a winger. When we have the likes of Danny Williams, Nick Ross, Aaron Doran and even Ali Sutherland at a push, do you really think we need another winger? This^ Did you ever think that maybe Watkins is staying and Hughes is turning him into a striker so then we would need a winger. The thing is though, is I'm not convinced Watkins is a striker. He tries hard and all that and he's alright to fill in for now, but I don't think relying on him for the rest of the season is the way to go. I think I also prefer him out wide as well. Interesting comments on Prince Rajcomar of Curacao and Tarmo Kink being signed up. Seemingly the Serbian boy is only 19 so one would ordinarily presume he'd be more our type of player. Guess he mustn't have impressed then. I remember looking at a website saying the Serbian guy is actually 25 and only played for one club.

According the sun (I know) Yogi is looking to sign two of the trialists. My guess would be Kink and Rajcomar.

Did you ever think that maybe Watkins is staying and Hughes is turning him into a striker so then we would need a winger. When we have the likes of Danny Williams, Nick Ross, Aaron Doran and even Ali Sutherland at a push, do you really think we need another winger?

http://youtu.be/PM3_VaZhTd0 He addresses the Milwall situation in this video. He would have fitted in well in our dressing room in my opinion but wasn't meant to be.

ICTRoughi (page 1 of this thread) and myself (page 11) both suggested Scott MacDonald at the start of this month. This thread has virtually been defined by posters making reasonable striker suggestions only to see other clubs pick them up. Even around/before the start of the January window, Yogi was saying in the press that we should expect a bigger club to come in for McKay. I think the club was probably baiting a club to come in with some welcome money. Charles Bannerman has said elsewhere that the club budget has historically relied on periodic windfalls. This might have been viewed as another one. Consequently, right or wrong, the contingency plan must have been to "promote from within". I think it's legitimate enough to be critical of the club in principle for not replacing Billy McKay but it's going a bit far to criticise for not signing a particular individual without knowing whether that person was willing to come and, if so,on what terms. ^This As much as I am gutted to see someone of the calibre of McDonald go to another club in the league also them being bottom of the league, it could be very possible that we were outpriced by wages - if I'm not mistaken McFadden's wages was funded by sponsors when he signed a couple seasons back, maybe happening here given Motherwell's current situation. I'm trusting Yogi's judgement on this situation and hopefully the guy 'kink' if he signs may turn out to be a better deal than bringing McDonald here. You never know with football.

I thought Watkins can make this game but misses Partick away? or if Dundee United at home gets rearranged sooner.

Esson Raven Meekings Tremarco Shinnie Draper Tansey Christie Ross Williams Watkins

One man doesn't make a team and that team has lost it big time. Of course not but he is someone who would have added a wealth of experience and talent to the squad. Motherwell have certainly gained a good striker.

Just seen on the official Motherwell site that McDonald has signed for them - Gutted.

5-0 Celtic. 20 mins to left to play.

I'd be gutted if McDonald goes to Motherwell. He is a type of player who would be a great replacement for Mckay.

Don't know if anyone else heard it but on radio before game Yogi said we'd tried to bring in players after Christmas but couldn't manage on the money available. Assume he meant wages?? That would not be a great surprise given our limited finances and I am sure the vast majority of fans would have been accepting if the chairman had said when Billy left something along the lines of we will try our best but will struggle to replace him on the money available rather than the very definite 'we have contingency plans' when that turned out not to be the case. I'm almost certain the contingency plan was always going to be sticking Marley Watkins up front given the amount of goals he scored when Billy left.

I did know he played for Middlesbrough, it's just that wikipedia refreshed my memory

Out of the three listed, Tarmo Kink would be the best one for us on paper. I recall him having a decent enough spell at Middlesbrough.

It is quite plausible that Raven,Shinnie and Tremarco could be classed as 'Wingbacks'. I can't comment on the shape of the team at the last two games but certainly at Partick a few weekends back it looked to me that Vincent and Williams were playing a more central role with both Raven and Shinnie were playing quite a highline meaning they could be classed as wingbacks. In my opinion the use of wingbacks enhance our passing and attacking style of play.

Alan Gow signed for St Mirren today

Apparently this guy has been with the club last week and still with us as of yesterday, sounds promising.

Because Wikipedia said so? Nah it was on twitter if you just search his name Sometimes that can be wrong. I recall Twitter saying that Gregory Tade had been released by Cluj and signed for Samsunspor which doesn't appear to be the case and looks like Tade is still with Cluj.

Because Wikipedia said so?

FT 4-1 Motherwell

4-1 Motherwell Dom Thomas