Handsome_Devil

If Airdrie, County and Forfar win, it's impossible. Forfar probably won't which likely leads to a goal difference duel with Hamilton and Ayr.

Nah. I assume they'll get expenses but not paid. As mentioned below, 45k in costs seems good going.

FPC report here: http://www.motherwell-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/well_society_agm_2023_974171/index.shtml Spoiler, it does not sound a thriller.

Airdrie's late winner was likely a fatal blow. Not impossible but edging towards very unlikely unless there's a big upset.

Weir becoming CEO is probably as good as we can get. Hopefully the AGM produces some useful info, constructive comments and some new brooms.

I suspect I'm not not alone in very much admiring SK's decisiveness in dinghying X, Y and Z while not always being convinced he's getting every individual decision right. Yes, Spittal has that spot locked down but do we really think he'll never have a bad day, run, injury or suspension? And then it only makes sense to have binned Tierney if you can recruit someone who is better/cheaper/has more potential. It would be unfair to say I'm concerned but I'm a little nervous about whether SK will cut the mustard at the harder bit of actually bringing in better than what he's just ditched.

If we convert Tierney, Efford and Shields into two usable options it'll be excellent business.

He's got till 2025 with us so a redemption arc is possible...

I actually think it'll look quite tidy if/when the fancy advertising board goes in.

I know it's unfair to make defining judgements on single incidents but I'll never forget him attempting a backheel turn at Tannadice, falling over, handling the ball to prevent a break and scoring an own goal from the resulting free kick. He certainly shouldn't have been booed on yesterday though.

You'd back Killie and County to see it through while Cove and Forfar still have top-flight sides to play - so probably won't. That leaves Airdrie, who finish with the beatable Bonnyrigg Rose but first go to ICT - likely the key game in the scenarios needed for us to have a chance of pinching the third seeded spot.

That's definitely what I'd do but SK obviously thinks McGinn's ability on the ball supporting the rwb means it's worth at least experimenting with others in the centre while Butcher is out. I'd still be surprised if our back three at Dens isn't that three in that order mind, if we need to sacrifice a little on the ball to avoid being a liability defensively I'm sure we will.

Oh aye, no doubting the reasons. It was just notable how poor he was when it seemed like such an upgrade from Tuesday. I'd also say that Casey being in the middle with a bit more responsibility for bringing the ball out is not a viable option either.

If Mugabi or Lamie played like Casey yesterday they'd have been absolutely slaughtered. SOD is a strange one - he certainly has some nice moments but there are equally as many wtf incidents as well.

I don't see how that can't get in the view to an extent but whether it's enough to merit the inevitable outrage, who knows. Looking at it I'd assume there are legal/safety requirements needing met somehow, otherwise it seems very odd indeed. Any experts in that field?

Suspect the idea is that Maguire gets plenty game time... somewhere else. Not getting too excited about the new guy based a compilation but he certainly looks like the sort of player we were short of there.

I've not been following Thistle in that much detail and received derision for asking what was so bad about GB when it came out he was interviewed a few months ago. I don't think being popular with the fans is an absolute must for a CEO by any means. Clearly some decisions which need to be made won't always be popular. However, that's more of a risk when the fan base is small as alienating a few hundred folk has a much bigger percentage impact...even more so when, having paid our tenners, we deserve to have every whim and whimsy met every minute of the day.

Slattery and Spittal are playing like they've heard from Goss just how much money is available in India.

Splitting hairs here but it's not like we changed our minds based on those goals. We wanted him to stay, offered what we could and were rebuffed. If Dundee had stayed up, Lamie would have been at Dens, it was just fate elsewhere that saw him end up extending after all. Anyway, came up in the car yesterday that while signing duds always happens, Alexander renewed Lamie, Mugabi, McGinley and Carroll. Quite the set for a defence-first manager...

Aye, it's a fine balancing act. You don't want to throw away a cup chance and that means no slip ups in July. On the other hand, if you have your best XI ready by this point you will absolutely hit problems later on. I'd like to see as strong a team as possible on Saturday and a bit more rotation v East Fife.

Spittal, Wilkinson, Slattery, McGinn, SOD.

We were largely fine for mid-july other than those two jokers at the back. Midfield looks very promising, rest needs work. Not unexpected. Suspect that dropped point may prove costly in terms of being seeded but 11 points may yet be enough.

Don't love the strip so good they announced Casey with it. Four more to go - both wing-backs, a body in midfield and another up top - for me.

Fair enough that's just an educated guess from the outside but you can see the stats from @capt_oats already. Re the physical aspect in general, I've never understood why when people wonder whether players are physically up to it there are chortled comments about others being under 6 foot tall as if height is the only consideration. In any sport requiring talent and physical attributes combined, you can usually get away with less of the latter if you're through the roof on the former. But otherwise you will almost certainly have to bring some combination of height, speed, stamina, acceleration, balance, agility, strength, durability, Dougie Arnott's patented low centre of gravity etc to the party if you're going to make it. From all we've heard from Alexander re Tierney needing time to adjust, the evidence seen in games and his time outside the squad, concern - not writing him off, just concern! - about whether he can hack it as a top-flight pro seems one of the least controversial takes out there for me.

Does Tierney have potential? Yes. Does he have an obvious role? No. Does he look physically capable of starting 30+ games? No. If those are three questions and answers when you sign a kid it's fine. If those answers haven't changed at all in 18 months of development at a supposedly higher it's pretty concerning.