capt_oats

Aye, where it's also interesting is in what space they're actually going to develop. I'm assuming the Reserves league is still mothballed? That leaves them either playing in the u18s or being loaned out. Campbell, Turnbull and Scott weren't loaned out but all 3 played regular Dev league football. That level doesn't exist any more and I'd imagine it's far more of an ask for a player to go from playing bounce games and u18s into the first team? Although they were part of the Mo Ross group Cornelius and Johnston are probably the first of the players to come through post-pandemic. One made his debut at 16 but was loaned out at 17, one has been gradually integrated into the first team without a loan.

Aye, I mean, I'm not saying that is/isn't happening it just seems like a vaguely plausible direction for us to go. As far as the midfielder goes, I guess if there was anything in the chat that we were interested in speaking to Davis in the event Rangers didn't want him it suggests we might be looking at that area. Granted that may have been an "opportunity" thing and we were looking at him in a player/coach capacity but still. Either way apparently "we still have work to do with the squad", Whether that's enough to stop a very specific subset of usual suspects living in the club's mentions who just "call things as I see them" having to wring out their underwear because we haven't signed an entire new squad inside 12 days of the transfer window opening remains to be seen (I expect not).

I don't disagree in so much as Paul McGinn probably wouldn't have been high up on my shopping list (or necessarily on my shopping list at all) but it's interesting that he's been presented as "versatile defender" Paul McGinn rather than "right back". That "versatile" is carrying a lot of weight IMO. Taking a step back and being objective about it; Motherwell fans: our defensive record last season was a shambles, we need to do something about it. Graham Alexander: our defensive record last season wasn't good enough, we need to look not just at individuals but the "system". Framed like that, us signing a "versatile defender" who spent his time at Hibs last season playing RWB/RCB shouldn't seem that surprising. As I said yesterday, given we pivoted to a 3412 at the tail end of last season and, to the surprise of no one, it actually got the best out of SOD playing in his actual position then if this is the direction we're going in it's an entirely sensible signing. As @thisGRAEME also pointed out yesterday you can see Carroll fitting in that gap at LCB/LWB (McGinley too IMO) while I suppose there's also a chance Johnston's loaned out again for development in the absence of Reserves football and for all big Bev did us a turn at RB last season I don't think anyone's looking at him as being viable as a RWB.

Tbf, he's not but the Tweet(s) that was linking him absolutely *were* a wind up.

In other news I see (via his da's IG) that's Lennon Miller signed his first pro contract with us. More of this please...

Don't know if it's been edited since you saw it but it's on the news story as a 1 year deal.

I have it in my head that we were linked with McGinn when Robinson was here but ended up patching him at the last minute to sign Grimshaw on a permanent? Anyway, absolutely no one is racing out to buy a season ticket because we've signed Paul McGinn but equally we've had years of reply guys and usual suspects losing their shit because we've trawled the National League for players and arguing "wHy dOnt wE sIgN plAyErS fRoM teH sCoTtIsH lEaGuEs?!?!?!" Well, here you go lads...

"Adding international quality to our back line "

You genuinely had me second guessing myself there but aye, here's the Robinson quote:

McGinley as well I guess. It always feels a bit weird that we seem to have forced him into being a left back when he said that he sees himself as a CB and IIRC even Robinson admitted that's where we signed him to play. It was only on account of injuries and Robinson fucking up our squad balance that meant big Toby ended up getting an extended run at LB.

It's been mentioned a couple of times on the previous page but with McGinn being able to fill in at RCB, along with the way we lined up in the last few games of the season, Alexander having spoken about needing to look at the "system" and the fact that we saw SODs 2 best games in a Motherwell shirt playing as a RWB it could very well be a case of... Assuming Devine's patched out on loan and Mahon is in that grey area between 1st team and "Reserves"...you've got McGinn who can cover either RWB or RCB. If this is the direction we're going it's actually quite a sensible signing.

As far as Max Johnston goes, he's still only 18 and tbh, we don't even know what he is yet. IIRC he was moved from RB to midfield in a QoS side that was relegated from the Championship last season. In fact, someone who's seem more of him than I have might be able to confirm - is he not able to play both full back positions? I have it in my head that he was playing left back for the Reserves back when they were still a thing. Also, without wanting to open the particular can of worms about players being sold before they've really kicked a baw for us there was a story that Luton and Sheffield United were taking a look at him earlier this year.

Ah, fair enough. As you were. As @Lukovic says a couple of posts up it's wind up anyway.

Sell-ons are generally worked out on profit so it wouldn't be over a million if it's an £8m fee. It's been acknowledged that since he's been at Celtic some (possibly all?) of the add-ons in his deal have been triggered. It was rumoured that the total value of the deal was £3.5m so the sell on (let's say 15% for arguments sake) would be 15% of the profit £8m - £3.5m = (£4.5m /100)*15 = £675,000. We're also due a % of the total transfer fee as part of FIFAs solidarity payment. Basically 5% of any fee (through his entire career) is set aside and distributed pro-rata to his development club(s) up to the age of 23 so in this case us and Celtic. I can't remember the precise split but he was 21 when he left us and he turns 23 next month so I think it'd work out as something like 4% us and 1% Celtic as I've a feeling it's worked out in 0.5% increments. Given we're due a solidarity payment you add in 4% of the £8m. So (£8m/100)*4 = £320,000. Sell on = £675,000 Solidarity payment = £320,000 Total = £995,000 On the solidarity payment point it means that with Allan Campbell regardless of whether we negotiated a sell on % with Luton (IIRC the news story implied we'd agreed some sort of benefits) we're still due 5% of any fee he generates through his career.

I see he's in Venice now. Absolutely fair play to him. He looks like he's having a lovely time.

Aye that's how I read it as well. We'll be looking at adding a couple this summer then see how it goes. The headline is also a bit misleading (not the journo's fault) in saying "Alexander could pad out Motherwell squad" - he explicitly says that the initial 20 games should let us see whether we actually need to make any additions or not. Either way it seems like the folk over on Steelmen who are working themselves into a shoot wanting another half a dozen in and complete rebuild are going to be disappointed.

Were we though? I mean, I can't speak for St Mirren but the only time I saw Motherwell's name linked was the absolute vaguest of mentions in the local press down south and even then it was "monitoring" and "reported target" rather than anything definite. Not saying we hadn't taken a look but it's the sort of language you'd take with a massive pinch of salt.

Interesting Ben Banks article in the Record today talking about bringing new staff in. He's also saying in The Herald that the squad was a bit too big last season.

Just chucking this in here but Kaiyne Woolery looks like he's having a fucking brilliant holiday.

Pitch update

Interesting that as far as I can tell Dibble has no previous working relationship with Alexander (given all the chat a few months ago about him apparently bringing coaches in from Salford). Warnock brought him in at Cardiff and as well as Colin he also worked with Neil Harris, Mick McCarthy and Steve Morison Aside from his clear 'Rangers legend' status with his 7 appearances it's probably fair to say he's not a usual face. His coaching history is Accrington Stanley, Coventry, Peterborough, Rotherham and Cardiff. A wee write up on WalesOnline from December 21.

Andy Dibble to replace Hinchliffe then. Most recently GK coach at Cardiff (as of last month) - https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/andy-dibble-departs-cardiff-city The Record doing as the Record does...he played 5 games for Aberdeen in 1990 and 7 games for Rangers in 1997. Also an excuse to share...

In fairness, Alexander has got more joy out of chucking big Bev up top than Robinson ever managed with the same tactic. Tierney's equaliser against St Mirren and the two goals at Livi came from the Mugabi Chaos Factor being unleashed. Would have been some scenes if he'd scored with that volley in Paisley as well.

Wouldn't rule it out but at the same time he's still got a year to go with Burton and both he and his missus seem entirely settled in their "dream home" in Cheshire. I'd have thought a move back to Wrexham might be a pretty decent shout for him.

Here's another one for pitch curious folk.