capt_oats

I didn't really see much about the comment to take exception to. The quote was: I mean, he's literally saying he takes the blame for it.

Listened to the podcast last night. Tbh I was just expecting a 5-10 minute interview I didn't expect him to be on for the full hour or whatever it was. In saying that I don't think there was anything in it that was particularly surprising. Without wanting to turn Robinson into some Tommy Wright/St Johnstone figure despite him no longer being manager this is still his mess so some of what he was saying still seems relevant. Absolutely don't blame him for not fancying another rebuild and even the stuff about players looking at pre-contracts at other clubs or having said they're planning on leaving in the summer - that's not really news is it? You look at the number of players who left/moved on during/at the end of the 18/19 season (Rose, McHugh, Aldred, Cadden etc) and it's kind of to be expected given the whole "we'll give you a platform to progress your career" sales pitch. I mean, fair play to guys like Tait, Kipré, Dunne, Bowman, Grimshaw, Carson, Donnelly, Carroll and especially Turnbull who did actually extend their contracts after having been first team regulars. Flat out saying "No" when Currie asked him if he regretted his criticism of the players was a LOL. I can't imagine who he's talking about in saying that "for some players Motherwell was their last option" and that the lesson he's learned is that if a player doesn't really want to be at the club then don't sign them. His point about the club having never asked players to take a pay cut over the last year wasn't surprising as if they had it'd probably have been public but it was kind of new information to have it clarified (granted they had been furloughed but still...) All in all everything about this season seems to have been a shite time for everyone concerned.

He scored their 4th in the cup game.

Aye. Absolutely, I should have added this into my wee spiel above, I get why we've signed him and bringing in someone who has recent experience of scrapping at the in the bottom 6 compared to our collection of shitebags seems a smart move so I'm also fine with it. Even more so after actually winning a game. It's a deal until the end of the season so there's no real risk and I see from the news story he played with both Long and Smith at Northampton so if it helps Smith integrate with the squad a bit (given all the chat about the difficulties for players coming up here on their tod) then that's probably a good thing. The league deciding to condense the fixtures as they have is fucking terrifying btw.

I pretty much agree with this. As I said in a post earlier I think Alexander and Lucketti have kind of made a rod for their own back by talking about bringing in players who will improve the team and the squad then signing up a 34 year old who's not getting a game for St Mirren and being honest probably won't be starting ahead of Campbell, O'Hara, Polworth and maybe Maguire. I mean Kelly's an upgrade on Chapman, Lawless is an upgrade on Hastie/Seedorf and Smith isn't Jordan White but as you say, pre-window you had Robinson talking up previous January business and pointing to Gboly and Arrons. As you say I don't think anyone we've brought in so far look like that type of signing, again acknowledging that the pandemic is going to make things really fucking difficult.

I mean, fair play to the bold Isaiah. If nothing else he's made me entirely more relaxed about the Foley signing.

Do QOTS not train up here or something weird like that?

Per @RandomGuy. That was weird eh?

Motherwell IN: Sam Foley (from St Mirren, permanent)

DID NOT SEE THIS COMING... FAO: @crazylegsjoe_mfc he's #37

It depends on whether the club/board want to hold debt (regardless of whether it's interest free with favourable repayment terms). Given how long they've spent trying to pay off Boyle and Hutchison I'm not sure they do. Tbh, going by the accounts we had a fairly healthy cash at bank figure on 31st May and went on to sell Turnbull in August so without knowing that figure exactly you'd think that the club is being truthful in saying that "the club remains in a strong position" (given the accounts were clearly prepared and submitted recently as they reference Robinson's resignation and Alexander's appointment). IMO, you take the money bank it and if you need it to cover cashflow over the summer then great, dip into it then re-assess at the point when you're due to start repayments either hand back a lump sum less what you've used or keep hold of it and use it as capital and meet the repayment schedule.

I believe the answer here is: Tommy Wright is a dinosaur who doesn't play youth. The only judgement I'd make is that he's not played a lot of fitba'. Clearly I've no idea if he's any good or not because all he seems to have done is played u23 football for Boro'. The way I see it unless something unexpected happens we'll be perming our front 3 from: Cole, Watt, Lawleff and Long. Going purely on the way they've been used so far and Alexander essentially saying White was traded because he wasn't going to get a game I'd guess the likes of Hastie, Seedorf and MacIver will probably have been told that they'll be looking at the occasional sub appearance. I get that folk are gagging for some 'names' to come in and tbh Alexander and Lucketti have made a rod for their own back in saying they're not just going to bring in bodies and that any players they do bring in need to improve the team/squad and then lining up a 34 year old who's not getting a game for St Mirren and a 21 year old loanee who doesn't seem to have played a full competitive game in his puff. I'd imagine if the bold Isaiah is actually signing and hasn't just ended up on the wrong train then it's a question of lowering expectation to 'is he going to be an improvement on Hastie, Seedorf or MacIver' more than anything. That said, someone on here was asking for the club to look at loanees from an EPL/Championship side so that's one wish granted.

I mean, he could just be lost. Tbh, the more interesting side story would be which of Hastie, Seedorf or maybe MacIver might be moving if we're bringing in another erm, ineffective winger?

He did, aye. I think the United bounce game was the only one he played. Carson played the 90 in the other games against Killie, Rangers and Accies (I think, there's no team line for that one)

I see there's been an update on the injuries. Donnelly expected back training in February and potentially playing games in March. Calling it at least 3 months out for Carson as well.

Has Sam Foley ever played football with Declan Gallagher and/or Livingston Football Club? Is this a brave new world of recruitment we're entering?

I have no strong opinions on the signing however @well fan for life made a point earlier re: Cornelius coming on at Tannadice instead of Maguire and it's got me wondering if Foley coming in might be a short term, experienced option on the bench to allow one or two of the Young Team to go out on loan as the likes of Cornelius, Devine and Hussain have basically been parked on the bench and our current situation doesn't seem like the best environment to be chucking them in.

@crazylegsjoe_mfc - there you go, it's only til the end of the season.

Robinson's on Sportsound tonight, there's an article up by Scott Mullen on the BBC website. He's been doing the rounds with the press recently so I'd be surprised if there's much said that'll be different from those interviews: As @Casagolda mentions in that post earlier even though it's early days Alexander's been working largely with the same squad as Robinson bar Kelly (and Carroll) and you're seeing marginal improvements in certain areas that a set of fresh eyes can bring eg: small sample but that's Cole got 3 in Alexander's 4 games - who was the last centre forward that had a wee run like that of non-penalty goals under Robinson? Main when he arrived?

In the spirit of Alex Fisher, absolutely fair play to the club (and his agent) for being able to find a taker for White. Also, it was nice of us to drop him off in Dingwall for them. If we could get someone to show a bit of interest in Ricki Lamie now that would be smashing.

Motherwell OUT: Jordan White (to Ross County, permanent)

White to County is official. Permanent deal.

Aye, he's seemed to be unlucky in that respect. I mean last season he was smashing against St Mirren at FP but then got ran over the top of when Aberdeen threw all their defenders into the starting XI and was on the bench for the next 3 games. This season he played the full 90 in the two wins against County and Livi then after the Scotland u21s shambles he's back to being a bit part player where he's an unused sub or getting 5 - 10 mins off the bench. I think one of the general problems with Maguire (apart from the lack of games) is not really finding a position for him. Robinson clearly didn't trust him at centre back and tried to convert him into a midfielder and from that POV it's not really clear whether he's a #6 or an #8 or a holding midfielder. As @Swello says there wasn't a massive drop in him taking over from Polworth last night.

100%. I'm definitely not advocating a trolley dash round the bargain bins but I thought his response was a bit more open to the idea of bringing a couple in than he had been previously when he was talking about wanting to assess the squad first. He's also saying that he's only planning on bringing folk in if they'll improve the team and/or the squad. I mean, I've yet to hear a manager say they're actively looking to sign shite players but it at the very least gives the indication that we're looking about. Clearly he caveats that by saying he likes the squad and if we can't bring in bodies who are better than what we have then he's happy to work with what he has (or words to that effect).