Casagolda

Oxford United give up on Marvin Johnson after Motherwell reject another bid Apparently rejected a 2nd bid from Oxford of around 300k. Makes you wonder how shite their first bid was, no wonder McGhee was ripping the piss out them.

Oxford United make enquiry over Motherwell's Marvin Johnson but have not made formal bid Looks like there may actually have been an element of truth in the story.

Come on, he's closer to 30 than he is 20 and he got half a dozen goals and assists for Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership last season. Not a fucking hope we'll get anywhere near a million for him, never mind more than that. We paid 30k for him 18 months ago, anything over 500k(with some sort of sell on) would represent an excellent piece of business by the club IMHO.

The whole thing reads like a fluff piece by his agent tbh. Given it's not being reported anywhere else makes me doubt the story altogether. Still expecting a proper bid in at some point before the window closes, anything upwards of half a million with a decent sell on clause and I'd be fairly satisfied.

Motherwell reject bid for star winger Johnson

We're apparently trying to sign another midfielder Craig Clay on a similar short term deal to Lucas, with a view to having a look at him over the next couple of games. As much as Lucas looked fairly neat and tidy on Saturday before he went off injured, certainly looked like a Swansea midfielder with his one and two touch passing and recycling of possession, you'd have to question the logic of a club in our delicate financial position handing out a contract to a 24 year old that's only managed to play 6 games of senior football in his career. Unless it was heavily appearance based. So in that respect I'm glad we're looking at alternatives, for me Lucas looks like far too much of a gamble as the guy appears to be made of glass.

Scott McDonald's move to Australia collapses as Motherwell demand a fee for striker With a quote from Alan Burrows saying the club have blocked the move.

So Moore signs a new contract and about 6 weeks later is sent out on loan for the duration of said contract. McDonald also signs a new deal and now two weeks later is poised to follow Moore out the door. Leaving us with Blyth as our only recognised striker until Moult's back in September. The f**k is going?

McGhee saying on the official that he has to be clever with his budget, which does suggest he is working towards something. Also says we have a call back option for Moore in January.

Was quite impressed with the three new guys yesterday, a solid right back and a decent holding midfielder is two things we've needed for years so it's refreshing to see a manager go out and address these problem areas. McHugh, although lacking a bit in fitness, looked like everything I'd hoped he'd be when he signed. Didn't obviously see much of Blyth but won a few headers and tried to did put himself about, suppose he's going to be the target man McGhee's been looking for. Was overall fairly pleased with the performance all things considered. One concern was that with one central midfielder missing, we were forced into using Joe Chalmers as a makeshift midfielder. Shows how thin the squad is and we really could IMHO do with another option in there. Maybe McGhee's hoping to get through till January and then bring Pearson back. Who knows, however while Chalmers may have done alright in there yesterday it's not something I want to see long term. Biggest disappointments would have to be the performances of Ainsworth and to an extent, Dom Thomas when he came on for him. Lionel continues to look like a shadow of the player we know he can be, him selling Cadden short in the 2nd half when he carelessly underhit a simple ten yard pass after Cadden burst a gut to give him an opition on the overlap sums him up at the minute. Dom Thomas meanwhile is still caught in that awkward situation where he's outgrown the U20's but doesn't look ready to make an impact on the first team, still think it was a big mistake of McGhee's not to send him out on loan during the 2nd half of last season. Really worried that after his promising start and a few good cameo appearances, his Motherwell career might end up petering out. Also a massive blow to hear Moult will be out until about September, we're not exactly awash with proven goal scorers at this level and you can't help but feel if a fully fit Moult had been on the pitch we wouldn't have drawn a blank yesterday. Big ask but I suppose also a big opportunity for the likes of Moore and Blyth to come in and try and show what they can do in Moult's absence.

I only had a quick swatch of the highlights yesterday but did 3 of the 4 goals not originate down the right hand side of the pitch? Not saying Hammell and McManus weren't also at fault like but to lay the blame of that defensive shambles at the feet of two players seems overly simplistic.

Not too much of surprise really though, it's essentially a new back 5 apart from Hammell and McManus with another newcomer in McHugh sitting in front of them. Given that in our other 4 friendlies so far we've played mixed sides, this is essentially the first time our 'strongest' 11(minus Moult) has played together this pre-season. We were also up against a good, settled Hibs team who play a European game 4 days so I'm not too surprised we lost. Sure I remember McGhee saying that the league cup would come too early for us and that his focus was getting the team ready for the opening day of the league season next month. So I expect this team to play together for the most part over the 4 league cup games and for us to use it as sort of a mini competitive pre-season in itself. Hopefully we should be a fitter, more cohesive, organised unit come the end of it. I've not seen a single minute of pre-season myself other than highlights the club put up, so I'm looking forward to seeing how we get on over the next four games and getting a look at some of the new signings and how we're shaping up.

Sounds like we're taking an absolute shoeing of the Hibees. Defensive shambles from what I've been told, apparently we're lucky that's it not 4 or 5 already and we haven't even played an hour.

Strong team out against Hibs today: Motherwell: Samson, Tait, Heneghan, McManus, Hammell, Lasley, McHugh, Cadden, McDonald, Johnson, Blyth Baring any injuries that's how I'd expect us to line up next Saturday.

Good luck to Law, by no means a great player but far from the worst I've seen in a Motherwell strip. Not the most talented but he always gave his all and he didn't hide during the Baraclough debacle unlike several of his more revered, talented team mates who chucked it completely. Actually make it 2 goals and about 10 assists over the last two seasons for Law which is more of a contribution than I thought. Not exactly sad to see him go mind and if it can help free up wages for McGhee to bring in his preferred central midfield target then it's a good bit of business as he'd have been no more than a squad player this season. Can't really asses Robinson's departure as unlike players it's hard to actually quantify the quality of an assistant manager based on what we're seeing on the pitch. Seems to be highly regarded though, be interesting to see how he gets on with Law, Ripley and Erwin in League 1. Anyway I see the reserves plus Moult, McHugh and Heneghan came from behind to beat Dumbarton 2-1 this morning, Ross Maclean and Craig Moore with the goals. As expected most of the players you'd imagine would start against Rangers next Saturday look set to be playing at Easter Road tomorrow.

Just watched the highlights from last night. What the f**k is Kennedy up to at their first two goals? First in particular is textbook Kennedy, lapse of concentration followed by a rash decision. Cowdenbeath's third was a cracking goal mind you.

Seems to have been a bit of utility man before last season, then Adams deployed him as a holding midfielder where he apparently excelled for Plymouth last year. The fact the fans are raging at losing him is usually a good sign, the fact we've pissed off Adams in the process is just a delightful wee bonus.

We've signed a holding midfielder, hallelujah! Carl McHugh on a 2 year deal from Plymouth.

I must admit I had a good chuckle at the article when I read it this morning. I mean does anybody really believe that someone as arrogant and with as big an ego as McDonald would go cap and hand and beg/plead for a contract from Hibs? I'd guess, he wasn't happy with his deal at Motherwell and had his agent float his name about to a few clubs. Hibs bit, McDonald played the two clubs against each other and probably got a better deal for himself in at Motherwell in the process. Happens all the time. For Lennon to go public and have a go at McDonald just shows him up for what we all know he is.

Aye Turnbull looks a cracking prospect, whenever I've seen him he has quality on the ball as well as the composure and vision that none of our other midfielders have. Starts today as well, who was the last 16 year old we brought into the first team? Brill McMillan Kennedy Ferguson Chalmers Ainsworth Cadden Turnbull Maclean Mackin Moore Very much a second string against Arbroath today mind, haven't even heard of most of the subs. No sign of McDonald, Laing or Law in either game.

Delighted with that. Agree with McGhee that he is still one of the best players in the country in his position and we're lucky to have him. Would have been just about impossible to replace him on our budget. Now for a couple of central midfielders please.

Oh I doubt he'll ever kick a ball for Burnley but still, I find it curious that a prospective English Premiership side have been watching him play for our youth team and deemed him to be worth a punt. Yet our management team, who see him day in day out, haven't once to the best of my recollection even brought him into the first team squad despite us being extremely stretched in midfield at times towards the end of last season. In fact both Alan Campbell(17) and David Turnbull(16) made the the bench for the first team last season and both also got the nod to start ahead of Leitch in the Scottish cup final as well. So it appears the likes of McGhee and Craigan seem to rank the other two boys ahead of Leitch. Which is why I find the move slightly curious. Have they seen something we've missed? Or has Leitch blagged a cracking move on the back of a good 20 minute cameo in the cup final?

Robbie Leitch officially joins Burnley on a free transfer. I know I said it before but seriously, what the f**k. How can somebody who's never been deemed good enough to even make our match day squad end up getting signed for a Premiership club. Mental.

Skippy's move to Hibs now off apparently.

Hammell must have taken some pay cut to get a new 2 year deal. He's only made made 40 odd appearances over the last 2 seasons and hasn't reached his previous (high)standards in those games. Better option than Chalmers and Straker mind but that ain't exactly saying much. However with Pearson away, and going by Lennon's comments yesterday McDonald about to follow, that's a lot of experience and quality to lose from the team/squad. Keeping Hammell along with Lasley and McManus is probably more important than a lot fans like myself probably realise. McGhee's certainly going to have his work cut out this summer anyway, trying to replace two players of Pearson and McDonald's quality within our budget.