Desp Posted March 2, 2016 Author Share Posted March 2, 2016 Was touched on in the Thistle match thread but it's probably more relevant here. Was wondering who everyone would keep come the end of the season? Craig Samson - Would KEEP as backup goalkeeper Stevie Hammell - KEEP Ben Hall - KEEP Keith Lasley - RELEASE Steven McManus - RELEASE Scott McDonald - KEEP Jack Letich - RELEASE Craig Moore - RELEASE Chris Cadden - KEEP Wes Fletcher - RELEASE James McFadden - RELEASE I've said it before. I do think we need to lose a couple of the older heads. The only way I'd look to keep Lasley is out a player/coach role, with his emphasis on the coaching side. I'll be interested to see how McGhee gets on if he's given a full summer to work on the team, and some funds to strengthen the squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt_oats Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Desp's already beaten me to it but for me it's less an issue of who we keep and more what sort of role they have. I wouldn't be against extending Lasley's deal if it's as part of a player/coach role. He's still influential in the middle of the park and we miss him if he's not in there just now but the idea that we're reliant on a soon to be 37 year old to hold our midfield together every week needs addressing. I'd still like to have him around the team/squad but as I say it's unfair to be completely relying on him every week. The obvious ones that need sorted are Hall and Cadden plus taking up McDonald's option. Those, for me, are key and I'd be pretty disappointed if they didn't happen. Beyond that you've got the group of 'experienced' players in Hammell, McManus, McFadden and Samson. It's a question of how much they can actually contribute and that value vs what they're costing us in either plain financial terms or youth development. It's notable that McGhee's been fairly clear in terms of McManus being a contributing factor to him being able to start Hall but equally you have to weigh that up against how disappointing he's been overall since he's been here. The likes of Moore, Leitch etc are decent enough players however I'd argue that the best thing for their careers at the moment would be to be playing week in week out (see the goals Moore's been scoring for Ayr as evidence). It's unlikely that any of those guys will be nailed on first picks at Fir Park so it'd probably be better for them to find their level and develop that way. Samson - keep as a backup keeper Hammell - keep Hall - keep Lasley - keep in player/coach role McManus - release McDonald - keep Leitch - release Moore - release Cadden - keep Fletcher - release McFadden - release Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underboyleheating Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 ...and some funds to strengthen the squad. However, we have no money and any funds will need to come from the the freed up wages from the people who are leaving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desp Posted March 2, 2016 Author Share Posted March 2, 2016 However, we have no money and any funds will need to come from the the freed up wages from the people who are leaving. Yes, so we'll have money then... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underboyleheating Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Yes, so we'll have money then... We will, however, I thought you were maybe hoping that Les might give us a few bob on top of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjw Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 We will, however, I thought you were maybe hoping that Les might give us a few bob on top of that.The Bermuda branch of wonga is always open.Just put it on the tic sheet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crilly Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Was wondering who everyone would keep come the end of the season? I'd say getting Cadden and Hall tied up for the future is obvious, also can't imagine many would disagree with McDonald getting a new deal given his performances since McGhee took over. After that it gets more difficult, being honest I'm not sure how many if any of the rest of them I'd actually keep. In short one - Craig Samson as back up. Craig Samson - Keep Stevie Hammell - Release Ben Hall - Keep Keith Lasley - Release Steven McManus - Release Scott McDonald - Keep Jack Leitch - Release Craig Moore - Release Chris Cadden - Keep Wes Fletcher - Release James McFadden - Release Of the others, Lasley, Hammell, Mcmanus and McFadden are at the end of their careers and its showing. Others like Fletcher haven't worked out and yet others like Leitch and Moore won't make it at this level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swello Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 McDonald, Cadden and Hall are definite "keeps" - all have fully deserved a new contract. Sentimentality wants me to keep Las, as it did with Craigan when he was getting on a bit - even if it means that his role isn't as a starter or a 90 mins player. Hammel is a little younger and to me is 100% worth a new deal as we are still a better team with him in it and he has never been one to rely on pace anyway. McManus is one that I'm conflicted about. I can't remember anyone that is talked up so much by managers and other players (including the opposition) and yet has only looked like a top player very sporadically in his time with us. Is this one where fans don't know as much as people in the game? If we got rid of him, we would need another experienced centre half to replace him but I'd imagine that he'll be offered terms. Faddy - if he was after a proper wage as opposed to playing for an artificially low amount, I can't see how it can be justified. The others could all go... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gianfranco Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 I'm going to go against the grain here and say I'd offer Moore a one year deal. Whether he'd accept it or not may be a different story as he'd get more game time elsewhere. If he does go Mackin will fill the 4th striker role that Clarkson and Faddy have .this season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crilly Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Hammel is a little younger and to me is 100% worth a new deal as we are still a better team with him in it and he has never been one to rely on pace anyway. He's been at least partly culpable in 2 of the last 3 goals we've conceded and hasn't looked too clever while defending. He doesn't have positional sense and if his pace is going? We have to move on at the end of the season and Steven has had his time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ya Bezzer! Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Part of me wants us to release Hammell, Lasley etc. so all the people that go on, year after year about them needing to go can see how bad we are going to be without them. I mean take Hammell, he's gone and we replace him. Well take a look at, as far as I can remember, the last four full backs we've brought to the club. Tony Straker, Josh Law, Joe Chalmers, Craig Reid. Excellent. More of that please! Also, anyone that says Lasley isn't still our best midfielder and the guy that holds everything together literally doesn't know what they are talking about. McManus - he's been up and down and was terrible last season, but this season? Has he really been that bad? I don't think so. Another year of McManus along side Hall would do me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Brightside Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 I'd give Mick a new deal, he's solid if unspectacular and are we likely to find a suitable replacement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dosser-fae-the-shire Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Part of me wants us to release Hammell, Lasley etc. so all the people that go on, year after year about them needing to go can see how bad we are going to be without them. I mean take Hammell, he's gone and we replace him. Well take a look at, as far as I can remember, the last four full backs we've brought to the club. Tony Straker, Josh Law, Joe Chalmers, Craig Reid. Excellent. More of that please! Also, anyone that says Lasley isn't still our best midfielder and the guy that holds everything together literally doesn't know what they are talking about. McManus - he's been up and down and was terrible last season, but this season? Has he really been that bad? I don't think so. Another year of McManus along side Hall would do me. Aye, what he says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisGRAEME Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Keep Cadden, McDonald and Hall. The rest...nah, not for me, as much as some of them are part of the furniture, and have been a massive part of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Del_Superwell Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 The club are already in discussions about extending Hall and Cadden's contracts so hopefully hear something on them soon. As said above I would definitely keep McDonald out of all the experienced players as well, wouldn't be surprised if we give Lasley an extra year but in a player/coach capacity and used in case of emergencies, its vital we sign a player who can come into midfield straight away and be able to replace Las. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt_oats Posted March 3, 2016 Share Posted March 3, 2016 So...'the Hutchison award' eh? Would suggest that contrary to recent speculation the bold Les is still very much taking an interest in things. http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2016/03/02/club-launch-the-hutchison-award/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJC Posted March 3, 2016 Share Posted March 3, 2016 The club are already in discussions about extending Hall and Cadden's contracts so hopefully hear something on them soon. As said above I would definitely keep McDonald out of all the experienced players as well, wouldn't be surprised if we give Lasley an extra year but in a player/coach capacity and used in case of emergencies, its vital we sign a player who can come into midfield straight away and be able to replace Las. We absolutely do need to sign a midfielder for the Lasley role, as that is an area which we are constantly overrun. I completely share the view that we are a poorer side without Lasley in the middle of the park but he's 36 years old, he can't be expected to carry the entire midfield forever, which he's been doing now since Nicky Law left three years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludo*1 Posted March 3, 2016 Share Posted March 3, 2016 We absolutely do need to sign a midfielder for the Lasley role, as that is an area which we are constantly overrun. I completely share the view that we are a poorer side without Lasley in the middle of the park but he's 36 years old, he can't be expected to carry the entire midfield forever, which he's been doing now since Nicky Law left three years ago. I think most teams are in the same boat with that. Motherwell have been blessed that they've had someone that could do it so effectively for so long. You'd think Scottish teams would be specialised in such a player but there is a dangerous fine line between 'ball winner' and 'brute'. We really struggled when we relied on a half fit Levin Thomson to do the role and it's only now that Nick Ross is starting to step up to the plate an excel in that position. No surprise though that when Nick Ross (Or whomever was designated to that role wasn't cutting the mustard) that we went on a long winless run. Absolutely crucial position and even though Ross is excelling I'm still hopeful we bring in someone like Abdul Osman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crilly Posted March 3, 2016 Share Posted March 3, 2016 I think most teams are in the same boat with that. Motherwell have been blessed that they've had someone that could do it so effectively for so long. I think in the recent draw at Dens that Dundee bossed our midfield for lengthy spells and we found it hard to compete. The same thing happened at McDiarmid Park also. Oh for another Steve Jennings or a young Colin O'Neil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paranoid android Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 Is Gomis not getting a game at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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