Jump to content

Motherwell FC - A Thread For All Seasons


Recommended Posts

I think Ross Callachan will be Kettlewelled in either January or next summer, I don’t expect to ever see him again.  I remember the shock on his face when he got called round to be subbed on for the 20 minutes that he has had.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, capt_oats said:

I mean, generally you'd expect a normal squad to be around 24 - we're carrying 4 over that.

I do have a slight reservation that before all this started there was semi-consensus our best seasons are with a small squad of quality rather than a broad squad of depth. Yes, an adjustment due to injuries possibly needed but we could still end up with a massive squad come January or February...if things have gone wrong, how easy will it be to shuffle? 

I guess we've spent maybe slightly more than initially planned reacting to circumstances. Fair enough, you can certainly argue it's better correcting now than waiting till it's gone to shit and scrambling to correct in January when it's even more expensive. We probably only get one real correction like that a season though, so points on the board needed sooner than later. I'm not convinced a third chance under a new manager and further rebuilt squad will ne available...no pressure!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The squad depth starts quite well with 2 goalies and 10 defenders for 5 positions. 
 

Then we have 9 players going for a 2 man central midfield and 9 players going for a 3 man attack of some description.

 

What a transfer window the Liam Gordon Thunderdome and “knee” has created. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

59 minutes ago, Handsome_Devil said:

I do have a slight reservation that before all this started there was semi-consensus our best seasons are with a small squad of quality rather than a broad squad of depth. Yes, an adjustment due to injuries possibly needed but we could still end up with a massive squad come January or February...if things have gone wrong, how easy will it be to shuffle? 

I guess we've spent maybe slightly more than initially planned reacting to circumstances. Fair enough, you can certainly argue it's better correcting now than waiting till it's gone to shit and scrambling to correct in January when it's even more expensive. We probably only get one real correction like that a season though, so points on the board needed sooner than later. I'm not convinced a third chance under a new manager and further rebuilt squad will be available...no pressure!

Aye, I don't disagree tbh but I guess @ropy kind of touches on it above you have folk like Callachan who are on 1 year deals (well, 1 year with 1 year option in Callachan's case).

I'm away to do a big daft post covering the squad (exciting Friday evening chez moi) but these are the players whose contracts expire next summer (or January in the case of Maswanhise although you'd expect that option to be triggered toute suite )

  • Maswanhise (January '25)
  • Seddon (+1 option)
  • Casey
  • Blaney
  • Wilson
  • Zdravkovski
  • Slattery (+1 option)
  • Halliday
  • Paton
  • Callachan (+1 option)
  • Ebiye

I don't see us being in a position to have another January overhaul but I can see a route to us being able to trim a bit of excess if necessary.

Edited by capt_oats
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, joewarkfanclub said:

I presume Ferrie & Wells will be loaned out now?

Am I right in saying domestic loans to the lower leagues can still happen after the transfer window? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, Gianfranco said:

Am I right in saying domestic loans to the lower leagues can still happen after the transfer window? 

Correct, till the end of next month, last season Nathan McGinley (Toby from The Office) went out on loan to Thistle on the 30th of September.

Edited by camer0n_mcd
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This window feels like a combined Summer and January window, certainly with the numbers recruited. With all the players due back, I guess that will be the equivalent of those winter signings .... or what the CEO hopes anyway. I feel confident we've gone over what we planned.

The exact opposite of last year where Ketts was full on Ari: 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, capt_oats said:

To put that in context as a graphic.

lineup.png.835b1b68a744024c4a2a8f5eb1ef8474.png

Injured:

  • Blaney
  • Koutroumbis
  • Slattery
  • Paton
  • Callachan
  • Stamatelopolous
  • Nicholson

As @Stevie Kirk mentioned it leaves us with a squad of 28 (assuming Ferrie, Wells etc are being loaned out) of which 7 are long term injured.

Which if not ideal still feels...fine given we know we're not going to be seeing Slattery until December at the earliest and reading between the lines the likes of Paton, Callachan and Nicholson are going to be out for longer than that.

I mean, generally you'd expect a normal squad to be around 24 - we're carrying 4 over that.

I'd echo @Handsome_Devil in saying that I'd have liked to have added a centre mid but tbh I'd be entirely fine with us holding off and looking at free agency in that respect. Like, if Ryan Jack finds someone willing to pay the money he's looking for then I, for one, would happily have Ally Gorrin back.

Do we know if Maswanhise or Tavares can switch wings? Pace on both sides can be a huge asset.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So as the transfer window slams shut this has been our summer (not including the Barmack of it all):

Goalkeepers:
1. Krisztián Hegyi (21) - season loan
13. Aston Oxborough (26) - (2025)

Defenders:
2. Stephen O'Donnell (32) - (2026)
3. Steve Seddon (26) - (2025 +1 option)
4. Liam Gordon (28) - (2026)
5. Kofi Balmer (23) - (2026 +1 option)
15. Dan Casey (26) - (2025)
16. Paul McGinn (33) - (2025 +1 option)
20. Shane Blaney (25) - (2025)
21. Marvin Kaleta (19) - season loan
22. John Koutroumbis (26) - (2026) 
23. Ewan Wilson (19) - (2025)

Midfielders:
6. Davor Zdravkovski (26) - (2025)
7. Tom Sparrow (21) - (2026 +1 option)
8. Callum Slattery (25) - (2025 +1 option)
11. Andy Halliday (32) - (2025)
12. Harry Paton (26) - (2025)
18. Ross Callachan (30) - (2025 +1 option)
27. Dylan Wells (18) - (2026)
38. Lennon Miller (18) - (2026)

Forwards:
9. Zach Robinson (22) - (2026)
14. Apostolos Stamatelopolous (25) - (2027 +1 option)
17. Filip Stuparević (24) - (2026 +1 option)
19. Sam Nicholson (29) - (2026)
24. Moses Ebiye (27) - (2025)
29. Mark Ferrie (18) - (2025)
52. Tony Watt (30) - season loan
55. Tawanda Maswanhise (21) - (January 2025 + option)
77. Jack Vale (23) - season loan
90. Jair Tavares (23) - season loan

In (Permanent):

  • 11/06/24 - Kofi Balmer (from Crystal Palace)
  • 12/06/24 - Tom Sparrow (from Stoke City)
  • 15/06/24 - John Koutroumbis (from Perth Glory)
  • 19/06/24 - Ross Callachan (from Ross County)
  • 20/06/24 - Zach Robinson (from AFC Wimbledon)
  • 20/06/24 - Filip Stuparević (from NK Domžale)
  • 24/06/24 - Liam Gordon (from St Johnstone)
  • 02/07/24 - Steve Seddon (from Oxford United)
  • 30/07/24 - Apostolos Stamatelopolous (from Newcastle Jets)
  • 18/08/24 - Tawanda Maswanhise (from Leicester City)

In (Loan):

  • 28/06/24 - Krisztián Hegyi (from West Ham United)
  • 15/07/24 - Marvin Kaleta (from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
  • 13/08/24 - Tony Watt (from Dundee United)
  • 30/08/24 - Jack Vale (from Blackburn Rovers)
  • 30/08/24 - Jair Tavares (from Hibernian)

In (Loans Made Permanent):

  • 01/06/24 - Sam Nicholson (from Colorado Rapids)

Out (Permanent):

  • 09/06/24 - Muhummad Adam (Stranraer) - undisclosed
  • 20/06/24 - Ross Tierney (Bohemians) - undisclosed
  • 16/07/24 - Thelonius Bair (Auxerre) - undisclosed

Out (Loan):

Released/Left the club:

  •  

Contracts expired:

Edited by capt_oats
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fair gamble by St Mirren. We all know what he is capable of when he is settled and head is in the game. However what player are they going to get and how many minutes will they get from him….

Will be interesting to see how the next few months pan out for them…..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

56 minutes ago, fat_tony said:

That's KVV to Paisley announced:

It'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

I was trying to think if Robinson had signed KVV equivalent when he was with us and the closest comp I could come up with was probably Ciftci.

IMG_2571.JPG.076b66bfda76dc6bca4a7e88ac5ea9c9.JPG

Edited by capt_oats
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, capt_oats said:

So as the transfer window slams shut this has been our summer (not including the Barmack of it all):

Goalkeepers:
1. Krisztián Hegyi (21) - season loan
13. Aston Oxborough (26) - (2025)

Defenders:
2. Stephen O'Donnell (32) - (2026)
3. Steve Seddon (26) - (2025 +1 option)
4. Liam Gordon (28) - (2026)
5. Kofi Balmer (23) - (2026 +1 option)
15. Dan Casey (26) - (2025)
16. Paul McGinn (33) - (2025 +1 option)
20. Shane Blaney (25) - (2025)
21. Marvin Kaleta (19) - season loan
22. John Koutroumbis (26) - (2026) 
23. Ewan Wilson (19) - (2025)

Midfielders:
6. Davor Zdravkovski (26) - (2025)
7. Tom Sparrow (21) - (2026 +1)
8. Callum Slattery (25) - (2025 +1)
11. Andy Halliday (32) - (2025)
12. Harry Paton (26) - (2025)
18. Ross Callachan (30) - (2025 +1)
27. Dylan Wells (18) - (2026)
38. Lennon Miller (18) - (2026)

Forwards:
9. Zach Robinson (22) - (2026)
14. Apostolos Stamatelopolous (25) - (2027 +1)
17. Filip Stuparević (24) - (2026 +1)
19. Sam Nicholson (29) - (2026)
24. Moses Ebiye (27) - (2025)
29. Mark Ferrie (18) - (2025)
52. Tony Watt (30) - season loan
55. Tawanda Maswanhise (21) - (January 2025 + option)
77. Jack Vale (23) - season loan
90. Jair Tavares (23) - season loan

In (Permanent):

  • 11/06/24 - Kofi Balmer (from Crystal Palace)
  • 12/06/24 - Tom Sparrow (from Stoke City)
  • 15/06/24 - John Koutroumbis (from Perth Glory)
  • 19/06/24 - Ross Callachan (from Ross County)
  • 20/06/24 - Zach Robinson (from AFC Wimbledon)
  • 20/06/24 - Filip Stuparević (from NK NK Domžale)
  • 24/06/24 - Liam Gordon (from St Johnstone)
  • 02/07/24 - Steve Seddon (from Oxford United)
  • 30/07/24 - Apostolos Stamatelopolous (from Newcastle Jets)
  • 18/08/24 - Tawanda Maswanhise (from Leicester City)

In (Loan):

  • 28/06/24 - Krisztián Hegyi (from West Ham United)
  • 15/07/24 - Marvin Kaleta (from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
  • 13/08/24 - Tony Watt (from Dundee United)
  • 30/08/24 - Jack Vale (from Blackburn Rovers)
  • 30/08/24 - Jair Tavares (from Hibernian)

Out (Permanent):

  • 09/06/24 - Muhummad Adam (Stranraer) - undisclosed
  • 20/06/24 - Ross Tierney (Bohemians) - undisclosed
  • 16/07/24 - Thelonius Bair (Auxerre) - undisclosed

Out (Loan):

Released/Left the club:

  •  

Contracts expired:

Greeny for the work involved compiling that

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, capt_oats said:

So as the transfer window slams shut this has been our summer (not including the Barmack of it all):

Goalkeepers:
1. Krisztián Hegyi (21) - season loan
13. Aston Oxborough (26) - (2025)

Defenders:
2. Stephen O'Donnell (32) - (2026)
3. Steve Seddon (26) - (2025 +1 option)
4. Liam Gordon (28) - (2026)
5. Kofi Balmer (23) - (2026 +1 option)
15. Dan Casey (26) - (2025)
16. Paul McGinn (33) - (2025 +1 option)
20. Shane Blaney (25) - (2025)
21. Marvin Kaleta (19) - season loan
22. John Koutroumbis (26) - (2026) 
23. Ewan Wilson (19) - (2025)

Midfielders:
6. Davor Zdravkovski (26) - (2025)
7. Tom Sparrow (21) - (2026 +1)
8. Callum Slattery (25) - (2025 +1)
11. Andy Halliday (32) - (2025)
12. Harry Paton (26) - (2025)
18. Ross Callachan (30) - (2025 +1)
27. Dylan Wells (18) - (2026)
38. Lennon Miller (18) - (2026)

Forwards:
9. Zach Robinson (22) - (2026)
14. Apostolos Stamatelopolous (25) - (2027 +1)
17. Filip Stuparević (24) - (2026 +1)
19. Sam Nicholson (29) - (2026)
24. Moses Ebiye (27) - (2025)
29. Mark Ferrie (18) - (2025)
52. Tony Watt (30) - season loan
55. Tawanda Maswanhise (21) - (January 2025 + option)
77. Jack Vale (23) - season loan
90. Jair Tavares (23) - season loan

In (Permanent):

  • 11/06/24 - Kofi Balmer (from Crystal Palace)
  • 12/06/24 - Tom Sparrow (from Stoke City)
  • 15/06/24 - John Koutroumbis (from Perth Glory)
  • 19/06/24 - Ross Callachan (from Ross County)
  • 20/06/24 - Zach Robinson (from AFC Wimbledon)
  • 20/06/24 - Filip Stuparević (from NK Domžale)
  • 24/06/24 - Liam Gordon (from St Johnstone)
  • 02/07/24 - Steve Seddon (from Oxford United)
  • 30/07/24 - Apostolos Stamatelopolous (from Newcastle Jets)
  • 18/08/24 - Tawanda Maswanhise (from Leicester City)

In (Loan):

  • 28/06/24 - Krisztián Hegyi (from West Ham United)
  • 15/07/24 - Marvin Kaleta (from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
  • 13/08/24 - Tony Watt (from Dundee United)
  • 30/08/24 - Jack Vale (from Blackburn Rovers)
  • 30/08/24 - Jair Tavares (from Hibernian)

Out (Permanent):

  • 09/06/24 - Muhummad Adam (Stranraer) - undisclosed
  • 20/06/24 - Ross Tierney (Bohemians) - undisclosed
  • 16/07/24 - Thelonius Bair (Auxerre) - undisclosed

Out (Loan):

Released/Left the club:

  •  

Contracts expired:

f**k me, Scottish Chelsea lads 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Torfason said:

f**k me, Scottish Chelsea lads 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

When you scroll (and scroll and scroll) through that list, it does seem excessive.

But when you consider various circumstances, it's probably only a little excessive at most and some will even make the case it's the correct amount.

One thing for sure is SK can't say he's not been backed...it's less building a team than throwing one up out of flat pack. He'll get a bit of time to bed them in but if he doesn't get enough form soon enough to justify a contract extension, he'll be under a fair amount of pressure approaching January.

Edited by Handsome_Devil
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can definitely make the argument that we're slightly over but aside from the broad hilarity of us apparently just signing aw the forwards fair play to Kettlewell for addressing the concerns of that one guy who was losing his shit about wingers at the Meet The Manager.

I hope he feels appropriately seen.

Tbh, one of the main pluses for me (and it's easy for this to have been lost with the trolley dash we've been on) is that we've kept hold of Lennon Miller. Especially in the context of the noise from the "i DonT uNdErStaNd wHy wE'vE nOt sIgNeD tHe bOy lENnOn aNd LoAn hIm bAK tO mOtHErWeLl. iTz a nO-bRaInEr!!! wE sHouLd jUsT gO aNd gEt hIm" crowd who seem to think the laddie's a f**king Pokemon.

If it wasn't already apparent it should be pretty clear now that Lennon Miller will leave when Lennon Miller wants to leave and he'll be going to whatever club he actually wants to go to. And it'll be obvious to everyone when that is.

Anyway, a special f**k off to this very specific c**t.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...