manc_don

I'm not raging, I was more bewildered and waiting to be woken up

Loan signings are far from ideal, but I think we've just got to accept that this is how it is at the moment. I trust the management to make the right decisions, and hopefully we'll see the benefits of them. Just have to be patient. Of course as Dave_min mentioned, the only problem with them is, if they shine too much, it gives their main club an upper hand in any potential negotiations and obviously prices will be raised. At the end of the day, if they help us get through a decent few rounds of European football I'll be happy.

Thats not the point though. I don't think he should be in the 1st XI, and with this revelation, means that he will be a starter. I know I'm not the manager, but in my opinion he isn't one of our strongest players, not someone the fans look up to, and doesn't strike me as captain material....I'd feel a little hard done by if I was Diamond.

Surely thats a wind up?!?!?

Myself and TC went to Exit, and blimey, what a festival! I don't think I was bored for one second. 80p shots of Jager with hot bikini girls serving them to you. Can't complain at all. Prodigy were out of this world, though we all got a bit nervous when they told however many thousands to kneel down and jump up at the same time. Serbs are nutters! I would strongly recommend it to anyone, everyone was really friendly from me boarding my flight and throughout the festival, and there were so many happy memories. Carl Cox finishing at 8am on the last day was amazing. I shall definitely be going again sometime in the future.

No, go sit on the naughty stool in the corner! What's McGhee's record with trialists? Surely can't be as bad as JC's was!

Agreed, his record isn't bad. Worth giving a shot to. The sooner we get our team sorted, the better. It would be nice to have a good start to the season for a change.

Are you Caledonia in disguise?

No mention of Dutch trialists in particular, at least Ajja will be pleased

The off season generally bores the hell out of me, mainly because we have no money so generally there will be some wild speculation and then a let down. As i've said elsewhere, whilst he'd be a good signing, I don't think we should waste much time on the lad. Yes he's a good player, a great one worth pulling all the stops out for? No. We need to make signings to bolster our squad and replace players that have not been replaced. Midfield is not my primary concern, which is something I'm sure MM and whoever at the club is addressing. I just hope say by next weekend, we know if he's signing or not.

Bloom Festival just outside Bristol, might head along to this one. A mate of mine is playing and another mate is running the stage for this so hopefully be able to get cheap tickets for this. Still though, 75 quid for 3 days of music isn't bad for a UK festival! http://bloomfestival.com/line-up/

My thoughts exactly.

Good bit of business by them then!

I'm sure I read somewhere that if we accept the deal, we will still be on more than what the current Setanta deal offered as the 125 million pound contract didn't kick in until the upcoming season? Or is that all lies. Either way, I think we have to accept it, Sky/ESPN have us over the barrel on this one, and they know it. Shame the other SPL clubs didn't have the same foresight as us and the bigot sisters.

I'd agree with that. You'd be hard pushed to find anyone outside the OF willing to spend over 250K this summer. Even Hearts aren't surely that stupid.

I see they also signed our alleged target Gary Harkins last night for 150,000

See the picture with the guy dropping his beer, is it me or someone wearing a retro dons top in the right hand side of that image?

My thoughts exactly, I couldn't even watch the second part!

A point I made in another thread. I don't think he'd come to us anyway. I don't think he's better than Langfield, but I'd doubt that he'd come to a club after being an established first team keeper.

Thats the thing, he's not worth all the time we are giving. If he was an exceptional signing, fair enough, but I don't think he's worth the wait, either sign by the weekend or move on. Time is money and the longer we wait, as MBT says, we'll wait till the 11th hour and sign dross. Not what we need with a new management team and a European campaign to look prepare for.

So could be another long summer then? Is Klimpl not better than Hughes anyway?

So basically the Motherwell team then? I think it would surely be suicide to only bring in 3 for the 5 we have lost, especially since it was clearly highlighted last season we didn't have enough to compete. But I suppose given the financial predicament of the SPL currently, it doesn't give us much room to manoevre. I'd hope for 3 permanant signings and possibly a couple of loan signings.

Probably better than the Exit line up, though that has a fair few hidden gems in it! Don't know how I'll last time 8am everyday, but needs be and all that Weather wasn't looking too good when I checked yesterday, I'm hoping that that isn't the case when I'm there!

Aye BBC gossip was saying they are trying to hijack our bid to sign him. I think I'd prefer him to Hughes, as he's shown interest in playing for us/MM. I don't think Smith would agree to sign for us surely? Whilst I think we need to provide genuine competition, I can't see him accepting to join us and sit on the bench, and I think our money could be better utilised elsewhere in the team.