This is an excerpt from this week's McGarry on Motherwell, a free Motherwell newsletter written by Graeme McGarry that goes out every Thursday at 6pm. To sign up, click here.
The international break doesn’t half make your mind wander. As much as I love Scotland games, the long, fallow days in-between without the daily Premiership argy-bargy can have you pining for the tiniest of Fir Park titbits.
When not scouring Motherwell’s social media feed though in the vein hope of a video showing Ross Callachan giving Callum Slattery a taper fade, I’ve satisfied my claret and amber cravings this week by mulling over the dilemma Michael Wimmer will have this summer.
The question on my mind though, as I’m sure it is on Wimmer’s, centres more around who might be capable of playing the sort of high-energy, high-pressing game that he has stated he wants his Motherwell sides to play.
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There are 15 players contracted to the team for next season, counting Lennon Miller, so the likelihood is that 14 of them will report for pre-season training. Listing all of the players who are free to leave Fir Park in a couple of months might take me close to my word count, but that’s only part of the reason why I’m going to do it.
While the departure of some will hardly be cause for mourning, no matter how good a barber they may be, it is worth highlighting just how many of them play an integral role in the team at this current point.
Which begs some questions, the first of which being just where are all these guys sitting in the changing room? More importantly though, which of those players would you like to see back in the squad next season?
Of course, some of those decisions may be taken out of Wimmer’s hands. Getting Andrews back would be something of a coup, but having been named in the Wales squad for their recent World Cup qualifiers by Craig Bellamy, the next stage of his development may be higher up the food chain.
Balcombe has been impressive lately, and if he is happy to come back and compete against Aston Oxborough for the gloves then that would give Motherwell a very strong goalkeeping department.
While I think most ‘Well fans would be desperate to see Casey extend his stay at Fir Park once more, the links to Hearts just won’t go away. And as we saw with Blair Spittal this time last year, Tynecastle pockets are deep and difficult for any player outside the Old Firm to resist.
Seddon has been impressive in the fleeting appearances he has made, and seems a good character to have around the place. With Thompson doing well on the left and Ewan Wilson there as back up in the wing-back role, he would be worth keeping around as an option to play on the left of the back three.
Club captain McGinn is of course a leader and has been a very good player for Motherwell over his time at the club, but at 34 and having made just 12 appearances in an injury-hit campaign, his situation is a bit of a toss-up. On balance, I would keep him too for his experience in a job-sharing role with Stephen O’Donnell on the right of the defence.
A couple of months back, I might not have felt Halliday had the legs to play for another season in the Premiership, but since the arrival of Wimmer he has flourished in the midfield. He is another I would be looking to put a 12-month extension in front of.
Plange hasn’t done much of note so far, while Dickson has hardly been seen, but it may also be worth exploring the possibility of landing Armstrong on a permanent deal from Carlisle, if only to see if he can continue his evolution into the new Dougie Arnott as the hammer of the Old Firm.
As for the rest? You could perhaps make a case for Harry Paton or Tony Watt as squad players, but that’s about it. Which would leave a squad of about 21 or 22 bodies.
Wimmer said he hoped to only have to sign perhaps another two players in the summer, but maybe three, four or even more to allow him to shape the side more in his image will be required. And hopefully, he will have a good slice of the Miller millions to do just that.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m away to get my ‘Well fix by checking out the price of a pair of personalised grip socks from Tony Watt. Roll on Pittodrie.
