’Well must do better

Dec 31 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

“I don’t expect a great deal of business to be done by us,” McGhee claimed last week when asked if there will be much in the way of transfer activity when the January transfer window opens tomorrow (Thursday).

Was this comment more in hope than expectation?

Well it depends what side of the fence you sit on.

Despite Saturday’s morale-boosting victory over Inverness, Motherwell’s half term report would probably read, ‘4/10, must do better.’

Early exits in both the Co-Operative Insurance cup at the hands of Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton in September and Nancy in the UEFA Cup a week later knocked the stuffing out of the Fir Parkers.

And Saturday’s win against Inverness halted a worrying run of form that saw Motherwell go seven games without a win.

Just one goal was scored in that spell too that saw them drop to joint bottom of the SPL.

From one side of the fence the argument will go that, given their disappointing start to the season, the Steelmen simply need to strengthen in order to steer clear of the relegation zone.

Despite Chris Porter’s hat-trick at the weekend, his first goals since November 1, Motherwell have been largely shot-shy this term.

There is no doubting the loss of Ross McCormack, currently enjoying a profitable spell at Cardiff City, has been a major reason why Motherwell have been largely rudderless in front of goal.

Summer signing John Sutton has been relatively successful but his more direct and physical approach has meant McGhee has had to alter last season’s successful tactic of deploying an exciting three-pronged frontline – McCormack, Clarkson and Porter.

Securing the services of a similar kind of striker to Ross McCormack would be ideal for McGhee but financial constraints will render this opportunity a non-starter unless he can use his contacts south of the border to pluck a youngster from the lower divisions or indeed find a rare gem from the SFL.

But the other side of the argument goes that Motherwell’s international striker David Clarkson has had a stop start beginning to this season due to injuries and suspension and Porter has now found form.

A run of games in the New Year will, hopefully, see the 23-year-old Clarkson start banging in the goals again.

However, Porter’s hat-trick could create a new problem for McGhee given the timing of his number one hitman’s return to form.

Before Saturday’s match it had been rumoured that a number of Championships clubs had been interested in the services of the forward, who is out of contract in the summer.

Any offers for Porter would be very unwelcome in January but if a large six figure offer was tabled then it would be difficult for Motherwell to turn down given he can leave for nothing at the end of the season.

The return to fitness of club skipper Stephen Craigan, midfielder Stephen Hughes (another out of contract in the summer) tailored with the impressive performance by on-loan defender Maros Klimpl in midfield, who should be signed up next week until the end of the season, means Motherwell are well served in most other areas of the park.

So when McGhee claims he doesn’t expect a great deal of business to be done in January, it is more in the hope there is limited activity so that he can keep hold of Porter before his inevitable departure in the summer.

If this was the case it would then give McGhee more time to search and boost his forward options in time for next season.

The worst case scenario for the manager is Porter goes at the end of the transfer deadline leaving McGhee short in real quality up front for the remainder of this campaign.