Motherwell decimated

Stuart McCall can, and should, look back on the last couple of years with a huge feeling of pride.

His first full seasons in charge at Fir Park saw Motherwell come third, and earn a Champions League spot when Rangers ultimately self-destructed.  In 2012-13, they pushed on, and were thoroughly deserving of their second place.  The Steelmen were defined by their outstanding attacking play, and their ability to score pretty much all manner of goals.  Michael Higdon, previously little more than an immobile, pondering target man good only for a few headers and roughing up defenders, scored 27 goals and was named Player of the Year.  His physical presence was beautifully complemented by the pace and workrate of Estonian forward Henrik Ojamaa.

The front men were hardly short of ammunition.  Chris Humphrey on the right flank was probably the fastest player in the SPL over the last few seasons; the Jamaican international, often so frustrating, finally displayed some consistent form and terrorized full-backs all year long.  On the opposite side, January arrival James McFadden provided the spark of flair and excitement that we forever associate with his golden days in a Scotland shirt - dare I say that, by the end of May, he was starting to look quite close to the McFadden of old?  And in the centre of midfield, the shaven-headed Nicky Law might have been the most critical cog of all, always a threat with his late runs into the box or his eye for a pass.

Motherwell scored 3 or more goals in thirteen SPL games last season.

They did concede a rather whopping 51 goals in the league as well, with only 7 clean sheets...but with an attack like that, why worry about defence?

Here's a reason; out of the five players I have mentioned so far, how many are under contract for next season?  Zero.

Ojamaa has moved to Polish side Legia Warsaw.  Humphrey signed for Preston North End.  Law, as had been rumoured for several months, was lured to Ibrox - for the prestige of playing East Fife, obviously.  Higdon and McFadden have yet to sign new deals, and neither are at pre-season training.  McCall is resigned to the departure of the former, though has stated that "the door is open" for McFadden to return to the club that first gave him his chance of first team football.  It seems likely, though, that Fadders is sitting at home and willing his phone to ring - perhaps a club from The Championship might take a chance on him staying fit for long enough to contribute, or, more likely, a call from Neil Lennon offering him a move to Celtic Park.  Either option would result in a contract offer far and away above what Motherwell could afford, even if they ploughed the proceeds from Ojamaa's sale - about £200,000 - into a contract for their talisman.

The backline, fragile already, has been weakened further with the loss of the outstanding Irish goalkeeper Darren Randolph to Birmingham, while right-back Tom Hateley has left as well.  Hateley wasn't always brilliant defensively - he still clearly hankers after his preferred midfield role - but he was useful going forward and his dead ball skills easily made up for his other deficiencies.

In conclusion, seven of Stuart McCall's first choice XI at the end of last season appear to be either gone or going.  That's quite a turnover.

Not that the manager hasn't been actively trying to find replacements.  Higdon was once considered by Motherwell fans to be "the poor man's John Sutton" - now the boot is on the other foot.  Sutton, two years after leaving Fir Park for Hearts, returns for a second spell.  It is debatable however whether his confidence can be restored after two soul-destroying seasons at Tynecastle.  Paul Lawson and Iain Vigurs arrive from Dingwall; the former will provide some grit in midfield and some protection for the defence that was sorely lacking last season, while the latter had a breakthrough season at Ross County in 2012-13 and will replace some of the midfield creativity that has been lost.  Faroese goalie Gunnar Nielsen can't be too shabby if he was kept on at Manchester City for four years (though he only played one match); he joins up five years after a loan spell at Fir Park where he didn't play a game.  And, lastly, Fraser Kerr has made his loan move from Birmingham permanent, though his fleeting appearances last season suggest he is one for the future, not the present.

Undoubtedly, there will be further signings.  If ex-Celtic man Stephen McManus, currently training with the club, signs on, things will look a lot rosier.  It's not beyond the realms of possibility that McFadden could follow his heart and return to a club where the fans see him as a deity.  But, given that probably more than half the starting lineup will not have played together in a competitive game before the campaign starts with a Europa League tie on August 1, there's likely to be a rocky period whilst they take time to gel.

McCall will have seen this coming - despite this upheaval, he turned down the Sheffield United job last month, so he must fancy he can still keep Motherwell towards the top end of the table.  But the first few months of the campaign could be very difficult as new players get bedded in, and at the moment it would be a surprise if McCall and Motherwell keep their tag as "the best of the rest" when 2013-14 gets going.

L.