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Not quite the result I hoped for (3-0), but it was adequate and acceptable given the team we fielded. Hopefully, more injured players are available next week, especially Thor. The performance was a mixed bag as you'd expect with the line up and the fact we're early in our season. Pleased to see AJ continue the possession based ethos introduced by JBA. Thats a massive plus and the fans seemed to warm to it. We put far more emphasis on crosses into the box but all too often there was no-one to get on the end of them or if there was, they didn't have the physical attributes to convert them. If we continue with this style, then a big traditional striker is a must (Thor?). We did seem toothless up front. Good to see us shooting more though and that resulted in 2 cracking goals by our Austrian contingent. Midfield was a bit iffy at times although Priestman had an outstanding game covering every blade of grass. We did lack a good attacking midfielder though - maybe one to come in? HB showed unsettling ability to break at pace and that caught us out a few times. The defence held out for a clean sheet but HB, somewhat worryingly, had a good few efforts on goal late in the game as we tired. Good to see youngsters get game time though and that will boost their confidence. Individuals? Too early to make definitive assessments but Paulsen gives me the fear, as did Callum Ward early on to be fair. A great, if showy shotstopper who pulled off 2 very good saves. However at 6-0 he's very small and looked fragile at aerial balls. His distribution was somewhat heartstopping at times and tested his defenders unnecessarily. Impressed with Moormann although Girdwood Reich had a quieter game. We do need a bigger more commanding central defender though as Premiership strikers will test them out physically. Williams looked ok. Still not sure about Ewan Wilson - he had a poorish first 45 but came onto a better game in the 2nd 45. Not an attacking back but struggled a wee bit defensively. Probably 3rd choice. I thought Priestman was immense last night and will prove to be a real asset this season. One lad who did impress me was Vogt. After comments on him post the Genk game I wasn't sure what to expect, but he looks a real player with pace to burn. Definitely one to watch, once he's fit. Good to see Mikey Booth get a start but I thought, assist aside, the game passed him by. The gametime will help him though. Luca Ross? A make or break season for him but, on last night's admittedly limited evidence, he showed nothing to impress. Cameo appearances for Whyte and Weir - a good sign from AJ.

Pleasantly surprised by that last night. Controlled the game for the most part. Scored 2 absolutely fantastic goals, and should have got 2 or 3 more. Said coulda had a hat trick if he knew how to shoot! Obviously there were shortcomings. But given how many players we had unavailable I think overall you have to be happy with the level of performance and direction of travel. Now if we can just get a few players back fi5 for next week please!

I can, it's my hoose.

Exactly, sadly there always seems to be one player that gets singled out. Remember the terrible stick SOD was getting a few seasons back. I think as fans we make an effort to give Ewan plenty encouragement. The lad is wearing the claret and amber jersey and trying his best and personally I thought he done just fine last night

I'm as confused as you. Just lazy repetition on my part: huvnyacloo.

Coopers impact was way beyond the sheer delight he delivered on the park. the town and much of the community was at perhaps its lowest ebb his arrival , with his profile and general character, along with his own motivation from being sidelined along not forgetting his world class abilities and sheer gallusness. Delivered way more , commercial value, success and positive impact, than any signing (and there’s been a few hugely impactful star players ) since

You are thinking of Frank Spencer 🤪🤪

I think the criticism of Wilson by some is completely over the top. It was our first competitive game of the season and I thought he did well. He won the ball and pushed forward many times. Unfortunately when he got forward there was no one in the box for him to pass to and he had to check back. Yes, he had a few bad passes but so did quite a few others. I think he is a good addition to the squad and we should be encouraging him.

And probably not wreck his club car (or am I thinking of someone else?)

If he had a track record of getting it right, fair dues, but it's almost always bollocks.

Theres a reason he was put out on loan last season as he was not up to the style JBA had us playing, he subsequently could not get any signigicant game time at Raith, hes just not that good, especially at premiership level

We should probably be keeping Wilson around. While he’s not the dynamic, marauding wing-back that Longelo is, he can do the defensive side of the role to a decent standard. He’s also strong, fit, and I thought he looked fairly comfortable when he was slotted in at left centre-back last night. He’s a useful, reliable squad player.

Their captain and was one of their best players last season, and wouldn't cost £600k like his faither

Rumour of Brad Spencer from Falkirk. Not inspiring, but if it happens he'll have my support.

I see the tickets are up to £2 each. That's a bit steep, especially as the draw is sponsored so the club don't really have any costs in respect of it. Also the prizes didn't seem to be any greater than normal for a well attended game. Based on last night, I think the prizes totalled £675, therefore only 675 tickets were sold - that seems a bit low, considering the queue of people buying at each of the sellers.

I've always been confused by that saying. It's been a while since I brushed up on my He-Man lore, but isn't Castle Grayskull where the good guys were based? Snake Mountain was where the evil lads congregated, no?

He's a decent enough player. I don't think anyone will ever be calling for him to be a first choice starter, but as I've said before, this is a squad game, and we're not going to ever find ourselves in the position of having 22 or so first-choice starters in our squad. We need players who can come in when required, do a job and while I wouldn't say they're happy to not play, they understand their role.

An interesting question, and for me it's still Davie Cooper. The game has undoubtedly changed now, but the truth is, we'd never get anywhere near signing someone like him in this modern era. Not a chance. While I don't place Cooper in that "world class" category like many others do, he was absolutely very good. In modern terms the closest I've seen is a hybrid between Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva. He was 33 when he signed for us, but 33 back then isn't the same as 33 now. By today's standards that would likely be the equivalent of 35-36 or so, but even so, we'd simply not be in the conversation for someone like that. A player like him today, in his prime, would likely fetch around £65 million, possibly even £85 million if he was plying his trade down south. That kind of player and talent probably eclipses any player we'll ever see at a club like Motherwell moving forward.

The owner of the Steelworks couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery. A big crowd was expected last night, yet they only opened the small bar and left it understaffed. I was told they kept the larger bar closed because they wanted to keep it clean and tidy for the next morning. Apparently, even if they had opened it, they didn’t have enough staff to run it. It’s another example of a business owner failing to grasp that investing a bit more in staffing can generate greater profits through quicker service and higher sales. And don’t even get me started on trying to cater for a crowd with a single gents’ urinal and one cubicle.

Can we say that on here?

Club realised it wasn’t viable decades ago and it’s believed same recently. Complex ownership issues and the extensive building work never mind refurbishment compound the problem. They’ve ran the Steelworks into the ground, I’d be amazed to see them turn this white elephant around. Bowling club seeing the benefit as the club/society pay lip service to their beer garden and Cooper Suite.

Yep, pant wringing at it's finest.

Absolutely ridiculous comments from some on the lad...he may be the type of player we keep around the squad, because he will be relatively cheap and can do a job. Slating a guy after 30mins of a friendly is a new low from some of the heid-the-baws...not that I'll be forming an opinion of him after tonight's performance either but ffs give him a chance

Good.

A minor side issue in the great scheme of things I know. A family member told me tonight that the owner of the Steelworks is going to reopen Club 100 as a sports type bar. That should kybosh any talk of the club taking over the site or premises.