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Mugabi getting pelters on here again from the usual suspects. Surprised then to see the stats on BBC report of the game that fans who watched the game gave him the highest score of any of our defensive players. Ffs give the guy a break and get off his back. coyw

I'm in the 'a bit of bad luck' and 'low confidence' camp much more than I'm in the 'bad players' one (although certainly many of the existing and new players have underperformed as well). I think back to the start of the season and remember thinking that the squad looked good and I was feeling confident, and on paper at least (from their pedigree) the new signings looked promising. I even remember thinking that for the first time in a while we potentially had decent cover in all positions. Then reality kicked in. Right from the start though a combination of bad luck and individual errors seemed to evaporate the confidence: poor penalty conceded and penalty and a sitter missed at Ross County; Lamie's brain fart to let Livi back into the game at Fir Park after taking the lead; White's goal disallowed at Easter Road that could easily have stood. Other games we lost could / should have been at least draws on the balance of play (Dundee Utd and Accies at Fir Park). Key players were injured that give us a solid foundation: Carson, Donnelly. Even more recently I think we've been unlucky... which could have turned the confidence round and Robinson might still have been in place: questionable disallowed goal v Hibs after being the better team in the first half at Fir Park; injury time equaliser at Tannadice after being the better team for the whole game. There are such narrow margins in the league that poor form / confidence and couple of injuries can have a dramatic effect for most teams... but it can also work the other way... see what's happened to Livi. One thing that does need to be addressed is the team's lack of resilience... the fact that we haven't equalised for ages is really poor. In a nutshell though, I agree with the new manager that major surgery isn't (yet) required... the return of a wee bit of confidence from digging out a result or two should hopefully mean that a number of under-performing players show what they can do. A couple of ins and outs during January may also change the picture significantly. Hopefully onwards and upwards...

"Mugabi doesn't need to give the referee a decision to make" is absolutely mental patter, even for this site. He's won the ball cleanly, knocked it away, and Madden's given a penalty. How the fuck is that Mugabi's fault

How can anyone criticize todays lineup (whatever it may end up being), when the new manager doesn't know what any of them are like? Any chance he could get a look at them playing so he can decide for himself who needs shipped out? I guarantee he's never even heard of Ricki Lamie or Jordan White, let alone know what their ability is. Today is a complete write-off...we may need to accept a loss so he knows who needs binned. We should be extremely worried if he's just willing to take someones word for it. It seems bizarre to me that people are always convinced Robbo's issues were that he'd signed bad players. It could be equally as likely that what he was strugging with, was players who were great in training but found it difficult to transfer that into a full match. It's not necessarily about shipping players out, because it's not just as simple as players being good or bad. A manager who can look at a player who is performing well at training but poorly in matches, and find a way to help him transfer it across...is infinitely more valuable than a manager that just starts looking for better players.

I dont think you can underestimate how confident a defence feels when they dont have a useless, haunless cunt behind them

Id be tempted in the name of safety to tell him to try and pass it to the one furthest away

Looks like a 4-4-2 (as we were tipped off on). Players all in natural positions is a start. There is one player in particular that I wouldn't have started but I think we need to approach this in the same way as the manager - a new start and we start judging players again from today on.

Let's be honest, apart from Kelly there will be no new faces playing today, and GA will be relying on Lasley and Ross in the team selection, so we either put in a great performance ( tells me SR lost the dressing room) or its more of the same from recent weeks (we really do have too much dross in the team) and contrary to GA's initial assessment major surgery is required. The next few games will be interesting vuewing

That's something else that line up.

The engine room needs a service.

I've seen you, and a few others, comment on the club strategy a few times. I'd be curious to know what your medium to long term strategy might be? From what you post, it looks like it's exactly the same strategy the club has been employing for decades:- Owner invests in the first team - get a season or two of success - see minimal growth in crowds / income - cut the budget - return to flirting with relegation / mid table mediocrity. Look at the last 30 years of - cup finals, a cup win, multiple 2nd and 3rd place finishes, European football, the teams of 1991, 1994, 2007, 2011 - 14, 2017. Did any of that success lead to the club growing in any way? Did the crowds grow in a sustainable way or was it all temporary? The reason we're still flirting with relegation is because these strategies have no sustainability. The club doesn't grow in any way and it definitely isn't secure. I'm sure you suggested investing £1m of recent transfer fees into the first team (apologies if I'm mistaken). To me, that's just looking for more of the same. Short term gains with no vision and it risks the future of the club. I think the club current strategy is clear and is the right one but it's going to need a few years of patience. First, get debt free. Second, in the short term invest transfer income into the academy and facilities so that Motherwell become the club of choice for players with potential. If it goes to plan, we'll have that consistent conveyer belt of talent consistently bringing in money which can then put a higher calibre of player on the pitch season after season instead of this constant fight for survival. I know a balance needs to be struck, we want the club to have an identity and not just be a stepping stone but this strategy will eventually lead to the proper investment into the first team that we all want. The difference is we'll be able to do it year after year.

Shaka, I often think that much of what you say makes a lot of sense but the passion with which you say it detracts sometimes from what can be good points. Mugabi is far from perfect, a raw talent I think is what you could call it but there is a player in there if he could iron out the mistakes. I get the frustration. Been there myself shouting and bawling in the stands but at some point you have to cut the players a break. Mugabi can’t be blamed today for past mistakes. Calling him a c**t is in my opinion a step to far. I think now is a good time to let these boys prove themselves and let the new manager either drop them or turn them into better players.

I thought Carroll looked much more assured today but clearly still has a bit to go sharpness wise but it will come. I was impressd with O'Hara and he stuck to his task despite the yellow card, albeit he rode his luck at times. Great free kick. However, went for the much maligned Mugabi probably just to swim against the tide a bit. Thought he had an excellent first half defensively and his striding purposefully out of defence with the ball is something to behold! Second half I thought he stood up to the increased pressure pretty well. I need to see the pen again, but I didnt see much wrong with it on first viewing. The guy is still young, and with the right support and playing partner I dont think he is an absolute write off just yet.

I cannot understand the desperation from a small minority of or fans to criticise and disparage the club at every single opportunity. Robinson, Burrows, Mugabi, Grimshaw, the boy Whyte. That was never a penalty in a million years and yet we have posters like Shaka throwing all sorts of insults at Mugabi. It is the strangest thing! Totally bizarre.Opposition fans would not be so critical of our club and players.

There's no chance he would have given it last Saturday we all know that.

im guessing they are referring to this? https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/motherwell-captain-declan-gallagher-tells-23244652

It seems like a strange thing to say but I’m almost glad about today’s result. It doesn’t paper over any cracks and it lets Alexander see exactly what the rest of us have been viewing all year. He can see from that, that we quite often are a 45 minute team, we don’t shoot enough when a half chance is there and we have players who can perform but lack the confidence to see out a game. There were some good performances in the first half especially so I have faith. He doesn’t have an easy task however.

It was definitely gallagher who had his arms around irwin's neck, I'm a big DG fan but he has a habit of putting his arms around the neck / shoulders of his opponent, I'm surprised he hasn't given more penalties away to be honest. Mugabi was very good in the first half but he still gives me the fear everytime the ball is at his feet near his own goal. All things considered, a point away against a side on a good run is not too bad, but it could easily have been three

It would appear so. But Mugabi was on the pitch so it gave Madden a decision to make apparently.

Obviously I'd rather have the 3 points than 1, but in many ways the absolutely perfect result for Graham Alexander. We get a point and move off 2nd bottom spot. Not something I'd have predicted last weekend! More importantly though this sounds like our typical performance this season for our new man to see for himself in his first game - the good and the bad. * players showing some skill * not pressing home our advantage whilst on top * some players underperforming * lack of character * lack of experience/streetwiseness * late slump * inability to see a game out * losing a silly goal

Maybe I'm going bonkers, but what has that penalty got to do with Mugabi? I thought it was for Dec putting both arms on Erwin's back. Erwin then takes a tumble to force Madden into making a decision.

Have a degree of sympathy for mugabi in that it wasn't a penalty but he dives in, needlessly and gives the ref a decision to make. First half was bright, second we didn't get going. We dont have any real attacking threats from the bench, no one that we can bring on to try stretch things. A positive first half, moved the ball well. We also defended well for most of the game. Positives to take from the first half. A cb and wide man should be top of the list.

Time to come home

Aye blame the ref when Mugabi is a fucking idiot. He didnt need to make an attempt. Do that and you ALWAYS give the ref a decision to make

Aye blame Mugabi, never touched him and didn’t even look a foul. Madden taking an age to work out if he could get away with giving a penalty for what was clearly nothing.

White getting stripped. Alexander out.

Robinson's Motherwell have come out in the 2nd half.

I don't think it's the effort - in many games we started ok and lost and early goal which killed us. Today we started bright and have built upon it. A new mgr often has this impact.

As I said earlier if we play well today with the same players, SR had obviously lost the dressing room, but long may it continue.

Polworth put in more effort in 40 mins than previous 10 games

Ok, who is he, and what has he done with the other Liam polworth? Making defensive tackles and tracking back?

I hope that's because you have a bet on rather than for entertainment!

Raging at how good Polworth has been today. Clearly couldn't be fucked for months

What a chance for Watt! Anywhere but there and it is 1-0

Few weeks yet for him..but carson,donnelly,dunne and lamie due back mid January according to footmob

Long is injured

GA might have seen the Bevis cameo up front against Livingston and is going with that with O’Hara at the back?

Yes thats totally as I saw it. In theory having a competitive spirit is the working model you want in a squad. However in reality what we tended to see was having so many options did always seem to create those selection problems for Robinson. As I saw it, certain positions/players always seemed one poor performance from being dropped whilst other players/positions seemed to get another chance. That sort of approach cant have created a good atmosphere or instilled much confidence with some of the squad

I wonder if Alexander might try something totally different? Play 4-4-2 in a diamond? Both Carroll and O'Donnell have the legs to get forward and can deliver a cross. We have the defensive midfielders to make it work. Maybe having 2 up top not having to track back would give us more of a threat? Worth thinking about until we can get bodies in and out. Maybe too big a change for one training session right enough. Kelly SOD Deccy OHara Carroll Maguire Crawford Campbell Polworth Watt Cole/White

Ive given reasons as too why ive picked that team..you've given us a"god help us"feel free too shuffle the team about n see wot u can come up with,the system may change,but i doubt the players will

Just touched on that as you were posting.

First thing is trying to build up confidence again, it’s a huge factor at any time.

Well we have had a guy on the bench for most of the season who has over 100 goals to his name and not been given many starts here. Same guy has been top scorer and 3 different clubs for 6 seasons. He also scored 2 goals for us but they were disallowed , even Robbo said he will come good for us and had been unlucky. No reason he cant do it here if given the opportunity imo. So if I was the new manager and looking over the players he definitely would be in my starting line up because "If you keep on doing the same thing expecting different results ,that is the definition of insanity. So I would expect some changes in todays lineup to previous weeks because we havent won a game in the last 10 games.

Looking at the options Alexander has in picking his first line up really brings home just how desperately poor the recruitment in the summer was Maybe going forward, rather than looking for 2 players in every position, we can work with a smaller squad with the budget being concentrated on bringing better quality in

Kelly SOD Deccy OHara Carroll Campbell Crawford Hastie Polworth Watt Cole

My post was of course very tongue in cheek.

The thing is that Mugabe shouldn't have made an attempt to win the ball there. Erwin is facing away from goal surrounded by Motherwell defenders. Swinging a boot at the ball at that point, and I think he hits Erwin's heel, is just the wrong thing to do. A poor decision by Mugabe that has cost us 2 points. A soft penalty, yes, but as soon as I saw it, my reaction was penalty.