MFCL84

To give SOD credit, he did change the game a bit when he came on. He played a wicked cross into the box and rolled a nice through ball into the box (sorry, I don't recall who got on to the end of it). Unfortunately, he also sclaffed one right across field that could have been a bit more embarrassing than it was. He gave 100% when he came on, and I will always appreciate players that give their all.

Of the new guys tonight I thought that Fadinger and Watt did well. I have high hopes for those guys as the season develops. I need to see more of Longelo, Just and Sule. Longelo had a couple of decent strikes, was keen to go forward, but wasn't tested defensively. Just has good feet, but tries to do too much at times. Sule got next to no service.

Yeah, and that was another one tonight, but at least we got the win (just).

This'll be my first game this season, and even after the Clyde result, I am excited about the prospect of seeing some progressive, positive football from Motherwell. I expect that the first half will be difficult, but we will eventually win through by a clear margin, 3-0 to The Well.

Never has a truer word been said. It'll be interesting to see how the idea of playing from the back develops with Gordon and Ward. Ward certainly isn't a keeper that knows what to do with a ball at his feet.

I don't agree with this. Surely, the manager will dictate the type of players that are needed and will have to become familiar with the squad before any instructions are passed to the recruitment team. Swimmer said during a few interviews that he had to compromise his approach because the players at his disposal couldn't execute his style of football. Recruiting before the new manager is in place and understands the abilities of the squad would be a serious error. Recruitment will now have to be late in the window.

Exactly this. However, at no time in the 2nd half did it look like we were going to lose this one. Total domination, which is not something that Motherwell do very often. When the 1st went in it looked like we'd score every time we went forward and the scoreline was merited in the end. Ultimately, a good end to the home season. Another season in the top tier. Well done to the players and staff. A professional performance is now required against Ross County to put a seal on what has been a difficult season.

I gave it to Slattery for his all round contribution. Hallway and Watt also had a very good game.

A bit of an improvement today, but still hugely frustrating. We were, amazingly, still in the game at 90 minutes, but for some reason didn't seem to think that we should or could take a risk in the final 10 mins or so try to win the ball and push for an unlikely point. Once again, a very passive performance from the midfield and defensive areas. Good debuts by Thomson and Armstrong. The other debutants didn't really have enough time to show much. Sparrow was our most effective midfield player.

Sparrow for me. Armstrong caught the eye based on attitude and work rate, and of course he got our goal, but Sparrow's all round contribution edged it for me.

I expect that we'll put up a reasonably dogged defensive performance in the first half, going in 1 goal down and then capitulate in the final quarter of the game, finally losing about 4-0. I hope that I am wrong.

I have no problem with that, it is just the way that I saw it.

This is a huge part of the problem that we have. Lack of worthwhile possession puts the back line under constant pressure. This leads to the guys at the back making mistakes. Keep the ball better and play as much of the game as possible on your own terms in the opposition half and the defence will make fewer mistakes.

Having watched that interview, I got the distinct feeling that he didn't care.

Can I ask why you go to the games and what you get from them if survival is the main thing. Don't you go to the games to be entertained? As I said when I opened this thread, going to games seems like no more than a bad habit now, I certainly get very little enjoyment from the football on display.