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That chant - or any other bigoted, racist, ect chant - should never be heard at FP.

I want to start off by saying that I disagree with the sentiment that Sligo were the better team. They were not, they sat in and defended while we had plenty of possession. We were the better team, but that doesn’t mean we were good. Far from it. We were fucking minging, unable to break down a disciplined team who worked their arses off. The way to beat this team was to switch the ball quickly, work the overload on the wing and whip low balls in for Van Veen and the attacker on the other side to attack. The ONE time we did that Shields managed to miss from 6 yards. Our left side linked up well in the first half a few times but did nothing in the second half. We absolutely must turn this around next week. We can’t get knocked out by a mid table Irish team. Get Bevis and Shields to fuck and find a way to start Tierney in behind a front two of KVV and another striker we sign ASAP. Losing at home to Sligo is very poor, but getting put out the tie altogether and it’s time for Alexander to go. Sitting in Glasgow airport just now and the Sligo squad and a ton of fans are here. Fair play to them they are absolutely buzzing the lot of them.

And yet he was involved in just about everything positive we did by your estimation. How shite must the rest of the team have been?

Quite honestly I could not care less about those three teams. And I'm not sure any other Motherwell fan cares about them either. My concern is only about Motherwell and the performances under Alexander. Are you suggesting we should stick with the wrong man simply because other Clubs did not see an immediate benefit from change, even if it continues to harm us ? Or are you saying Alexander is the correct man for the job? If so, say so. I might disagree but I will respect your view. If you believe he should be given more time, then how long and how bad does it have to get? Perhaps you could clarify. If last night had been a one off, then fair enough. Painful but fair enough. Benefit of the doubt and all that. But it wasn't a one off. Far from it. Fans have been suffering performances like that since January, and before if folk care to be honest. When you are winning it is easy to turn a blind eye to the direction that is being taken, but when you lose in the pathetic manner we lost last night then it is impossible to ignore. And please don't confuse a lack of surprise at the result with a desire for wanting Motherwell to lose just to prove a point. I don't for a minute believe any Motherwell fan thinks like that. I had hoped that the different approach to the last few games of last season, which ultimately secured a creditable fifth place and Europe, was an indication that Alexander had had a rethink and was prepared to amend his set up. But last night and his moves so far in the transfer market/coaching recruitment do little to support that hope for change. Neither did his post match analysis. Also his game management last night was simply a rerun of last season. How long into the game was it before he made a substitution having watched us struggle? What options has he actually given himself tactics wise? What did he do to affect the way the game was heading? I could just about live with him being given leeway on the basis of of the achievements last season, but only as there was a hint of change. Well I suppose there is a hint of change. We are even poorer, with even less leadership. I read in another thread a theory that folk had an irrational dislike for Alexander because he came across as arrogant and wore nice clothes. Seriously? To me that's deflection tactics by the lessening number that are still behind him. The only reasons folk don't take to Alexander are the product he is putting on the field and the outcomes on a game by game basis since January. If we were performing on the pitch nobody would care if he wore a Tutu and spoke Morningside. Success, entertainment and avoiding embarrassment are what fans hope for. And they could not really care less who delivers it. I might be wrong but I think it is inevitable that Alexander will not last the season, even if we do win in Ireland. For the sake of the Club and the fans I would rather it was sooner rather than later, even if it does cost us financially. Surely the positives about making a change are what should be the deciding factors, not the negatives. especially if those potential negatives are based on other Club's experiences.

I’ve got to be honest and this might not be popular, but I don’t like the ‘Well Bois’. Sure, they create a good atmosphere at games and I know that some of them have done some good work in the community with regards to helping with foodbanks and that is of course very commendable. However whenever I have encountered them at matches I find a lot of them (thought not all) to be absolutely obnoxious and seem more interested in getting absolutely pished or coked out their heads than supporting the team. Then you add in the regular cat and mouse with the stewards and police, setting off flares, jumping on the park and clashing with other supports and they just let themselves and the club down. I know there are some good decent lads in that group but as the saying goes, “you are judged by the company you keep”.

This part comes down to two things, quite simply. Money and availability. It's easy to say that Watt left and we've not replaced him properly, but are we to assume the recruitment team haven't been trying? A club of our size and with our budget needs a few things to fall in our favour to sign a player of Watt's quality. We can't really afford to buy them if they're currently showing the kind of form we'd want. We need to find players who are at a loose end, not favoured by their own club, have talent, are affordable, and most importantly they don't have any other offers on the table that better what we can provide them with. In short, we need to take a gamble. Remember when Watt signed? He'd just left CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria by mutual consent after six months or so. Before that he'd left St Johnstone after scoring three league goals for them all season. The opinion when we signed him was very much split if I recall correctly. He was considered a waster who was still living on a goal for Celtic against Barcelona years ago. Yes, it paid off, but it could so easily have been another waste of money and time. We gambled, and won to a certain degree. So, we need to keep scouring the market until the next potential winning gamble pops up and circumstances work in our favour. In the past we've slagged off the club for just signing any old shite, so we can't get all pissy when they appear to be keeping the powder dry for a player that will fit the bill. The same goes for the other positions you mention. It's not as easy as identifying a position and "fixing it." The right player needs to be available at the right price. Look at other clubs with much more money who still can't get it right. It's not as easy as some people think.

There's a lot could be said about tonight but much has been covered so won't go over that. Couple of things I haven't seen mentioned.. Spittal. No doubt some will simply say he was "shite" but it looks like another case of square pegs in round holes. Playing on the left of a 3 man midfield and being so right footed means he was always running into traffic. Swapping Morris and him with Spittal at least cutting in further up the park could have made sense.. Tierney. A bright spark, someone willing to run with the ball and not take the easy way out and simply throw a cross into an area. Fear that we'll never see the beat of him as he never gets enough time to make a difference... And can we please stop with the 433 leaves uou outmanned in midfield. Pretty much every side plays three in midfield. Wide players in a front three can sometimes drop back to make a nominal 5 in midfield. 433 isn't the problem, 352 isn't the problem. It's not having the players to play a formation that's the issue. As I said earlier, square pegs in round holes...

I have been updating my YouTube channel the past few weeks, reading this thread had inspired me to do so as I have a ton of VHS videos containing live matches and Scotsport episodes squirrelled away all ranging in different quality of course. Motherwellnet YouTube When it comes to my favourite match, I could point to all the easy ones but beating high flying Hearts 6-1 in December 2002 was a particular highlight for me. Obviously it was the first full season in administration, for that reason I had made it a point that I would attend every home game that season, I had to do it with my own money for the first time and typically Motherwell had been on a really poor run, I think we had beaten Celtic in September and failed to win again until this fixture. We blew Hearts away going in a 4-0 at half time, David Partridge at one point tried to clear the ball at the edge of our box of Stevie Woods goal but the ball hit the junction of the post like a rocket and bounced back into play. I think we only got the 6 league wins all of which were again the top 6 teams and includes beating Rangers and Celtic and humping Livi 6-1. Hard to believe that was going on 20 years now.

I would accept ‘not prepared enough’ and ‘not played enough games’ if I hadn’t seen that exact same performance for the last 6 months.

Good to see a large crowd last night but as so often happens the team let them down. Main Stand was an absolute shambles last night and a few emails will no doubt be sent to the club this morning about it, including one from me. I have no idea about the other 2 home stands. We got to our usual area well before kick off to find others occupying our seats. They refused to move saying they had been told they could sit anywhere - I wonder who told them as we couldn't find any stewards. This situation got steadily worse nearer and after kick off with folk standing about looking for seats, groups being split up etc. I've seen many games in a packed Main Stand but this was the worst experience ever. Come on MFC if the Hydro can organise larger crowds with everyone sitting in their correct seats why can't we? Stewarding was totally inadequate.

How often has that happened that we get a good crowd in only to be completely let down? European games more often than not see that happen. Think Nancy, Odense, PAO, Levante, Kuban Krasnador, Stjarnan and now last night. All of those games got big crowds in, there was a sense of excitement and anticipation and all of them ended in a damp squib. Seven games with a grand total of TWO goals scored and not a single win among them. Europe for us is nothing but a bit of fluff at the start of a season. Glorified friendlies that attract big crowds and end in embarrassment. Give me the League Cup group stages any day of the week.

Maybe he could have done better but at least he never hid like a lot of others, on his first start I will side with the positives

Some 'Premiership' standard results this season so far. Hibs 0 Falkirk 1 Greenock Morton 1 Hibs 1 Partick 1 Kilmarnock 1 Livingston 1 Inverness 2 Ross County 1 Buckie Thistle 1 St Johnstone 0 Annan Athletic 0 Queen of the South 2 St Johnstone 2 St Mirren 0 Arbroath 1 Airdrieonians 2 St Mirren 0 Motherwell 0 Sligo 1 I said before the match I didn't have much confidence having seen us struggle against Glentoran and Coleraine, both poorer teams than Sligo, and us with better personnel then. Then you go and look at other Scottish results in Europe in recent times like Kilmarnock being eliminated by Connah's Quay or Hearts going out the Scottish Cup to Brora Rangers or St Johnstone going out to Kelty Hearts and the penny should start to drop. From 3rd down our league is trash. 'Premiership' standard is virtually a meaningless phrase. There is no standard in the premiership.

Utterly embarrassing in the cold/warm light of day. Loosing to largely weaker sides early on in European competition isn’t the issue - it has happened to nearly all Scottish teams. The core issue is the management and board. We have been staring at a weak frontline since January and Watt’s departure and done nothing to address it. We have known we needed a centre half but allowed Lamie back into the fold (fair enough but if he was deemed surplus to requirements, why is he the best we have to offer now?). We have known left full back is an issue but have done nothing to fix it. We have know the formation didn’t work for 5 months at the start of the year but have done nothing to fix it. We have known that the style of football didn’t work for 5 months but have done nothing to fix it. The result isn’t a surprise and neither is the utter stubbornness shown by the manager. Get him out. Win next week or not - we’re a fan owned club and the fans are being short changed by all invovled.

Do Not Pass Sligo Do not collect €200(k). (grizzly doesn't have a Monopoly on bad jokes). Thoughts and votes before next week's comeback.

You can order the programme on Curtis Sport's website, they're generally rapid at getting them out as well. https://www.curtis-sport.com/online-store/Motherwell-v-Sligo-Rovers-21-07-22-p478710365

Other expressions might score more points but would also attract the ire of the moderators. In any case, I feel your pain .

LOL. Not sure it is a word likely to be accepted in Scrabble..........but it should be.

So not only can we not change a Manager because other teams did that and did not have immediate success, now we cannot change a Manager because we would lose credibility. How about we concentrate on what is good for Motherwell on the pitch rather than fretting about what pundits with no connection to Motherwell think? Seems to me we are trying to look for reasons not to sack him rather than looking at what is good for Motherwell FC. Others can confirm the exact figures, but what is it? 3 wins in twenty odd games? How many League wins since Christmas? And that is setting aside last night and the style of football we are repeatedly being asked to support. Recruitment appears to be another issue. If rumours are true we are on the brink of signing another back up goalkeeper whilst areas in more in need of attention are not addressed. Surely those factors are what should decide Alexander's future rather than what people with no attachment to Motherwell think.

It’s Motherwell we are talking about not any other club

I think they will sit in, our best chance will be shooting from outside the box and hope for a flick from the strikers or a deflection. Also along with this I’d be leaving someone up the park at corners that we can punt a long ball for him to run onto which would also require another fast player who can then try to get up to assist him. Therefore, KVV should be benched until we’re back in the game and they’re forced to come out. Some won’t like it but I’d have Teirney and Shields on from the start to try this with Morris, McGuire and Slattery all told to shoot as much as possible.

That's the strategy that worked so well for Aberdeen, Dundee and Hibs last season.

Find who threw the bottle and ban them for life, we don't need clowns like that at our games

I thought sligo were decent in wot they done last night,theyre 23 games into a season,we've had 2 bounce games,they have alot of youngsters in the shop window n it showed,their attitude n effort outshone ours,most of our team have reached their ceiling,after us the only way is down im no saying they didnt try but they didnt match sligo,all that said we still created really good chances,their keepee had excellent saves n sheilds falls over the ball fae 6 yards out,i think the tie is far from over we just need a spark n aye im shouting it again...TEIRNEY MUST START next week,i dont know who for but GA has got t find a system that gets him on the park

Again this line has been punted out for at least the last 6 years running under various managers and it’s not happened yet. Relegation certainty turned into top 6 finishes on more than one occasion. It’s one game in and not 20, you would think reading many of the posts we were already as good as doomed. Yes it was a dreadful night and people can point to last season ( something that has also been done before) but we’ve not yet even played a league game.

Comes across as decent guy,. Jeez didn't realise he was that near us. I am on the video near the end,. I could have told him a few jokes.......maybe that was another reason he left early. Seriously though it's embarrassing that he had to leave early, hope it doesn't put him off coming back to Fir Park

My son follows him,comes across as a decent guy,great with the young boys when he visits grounds,can't see him lying,shameful

Sadly there is an element in that section that is dragging the club down, I never heard the chanting as was at opposite side of stand but this needs to be stopped asap. However I must point out the majority bring great support and enthusiasm and not an ounce of trouble, I know this as my mates lads are in that section and are brilliant lads. COYW

As others have said, not unexpected. We've been dross since December, bar what, two results ? We were dross before December for the most part but managed to score enough in games where we were under the cosh to take the points. Question that needs to be asked is what is the manager playing at ? Can Carrol defend the left flank ? No, so he can't be played as a wingback in a 443 because if he can't defend when he's in position, how is he going to defend when he has to go forward regularly ? Is Spittal left sided ? No, so why did he spend most of the game on the left ? Is Morris a right sided player ? No, so why did he spend all but the first ten mins on the right ? Is Shields a winger ? No, but he's played out wide right for months now, with the same result over and over again. Why, when we've been over run in midfield since the start of last season, do we persist with a midfiled three ? if we're going to play 4 at the back, why is it a different 4 nearly every week ? 'Systems' are all well and good but sureley you have to base your system around getting your best players on the pitch doing what they're best at, rather than making them play a system that it's proven over and over again doesn't work.

The YouTuber is Footy Adventures. His content is good.

His last 91minutes of playing in cup ties hasn't been impressive. Can do the basics but when it comes to having to make a decision then it puts us in bother, last night the prime example when booting into main stand was perfect option

I heard this too, but was surprised though as this UEFA "stipulation" is nothing new and has been in place for years now. Its importnat that folk point out mistakes to the club and suggest improvements rather than just rant at the poor person behind the desk or at the end of a phone.

The most concerning thing for me is that after I left I wasn't even angry. Sub par performances are now becoming the norm and as others have said issues from last season have not been addressed. We are crying out for a central striker and an animal of a centre half. I'm well aware we can't throw money at an in-form 20 goal a season forward but we haven't even taken a punt on an out of favour player of that position (like we did with Watt). Mugabi and Lamie together won't do either. We need a centre half who is vocal, can organise and will knock heads together if things aren't going right at the back. Alexander has until September to address this or we could be in for a tough season. Ending on a positive note I think the new boys will do a job once up to speed. Morris was always looking to go forward although his final ball was erratic. Mcginn for me already looks like an upgrade on O'Donnell and Spittal we've all seen can play when used in the right way.

But we're still in the league cup, aren't we? It isn't a choice between playing in the league cup or in European competition. So we still have that slim chance of progressing far into that tournament that you mentioned. It all matters though, doesn't it? Getting a better-than-average crowd will help the club financially, that's for sure. And obviously every single fan has the option of doing that. They pay their money and can (within reason) hurl abuse at the team they supposedly support if they wish. One thing that's for sure is that it does absolutely zero good. Giving pelters and dogs abuse to the players and manager won't improve anything. I take little positive from the actual game itself. The atmosphere, the fan display, the number of people in attendance is something we can look at from a positive slant. And it's something we wouldn't get in the League Cup group stages. I wasn't impressed at all with the team, and didn't leave the stadium happy. I just don't see the point in hurling abuse at anyone in general, much less the team I'm supposed to support. I personally think it says more about the person who's making a bit of an arse of themselves by acting up than it does anything else. First of all, I'd probably rather be a "happy clapper" than a miserable, moaning sod like many of our support seems to be. After all, it's better to be happy than not, right? In all seriousness, there was no "happy clappers" last night. Absolutely zero people in the crowd would have been happy with the result. I don't understand why it has to be one or the other. It seems like you either approve of and join in the embarrassing abuse of our manager and players, or you're someone who is stupid and doesn't recognise a terrible display by the team. Personally, I know we played badly. I wasn't happy. In fact, I was as unhappy as anyone else in the crowd. As soon as that final whistle went I was offski. I wasn't applauding the players, or the manager. They didn't deserve it. The only difference is that I don't see the point in losing the rag in front of women and children and acting like a mentalist. You're right, he does deserve the summer window to add to the team, and he did get us into Europe and the top six last season. This season is ground zero. None of what he did last season matters now. And if we hit October or so in bad form and looking like we're in danger of falling into a relegation battle there will be questions asked and most likely a change made. But he's not going to be sacked now. After a friendly and European game in July? No chance.

Yes, really. At least with the League Cup you know that there is a chance, albeit a slim one, that we could go further or even all the way in that tournament. Fair play to the fans who took part in the march to the stadium before the game, but ultimately I’m more interested in what happens ON the park. And last night what happened on the park simply wasn’t good enough, just like it hasn’t been for far too long. That is why, in my opinion, some started turning on the team/manager because they are sick fed up watching the same laboured, directionless guff and the manager trying to tell them afterwards that it was a good performance. If you or anyone else take the positives from the atmosphere/occasion last night then that is fair enough, likewise to those who will be travelling to the away leg next week. If that’s what the club and the football is about for you then great. From my point of view I just want to see us put a team on the park that can be the best we possibly can be and be competitive in matches in competitions that match the level we are at.

Too many happy clappers here trying to defend the indefensible. We’ve been absolutely brutal since December, and Alexander would’ve likely been fired had we not scraped into the top 6 and European qualification. He, therefore, rightly got the summer to turn things around. However, after going to the Partick and Sligo games, I’d suggest we’re worse than last season. He needs to be shown the door now. His arrogance and cluelessness will see us in a relegation battle.

Ok, Ive bitten way too often than I should have already, so I suppose I should give my own thoughts and open myself to the same scrutiny. Tonights result was abysmal and totally unacceptable in any way, shape or form. Even accepting that Sligo are half way thru their season and this was our first competitive game, the result is still embarassing. Sligo deserved their victory, but I didnt think they were great and probably about Scottish Championahip standard, which in itsf speaks volumes about the result. If we had been beaten at home by the likes of Morton or Raith Rovers we would have been rightly raging. That said, did we really learn anything new about our team? Kelly is a good goalkeeper and kept us in it with a couple of routine but important stops. McGinn, I thought had a decent gameand I wouldnt be disappointed to see him be our first choice right back for the rest of the season. Mugabi has all the physical attributes to be a good centre half but consistently makes very bad decisions. Im not sure how long we can persist with that. Sol should be at least considered for the away leg. Lamie was solid enough, although slow with his disteibution which doesnt help us build attacks. Carroll, still gets caught out of position too often and cant stop a cross ball. He is vetter going forward, but we dont seem to allow him that freedom. It thought Morris and Spittal on the left showed that they have a bit more about them going forward and could with time for a decent partnership. Maguire was ok but seemed to be having to cove a lot of ground which I think is due to the 4-3-3 which leaves us exposed at times. Slattery, started well enough and I think having Spittal and Morris in the team will help him, but he was shocking second half and wasnt one of his better days. Shields is wasted out wide. Formation doesnt suit him at all. KVV may be the most technically gifted player in the team, but he is selfish and lazy and if not 100% fit not worth a start. With respect to GA, Ive had enough of 4-3-3. I dont think it suits the players we have which was highlighted with the Efford substitution which I just xouldnt work out given we had just brought Tierney on. We need to find a system that gets all our best players on the park. At the moment I think they are Kelly, McGinn, Lamie, Slattery, Morris, Spittal, Tierney and a fit and interested KVV. We need a mssive improvement next week or the managers jacket will already be on a shoogly peg before we even play a league game.

Alan Burrows and the rest of the board - you have fucked up by not putting the euro money into better quality players. Tonight showed how shite we still are, unable to break down a defence and no one with the guile to play a through ball. most league teams - the same as last season - will just sit back, soak up the poor crosses, high balls etc and then hit us with the one or two chances they get. The board’s decision’s not to spend money on the squad will see us relegated.

The Well boys need to have a look at themseleves. Shite plastic flags we have had at game before. Get them to fuck, no one wants a shitey flag. i assume most of the donations went up their nose

We were massively underprepared for tonight’s game. The manager may slaver that we have had 4 or so bounce games but that’s still no good. He has also said that we need more quality up top but hinted we have enough to deal with Sligo. Absolute bollocks. Shields and efford are shite. Van Vern was terrible too and miles off the pace. the irony is that if we had the foresight and ambition to invest in a half decent front man tonight (prize money) would probably have paid for his annual wage. I get that we were desperately poor all over the park but we were especially light up front. We could also be doing with a plan B for when Plan A fails (which is happening far too often)

We’ve been dreadful results wise for 6 months and dreadful to watch for 11 months. We sold our only attacking threat with pace who gave us width and kept it low key cos he thought the manager was a dick, we have signed 3 journeymen - why did people think that results or performances would change. Alexander’s arrogance and stubbornness will ensure he won’t change from 433 which in turn leaves us outnumbered and out battled in the middle of the park and ends just like tonight did. The defenders only option is to hoof it as no options in midfield and no width. no leaders, no fight, no creativity no pace in the team - it’s all going to end badly this season . We could come back next week somehow but it will simply prolong the agony of this poor poor squad who are being guided by an absolute arrogant clown of a man .

Agree 100% with this. Slattery was on his arse more than his feet in this game. I have never seen a player fall about so much as Slattery. Cut this pish out. Carroll, completely and utterly useless and no surprise he was booked. He is so far out of position at times its actually comical As for anonymous Efford, Shields, Spittal absolutely dire tonight Van Veen is so far off the pace and fitness my granny had more mobility and had more interest in the game that Van Veen who was abysmal. As for Mugabi, every schoolboy knows if you have an attacker breathing down your neck at a high ball you boot it out the park, WTAF was he doing trying to head that back as there was no pace to carry the ball to the keeper. Stupid stupid mistakes and passes all over the park Sligo were no mugs and wanted to win this. Streetwise and hard in the tackle, slick in the pass, retained possession when they needed and their forward was a constant pain in the arse for our defenders unlike any of our forwards. Their defenders mopped up absolutely everything we attempted (attempted as we had no game plan)

Well we will see if we’re doomed as some are already predicting and do early on every season. It’s never happened yet and I would not be surprised if we do ok again. I seem to say this every season and as with the always wise Ya Bezzer ( a poster some could learn a lot from) the bigger picture is not individual managers but the standard of Scottish football in general with no better example than the whole of last season with just about every team of the same low standard. I fully expect another season of poor football from not just Motherwell but many of the others on a similar level to us. If you honestly think it will get significantly better by changing manager again you are likely to be extremely disappointed.

Well it went as expected. Fans can go on about Alexander or this or that player but here's the absolute truth here. The team that's fifth in the League of Ireland came to Fir Park and not only deservedly beat us, they looked better than most of the teams we played last season. As I've said for some time the overall standard of Scottish football and the Premiership is very low and no one should be surprised about what happened tonight. Sligo would most likely beaten St Mirren, St Johnstone, Livingston, Hibs etc as well. This probably won't be a popular opinion on here but the rest of us live off the Old Firm. Without them our league set up would be on a par with the League of Ireland. Maybe worse because they probably aren't completely deluded about the level they are playing at in Ireland. You can sack the manager and bring in 22 new players but nothing changes until we tackle the fundamental failures that have plagued Scottish football for 30 years and are getting worse as every season passes.

There are those who will defend the indefensible.

Or alcohol. As with any addiction, yes something does need done to help with it but ultimately the person who has the addiction needs to be able to control it. And that is the most difficult part because that takes an enormous amount of strength to first of all recognise the problem, seek help and then begin to deal with it. With regards to gambling, online betting apps have got to be one of the worst things out there because of the ease in which someone can basically squander money by just going onto their phone.

Im happy with the result last night. We could has easily lost 3-0 , one sent off and a waste of time trip to Ireland. At least we have a chance, if we go there and play positively for a change. As happened in first half of season last year it will take a good few games for new look team to gel and get used to playing together .Then we sold Watt for the second half it all went to shite. Still havent recovered from that to be honest.

Well when you have a street march before the match you are going to attract a certain type.

Clearly......