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I think the League Cup / Euro argument is flawed. AJ had to make a call on how to manage his squad, clearly the club decided that the best approach was to give Europe a real shot. League form was solid and on the back of a monumental effort in the home HJK game we then have the Stenny game, for me there is a number of factors in that game. Squad size at the time due to injuries. The artificial pitch meaning the worry about injuries. The upcoming Frieburg game. For me he thought the players he played would do a job and unfortunately it never happened. That’s football sometimes. But I do think it was the right decision to rotate the team, also you have to look at it from the players perspective, they would 100% want to be fit for that Frieburg game, it’s probably the biggest two games of their careers. Also Europe is not something to dismiss, I am convinced with a better draw we would have got through and then it’s a whole new level for the club. The big money is in Europe and the ability to grow as a club is much higher in Europe than in the league cup. The job the manager and team has done this season is first class considering it’s a new spine of a team and the injury crisis we have had. Fair play to AJ, I can’t remember a more memorable start to a season ever.

There is absolutely no disgrace in losing to a club of Freiburg’s size and yes we had to play on the back foot more than we’d have liked but in both legs they were only able to subdue us after we had gone down to 10 men. That fact is worth remembering in that we had to play for just over a third of this tie with only 10 men. I do think we were really unlucky in the draw for the play-off round in getting Freiburg - Larne for example got Lincoln Red Imps from Gibraltar and our two biggest clubs got very favourable draws against clubs they were expected to beat but couldn’t. Also don’t forget that In 9 games so far this season we have only lost twice in 90 minutes and both against last season’s Europa League runners-up who brought in roughly £70 million worth of transfer fees this summer alone. Their average home gate is about 34,000 and they have access to much more TV revenue in a year than we’ll see in 10 years. All in all a lot to be proud of so far and hopefully we can build on this and have another good season in the league and maybe qualify for Europe again. The only way to improve at that level is to get more regular exposure. That will raise the club’s standing and make us an attractive option for players we might want to bring to the club. COYW. 🇪🇸

Tam Cowans a moron. He's pretty irrelevant.

Bit harsh. Could we no just drop Maswanhise for a game or two?

I think the club have been more than patient with them (whoever they are and whatever group they congregate with before any apologist jumps in). I know the club like to promote this cuddly wee community club line where everyone is welcome and we're all Jock Tamsons bairns but they need to recognise that we have an element in our support that would appear to thumb their noses at that and they need dealt with pronto otherwise our reputation will slowly go down the drain. My particular gripe is the mess they leave with their penchant for plastering every available surface in away grounds with stickers and graffiti for which we've had to fork out a pretty penny to other clubs to remove. Grow up boys and support your team the proper way and don't spoil it for the majority. Your actions tonight is 2 fingers up to the club and your fellow fans.

Have a day off ffs, Im glad the team dont take that " we know our level" attitude, our level is whatever we want it to be, play to win every game we take part in and see where we end up. We wont win them all but with the right attitude we can be the best we can be. This has probably been our best ever Euro adventure, 4 great results in Q2 and Q3 and eliminated by a far better team who struggled to break us down until we went down to 10 men in both games. So why not try some positivity for a change instead of your usual negative doom and gloom trolling shite, you might actually enjoy it

I'm usuly not a grass but it was the guy in the balaclava.

Maybe getting carried away but see once everyone fit I think our squad stronger than last season.

Anyone caught with a mask should be instantly banned, for no other reason than you look like a fuckin gimp.

Not sure what to make of us so far this season. We've had a spate of injuries; a few players departing and arriving; a hectic schedule; new manager and played against 3 sides we wouldn't normally meet. You could say we were expected to beat HB; HFK Helsinki were about on a par; and Freiburg were several levels above. Its very hard to gauge those performances in domestic terms. Potentially we have a very strong squad, with some decent signings on paper (with quality we couldn't afford previously), but how will they match up domestically. We did well at Easter Road, struggled against Falkirk again, and flopped against Stenhousemuir. Early doors we have had a mixed record in scoring; mixed in conceding; there are questionmarks over our physicality (rivals have some pretty big units in their squads too) and defending set pieces; and been somewhat naive (domestic rivals will be every bit as cute and streetwise as Freiburg). Ball retention has been poorer than last term. A few comings and goings too over the next week or two. So, all in all a lot of unknowns so far and we won't get a clear picture of where we're at for another 5 weeks or so until these factors settle down. This has easily been the strangest and most complicated start to a season that I can remember. Interesting times ahead!

Can’t believe we are being written off from European football by some oF our fans. We had Jens for a season and AJ has been here 5 minutes and look how much we have improved, whilst dealing with “best” players leaving and big injury list. We may not win a european contest but we are already more than capable of Competing and what a joy it would be to see us competing in league format euro competition. I’d rather have that than the meaningless league cup but I do understand that people would want us to win a league cup. It would be ideal to do both.

Paulsen a definite upgrade on Ward. Been really impressed

I think you're being harsh on O'Donnell given the season he had last season. He may be 34 but he definitely contributed a lot. And although this may be seen as a poor reflection on our wingers, he's probably still the best crosser at the club... EDIT Also provides cover as you only have three centre backs listed...

Brilliant idea 🤣🤣

Maybe we should change their seats to the pod stand as punishment. 🤔

So after an eternity the SFA finally decides that a fitting punishment to ra Selic n Sevco for the most unruly behaviour seen at a Scottish football match (at that point in the season) in over a decade is to ban their home fans for 1 match and a £100k payment to the opposing team. Yet just a month earlier the suits in the SPL see fit to only tap ra Selic on the knuckles for their fans shambolic behaviour at Fir Park and Peadoland at the end of the season…where is the consistency, was one lesser than the others? We all know that two tier justice is alive and kicking within the UK, but this just confirms loud and clear to every fan and every football club except the ugly sisters that two tier justice exists within the ivory towers of Scottish football officialdom. When I put the fine we received for the Helsinki idiot against the Sevco n Selic fans it’s clear as mud…if you are anyone outside the chosen ones then you’re fecked. 😩

Can’t wait to see Rangers statement which will simply say “thanks” as there’s no way they want their own fans in the stadium booing at them

Sellik fans meltdown hilarious......it wisnae our fault!!

At last the deal is done. Unleash the kanga on the pandas on Sunday

Kanga has signed!! Magic, fair cheered me up.

I think it's pretty simple. If you are costing the club more money in fines than you bring in individually then the club has every right to jettison you. The club (and every Scottish club since it's far from a Motherwell specific issue) needs to clamp down on fan behaviour now. For a start any fan that goes on to the pitch should be insta-banned. Today's SFA announcement on Rangers and Celtic is a step in the right direction. Fans on the pitch. Stadium closure. Flares, stadium closure. The softly, softly approach just hasn't worked. It's well known in general society that 50% of all crime is committed by 10% of all criminals. Likewise all these supporter related problems are being committed by a very small number of people. If you nip this problem in the bud it'll soon be gone. You don't deal with it you simply embolden the small minority that are already creating issues.

They can whistle the next time the buckets/emails come out for their next self indulgent TIFO.

You were the very person that used to complain about our record at Ibrox and Parkhead because we had the wrong mentality and never went into those games believing we could win. Whats the difference here?

I mean the pictures I have seen it wouldnt be that hard to identify them however the club refuse to take a hard line with them for some reason. Either do something about it or just fritter away money time and time. They released a statement and it didn't work so sadly its iron fist time and grow a set of balls.

There probably is a degree of sarcasm with his use of “wee diddy team” but it still doesn’t look or sound good. However there was absolutely no sarcasm from him when he went straight on the radio after we’d just beaten Celtic and played them off the park and the first thing he said was “you’ve got tae wonder how long we’ll be able to keep that manager, be lucky if he’s not gone before the end of the season” or words to that effect. Nothing about the result, nothing about the performance, just doom and gloom and pouring cold water on a great night for us.

Cool, I think the keeper is better, the defence is better, midfield still to settle, and we need a good striker ,Thor did well when he played his three games assisting and scoring it may be him, is that why we haven't signed another one yet. As season goes on we should gel even more but our young average age may catch up with us . But we seem to have created a style we are sticking with which is entertaining watch. Another interesting season I hope.

I wasn't far from the guys who invaded the pitch in Helsinki, and as soon as the penalty was awarded they were all getting ready to run onto the park if it went in. It wasn't as if it was spontaneous.

STV - my post was intended to be positive - hence leading with ‘early signs are positive ‘ im optimistic - apologies that it didn’t read that way. I dont believe we yet are as strong as last season due to huge turnover , injuries and the sheer volume of games . It was never intended to say I’m not impressed , quite the opposite . Alfred has been dealt tough cards and to date been very positive.

Yep, time wearing face coverings for no other reason than to obscure your identity was an offence, that also goes beyond football fans

Totally disagree mate and I appreciate we all have different views. I do understand the issues that have happened but these are guys who bring atmosphere to the games and more importantly pay at the gate to come and watch us. I am certainly not in the general age bracket of the bois (being an older gentleman) but it wasn’t long ago that part of the ground was empty and the atmosphere was non existent. The noise, the TIFOs the enthusiasm they bring has to remain in my view. because if it doesn’t the only noise you’ll hear is from the moany old bstrds like it was in the 80s. … and who take over these forums. they are important to the players too, it’s the first place they celebrate. If fines come, I agree there does have to be a systems where they contribute but to ban them, I’m very much in the no way bracket.

As has been mentioned many times already, the club need to be hard with punishment and consequences for this ridiculous carry on. If they do nothing, these twats will continue to think they are above the law and keep embarrassing our club and giving us financial issues to clear up. We would definitely be better off without them. Surely it's gone too far and the board and Well Society need to see that the majority of Well fans have had enough. They surely must look at Steelmen Online etc and know how everyone feels about this nonsense. The question is, do they have the backbone or balls to do anything about it? We shall see!!

Tell that to Cape Vedre. Scotland were an embarrassment in the USA, Cape Verde said fuck it, we're here, have a go. Such defeatist pish.

Oh, dear God, yes! It's the same "great wee team" attitude he deplores in Tam Cowan's haverings until it doesn't support his narrative.

When it was 11 v 11 in both games, there really wasn’t too much in it !! Ok Freiburg had some real class in their side but We certainly held our own. i think we did show our naivety against an experienced European team though but I’m in no means criticising. The 2 sending offs were poor and both players involved will learn from it. when our walking wounded get back fit and if we can add another quality player to the side, I really think we could have another great season.

Keeper is an upgrade on Ward, he’s not a giant but I think he’ll get better as the season goes on. Pleased we have him and was my MoTM tonight. i also thought Olly Whyte was excellent when he came on, out of the youngsters he’s by far the best we have and we have real player there if he can get a run of games.

FFS. It's a whole new team with a new manager and plenty injuries. Really what are you expecting. We have done better at this point compared to last season . Oh and we have hardly played any Scottish teams yet.

I just love being a well fan and past 12 months been a joy. Spending a fair bit on signings and standards improving. Hope this is another great season

Haven't seen any of the game. Was he up against huge 6-9 defenders and was he given good service by those supporting him?

European football is a joke. Hearts have not won a game in 90 mins, yet like Celtic find themselves in the league setup. This getting beat and dropping into another competition needs to be stopped. Give the smaller teams a chance of getting the big money to help them improve.

I thought I was being quite positive about our efforts. I acknowledged that we were beaten by a far superior side and that it was good for the club that we reached this stage. I also mentioned that I was pleased for the travelling support that they got something to cheer about with the goal to make it 1-1. Europe is not our level. It just isn’t. But the domestic game and competitions are because we stand a(n albeit outside) chance of actually going all the way and winning the entire thing. For that reason I would much rather we focused our attentions on domestic fixtures like the League cup than some ‘glamour’ Euro tie that we have no chance of winning.

No shame in that defeat. We can only hope the manager and our senior players have learned a shitload from those two legs.

I think Hearts, Celtic and Rangers all had easier draws, but at least we went out to a good team. A win on Sunday will keep things on track.

In both game until sending offs score would have been alot closer had it not been for two sending offs. Not saying we'd have gone through but until then in both games we were doing OK. Nowt to be down about. The only black spot so far was Stenhousemuir.

No ones writing European Football off, some say its a bonus because we will never win and it is. Doesn't mean we shouldn't enjoy it or celebrate it while it lasts Its a reward for a good domestic season. Would I rather be in Group stage of the Conference League or win the League Cup. Give me a Trophy in the Trophy Cabinet every day of the week. Trophys are permanent, getting fucked out of any competition at any stage is temporary / transitional . In a 100 years time historians looking back wont be looking at European tournaments that we will always get put out of at some point , invariably in the early rounds or indeed wont qualify for all that often, whereas Trophy's in the Trophy Cabinet they will. Winners are remembered participants are forgotten. With the attitude some of our fans have to the two Trophys we stand a chance of winning we should perhaps put in a filing cabinet rather than a trophy cabinet in any new ground / main stand.