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As some of you may know I'm one of the biggest pessimists on the planet when it comes to Motherwell. I've had 55 years of primarily bone crushing disappoint and yes there are some issues. However all but for two absolutely honking goalkeeping errors, which no manager can legislate for , not even Pep Guardiola , we'd have had a point at Ibrox and Dundee. So as much as our form has dipped Id argue had we got a point from both those games, which goalkeeping howlers apart, we'd have got and were sitting 4th on 10 points everyone would be a lot calmer. We are in danger of over analyzing everything and seeing or creating stories that have ZERO basis of fact. For fuck sake everyone take a deep breath and calm down. Having watched us for 55 years I know when to start panicking and 7 games in isn't it.

Had the keeper not basically thrown the ball into the net for Dundee's second the worst we were getting yesterday was a point against a team everyone has been saying are excellent. Sure there were issues with our set up and team selection but the only way a good Dundee team were beating us was if we shot ourselves in the foot and we duly obliged. Said it yesterday I don't think we were as bad as everyone was making out. We should have had a penalty and dare I say had we waltzed away with a draw the reaction would be more muted. I'm as frustrated as everyone but we have a squad that should allow refresh changes , particularly up front , the manager needs to start doing it. Dundee got lucky, we won the game for them. We made them look very ordinary whilst not playing anything like we have in the past. Right now I don't think we are a million miles away from better outcomes. Will we be as good as last season? definitely not we don't have the players for that yet. We are a good way away from thinking about the managers position. Christ everyone and their granny had Steven Pressley for the high jump for most of last season.

100%. Even for Motherwell fans, this (over)reaction has totally bewildered me. We have no devine right to turn up and win games/finish top 6 every year. Yes, things have went sideways a bit in recent games, but this is just off the scale. I knew that last year would probably be a one off, but a lot of so called fans think we`d just carry on in the same veign of form and style of football. Reality check. It ain`t happening. As long as we can get back to playing an attractive style of attacking football, I`ll be happy. We still have a few players to come back who will walk in to the starting 11 and hopefully, some sembelance of what we`ve been used to will be resumed. It is there, remember the winner against Hibs, the opener against Freiburg? This team can play, but we need to get behind them when the chips are down. Some fans would be better suited at Ibrox or Parkhead the way they are going on!

What to say? Its not awful. But its not great either. We play nice enough football, but its all too slow and predictable. Nothing incisive about it at all. My main frustration is that our rotations have disappeared and we no longer appear to have 3 options for a pass like we did last year. Lucky to have 1 at times. Is that lack of coaching? I would hope not given that we retained the same coaching staff as last year. They should know how to communicate the gameplan to the players. Lack of running? Could be. We certainly dont press the same. We dont win the ball back quickly and we get caught on the transition repeatedly. Lack of understanding from the players? We havent had a lot of time on the training pitch. But guys like Said, Maswanhise, Cookie, Fadinger, Longelo, Sparrow, all know how we played last year. They know whats required. Its all very frustrating because some of what we do looks similar, but its not the same. It doesnt have to be of course, but its not effective either. Glad we have 3 weeks until the next game. We are gonna need it to sort this mess out.

Now that Ive had the drive back from Dundee to calm down I'm probably going to be in a minority of one. I didn't think it was bad as the hysteria being spouted online suggests and those saying the managers a dud and needs removed are needing a long hard look at themselves. We played better football today than we did against Aberdeen, particularly in the second half where we upped the pace of the press. First half the build up was slow and predictable and there is no hiding the fact we have fuck all up front with Maswanhise. The important points as I saw it. We beat ourselves, it was all self inflicted I.d be more worried if Dundee were a better team than us. This was a Dundee team getting plaudits from everywhere at how good they were and had we not shot ourselves in the foot they were never beating us today.. 1. We gifted Dundee two goals, they didn't have to work hard for them. 2. Maswanhise should now be benched, he's not even nuisance value. 3. SOD needs brought back into the team. He can deliver decent balls into the area and with Eythor Bjørgolfsson in the forward line we have someone who could take advantage and unsettle the opposition. Maswanhise couldn't unsettle me.. 4 Sparrow was far too content to turn back and play the safe easy ball and creating fuck all. 5. Hodge ain't doing it for me as yet, we badly need Preistman back. 6. Jake Girdwood- Reich is slower than a week in the jail and again nearly cost us .His style of play actually encourages the slow pedestrian build up. When the ball is played out to him he never does anything at pace its slow and pedestrian and it allows our opponents to set up in positions to stifle us. 7. Its time for Eythor Bjørgolfsson to start . He did more to unsettle Dundees defence in 8 minutes than Maswanhise or RCC have done in 8 games. 8. Manager is being too predictable and loyal in his team selection. We have a big squad and we have different options the manager now needs to use them. I actually don't think we are too far away we just need the manager to make the necessary sacrifices among some of his automatic picks and for the players to learn that they don't need to take 4 or 5 touches in the box. If he sticks with his predictable first team picks we are going to see more of the same.

Like clockwork, the “pant wetter” chat comes out as soon as anyone dares to fairly criticise what they’re seeing.

"Our next win" why do people think that 7 games into the season after 3 defeats that our season is over ffs. This is Motherwell, we are not going to win every game, a few bad results and its "has AJ lost the dressing room", hes "never played football" so he cant manage BS. Folk need to dry their pants and calm down, yes the team has issues that need addressed but im sure the management team will sort it out znd find the right balance for the team. With all the injuries we've had AJ has neer had the luxury of a full squad to pick from, so going forward that should ease.

I don’t think anyone here is calling for Alfred to be sacked. People are rightly calling out what they see, and the reality is that performances have fallen off a cliff. If he can’t arrest the decline and deliver the continuity of style he’s talked about, then the writing will be on the wall soon enough, if it isn’t already. The early signs are increasingly suggesting to me that he talks a good game but can’t implement it.

We have played 15 games under AJ. 2 bad defeats and suddenly its talk of not picking senior players, not listening to coaching staff, etc etc. I certainly don't see signs of a team not playing for him. Against Aberdeen we were absolutely fine for the first 35 mins, we just fell apart after 2nd goal. Against St mirren we wwre great at start then had a crazy 9 minute spell. As for not picking senior players, mcginn is out with long-term injury. I would have SOD in asap but he was out injured at start of season. Maybe not fully ready yet. 3 week break so hopefully ready for sellik game as we can all see that Sparrow is struggling there and also not captain material. I am as frustrated as everyone else but the idea of replacing a manager after a few bad results is crazy. As for Rosenborg he was there 2 1/2 years so was given plenty of time before they decided to part with him. Last season we would never have envisaged 4th and with an outstanding manager and also lets remember we have lost Welsh, Just, Watt, Slattery and Ward. What other SPFL side lost such a core of their side? And as said before AJ is manager and responsibility ends with him but a good few players need a hard look at themselves also. Maswanhise needs dropped and also maybe coincidence but Longelo been off form since transfer window closed. I look at that squad and I think there is a lot of quality but we are not using them properly. Paulsen is a concern and I am not convinced Matty is any better. Up top we need to get good deliveries into either Seb or Thor. Last thing we need is negativity in the stands, that solves nothing. It's not great just now but jeez lets not forget the shit show we were experiencing under Kettlewell and the 16 game run without a win. We are nowhere near that stage. Heid up Folks and COYW

I wasn’t at Dundee today but I think it’s inevitable that there will be a parting of the ways within the next couple of months. He labelled himself as the continuity appointment but week by week we are getting further away from last season’s approach. Of course, he had an incredibly tough act to follow but it shouldn’t be forgotten that few Motherwell managers will have been as well backed as Alfred in assembling a squad. Unfortunately though, this does feel similar to the Hammell experiment where he may have a philosophy in his head, but struggles to communicate and implement it. A niggling concern from the outset was that he reportedly fell out with senior players at Rosenborg. Choosing not to recruit any player over 25 and opting not to play SoDs despite Sparrow toiling with a bad back, suggests to me that he may not be too comfortable with having senior players around. That’s in sharp contrast to Jens who took McGinn and SoDs to new levels, and had the unused Halliday singing his praises at every opportunity. i get that any new appointment needs time but this one isn’t going to work out. Once a manager starts floundering in the post match press conferences, as he has done since Ibrox, the writing is on the wall.

Completely agree - SOD should have been in the rangers game. same for those who need subbed - people need to know they have to perform or someone else gets the start

Think a lot of what you say makes sense but can we ever build up good will as every season it’s a new build we have a good season we lose our best players / manager we have a bad season we look to bin players / managers I’m not comparing this season to last because even if jens stayed im not convinced we’d have repeated the level think it’s been a poor start regardless of last season & the performances as others have said have been more concerning I’m not convinced in 3 weeks time we’ll see a better Motherwell but more than happy to be proved wrong Maybe jens benefited from having an understanding of the British game than Alfred doesn’t?

I get that 100% mate , last year was probably once in a lifetime stuff for us and it will be hard for everyone to adjust to what will be or new norm ... sadly

The fact is that performances have declined the more time the manager has had to implement his ideas. We saw that with the 10-day break between the Rangers and Aberdeen games, so the concern is that this slide continues over the next three-week break. In other words, he takes the team even further away from where they were last season, which is exactly what he says he isn’t doing. The evidence to date, however, suggests otherwise.

I disagree asking questions if the manager has lost the dressing room or do players not respect him cos he's never played the game after 7 games is crazy, that is not fair criticisms, that's pure and utter baseless speculation.

I see your emoji’s but wouldn’t surprise me if some people would have him in that position. i do think we have some over reaction to recent performances but then again, everyone entitled to their opinion. Yes, there are issues, which probably seem worse after some of the nice stuff we played earlier this season. Hopefully AJ can sort our lack of threat up front. We’ve shown we can keep possession which is our best form of defense but we have to stop going behind in games to take that approach.

Hibs were hardly in freefall on day 1 of the season.

Ffs, what game he was watching. They hit the post twice. Paulsen had to make two great saves. It could have been 5. It is becoming increasingly difficult to hear the same message about process, development, training drills and a new squad after every defeat. This guy is a walking text book. With each passing game he is being found out. Sacked from Rosenberg when it went tits up. Rosenberg statement "The results have not been achieved over time. We have been patient and we have let it work, but when the results have not come, the board has unanimously decided that the club and Alfred will go their separate ways at this time" said Gotaas Johnsen during the press conference. Look for him and Motherwell going their separate ways very soon. Out of his depth.

I think thats fair comment. The team does look devoid of confidence just now and that usually only occurs after a sustained run of poor results. Thats down to the management team to motivate them. Why are the players not fulfilling their potential? Maybe there's a range of reasons including new lads still settling in; players being asked to play differently from how they've done in the past; lack of onfield leadership; some individuals not being team players; and yet others not being as good as expected. Its up to the manager to man manage them. The comparison with last season is quite stark. Last year the mixed bag of players inherited by JBA surprisingly bought into his system quickly and you could see what quite clearly they were trying to do, albeit not very successfully in the early stages. This year, even with some continuity of personnel, we're struggling to see quite what they're trying to do. What exactly is our Plan A?

Way to early to be making any judgements on Alfred. However, its not unreasonable to be concerned. We started the season very well and the new players looked up to the task. However, the last 3 games havent gone well. We just dont have the same control over games like we did last year and our rotations have disappeared. I dont expect us to play exactly the same way. But I keep hearing our priciples havent changed. If that IS the case then the players arent wirking hard enough and arent following the gameplan. If they are, then the coaching is rhe problem. Either way Alfred has a problem to fix. He has 3 weeks to fix it (albeit he seems to have given them a week off if Fadinger is to be believed). Celtic up next. No hiding place. We need to look more compact as a team. Less open on the transition and be visibly running harder for each other. No excuses.

Might just be me, but I'll probably pay more attention to the guy who's actually being paid to do the job over the people who need to pay to watch him do said job.

Various opinions on here whether you agree or not which of course is healthy debate but feck me!!......go on Facebook and some of the comments beggar belief. As i have said before ( a bit like repeating jokes) 3 weeks ago we were in freiburg competing well. We have had 2 very poor results and all of a sudden everything is pear shaped. Buck stops with AJ as he is manager but there are a good few players that need a serious look at themselves. Social media probably plays a big part these days but jeez some of the teams I have witnessed over the years and were on worse runs than this. If come end of the year we are still on a bad run then we deal with it. However it just needs one good result to turn things round

He was always going to be onto a loser after jens last season…. taking that out account we’ve been pumped off Aberdeen, fell apart against st Mirren, been let off lightly against rangers & drew against a shit Falkirk Knocked out shockingly in the cup against stenhousemuir performed really well against a 10 man united & beat a freefall Hibs Europe was a great buzz but irrelevant as ultimately we’re out had moments off looking like a proper team ( st Mirren for 30 minutes we were unbelievably good ) but nothing sustained to suggest a good season Is upon us

Hodge gets a lot of the ball but not much output for the amount of possession he gets. I think hodge is a good player to have but more about seeing games out when we are ahead. I’m hoping Oscar is back in the team beside Fadinger soon. I’d like to see JKL in for JGR and Johnny K or SOD at right back. Earlier in the season we were shooting and crossing a lot. I’d like to see us get back to that but with PH or Thor in the middle.