purestate

Absolutely but more than happy he first helps us through CL qualifying. As a City fan I’ve now gone from hoping Glasgow lot don’t sign him to worrying he might go to Utd/Gunners/Pool !!

Fantastic World Cup for him personally and I doubt we’ll see another Well player ever score three times at a World Cup. He’ll have a well earned break but should be back for HB game 🤞

Should go without saying that any new manager inevitably has to prove himself to sceptics however that interview was a good start. I’d have had more concerns if we were the first club he’d brought his academic path to but he’s had two+ years at a senior club so few concerns about his age. Our players showed last year that they responded to a supportive coach encouraging them to play attacking football so can’t see them needing convincing of continuing this approach. This feels like a very positive appointment building on where we finished last season compared to so many seasons where it felt like we were having to reset whether or not with a new manager. welcome aboard Alfred.

Funnily enough when I asked copilot to identify managers who would not criticise their fanbase regardless of external condemnation of behaviour (tbf it’s not just Celtic) Brendan Rodgers came in as first suggestion😜

Maybe it’s just that the Celtic board wouldn’t spring for the £20 to purchase Co-pilot or Claude to do a search once the Green Brigade didn’t want Keane (rightly or wrongly) 😉

The choice of Fletcher over Lennon or indeed any of the others with far more first team experience is last straw for me with Clarke and his overall judgement as a manager. Fletcher may turn out to be as good or better than his dad and will have plenty of opportunities to demonstrate this in upcoming campaigns but there can’t be any serious expectation that he will play any part in this WC. Maybe Lennon wouldn’t have either but has at least been involved with squad and (unless has pissed off some senior players - doubtful) would have contributed far more to preparation and training. As it is I can realistically see Scotland finishing in last place either losing all three or a single shitfest point so perhaps Lennon is well out of it. As some others have said my enthusiasm for this WC is at an all time low.

Great post and I agree with most of it. I’ve been selective quoting sections to highlight. in alternate universe if we swapped squads would McGlynn have had same success with his tactics and JBA with Falkirk players I wonder. Both approach’s seem to trust the players. I probably wouldn’t be disappointed if Jøhn Glynnæssøn 😉 came in but it may feel a bit like replacing Klopp with Slot

He’s just embarrassing himself as FIFA themselves refer to the different versions VAR light. https://inside.fifa.com/innovation/standards/video-assistant-referee Hawkeye Innovations do both and I’m almost completely sure that Scotland isn’t the full system they provide that likes of England, Italy and Germany do. It would indeed be interesting for him to name the leagues he is referring to as totally disingenuous to suggest cost isn’t a factor. The version in use in Scotland is far more dependent on the quality of the human Video Assistant Referee. Acknowledging that this increases potential for mistakes would be little consolation in individual circumstances but surely more likely to be (grudgingly) accepted by fans.

No disrespect meant to Max. If he is of / has developed a similar mindset and approach to JBA plus has the relationship with the players, I’d be more than happy for him to lead next stage of progression I’d be just as content if he recognises his strengths lie in assisting another.

Exactly and just a bit of idle fun in meantime. maybe we should start the Steelmenonline Analytics Service a few successes and we could sell out to big tech for enough money to rebuild stadium 😜

That was my initial experience as well because source was gambling odds. I adjusted to exclude odds sites as source and prompted about European second tier countries or leagues. All listed appeared to have spells and sometimes seasons of 60%+ win rates although thanks to fizoxy for further detail as I hadn’t got that far of validating at individual level.

Sorry bit of a long one but with data analytics in mind thought for a bit of interest/ fun I’d try out some prompts to find replacement manager based on JBA style I.e • Asymmetric 4‑2‑2‑2 with short, incisive passing and constant rotations. • Aggressive counter‑pressing, deliberately not contesting first balls but winning second balls. • High regain numbers — among the best in Europe for possession recovery. • Risk‑tolerant, blame‑free coaching culture that encourages bravery on the ball. • Clear game‑model documentation (his “300‑slide football bible”). These are much closer to • Norway’s Bodo/Glimt school • Denmark’s modern Superliga coaches • Sweden’s positional-play managers • Germany’s 2. Bundesliga pressing coaches so potential names which popped up are 🇳🇴 1. Gaute Helstrup (Tromsø → currently free / often linked with progressive clubs) Why he fits: • Uses a fluid, rotation-heavy 4‑3‑3 / 3‑4‑3 hybrid similar to Askou’s asymmetry. • Tromsø were one of Europe’s best small‑budget pressing teams. • Strong Bodo/Glimt influence — exactly the model Askou referenced. sportzeen.com • Excellent at developing undervalued players. Why he’s realistic: • Affordable for a Scottish Premiership club. • Comfortable working with limited budgets and selling clubs. --- 🇩🇰 2. Thomas Nørgaard (Lyngby assistant / former Fremad Amager) Why he fits: • Danish coaches share the same tactical lineage as Askou. • Nørgaard’s Fremad Amager sides played aggressive, vertical, counter‑pressing football. • Known for detailed game‑model work — similar to Askou’s “football bible”. Why he’s realistic: • Danish assistants often step into head roles abroad. • Salary expectations align with Motherwell’s structure. --- 🇸🇪 3. Andreas Brännström (formerly AIK / Mjällby) Why he fits: • One of Sweden’s most tactically flexible coaches. • Uses asymmetric buildup, overloads, and structured pressing. • Excellent at improving players technically. Why he’s realistic: • Available. • Has previously expressed interest in UK opportunities. --- 🇩🇪 4. Daniel Scherning (ex‑Arminia Bielefeld, 2. Bundesliga) Why he fits: • High‑pressing, transition‑dominant football. • Strong emphasis on automatisms and structured rotations. • Good with young squads — important for Motherwell. Why he’s realistic: • German second‑tier coaches often move abroad for stability. • Would see Scotland as a stepping stone. --- 🇳🇱 5. Rogier Meijer (NEC Nijmegen – if available) Why he fits: • Dutch positional play with aggressive pressing triggers. • Very similar to Askou’s short‑passing, rotation‑based buildup. • Strong youth development record. Why he’s realistic: • Dutch coaches are increasingly open to UK moves. • NEC’s budget is modest; not an impossible target.

Interesting one this. From StM announcement by Keith L ”Gavin joins the club with a proven track record of identifying high potential players that have generated significant revenue and has an extensive network across Europe and the UK.” Given the increased focus on data analytics and use of various databases/algorithms I wonder how much each club would already have same targets and how much Motherwell specific details on targets Gavin Miller takes with him. in other commercial environments there would be non-disclosure, non-compete and/or gardening leave situations when someone moves to competition. I know nothing about the realities of football situation. Interested if others do - in general if not this specific case.

Jens going does feel a bit inevitable but nevertheless disappointing. We’ve lost good players before but I don’t think, in my time, I’ve genuinely felt as empty as today. Yes we’ll move on and absolutely we’re in a better place than we were this time last season. At this moment though it just feels, to me at least, as if it could have been more. Best wishes to him and I hope the players don’t feel as deflated as I do at the moment.

Most of the media speculation has been on Just and Watt however I reckon real scouts will also be very interested in Fadinger and the role he can play. however instead of speculating who may be away I’m happier to wish for another year of Jens which persuades all of our midfield to hang about to see where they can take us in both Europe, league, and cups.