Gadgey
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Posts posted by Gadgey
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A cracking debate.
I cant help but sympathise with Ya Bezzers frustrations but I cant help but think that those frustrations are caused by external forces that clubs like Motherwell and countless others like them cannot change.
The football industry (for want of a better dehumanising word) has changed. The Bosman ruling changed the whole landscape for clubs like us and of course we all know that that ruling was to give greater rights to the employee and not the employer.
The result? Players earn proportionally more over their playing career than their predecessors and the ability of a club or manager to realise their ambitions of build a squad over several seasons has been almost entirely eradicated.
The last time we did that was with wee Tommy. I remember us setting club records for the longest period without a goal, our first time to top the premier league and us getting relegated. Had it not been for external factors, the McLean era would have been set within an entirely different and less optimistic setting.
Theres been a lot mentioned about different eras and its fair to say that the 90s were catastrophic for Scottish football. We saw an influx of European (often Dutch) journeymen whos wages forced managers to play them over youth on account of the inflated wages they were on. Those same inflated wages starved youth development at many key clubs. Dunfermline and Dundee were great examples of how this can go wrong.
I for one feel far more comfortable with the present model as it generates income. For many years, our youth system didnt. Our current model is not dissimilar to many clubs around us or indeed to clubs ranging from the English Championship to the 5th tier of the English pyramid. Im a season ticket holder at league 1 side that is one of those fallen from the limelight. Regardless of league placement, this summer will be a great rebuild as it will be for the majority of the teams in that division.
I do have faith also that our long term vision is to develop more home grown talent. As Andy P indicates, the proof will be in the pudding but Im happy that this is the vision.
To prioritise playing youth in the first team now would be folly. The post admin team was mentioned. Yes, we managed to sell some players for some large sums.....but that team still got relegated!!!!
Had it not been for external factors, the Buther era would have been set within an entirely different and less optimistic setting. The only other team I can recall that went all out for youth was hearts and what happened to that team?
We certainly wont have the money to buy our way back like they did.
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I also pay no heed to anything that comes out of Keith Jackson. Indeed, Ive often wondered how he has managed to get to where he has and sustain a living. Hes a lucky boy hes from central Scotland because hed be reporting for a local rag if he were from south of the border.
How his opinions are entertained is a sad indictment of the quality of his audience and Scottish medias aparant willingness to indulge the ill educated and narrowly sighted amongst us.
That was a fabulous press conference from Robinson. The way he defended Bowman by using factual logic will serve to galvanise his team only further but will do nothing to win any war with those of the Keith Jackson mindset.
Unfortunately, the smear campaign has begun and the Scottish sports journalistic community are nothing more than a bunch of bullying wee boys tattle tailing who have been allowed to have considerably more power than they have earned.
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Does anyone know when the announcement will be made regarding when the final will be?
Will it definitely be the Sunday?
I want to get travel plans sorted pronto
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My only twinge is that Mr R seems to be playing up the "we are limited and physical" idea today on radio tonight. I think we're much better than that and I'm sure he knows that too, so not sure what he's up to at the mo. The performance against AFC was electrifying.
We don't want to be perceived as the Hearts of the 80s, do we? We need to avoid stoking up trouble for ourselves in the future as other teams play up to the refs and our squad is weakened by suspension.
We are better than that.
As physical as they were, there was a fair amount of talent in that Hearts team of the 80s.
All the while we get dismissed as being nothing more than a bunch of hammer throwers by those who dont watch us much, wee Robbo will continue to perpetuate that myth with chat like that whilst quietly getting that team clicking and diligently going about its business.
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Oh what sweet, sweet irony.
Does it make up for 1976? Probably not. Some scars will never fully heal.
Would winning the final heal that wound?
How sweet would it be to end the unbeaten run whilst we're at it?
Maybe I'm getting a wee bit carried away but a cup win that beats the top 3 which includes both sets of cavemen would be amongst our greatest ever achievements.
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Absolutely delighted. I shed a few tears at full time for my mate iain Shedden (ex Coltness/Wishaw High) who died this week of throat cancer. He was only 60. Iain lived in Sydney and was a massive Well fan who was over for the Aberdeen game. I am sure he will be looking down with pride tonight. RIP Iain and hope the boys win the final for you.
COYW
I didn't know him, but I'll have one for Iain RIP
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Truly fuckin magical!!!!
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This. Rangers and Celtic are not the cause of our problems in Scottish Football. They're the result of our problems in Scottish Foitball.
They're the result of our problems in Scottish society
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All the fawning over Brendan Rodgers gets on my tits TBH
Well, cannae really disagree wi that!!
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I hate the old firm and pretty much everything they represent, but when their success outside of our shores benefits us and Scottish football, why not encourage them?
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I see Oldham have just appointed a successor to Robbo's successor.
I know many believe his time there to be a car crash but all things in context.
John Sheriden took over immediately from Robinson in January, but won only 10 of his 33 games in charge.
A statement on the Oldham website said the board had "not seen the progression we hoped with what was felt to be the nucleus of a good squad".
Was that the nucleus that Robbo put together?
Robbo had to work under financial pressures at Oldham as he started pre-season with only seven contracted players due to the club being under a transfer embargo since November prior to his appointment.
Robinson won seven, drew 11 and lost 15 of his 33 games in charge of Oldham.
Comparing apples for apples, against an experienced manager like Sheriden (three terms in the Oldham hot seat), I think he was on a hiding to nothing and in context, didn't do that bad at all.
What a difference when in a steadier place and with a board who believe in him.
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We've both said we should be clear of relegation issues and I'm looking forward to that being the case, I just think we'll fall a bit short of top six. Difficult to say who will be there but I expect Hearts to improve, Hibs have the resources to improve their squad in January and i don't think we'll reach St. Johnstone's level of consistency.
As for a cup run, by our standards that means getting to a semi so we can already tick that box!
That's a reasonable assessment. Given that the current team is better than say the past 2/3 seasons during one of which, we achieved top six, how much of an indication is that of an improvement in quality of the SPL overall?
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Agreed.....Happy Clapper Manifesto 2017.....
I see where you are coming from but if we ever want another day like the 91 final or Nancy we'll need to take every opportunity to improve. It's obviously down to the manager but there's no harm in discussing it here.
Fully paid up member of the happy clappy club
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Not upset with that in the slightest and no desire to cause upset to others.What?
Why wouldn't he look at our next round of fixtures? He's a fan that has an interest in the club. Why are you upset with that?
We all look at fixtures ahead of course we do. Some see hope some see despair. Personally, I like to choose hope. I have no reasoning for this other than I'm a glass is half full sort of guy. I have no football qualifications so don't sweat the small stuff.
The club pay people with the appropriate skills to do that.
I do however find it tiresome reading the same warnings week in week out. This is the second week in a row we have been reminded of our apparent failure to beat those above us.
In truth, I'm well happy with being in that split between the two halves of the league. It's an obvious sign of progress.
I do think though, that based upon the obvious spirit around the team at this moment, we fans have reason to be optimistic about the upcoming fixtures. I for one am confident that this current Motherwell team will not confine beating the big teams this season to just cup games.
We may not finish in the top 6, we may not maintain this momentum but we will acquire some great memories from this season. And when those memorable moments come, it's really tiresome when the usual glass is half empty folk piss on those chips with their precautionary messages using stats that can be manipulated.
Carpe diem !!!!
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As for where we are
Assuming Celtic beat us we'll have taken 1 point from 15 from the Top 5, while beating all the other Bottom 6 regulars. That's exactly where we are right now - between two poles.
We've also been lucky to have 6 out of 8 at home with most of those against winnable opponents.
The next round of matches is going to be tougher but we can be happy for now that we have points in the bag.
Talk about stating the obvious and hammering the shit out of it !!!
Are you a health and safety inspector for your day job???
Here's a novel idea. Why don't we just enjoy this fabulous spell of supporting our team for what it is and let the management team who actually know about football do the worrying about the next round of games.
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I'm worried that there is a huge scandal around the corner, like our pitch is made of asbestos, or the society is a Russian money laundering front, or that robbo will make a sub that loses us a game.
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I am absolutely gutted that I won't be able to get to the game as I'm out the country. Had it been the Saturday, I could've flown up and back to London to fly out Sunday.
WHEN we get to the final, it'll be a very different story. I've already booked the 27th November as annual leave to allow for the celebratory pimms.
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I don't think Robbo can be questioned for that.
When I saw the bench before ko I was impressed by its strength and attacking capability. It was a bold and positive move to bring two forward players at a time when things needed changing.
The manager can't be faulted if the players don't make the impact the manager and every one of us expected them to.
Although we lost, yesterday was a milestone in that we forced the supposed free playing all conquering Aberdeen to change how they play in respond to the threat we posed. But for a bit of luck, we would have taken points from them.
That is all due to the manager.
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No intention to piss on anyone's parade, these are exciting times but I don't think it's fair to determine this teams "real deal" status on the outcome of today's match.
They're a young team and are still shaping. All things in context, they have collectively exceeded all expectations up to this point. We will inevitably experience some lows in the future and in many respects, and IMO, it's how they respond to those lows that will determine whether they're the real deal or not.
All that said, I'd be made up with a draw today, keep our unbeaten run going and beating the sheep on aggregate over two legs.
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Mr Thomas was an unused sub at Kilmarnock today.
I wonder, is the honeymoon coming to an end?
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I watched a very subdued Chris Humphrey playing right back today for Bury. He looked slow and languid. A shadow of the speed merchant we were used to.
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It's nights like tonight that give me the sickener for living so far away.
That was one of those matches that will live in the memory for many moons to come. A fabulous result from a phenomenal team performance and I envy everyone who was there.
I know it's still early in the season and some are quite justifiably curbing their enthusiasm over the Robinson revolution until the end of the first round of matches. But for me, even if this just a run, a streak, a flash in the pan .... then at least we'll have a long awaited cup run and tonight to remember.
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I think that while we're only two points ahead of where we 'should' be, there are reasons why people are much happier with how things look this season compared to last.
Fitness. It's early in the season but we seem to be conpeting longer in games rather than holding on and looking shattered with 20 minutes to go. Add to that we look at lot more physically imposing than previous seasons. I feel that in the past that the Hearts team would have physically bullied us out of the game.
Substitutions. Our manager makes some. When we're not losing. Who would have thought it? And generally they seem to improve us. Again this seems new.
Team selection. Seems to be mostly on merit. Robinson signed Tanner, Bigirmana and Fisher but Campbell and Bowman have performed so they start. No apparent playing of favourites with 'his' signings (for what it's worth, I think the three guys I mentioned that aren't in the team will contribute over the season). The only one that seems to baffle fans is Rose but given results, and the fact he's been keeping his place in the team, have to figure that Rose is doing exactly what his manager asks of him.
Team spirit. There seems to be a genuine good feeling around the squad (absence of a short fat Australian helping?) but I suppose the real test will be when results aren't going our way.
I think these are some of the reasons that people's optimism seems disproportionate to actual results. Compared to the start of last season when McGhee seemed to not know his best team and was signing people on loan he knew nothing about, there at least seems to be a plan. Will that plan work? Who knows but having one is a start...
Great post.
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Neil Lennon is in many respects, a Colin O'Neil type of character. Total commitment to the teams he played for, a face you'd never tire punching and was totally hated by opposition fans for both those very things.
I should imagine that besides those who are never happy with anything the club does, there wouldn't be many grumbling if he had been our manager.
He's made some good signings at Hibs and has managed to make them stronger than they have been in many years. He seems to have them playing as a unit and whilst they may be inconsistent over the piece, they will be very difficult to beat on their own patch on Saturday.
I would be most content with a draw.
Former Motherwell Fc Players Thread
in Club Chat
Posted
I remember sitting with my dad in the Cooper for our one and only time and seeing a very young Stevie Hamill for the very first time. It was the auld yins last visit to Fir Park.
Reminiscing about Cooper, he turned to me and said that blonde boy is quality. Imagine having him in the same team as Coop, he made a donkey like Boyd look like a player, imagine what he couldve done wi some real talent