WellHighlander

We are a provincial club. It's will forever be the case that our success stories will leave us vulnerable to those with more financial clout, bigger fanbases, increased stature. I understand the negativity, but the reality is that if we do well then ultimately we're 'punished' ie loss of best players/manager. For me the difference this time is we are a club on the up. The bulk of the squad is under contract, so you would hope there would not be the usual churn of players. If clubs are interested in our players, we are in a position with many to demand a very decent fee. No need for us to sell for peanuts. Financially, I would expect the club to be in a very good place. On the pitch, we have European football to look forward too and for the first time in a while, solid foundations to build from. Players will be interested in joining Motherwell. Albeit, we will be a stepping stone, but that is how it works. Always has, always will. We have an opportunity now to really push on and I just hope the board do not squander this, regardless of who goes. To their credit, the board have shown an ability to think outside the box with the last couple of managerial appointments and for young up and coming coaches, we'll be an attractive proposition. For me, this is the way to go. We need to move on from the managerial merry-go-round of looking at the usual candidates north and south of the border. Ultimately, I would love JBA to stay, along with the likes of Just, Watt etc, but the reality is they move on to something bigger. As a club, if we show we can do that then more players/manager will be interested in a stint at Fir Park. Essentially, we're a shop window. It doesn't mean we can't continue to build something. It just puts the board under that bit more pressure to make the right appointments and for our scouting department to identify the right players. I'll leave you with this thought. Take a look at Bournemouth. Since the start of the season just finishing they've lost key players like Kerkez, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Semenyo and Ouatarra, not to mention manager Andoni Iraola leaving once season is finished. Yet through all this they potentially stand on the verge of Champions League football. That demonstrates a well-run club with not just a focus on the present, but always planning for the future. Losing players/managers does no necessarily have to mean a return to mediocrity.

Penalty incident aside, some of our supporters really need a reality check. JBA has given us a team to be exceptionally proud of, regardless of how it ends. We outplayed a Celtic team for large parts of last night's contest - and this is a team chasing a title. Celtic's first goal was simply a moment of good fortune and an exceptional finish. The second was wonder strike. Yes, the season has not ended how we hoped and yes we may not get European football, but please look at the bigger picture. A squad that now has several very valuable assets - not all will be sold in the summer, but those who do go should fetch a more than decent fee, securing not only our short-term, but long-term future. A brand of football that many in the league envy - and so far distanced from what's been served up over the past few seasons. Crowds on the rise and a proper connection between club and its supporters. All of the above forms a very solid foundation and while JBA will be a wanted man, he will depart with us in good health both on and off the field, so much so we could entice some real managerial talent. Look at others in and around us. Hibernian may yet get fourth, but financially they are in a mess. Falkirk will be under pressure to repeat their efforts this season, and will likely have to do so losing one or two vital players from their squad. Aberdeen are in transition - a bloated squad full of under-achievers on big wages. Dundee, Dundee Utd and Kilmarnock will all undergo a turnover of players this summer, as will St Mirren should they stay up. St Johnstone have momentum and should compete, but for them consolidation will be the main aim. We have a wonderful opportunity to build on the foundations of this season. There is money in the bank, with more coming. European football would be an attractive proposition for any targets, but I don't think it's a deal breaker. JBA will have learned a lot from these last couple of months. Injuries haven't helped, and neither has a few players having a dip in form at an important stage of the season, but when you play all season at the intensity JBA wants, it's only natural some players will begin to feel the effects. A top six finish, a cup semi-final, challenging for European football - all of us would have bitten a hand off if this scenario had been offered to us before the season started. I think back to all the supporters at the start of the season who were critical of this style of play and how it would never work. Time and patience is in short supply in modern football, but for those who can't see what's being built then I feel sorry for you.

Looking at post-split fixtures, this has to be a game where three points are huge as I just don't see us winning at Hearts, Dundee or Ross County, while Killie at home is tough. Like many, however, I would question if enough players have the heart for the battle this game will be. St Johnstone are now in a position where simply put they pretty much have to win every game to even have a hope of getting a play-off. Essentially, they have nothing to lose as for many they are already down. My fear is that we could very well sleep walk into that play-off place if we are not extremely careful. Given the tight nature of the bottom six, every point is a prisoner, while three is massive. We certainly don't want to be going to County needing a result on the final day. A big concern is how many players genuinely care? Many will know that regardless of what transpires they'll be heading for the door when the season ends. I remember speaking to a player of a relegated side a few months after they suffered the drop. He said what killed them was not just the amount of loan players they had, but also the fact some were out of contract and knew they were going. They didn't have the stomach for the fight because they weren't going to be at the club. That, for him, was the biggest failing in them being relegated - a squad of individuals the majority of whom cared only about their situation. I really hope I am wrong and we get ourselves safe as soon as possible, but all the evidence points to it being a very nervy end to a season to forget.

On the pitch, I've huge concerns that we can muster the points needed to avoid a play-off, but regardless of what happens, huge changes are needed off it. There is little doubt it's virtually a complete clear out that's required. Undoubtedly one of the worst Motherwell squads assembled in my 30-plus years of supporting the club. Personally disappointed to see the club sign SOD. At one-time a few seasons ago solid performer for club and country, but never a player who works in a back three and has been culpable for the loss of several goals this season. Cannot see how his performances merited an extension, but maybe time to work with the new manager will bring about a new lease of life. Sparrow extending makes sense. A versatile player who can be of value to a squad, but not sure he'd be in my first-team. One of only a few, however, that seems to genuinely put a shift in. Delighted to see Slattery stay. If Wimmer can get him into the right areas of the pitch then no doubt he can contribute goals and assists. Still feeling his way back after a bad injury, but with a good pre-season behind him he could become a key player. Out of the rest, I'd keep Ox, maybe Seddon at a real push, Gordon, McGinn (used as a squad player) and Stama but for me that's it. Miller will be sold to fund this rebuild and if it's on our terms then I'd think about Casey, but I'd certainly not be breaking the bank. We need to be ruthless and this is the ideal time to do that. The squad, even without the loans, is bloated and severely lacks quality and consistency. If this season has shown anything, we cannot afford to carry people. It needs to be a much tighter ship. We have also drifted away from offering our young players an opportunity. Wimmer needs to address this as a priority because at the moment, there doesn't seem to be much coming through, but perhaps the opportunities have been limited due to the obscene amount of loan players that have been brought in, the majority having no sort of impact at all. I appreciate injuries have played their part, but this is a squad that has had opportunities and time and again they've let the support down. Making such wholesale changes is not with risk and patience will be required, but the board need to show they back Wimmer and are bold enough to want to bring about a change in the dressing room culture that at the moment seems entrenched in mediocrity - and the acceptance of it.

Does anyone know if tickets are sold out? Been on club website and it's not listed in the section where you buy tickets. Emailed ticket office, but no luck and it's shut now.

Watched the highlights against Hibs and it wasn't good - not by a long shot. Seems to be case this season that the team hasn't quite hit the heights hoped for, but it has to be remembered it remains early days. Would have been foolish for Robinson to blast them publicly, especially against a very good Hibs side who, if they keep McGinn, will have designs on finishing second. I'm sure, however, within the confines of the dressing room it was a different story. Robinson also deserves some praise in not looking to use injuries/suspensions excuse many others would have reached for in a heartbeat. Dunne is such an important player now (worth remembering his shaky start to life at Fir Park), while Campbell's bite and tenacity in midfield is so crucial to how Robinson likes his team to play. Losing Kipre just a few days before would undoubtedly have disrupted preparations as well, but the size of the offer dictated his departure. Some others don't quite look match fit yet, while Hibs have had the bonus of playing some very competitive European matches, so no surprise to see them looking a little bit sharper. However, if Robinson isn't contemplating at least 3-4 changes for Hamilton then I'd be worried. Johnson must be in with a shout of replacing either Main/Sammon, especially as he seems to complement a more robust and physical strike partner. Campbell will come back in, but surely Frear is worthy of a place given his ability to get balls into the box? Creativity from midfield seems to be the main bugbear. Gorrin looks the most likely to provide it, but he is going to need time to adapt. A local derby may just be beyond him at the moment given Hamilton will be hurting from their own mauling by Hearts. They will come to Fir Park looking to make it a battle and we will need players of that ilk to stand up to this in the initial stages. I respect the opinion of every Well fan, even if we see it differently, but growing uneasy at the number who feel Robinson now isn't up to the job. This is a manager who took us to our best record of clean sheets in several seasons (helped greatly by a settled back three of Aldred, Kipre and Dunne), not to mention two cup finals and within spitting distance of the top six. After recent campaigns, that is some turnaround. Robinson made us hard to beat again, so much so that very few teams must have enjoyed playing against us last season. I'm not saying it was a campaign full of free-flowing football, but he got the team playing to its strengths and results were (mostly) achieved when it mattered. Now, he has the challenge of trying to kick on, especially with expectations being raised. Like others have said, games against the likes of Hibs won't define our season, but the likes of Hamilton will. Robinson and his squad have more than earned the right to be given a shot at redemption, not early judgements on their abilities, especially the manager. Hopefully the board will give Robinson some cash and bringing Aldred back would seem the most sensible option given he shouldn't require a settling in period. That should help to bolster a backline that has looked less than stable.

Fowler interesting as like the way he conducts himself. Been impressed by Aitken, but both he and Fowler are untested at top level and I'm not sure that's what Motherwell need right now. Would be a fairly big gamble. A steady, experienced hand seems the way to go. Not overly keen on McGhee (don't think he'd be interested anyway) or even McCall returning, although not adverse to it. However, definitely not Pressley. Loves the sound of his own voice too much. Listen to him and you wold think he invented the game! PS Just a thought but what would fans think if a new back room team was needed and Malpas returned as an assistant/coach? Very highly thought of by players/board at Caley Thistle during successful time in Highlands. Could sort out our leaky defence!