wellsince75

Like you I've been backing SH, albeit it's becoming harder every week to justify it. What I did like is he looked as annoyed as the rest of us after the game and was happy to call it out. He's been far too loyal to the likes of Lamie, Slattery, Goss , KVV. Appreciate not always had many choices but there's time to simply drop them, even if they're better skilled than others. Time is to stop losing, forget the lofty ambition of free flowing football. Get 11 men who'll get stuck in and work their backsides off - forget the 4-3-3 with 2 powderpuff midfielders.

I was enthused about SH's appointment . Other than Simo it wasn't obvious which experienced manager wanted the role and I thought Simo's lack of Scottish football would be a challenge with such a limited transfer window. He started reasonably well and I backed him through a pretty tough run of fixtures pre xmas. Sadly the decline has continued and we're woeful. I can now see why GA benched some of the players who I thought were decent. SH is a good guy, doing his best. His lack of experience and willingness to change formations, bring in the types of players we needed (more defensively minded than attacking) is costing us and likely end up relegated. Hard to see how he'll turn the ship around. Which is gutting to be honest.

there will be plenty of managers willing to take the job. Whether they can salvage anything is a different story. Sadly this is now as bad/if not worse than Malpas' time.

How Goss and Slattery start every game puzzles me as well. McKinstry/Cornelius would be preferred . Goss is reminding me more and more of Polworth. Capable when interested.

@siebsbarmyarmy like you I've been trying to remain optimistic. From the current team I see us having a very decent keeper and decent (not brilliant) attacking options. That leaves a full defence and core midfield that I have little confidence in. In the past when our backs have been against the wall there's always been a quorum that I believed in would see us through. From guys like Leitch, Craggs, Hammel, Lasley, McManus, Faddy, Turnbull, Campbell etc. We don't have anyone like that now (who remain as players) Appreciate this is captain hindsight but the last 4-5 years have been a decline , so much so a large majority of our fans expect relegation.

We are already in the deep you know what - previously we had people masquerading we need centre halves 1 maybe 2 left back holding /battling midfield x2 striker Appreciate still time but I’ve not heard any noise from the club at any point that gives me confidence that these glaring gaps will be solved says it all when we look at stmirren with envy - poor show

It's pretty clear that Goodwin will be gone by then. SH also on a very shoogly peg We need to make some bold decisions and drop several of the players who simply aren't good enough and don't work hard enough. Starting with the midfield.

I hear you Yorky . my point was he can see the issue - that’s different from being able to solve the issue

Look at the bench there wasn't that many other obvious options. Personally I'd have Cornelius rather Shields but that would change the shape of the team. Good to see the defensive changes from last week still in place. That's a step in the right direction. 3 points please Motherwell.

I've got loads of confidence in Hammys ability to see the issue and know the positions he needs to solve. Previous managers post match comments often led me wondering if I'd been watching the same game. Although it's been dire with mistakes I've always felt Hammy's summary of games was akin to many of us , general punters. The key is can he solve the issues, here's hoping he can. 3 points today would get some off his back.

Completely with you , these positions have been an issue for +12 months likes of shields , SOD would be of interest to other clubs .

We've got a pretty reasonable run of fixtures coming up. To get out of the mire winning 3 from our next 7 games would make a huge difference. Suspect one of the teams in and around us will hit a purple streak , equally StMirren/St.J could get sucked into the mix. I rather hope it's us who can create our turn of good fortune.

agree about the 3 positions you mention. Re Penney, he may end up being a 'Well player longer term. Although back at his parent club it's clear we're keen on him, they will want some form of fee. Suspect on the last day on the window he'll come back. Re SOD. A player of his capability should be an easy pick each week - particularly given how poor our defence & midfield have been BUT it's not worked for him over the last 2 years. Should be an easy player to offload to many clubs in the SPL.

a win and a clean sheet. to the next round we go. More of the same over the coming weeks please.

good call @Richie

Really happy to see some changes . Needed a shake up . feel a little for Cornelius - I’d have him ahead of the core 3 we stick with . we need to be solid at the back and win this one

Good luck Clarky - I honestly didn’t recognise him in the pic . he understands our youth system , cares about the club . Good appointment .

Probably semantics over salary. As long as loan and gone by end of season , then everyone's a winner.

certainly more mobile.

McCart for me would be a very good signing. He was excellent for StJonhstone , always played well against us. There must be lots of affordable options for centre halves. What I find a little concerning is it's mostly attacking options that we're linked with, when it's the defence thats the key issue. It may be just how things are progressing. But to your point, someone like McCart would be a very welcome addition.

Like you I've backed Hammell and have a level of sympathy re who he can select, equally Im fed up with his tolerance to accepting repeat errors from the same players. He needs to be ruthless. Irrespective of how raw Blaney is he should have started before now. Sol costs goals every game, as does Lamie. Stevie needs to be much stronger in terms of dropping players for costing us. I'd drop both of them, it's a risk but he needs to make it crystal clear that these types of repeated errors are unacceptable. We need to start winning games to inject a little bit of confidence. I'd drop several of the recent regulars for this game and beyond. A cup run would be a welcome distraction from the league. Like you mentioned, anything other than a win puts serious doubt over the mgt team.

probably true - suspect why GA dropped him for so many months. If he was an outstanding footballer he'd get away with it but he isn't and at a club like ours I believe we need everyone working their arses off. Tolerance part of our problem, we tolerate players not quite fit, we tolerate same mistakes from Sol/Lammie, causing us goals every week. I know this is rose coloured specs but under McLean some of these guys would have their arses kicked and dropped/shipped out. I'd happily get rid of some of our journeymen and put faith in our youngsters.

Some great points made @supermarv , I agree with all of them. Defensively Lamie/Sol both need dropped and if Blaney is as poor then shame on the club for signing him. An absolutely waste of time and money. We need central defenders who are significantly better. Agree re Spittal - Cornelius for me is a much harder worker and better option. Ditto re Johnston. He was there all the time. For me will be better than S'OD or McGinn. In short our younger Well Players coming through including the return of McKinstry are proving to be better than muckiest of the dross we've signed in recent years.

McGinn can play holding midfield and protect the centre halves .

nice. 6ft 3. Beginning to make sense, couple of wingers, balls into the box etc. Nice to see new faces coming through, sounds like there will be more to come which is great.