wellfan

This forum is exactly the type of place for these discussions to be had by fans. The whole concept of sharing opinions and information on topics of shared interest is the very reason why such fora exist. At the end of the day, this is a ‘fans’ forum, and nobody is forcing the manager or players to read our thoughts. This is not the open terracing where folk often shout unnecessary and viscous crap at people trying to do their jobs, which is a whole different story. So, if robust and colourful debate on the suitability of Kettlewell as manager is too much for some, then that’s not the problem of the forum, it’s your problem.

As others note, and with our supposed budget, we should never be running with a 28-man first team squad or taking 10 gambles.

I think that him drastically changing his starting formation would be tantamount to him admitting he’s been getting it wrong for a while, and I just don’t think he’s got that in him. He has shown, with Bair for example, that he’s got an attitude of needing to be proven right in his decision making. It’s something he constantly reminds us of as he publicly ‘hangs his hat’ on things. However, if he goes 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 at the weekend, I’ll eat my hat.

Kettlewell has been given the budget to run a 28 man first team squad this season, not including those out on loan, so I would suggest that the budget argument can be dismissed as not being a limiting factor this season. Also, there are many injuries, but he still has 19 first team players available to work with. If he can't get a tune out of them, then he's in the wrong job. I did wonder how long it would take for someone to trot out the 'without investment' line. You've also managed to completely contradict yourself in what you've said here. That is, are we being left behind or are we doing well competing with other more financially liberal clubs? It can't be both. The body language of some of the players at the weekend, as well as some of the subsequent rumours about disharmony, would suggest that he's well on the way to losing the dressing room. I think the tipping point has likely already been reached. On the rallying round point; what do you think that massive away support at the weekend was?! We're witnessing the most stubborn of busted flushes take himself and the team down with him. Is hoping for someone with at least some semblance of tactical nous too much to ask for? Who that is is up to the current Board to seek out.

History has shown that, for the most part, Kettlewell is the architect of his own downfall. The saying "If a man can't help himself, no one will" comes to mind here.

Bailey Rice got 30 mins for the rangers this afternoon. His only notable contribution to the game was to have the ball blootered off his face. What a waste.

We’ve been saying these things since the bad run in late 2023. What more will it take for people to realise that perhaps he’s simply incapable of evolving, developing, and adapting?

Callahan was a known crock so this is unsurprising. It’s not his fault, but Kettlewell giving him a contract has cost the club his wage and that of An Other. We have a 28-man first team squad FFS.

I shall see you soon.

The same people who tried to flog the club to a snake oil salesman.

Hope you enjoyed the gig.

The cynic in me says that the previous Board deliberately failed to communicate that contract extension because they knew it was undeserved following that dreadful 15 game winless run.

You’re right. It’s unfortunate that others didn’t come to this conclusion in December 2023 before he was given further windows to construct a bigger pile of shite.

Surely he knows that his contract won’t be renewed in the summer if he doesn’t turn things around, but he’s never shown any evidence of being able to make the sustained and systematic changes required when things get consistently shit, so his continuing downfall is going to damage us further. He’s basically on a hiding to nothing because of his own inabilities and stubbornness.

He’s on a rolling contact which should be terminated immediately before fans walk away en masse. https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2024/08/31/stuart-kettlewell-and-stephen-frail-sign-new-deals/ An argument could be made that it would cost the club less to sack him now and pay his wages to May 2025 than it would to absorb the cost of giving him his fourth transfer window to further bloat the squad with shite.

Limited resource? That’s an excuse I cannot accept when Kettlewell has been given the budget to build a huge first team squad of 28 players. It’s actually more if you count those he’s sent out on loan. The reality is that he’s signed a significant number of players and still can’t get the best out of the current 19 first team players who remain fit and eligible to play for him each week. He only has himself to blame in that regard.

The tipping point has been reached. It’s only a matter of time now.

St Johnstone 2-0 Motherwell Also: Kettlewell to be booked. SODs to trip over his own arse. Back five. Casey to batter Frail. Zero shots on target. Halliday in midfield on his own. 35% possession. 150 Well fans to make the journey. Basically, it’s looking like Simo may Finnish off Kettlewell.

No. Kettlewell lives in his own head. His post-match interviews quite clearly demonstrate that.

The same could be said of several players, including some of those important players currently out injured (eg. Miller and Stama). Square pegs into round holes comes to mind. I wouldn’t be surprised if they collectively chuck it next week to speed up the inevitable. If so, Kettlewell will only have himself to blame.

Good. Kettlewell is asking them to flog the same dead horse every week, which will only reduce the players’ stock and rightly make them angry.

Yet another predictably poor performance and defeat where zero personal responsibility is taken by Kettlewell in the aftermath.

All those saying next week is massive etc are missing the point. Today was massive. The continual shrug of the shoulders and better-luck-next-time attitude is precisely why donkeys like Kettlewell continue to be safe in their jobs.

Fair play.

The kit man. At least he did his job to the standard expected.