wellfan

You’re right. Persevering with an overly defensive 5-3-2 when we’re shipping goals for fun is unacceptable. It’s broken. Everyone and their dog can see that moving to 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 is a good idea, but Kettlewell can’t/won’t see it.

I agree with most of what you wrote in your overall post, but it’s this part that jumps out the most for me. It’s be said by many to a death. There’s only so long that this situation can be acknowledged and then excused before questions are rightly asked. History is repeating itself here and his repeated (in)actions are demonstrating to me that he’s incapable of learning, which highlights that he’s just not very good at being a football manager. He has no plan A, let alone the B and C he refers to in his repeated excuses.

Like clockwork.

Maybe others here may finally start to see what I’ve been saying about Kettlewell for some time. Other than riding our luck recently and relying on set pieces, he’s a clueless donkey with the tactical nous and learning capacity of a molten turnip.

Playing players out of position on an ongoing basis is one of Kettlewell’s biggest flaws.

Since we’re all pointlessly dreaming of Kettlewell moving away from starting 6 defenders in a defensive setup, how about a wild 4-2-3-1… Ox Kaleta Gordon Balmer/Casey Seddon Miller Wilson Watt Paton Maswanhise Stama

I’ve said this before: if I was Stama, and the manager kept deploying me in a way that rendered me useless, I’d be banging his door down before my stock dropped any further. It’s akin to buying a fork and trying to use it as a knife. Stupid.

Hibs can’t buy a win at the moment but of course we’re going to gift them the win. It’s what we do.

Give it a rest. We’re all adults with agency. if the Club told you Kettlewell was your Da, you’d be the first to believe it.

6 defenders. 1 up top. Zero attacking midfielders. Stama isolated. Wingbacks not making runs. Useless punts and pings. Second to every ball. Even the pies were shite. I may provide a fuller analysis of the game in time. Suffice to say, however, Kettlewell is a donkey and we got exactly what we deserved yesterday having set up like that. Utterly appalling and predictable pish from kick off. County deserved their win. Wish I hadn’t bothered with the massive dangerous journey.

Made it to Dingwall with an hour to spare. Fair weather here.

I’m on the A9 near Dunkeld on a bus right now. Everything is moving but slowly, although my advice to others would be turn back and go home.

The Maswanhise issue is a good problem to have, but you’re right that Kettlewell won’t change his formation to get Maswanhise, Stama and Watt in the same starting 11, unfortunately.

What you’ve said about Watt reflects what I’ve said above about him and Stama. They need to be played as part(s) of a formation that suits their game(s), either together or individually. As you say, it would be good to see them up top together.

I remember a lot more about games than the result. I go to matches to be entertained; win, lose or draw. The best game I’ve ever been to was the 6-6 draw v Hibs. So I challenge your point about stats being irrelevant.

Other than Stama, who deserves/needs a bit more time to get up to speed, as well as requires a formation designed to play to his strengths, I’d be looking for some wholesale changes in the January window, where feasible. Robinson - move on, not good enough Tavares - punt back to Hibs Vale - not worth the risk Moses - keep for chaos factor Maswanhise - lifetime contract Watt - give him a run of games, he can be useful Nicholson is also listed as a forward on the squad page, so I guess we need to factor him into these thoughts, although I see him more as an attacking midfielder. And then there’s the boys out on loan: Stupa, L. Ross, and Ferrie. I’d keep them all out on loan, particularly the latter as I just don’t think he’s got it at this level. Who are we bringing in? Any rumours? Which positions?

Max supporting Doak on that right wing needs to happen sooner or later, although Hickey will likely be ahead of him in the pecking order once fit again.

Aye, but what does World Cup winner Bonhof know that the SFA blazers don’t?! Probably a lot in this context. The SFA is run by a bunch of parochial old boys who would break into a delirious sweat at the thought of doing something that could affect their cushy empire. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/former-scotland-u21-coach-rainer-1083839.amp

That is great news for us at a Club level. However, until Gemmill and Clarke are replaced, the mismanagement of our U21 national squad will continue and the lack of opportunities for non-Rangers/Celtic/EPL/EFL U21s in the full national squad will likely continue.

It's not necessarily the fact that Clarke hasn't picked Miller that aggrieves me and others, it's that his reasoning for not doing so is utter bollox and can be picked apart through his other decisions and the things he says in the press. He's a twat.

Nothing. I think you've misread. My point is that he's basically asking for better exposure/development of Scottish U21 players, which flies in the face of his recent bollox reasoning for not calling up Scotland's most talented U21 player, Lennon Miller. The guy is an arrogant wanker.

Do as I say, not as I do. Twat. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/nov/14/scottish-football-has-to-change-its-youth-development-warns-steve-clarke

Loan update here: https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2024/11/13/loan-report-november/

Those interested in the stat above may be interested in the fact that every single English top flight team who had their U21 team play in the EFL Trophy group stages tonight lost.

The Rangers can’t afford him, but Celtic can. I hope he goes to neither.