wellfan

https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2023/08/04/a-note-from-the-chairman-ahead-of-the-2023-24-season/

The Bair Pitch Project.

8th

Pretty much this. And we must remember that Kettlewell is a relatively inexperienced 1st team manager, and he will likely make most of his significant rookie mistakes at Motherwell now. I must admit, though, offering a 2-year deal to Bair does seem bizarre given his track record at his age and our desire to cut the wage bill and liabilities. As I said, this type of signing could prove to be Kettlewell's first ludicrous mistake, but he's earned the right to have a go with his 'project' for now.

Our squad was bloated due to the two previous management regimes, but that’s no longer the case and the Board has made it clear that Kettlewell will not be given a similar budget to allow that to happen again. However, given who’s gone out, and noting what Kettlewell has said in the media, I'd assume he's got the budget for 2-3 more signings. And it’s worth considering that perhaps some of that budget will be kept aside to rescue him in January if the ‘project’ strikers fail to do the business in the coming months. There is no need to panic or slaughter anyone yet. OUT Max Johnston Kevin van Veen Mikael Mandron Connor Shields Jack Aitchison David Devine Jake Carroll Josh Morris Riku Danzaki Corey O'Donnell Daniel Hunter Kian Speirs Stuart McKinstry James Furlong Ollie Crankshaw Ross Tierney (loan) Robbie Mahon (loan) Sam Campbell (loan) IN Davor Zdravkovski Theo Bair Pape Souare Conor Wilkinson Jon Obika

Of course people are. It's a football forum replete with shite takes and rumours.

It's just a hunch, and it would be naive to suggest that agents aren't crafty when it comes to engineering situations when a player is unhappy. Perhaps a potential suitor is already waiting back home. But as I said, just a hunch.

I've got a feeling that Efford may be working his ticket back to the USA.

Pretty much, or Fletcher... Either way, KVV was always going to be difficult to replace. Obika isn't the answer and it's too early to judge Wilkinson, but early signs are not promising.

Once Tierney, Shields and Efford are off the payroll, I fully expect Kettlewell to have the resource to bring in a ‘marquee’ signing.

With two years left on his contract, and it being the case that he’s out of favour, this is a sensible move. We now must sign a proven creative midfielder and a natural goalscorer.

We give hIm minutes to allow him to develop. That’s it.

So much crap. Taking Obika off rendered us blunt. Wilkinson is nothing. SOD is hopeless. Slattery fades in and out. Spittal is our best player by far.

What sword?

Why is Wilkinson still on the park?

The team is crying out for width from Furlong and Johnson type players. SOD and Pape not delivering.

They shouldn’t be, but perhaps that’s what’s happened in recent years. Who signed Danzaki, for example?

Queens Park giving us a good test. We need to do better in a lot of areas.

Exactly, but it can be a fine balancing act across a season to not over-expose the youngsters vs not ship goals due to certain pros being consistently and predictably guff.

We probably need another CB, but perhaps that's why we've only sent Sam Campbell out on loan for 6- months. Agree on the strikers and RWB, although Shields (#9), Efford (#11) and Tierney (#10) are the attackers still on our books, and SOD and McGinn cover RWB/RB. Perhaps Shields is moved on, Efford is injured, and Tierney goes out on loan to allow more incomers, and maybe SOD will come good again if he's to play attacking RWB in the 352, as he did for Scotland. It'll take Kettlewell another season to turn over this squad, and, just like you said, I think he knows what needs to be done.

Perhaps good enough to be 2nd string, but they're likely on relatively high wages, which we probably can't afford to have sitting on the bench every week. I think the dynamic will change if Sam Campbell comes back from his six-month loan and forces his way in front of them, which I hope is the case for the young lad.

Not an in/out (yet), but worth mentioning that McGinn had the armband the other night instead of 'vice captain' Lamie when Kelly was a sub.

Has that been reported?

That's Viaplay in the bin. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/scotland/66256891