Clackscat
-
Posts
617 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
9
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Posts posted by Clackscat
-
-
We got about 400k dev fee when he left us for Leeds so that ship has sailedHe's 23 and there's talk of Kilmarnock not standing in his way - no mention of whether they're getting a fee. Would we be due a development fee?Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
Well thought out and reasoned assessment hopefully the 2 line (they are all shite) posters on here will have found the time to read and digest what a good analysis and well articulated comment looks like even if they don't agree with all of it.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.
The issue for me is that our agricultural style of play is tolerated as long as we get results, but with mainly below par performances so far and the continuation of last seasons shortcomings with little sign of change I understand why the knives are out quicker than would otherwise be the case.
If progress isn't made I fear we will start turning in on ourselves again which in turn makes it harder for players. I hope solid footballing wins against Accies and Livi takes the heat off as I dread the reaction if not.
Time for cool heads.
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
Totally agreeSammon played well alongside Bowman in the league cup. He also has played well when the style was less agricultural.
Main on the other hand hasn't played well with anyone this term and his poor form extends back to last season.
Right now I'd much rather see Sammon/Johnson than Main/Johnson.
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
No.....weeyins comment alluded to the fact that Vigurs lack of pace as an opposing player played a significant fact in some goals Humphrey scored.I don't think they played together either. did they?
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
1
-
-
Brilliant post absolutely spot onI hadn’t read this thread or seen the news of Cedric leaving until having a shufty on here. I’m glad there’s some common sense prevailing as 3 or so pages ago there was some proper slavering getting done.
Yes, losing Kipre at this time is a great loss to the team. Yes, he will be difficult to replace but the club recognised that when they started signing him up on better deals. I and anyone else who wasn’t a half wit knew then that Cedric would be gone sooner rather than later.
I can only assume that Kmac is young enough to not remember the Boyle “we are going to be Scotlands third force” era?
i also assume that those calling for an expansion on player quality are unaware of the financial restrictions imposed upon a fan owned club of our size? Tried and tested costs money we don’t have. Money we can’t generate without trading players at a profit.
On the topic of profit. Cedric has been one the best bits of business I have known Motherwell to have. We’ve done everything we promised him and our player/agent marketing machine gets a fresh story sell.
However, all this “he’s gonnae be worth £9m this time next hear” is fanciful to say the least. For example, Charlton sold Ezri Konsa to Brentford for £3m this summer. He’s a home grown centre back with footballing ability and pace to burn. He was a member of the England U19&20 wc winning squads and played circa 30 games last season at CB, RB and CDM in league 1 never once looking out of place.
The point I’m making is that pound for pound, he’s a better player than Cedric Kipre on all counts at this time and is an Englishman playing in the English leagues. Cedric will do well but will have very tough competition in the division he’s going to.
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
Hasn't missed that many games for someo ne with a dodgy shoulder.I haven't seen the interview yet however I have heard we are actively looking to sell Carson as he has a dodgy shoulder and it's always been a bit of an issue.
So dunno if it is related to that.
I am convinced though he and Kipre will be away this window. Gillespie hasn't come to play back up, McHugh is going back to centre half, Donnelly can play right side of a back 3, and Maguire wasn't sent on loan.
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
Wingers always tend to divide supports as generally they are not consistent and the standard of full back they face will vary.Frear had a decent last 20 minutes but he was poor for the first 70. His delivery in the first half was poor and his reluctance to take his man on when he is 1 v 1 is very frustrating. Thought it was telling that when he finally went past his man for the first time in the second half there was an audible cheer from our support. He thereafter went on to have a very good end to the game. Incredibly frustrating player to watch when you eventually get a glimpse of what he is capable of.
I think if Frear doesn't get the ball at the right angle or the full back and/or other cover is well positioned he is reluctant to take him on and potentially lose possession, and I can almost hear the moans if that happens.
No matter how good the winger is and how bad the full back is he is not going to skin him every time, and while Cadden and Tait work together well on the right side Frear seems more isolated on the left and therefore we are more vulnerable if he does lose possession, hence I think his reluctance at times to take the full back on unless he feels cover is behind.
That said he had a great run and shot in the first half, and as the full back tired he certainly did start taking him on more as 2nd half went on, and successfully.
I think he is a big player for us and when you see him laying on a goal like Sammons and scoring a hat trick I do understand the frustration it doesn't happen more often, but it ain't static dustbins he is playing against and that has an effect also.
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
Seems like the 'depth' of our squad is going to get a severe test at Hibs game with Campbell and Maguire suspended, Bowman a doubt, Hartley still feeling his way back, and Tanner and Dunne out injured.
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk -
Excellent post. What I was alluding too earlier but much better articulated!!But he's right, at least in part. Mud sticks so easily in football that when the claim is made that we're just long ball merchants some folk will accept it without a second thought. Like last season we were the dirtiest bastards in the league because Rangers lost to us and spat the dummy backed up by Brendan Rodgers seeing an opportunity to put ideas into referees heads and suddenly you've all and sundry wailing for non-existent fouls and arseholes like Neil Lennon screaming about protecting McGinn against us when the wee dick had spent the full game kicking anyone that moved in claret and amber.
Absolutely there are Motherwell fans out there who will genuinely believe our game is hoofball 100% of the time. Heard and seen it repeated often enough that every long ball they see just reinforces what they've come to believe is the case and are now becoming blind to what is actually the case.
Do we utilise the long ball? Yes we do. Overly so at times when what is actually our primary tactic of getting the ball crossed in from wide areas isn't working. And when done too often it is unquestionably to our detriment such as Saturday past. But some would have you believe this is our only tactic but that's just not the case. How did we manage to score our first last night if we're just a long ball side? That's not entirely uncommon, Cadden did much the same the previous week too. How did we come to end up we having Frear, who missed however many games, being the player who put most crosses into the box last season if all we do is put long balls up the park? How does Tait seem to get as many assists if all we do is punt long balls?
Now you can certainly question the aesthetics of primarily wanting to get balls into the box from wide areas and you can perfectly justifiably make a claim that a quick tempo possession based style that moves the ball on the ground at speed can offer more entertainment value but If you genuinely believe that the only thing Motherwell offer is hoof-ball then I'd agree you're following a particular flock rather acknowledging we have more than a single way of playing the game.
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
Understand where you are coming from but in a dressing room scenario where everyone knows whats going on that is highly unlikely. If a player was being singled out it would become obvious. Also Josh has nothing to gain from commenting.It does, but of course any kind of abuser is often perfectly charming to and around the people he or she isn't abusing, so other people saying "he's not a bully cos I never seen him do it" doesn't in itself make it any more or less likely that it happened.
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
There was some hoofball last night but thought there was plenty examples when we got it down and played, also recirculating the ball along the back line which then had some behind me moaning we weren't getting it forward quickly enough.......can't please all of the people all of the time I guess.....as long as we vary it and play it at the right time a quick long ball out of defence can be very effective, if we rely on it all the time then less so. From whst I have seen there was a bit more variation last night until the last 20 minutes when we went 4-5-1 to shut the game down, something which plenty on here moaned we hadn't done under previous regimes.Anyone who think's we play hoof football doesn't have a fucking clue what they're watching. You know there is an inbetween tika-taka and hoof ball, and we fit in nicely between the two.
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
Jee whizz telling a player he is not up to the standard required, dropping him and putting him on the transfer list.......that would be called bullying nowadays!!
And what about the photo caption?
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
Disappointing but not surprising that the usual suspects plus 1 or 2 others seem to relish putting the boot in after a disappointing performance and result, but such is life.
It will be great to see as much enthusiastic banging of keyboards should we play well on Tuesday, but I won't hold my breath.
I have worries about the season ahead and our style of play at times, but try to be objective, good or bad.
Picking up on comments re Curtis Main, having watched him at Dunfermline and v Edinb City I agree he seems out of sorts, and we must hope he gets back on song soon. I share worries that Rodriquez Gorrin looks no better than Bigi thus far, but will be delighted if I am proved wrong. None of the new signings have over impressed me thus far but then neither did Louis Moult or Kipre for that matter so hopefully they will get time to settle in before being written off.
My fear for the season ahead is that our style of play will only be tolerated while we have decent results but jumped on when not. If wee Tommy was cut no slack when we hit a sticky spell after actually winning a trophy Robbo will suffer likewise if we are not producing results.
Having said all that bad as today sounds we are not the only SPL side to have a 'mare' against lower league opposition at this stage and won't be the last. It is only the 2nd competitive game of the season,
Negativity from the stands becomes a self fullfilling prophecy which helps no one so hopefully a good result in Tuesday will have everyone feeling a bit more positive
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk-
1
-
1
-
-
It was 3 5 2 exact line up as 1st hslf v DunfermlineThe way the BBC has the team listed, it looks like 352 but I wouldn't put too much stock in that...
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
Donnelly subbed at ht v DunfermlineCant speak for the Crusaders game but having watched games v Darlington and Dunfermline. Am I correct in believing Donnelly wasn't subbed. Would indicate a desire to get match fit to play. Team selection who knows. 352 or 442. Last years early rounds had some experiments player wise but this year not so many new faces to fit in.
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
Agreed, I think Thursday nights back 3 will start on Tuesday with option of Taylor Sinclair to make it a back 4Hence McHugh getting game time at the back?
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
Started Donnelly McHugh Dunne as a back 3 with Tait and Frear as wing backs. Were decent in 1st half totally dominated. Frear saw a lot of the ball tried also to mix it up as well as the long diagonal. Second half disjointed after all the subs.Looking at tonight's team lineup
It struck me that be it 352 or 442, almost certain McHugh would be playing centre back again. Unless we're playing Tait in a back three for some unknown reason. So that's McHugh in a back three or four with four centre midfielders on the bench. Anyone think we have too many midfielders.. ?
Too early to make a judgement on the new guys, none stood out either as great or terrible, looked still short of match sharpness. Decent work out.
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
Think you missed the humour in CoF's post but I can understand why given the prediliction of some on here53 minutes into our 1st pre season game and first negative comment :-)
Not sure what you base that comment on. Perhaps it was losing to Gateshead and some other English non league outfit pre-season last year before going on to get to 2 cup finals and almost top 6.
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
Complete change of team for 2nd half..main just hit bar
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk -
League cup for 18 aug presume others for internationslsDoes anyone know why there's no fixtures on 18 August (a mere 3 Saturdays into the season), 8 September, 14 October and 17 November? Very much a stop start programme. International breaks??Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
I understand Flow has tweeted sponsor announcement by early next week and strip unveil shortly after. Think he called the new strip somewhat unique and he is delighted with it. Big build up!
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
AgreedSeen a wee snippet in the daily record today that Dumbarton are going to sound out Motherwell about taking George Newell on loan, I think that would be a good move for him actually to go there and get games as well as hopefully rattle in a few goals and get his confidence up.
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
Aye but Moult and Higdon did, Sutton did ok and I wouldn't write Newell off yet. The rest I agree although at the time thought Fisher a decent signing. Wonder if an early goal would have made a differenceOur recruitment of strikers recently has been a bit hit and miss compared with other positions. Blyth/Fletcher/Newall/Petravičius/Fisher (and for some, Bowman) haven't covered themselves in glory.
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
-
Perhaps not but I doubt any signing we make will be 'exciting' given the market we operate in. We have to trust our management teams ability to identify the potential a player has. Anyone with a proven recent track record at a decent level that would excite those of a curmudgeonly predeliction is most probably beyond us.Had only a quick glance at his stats. Closer look at Soccerbase suggests you're closer to the truth although under other comps they have him scoring 7 goals in 0 starts and 0 sub appearances. He must be good if he can score 7 without playing.Maybe I'm just an old curmudgeon but it's not a signing that would excite me...
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
Former Motherwell Fc Players Thread
in Club Chat
Posted
Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk