joewarkfanclub
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Posts posted by joewarkfanclub
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3 minutes ago, joewarkfanclub said:
Playing on the Monday night before a big European game?
Interesting.
Given the scoreline, maybe they have rested some of their better players?
My good friend AI confirms this is the case. They rested 4 star players in advance of our game.
However, all 4 are currently now on the field.....
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Playing on the Monday night before a big European game?
Interesting.
Given the scoreline, maybe they have rested some of their better players?
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Think its fair to say that will be a step up then!
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I think on a fans football forum its entirely fair to point out mistakes and discuss them, just as it is with great pieces of play like the second goal, otherwise whats the point of the forum.
However, Ive just finished listening to the latest Motherwell Daft Podcast, and they make a very pertinent point.
Within the squad/coaching team we are encouragaing a more blameless/criticism free envornment to try and encourage bravery and confidence on the ball.
The example used was Williams passback which led to the penalty. If he had been absolutely slaughtered for that (as he no doubt would have been in the past), then would he have then had the confidence to burst forward to provide the assist for the winning goal? Or would he have played it safe and sat back in position and let someone else take the responsibility?
Its something Jens was very strong on (see Calum Ward) and it would seem something Alfred is continuing.
If you listen to Alfred and David Gray after the game, the difference is quite stark.
Gray totally focuses on mistakes and being better. Alfred swots away any talk of mistakes and focuses on the positives.
I think its definitely a mindset game that we seem to be getting much better at as a club/team.
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113 and 114 were sold out.
Helsinki seem to be releasing them in blocks as required.
Looks like we have sold about 500 so far.
Hopefully that number will creep up before Thursday.
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113 and 114 were sold out.
Helsinki seem to be releasing them in blocks as required.
Looks like we have sold about 500 so far.
Hopefully that number will creep up before Thursday.
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10 minutes ago, star sail said:
Couple of slightly negative comments looking at the highlights.
Firstly, I don't think that is a penalty for Hibs. Saw 50/50's like that all the time in the WC that were waved away ( McGinn included). Boyle played for the penalty and got it.
Secondly, Paulsen coming for two crosses and dropping both. I like the idea of him coming for those balls (Dykstra style) but you have to get them. On another day we would have been punished both times. It will be interesting to see if he perseveres with this.
Two small negatives that in the end did not matter. Loving Lowry's contribution for the 2 Nd goal. I am going to stick with the Stephen Hughes analogy with him for now, (ex Rangers bad boy come good) and it could have been a McGhee team Version 1 goal we were watching yesterday.
If Lowry has the same impact that SH had in McGhee's free flowing Motherwell team then we have a success on our hands.
Ive not been 100% sure about Paulsen so far (mostly because of his distribution), but Im going to defend him here (caveat being you've only seen the highlights).
He did come for a few cross balls before the ones he dropped and caught them all, so was obviously feeling pretty confident that he could catch everything by then.
I guess he just needs to work on his judgement/decision making.
I thought it was an encouraging performance by him with 3 really good saves, a couple of really good catches and distribution much better.
I think/hope like most of the team, he will only get better with games and the understanding that will develop between him and the rest of the defence.
I agree re Lowry. Small sample size, but he looked very comfortable on the ball and his involvement in the goal is exactly what we need going forward.
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Everything will depend on how we come thru' the european tie.
As long as we dont get hammered, put in a decent performance and come back with no more injuries, Id be fairly confident of 3 points here.
Falkirk look nowhere near the side they were last year and McGlynn is cutting a bit of a forlorn figure on the sidelines.
Wont be easy, it rarely is in the SPFL, but we owe them for last season. Be nice to collect 3 points and make a statement.
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I hadnt actually thought that the replacement for Just may already be in the building.
But if you think about it, Said has all the attributes.
Great close control, gets us up the pitch, brings other team mates into play with neat lay offs. Incredible work rate getting back into position to defend.
Just (pun intended) needs to work on the assists and finishing, but yesterday was a very good start.
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1 hour ago, Spiderpig said:
Our possible playoff round opponents if we get past Helsinki
Play- off round UEFA Conference League
Atalanta BC (ITA)
SC Freiburg (GER)
Panathinaikos FC (GRE) - FC CSKA 1948(BUL)
Paide Linnameeskond (EST) - SK Rapid (AUT)
FC Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) FCSt. Gallen 1879
The draw is later today, some decent teams in that group
Aye.
Reaching the group stage was always gonna be a big ask.
But if we can negotiate this tie (also not easy) at least our league game will be cancelled and we can get a clear run at it.
Be interesting to see who lies in wait. Big motivation for the team!
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Information shared on the Well Society Wattsapp Group that the meeting place is NARINKKA SQUARE from 2pm.
There are several bars on the square which have all said Wellfans are welcome.
Plan is a Corteo to the Stadium at 5.45pm for a 7pm ko.
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I think what Ive noticed so far is that there are less options available to the player on the ball this season.
Last year our movement ahead of the ball was fantastic and there were always 3 or 4 options on for a pass, which made it really difficult for teams to press us.
This season the movement is less with maybe 1 or 2 options. First half Hibs sat off us a little so that was fine. But second half when they pressed high, it put us under so much extra pressure.
Whether it just unfamiliarity at present due to squad turnover or, we just need to run harder as a team, Im not sure, but either way, it will need to improve. Especially against the better teams.
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Bit of a mixed bag today.
Lots of good stuff, but lots.of mistakes as well, which is to be expected bedding in so many new players.
Thought we were comfortable first half, without being exceptional, but produced the only piece of real quality of the half to win the penalty.
Second half Hibs pressed much higher and forced us into a lot more mistakes, which is a slight concern and an area we will need to improve.
Williams really sells Oscar for the penalty, not much Oscar can do but take the yellow.
We did have to dig deep after that, but was quite a pleasing aspect to see that we have that capability if required.
The second goal is a thing of beauty. Potentially team goal of the season already. So pleased for Said. He has such an infectious personality that makes you just desperate for him to do well.
Overall, a fantastic 3 points and just the result needed to keep confidence high going into a huge game on Thursday.
Everyone to Helsinki! 🧡❤️🧡
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Bit of a mixed bag for a lot of the players today.
A number of them did a lot of good things, but they also threw in a number of mistakes. Particularly in the second half when Hibs were pressing us much higher and more vigorously.
Paulsen did very well for the most part. 3 very smart saves and came for a good few cross balls, albeit he didnt win them all.
I went for Ibby though. His close control is always mesmerising, but his use of the ball, bringing teamates into play was much better today and his finish for the second goal was very composed.
Also, that smile! 🧡❤️🧡
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21 minutes ago, star sail said:
I am still feeling a little hungover from the end of last season. The new season has come around very quickly and I have a sense that normal service may resume with regard to the OF dominating both on and off the park particularly now that two Scottish media darlings in McIness and O Neil are at the helm of the respective teams.
Scottish VAR already seems to have learned absolutely nothing from the end of last season already going against the wider world football directive to only get involved with very clear and obvious errors.
It would be nice to see Hearts, Falkirk and particularly ourselves carry on the momentum from last season but squad overhauls in the summer prove how difficult that will be.
Aberdeen beating Hearts yesterday gives maybe the first sense that the old school Scottish football establishment are starting to reassert themselves.
We were miles ahead of Hibs in the last game of last season and we finished on a genuine high despite maybe some lingering regret that it could have been even better but I get a sense that the reset button has been pressed and the league may fall back into a more predictable pattern.
It would be a real shot in the arm for the season ahead of we were to dominate Hibs today like we did in May but I think it will be a much tougher test.
I would take a draw right now to maintain a positive start to the season going into a very difficult Euro tie next week.
I absolutely get why you feel this way.
The team took some time to earn our trust last season, and the same will be true this season, purely down to the changes of manager and personnel.
However, the early signs are good.
Today is the next stepping stone on that journey. It would be nice to get a win, even a point would do. However, Im more interested in the performance than the result.
If we can go to a difficult away venue, play our game, control the ball and you can see patterns of play and what we are trying to achieve, I will be more than happy.
Hibs will be dangerous in attack, but they can be got at, at the back. Control the ball, starve them of possession and limit their chances.
Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.
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A striker and another ball playing midfielder would be most welcome.
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Just now, weeyin said:
Not to derail the thread, but the most confusing one for me at work was when they talk about "tabling" something.
Instead of meaning "to put something in front of someone for discussion" it means the exact opposite - to put something away and maybe talk about it later.
Isnt that "shelving"?
Americans have some strange ideas!
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7 minutes ago, weeyin said:
Only if "they" are Americans who don't know the actual saying is "the proof of the pudding is in the eating"
(Sorry, that one drives me nuts every time I hear it over here).
Apologies!
I figured everyone would know that puddings were intended to be eaten.
Having been to America recently, they dont appear to be strangers to the concept!
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Really impressed with the managers thought process re squad building.
He is his own man and will tweak things eventually. But right now while the squad is in flux, keeping things the same until the squad is settled and on the same page makes perfect sense.
Once the squad is complete and up to speed, we can develop things in his image then.
Having the continuity of the same coaching staff obviously helps that. If that was a strategic choice made by the club, then just another decision they have got right.
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4 hours ago, Onthefringes said:
Agreed. I defended his ‘building incrementally’ statement a few weeks ago a statement that looks to have been naive.
This takes time, comfortable in those at the helm to trust the process.
The proof will be in the pudding as they say.
If we are sitting in 5 years time still in the top flight with a brand new POD built still challenging for top 6 and European football then all will be well in the world.
Id like a cup win as well, but happy to wait a little longer for that if we are transforming the club in the process.
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A couple of signings before we head out for Helsinki wont help our progress, but they would put a spring in the step of our supporters.
Its all about vibes at the start of the season. We need to keep the feelgood factor going as long as possible!
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36 minutes ago, Onthefringes said:
They could be if Longelo is around long enough…
If we sell Longelo on top of those that have already gone and the liklihood JT is out the door, then Kyrk is gonna have some questions to answer re his comments on " squad management".
It would be like a fire sale, just with loads more money involved!
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5 minutes ago, Spiderpig said:
Learning when to launch it long when there is no obvious pass to beat a high press is a good thing, if Ward had done it at parkhead last season we would have had another 3 points, and if Connelly had done it at Aberdeen, we would not have been dumped out of the Scottish cup.
Id be quite impressed if thats what he was doing, but it isnt/wasnt.
Of course the options in front of him have to be good as well, and I dont think our rotations are where they were last season (yet) but Paulsens body shape / positioning whilst receiving the ball isnt doing it for me right now.
Like I said though, early days.
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2 hours ago, mio said:
He is really good with the ball at his feet, I know that’s why we got him but he is “super” confident doing it….. which does scare me a little as goalies all think they are better players than they are. I’ve not seen anything so far to make me worry too much though, apart from his height.
keeper’s are always liable to have a nightmare, even the world class ones. I think he seems to have settled well so touch wood he continues to improve
Is he that good with his feet though?
I know thats why we went out and got him, but there were points last week and again last night where he looked less than comfortable and launched it long. On one occasion he booted it out the park under no pressure at all.
I will reserve judgment on him as we are only 2 games in and he has a brand new defence in front of him, but Im yet to be convinced by him.
More than happy to be proved wrong though!
2026/27 Ins & Outs Discussion
in Club Chat
Posted
Id be happy with 1 CM & a striker. Although some cover for RCC would be nice.
All depends on any outgoings though.
If JT leaves then we need to replace him as I dont think Luca Ross is gonna cut it unfortunately.