joewarkfanclub

This was genuinely one of the hardest ones to pick of recent seasons, and for the right reasons this time! So many good performances. Penney had a very good debut. Calm and assured on the ball and the timing of his runs on the overlap were very good. Good assist for the 2nd goal. Goss and Slattery ran the show in the midfield and both were able to show what good passers of the ball they can be when there is actual movement in front of them and willing recipients for the ball. Efford was like a different player, particularly in the first have. Power, pace, precision. Great to see. I nearly gave it to KVV, not just for his hat trick, but for getting the other parts of his game right as well. The lazy, greedy KVV was gone and he became the self proclaimed "good team mate" that he needs to be. However, all that said, Ive gone for Ross Tierney. Its a while since we had a player who could get you off your seat the minute he gets on the ball. ICT did their best to disrupt his influence, but the wee fella stood up to it and put in the kind of performance we all hoped he could. Played in his correct position, it was a joy to watch. It would have been nice had he capped it with the goal his performance deserved, but his general play and distribution to team mates was excellent. Hopefully that gives him the confidence to kick on. Special mention for the debutees. McKinstry, Miller and Aarons all showed that they have something to contribute to this team. And whilst the level of opponent has to be taken into account, we suddenly look a lot stronger from the bench than we appeared at the start of the season

Our record against United at home is pretty decent. Certainly better than our record up there. Getting rid of Ross will certainly improve their chances, if indeed he was the problem, but there has to be still huge question marks iver the mentality of their squad. I expect another tough and tight game, as they all are in this league outwith the big 2, however, it is a game we should be targetting 3 points from with some big challenges coming our way very soon.

Thought we were excellent last night. I understand we were playing a championship club, but Im struggling to recall a cup tie in recent memory where we looked so comfortable against a lower league opponent and despatched them with such ease. Remember this ICT team got to the play off final as recently as this May. I also wouldnt rate them any worse than Sligo and we know how that turned out. Its amazing the difference a new manager and a few weeks can make. There was an intensity, speed of thought and speed of pass that we just didnt get under GA. We played some really nice footbal with lovely interplay between Slattery, Goss, Spittal, Tierney and KVV. The movement off the ball was much better and we created some very good chances over and above the ones we scored. You can see little partnerships developing in all areas of the pitch and its clear to see that many of these players are indeed much better than they were allowed to show under the previous regime. Its still early days, and much tougher tests lie ahead, but its all very encouraging and actually a nice feeling to be enjoying going to the fitba again.

For me Cornelius and Maguire are the kind of players that will do the hard graft in midfield to allow players like Goss Slattery and Spittal to go and play. I agree that at the moment Cornelius seems to have a little bit more about him, but Maguire is still recovering from a bad injury, so we might not see the best of him for a bit yet. Before he got injured he looked to me as if he was getting there and the timing was very unfortunate for him. I didnt thknk it was any coincidence that our form fell off a cliff edge round about that time. I think Stevie Hammell is still wrestling with how to get the best out of the players we have, but there is no doubt a few additikns of better quality would certainly help him. Hopefully we have a left back that we can rely on now until the end of the season. But another striker and a decent wide player would be beneficial, albeit I hope McKinstry can fill that role. I dont see us getting in another centre half unless we are able to move one or two on.

Thats just not true.

We could do with a Cup Run and getting some consistency in selection and performance. Go with our strongest 11. Get the game won and then worry about giving others game time.

Poor mans Gboly Ariyibi. Not sure Id be that fussed about him coming back.

Not sure. But we just signed a left back on a 6 month loan. Not sure of your point?

It was between McGinn, Slattery and Cornelius for me. I gave it to Slattery as he was involved in most of the positive work we did in midfield, predominantly in the first half. As I mentioned elsewhere, I think the game was lost with his substitution and that of Cornelius.

Wow! I feel like I was at a different game today! For the first 30 mins I thoroughly enjoyed the way we were playing and thought we were bossing the game. My Kilmarnock supporting mates agreed. They thought they were in for a hiding. But Killie grew into the game and finished the 2nd half stronger and we were a little fortunate to go in at half time still in the lead. 2nd half McInnes tweaked things and Killie had more of the play and created some good chances, but I felt we were still dangerous on the counter and but for some poor decision making in the final third could have had the 2nd goal that would have made us comfortable. I thought at the time of the substitutions we did need to make some. But I felt they were the wrong ones. Cornelius, for me, was having a good game and we missed his energy big time when he went off. Efford for Shields is a natural replacement but Morris for Cornelius just didnt work. I could have seen the point ifhe had brought Morris on for Spittal as they are more similar in their role and Spittal probably isnt quite there yet fitness wise. The 2nd one I couldnt get was Slattery for Maguire. We were under pressure and needed ball retention. Slattery is just more composed on the ball than Maguire so I couldnt get my head around that one at all despite how tired Slattery may or may not have been. Ultimately we got what we deserved in the end for some poor defending and bad decision making. But losing today felt a million miles away from the losses under GA. The body language from the players is night and day from where it was before. We still have many things needing fixing. But we are headed in the right direction. This is a team I can be enthusiastic about again.

Didnt know John, but always sad to hear of the passing of a fellow 'Well fan, particularly one of such long standing. Thoughts and best wishes to all who knew him.

Beat me too it!

Play SOD right back and move McGinn in one. CH problem solved?

To be fair that probably is 2 players salaries at our level.

Look forward to the Daily Record reporting Motherwell interested in Gilmour and Aguero stories tomorrow!

Lets hope it pisses down and makes it a more natural playing surface!

We also have a board that will listen to us. All good things imho. I also remember the standing ovation we gave Kilmarnock at Rugby Park after they won the League Cup and the respect we paid to Liam Kelly after his father died during the final. A lot of Kilmarnock fans said they couldnt imagine having done that if the roles were reversed. I know we were just about to qualify for the Champions League, but still shows our fans can also be shown in a good light.

I expect another closely fought contest. McInnes usually takes the pragmatic approach when setting up his teams and can be quite good at identifying/exposing weaknesses in the opposition. That said, Killie have had a poor start to the season and our recent change in the dugout will have limited his opportunity to see how we are likely to set up. Hopefully a good travelling support for this one. Fingers crossed we can keep the momentum going.

McKinstry in. Announce Snoddy!

That would be some signing as well.......

McKinstry is a really exciting signing on so many levels. Was really disappointed we never got to see him play for the first team after all the hype about him coming through the youth ranks. Now we get the chance to see what he could have offered and probably closer to the finished article than he would have been at the time. The fact that the voy is Motherwell daft and will also fulfill a childhood dream bodes well. He also happens to be able to fill a position we were sadly lacking in until now. Will be interesting to see how Leeds see his future. But nice to have him here meantime.

2 players left our squad that season out of contract. One was Declan Gallagher. The other was Alan Campbell. You work it out Declan........

Watt was great for us. I was annoyed at how he left but bygones. Unfortunately coming back to a club very rarely ever works out so, thanks, but no thanks.......

Tough game, as they always are against Livvy. But definitely one we should be looking to win at home. I always think a draw at their place with the plastic pitch is a great result, but at home on grass with renewed confidence we need to target 3 points. If we get them it starts to look a very good start to the season. Hopefully a couple of new faces in this week as well just to give the whole place another wee lift.

Came out as a 100% bona fide "Motherwell Man" (Not that it was ever in any doubt)