star sail

I heard Martindale say he would be surprised if we did not finish top 4 this season. I think we are the second best team in the league right now. We possibly should have beaten Hearts twice so that the table would me more reflective of the teams potential. I would imagine Celtic and Rangers will finish the season first and second because of the resources they have. Third must be a realistic possibility. My biggest concern now is keeping the manager. He looks to be the real deal and other bigger clubs will be taking note. In every aspect from squad building to team rotation to style of play JBA has been exceptional.

Did you actually read what I said? You have misunderstood the point? The tactics were perfect and it showed in the performance and result I just think it would be better for JBA to continue to fly under the radar so that those who may have a wish to undermine his achievements have no ammunition to do so.

I thought that JBA's comments about Hanley was possibly the first mistake he has made since arriving at the club. I don't think there is any doubt that some of the Scottish football establishment (out own Stephen Craigan being one of them) will be slightly irked by Motherwell's success. JBA has shown that there is a better way to do things and at this moment in time, he is showing clubs with much bigger resources, the way. DM'S comment that Motherwell are a good team, but the table doesn't lie suggests that the positivity towards Motherwell's style of play is getting to him a bit. I think that JBA has balanced a confidence in his methods with a humility and respect for the other teams. I don't think there was anything wrong with the comment he made about Hanley but for the first time, knowing the game in Scotland, I did think it would be used as a stick to beat him with from those who's noses are out of joint by Motherwell's success. In general, I think the comments from the media have been hugely positive. Radio Scotland were enthusing about the Hibs performance. Michael Stewart has been a fan from the very beginning. Ian McCall and his crones have years of Scottish Football failure to justify under their watch so I can see why JBA is a threat. They will be desperate for him to fail because they want to continue to ply their trade in the Scottish game. I don't think negative press can necessarily derail the project but it would be a distraction that the manager does not need. I hope JBA doesn't give them any ammunition.

I agree about the atmosphere. St Mirren players and fans were more up for the game from the start. When the direct blood and thunder approach of a good Scottish football side works in can certainly stir the emotions and St Mirren did it very well yesterday. You could see the passion in their play. SR had them well up for the game and he had clearly used the negative press about their style to his advantage. I actually thought SR was a great manager for us and I don't think his achievements were ever fully appreciated for the very reason that supporters now believe that they should be watching budget Barcelona's every week.

St Mirren's game plan was successful last night but there is a ceiling to that style of play. That is why Scottish teams are embarrassed every July/ August by European minnows who'd style of play had moved on from the 1980's. Remember that Robinson's / Alexander's/ Kettlewell's style of football was generally rejected on this forum because of it's pragmatic industrial approach. A Motherwell team playing the traditional Scottish way could just as easily have lost that game last night. SR is very good at what he does. I don't doubt that this is an experiment that may not work. Our old Captain Stephen Craigan had already written it off during the League Cup group stage. Kris Boyd predicted us as relegation favourites but I think both of those dinosaurs have already been proved wrong. I think any one of us would have taken this season to date if we had been offered it back in August.

If Slattery was fully fit he would have started today. We have to remember that was his 3 rd game in a week after a return from injury. The manager has to manage those situations carefully. The game is won and lost on fine margins. The first, the referee helped to tee the corner up for Saints. The second, Just was unlucky that the ball hit off him and landed as it did. It was a great finish none the less. The 3rd could just as easily have been a great save but the ball looped into the back of the net For me the first goal set the tone and St Mirren managed the game very well from that point onwards. When I take a step back from the obvious disappointment of the evening, I would still rather be watching our brand of football than St Mirrens and I believe by seasons end we will still finish above them.

Thanks 👍

Thanks for your reply. I hope to do the same. 👍

Apologies if this has been asked several times before but do we have to transfer tickets to the people we are with? I was hoping to just use my phone for m and the three people I am walking in with.

Agreed.

MJC will be happy this afternoon. His first team won, his second team won and Motherwell won as well. I still believe that Hearts position is false despite today's result. I think we showed how vulnerable Hearts can be if a team plays well against them. I expect the season to finish like this despite the OF angst we have been forced fed in recent weeks. 1. Celtic 2. Rangers 3. Hearts We have definitely missed some golden opportunities and have played the OF at their most vulnerable. It has been a frustrating season in some ways but still reasonable for optimism. I think this next week could set the tone for the rest of the season for us.

MJC seals the win for Motherwell!!! Keep talking nonsense!! It works an absolute treat!!! Great result and well deserved. The players were due a win for their efforts!!

Because they are decent managers with something to offer despite all the horseshit we have had to read in this forum about all three of them

It is definitely the best draw. Rangers and Celtic will both be playing better by November so St Mirren give us the best chance to proceed. Second semi-final in two years is fairly impressive. Beating St Johnstone away and Aberdeen away is no easy run to the semi final. On performance to date I think Motherwell go into the game as slightl favourites.

Yes. Almost every single statistic in every game we have played so far. The most important statistic, the final result, has not matched the in game stats but undefeated after 5 games with three away from home is still a reasonable return. It has been widely recognised that we are playing some of the best football in the league. We outplayed the team sitting top of the league for 60 minutes on their patch. There is plenty of reasons to think we can beat almost anybody in this league if you actually care to give the many positives some consideration.