star sail
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Posts posted by star sail
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Great result and could not have asked for much more with results elsewhere.
Saturday eve, beers chilling nicely. Enjoy a victorious Sat night everyone. It has been a while.
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1 hour ago, Ya Bezzer! said:
It's worth noting that Hibs overall home record ain't that great this season although they have won the last three.
Hoping rather than expecting but we did get a point last time over there.
Indeed. I thought Motherwell were the better team at Easter Road although that team included Turnbull.
Hibs and Aberdeen are not miles ahead of any team in our division so there is nothing to fear. It is a bit of a Cup final for us in the sense that a win I think would (almost) ensure our safety this season. It would be a massive boost for us and a huge blow to the teams below. Having said that I would be very happy with a draw.
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3 minutes ago, Pettywulliegrew-2 said:
Thank you.
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4 hours ago, KirkySuperSub said:
We have taken 7 wins from a total of 30 games, can you honestly see us taking 3 wins from the 8 games remaining?
Yeah, I know most are against the teams around us, but so have half of the 30 games played so far.
The BBC article that suggests that 32 /33 points would be enough (not sure how to post link) works on the basis of form to date of all the bottom teams (that is my interpretation anyway).
I think it is natural to worry that our season long form will not improve whilst the form of the bottom three will. The reality is that for all four teams the season long form will not change that much leaving Motherwell in the driving seat. Generally the league table does not lie by this point in the season.
That does not account howeverfor a team finding form that they have not found all season . That Accies/ Kilmarnock and RC will all find form that has alluded them all season in highly unlikely.
I have a nagging doubt however that RC and Killie in particular just might. It is this nagging doubt that keeps us on tenter hooks.
I suppose we could try to be positive and say that it will be Motherwell that will find that illusive form.
Our point average is one point per game (just about). Keep that up and we will be safe but it will not be pretty.
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Great result. The whole dynamic changes again a suddenly we look like a team who could sneak a result or two before the split.
The BBC analysis of a few days back would have it that three points will see us safe. I think we may need just a few more than that to be sure. Ross County's epic run under Jim McIntyre in the Baraclough playoff seasons shows that it is possible for bottom sides to put heroic runs together.
My wish for tonight (forlorn as it is) is that the branding of players being pish and shite before they have even kicked a ball be tempered somewhat.
Jordan Whyte is proof that given a chance these boys can perform and make a difference. Roberts tonight, Lamie tonight the same. They are not professional football players for no reason.
A good night all round.
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2 hours ago, santheman said:
ODonnell played in a kind of RWB/RFB role for Scotland and from memory did well in the more forward position so why not keep young Johnstone at FB and play ODonnell in front of him.
I always stay out of the chat about formations because I know nothing about it (and very little about the rest) but this seems like a really sensible option for this evening.
They say that two banks of four is hard to break down (and we need to become hard to break down). Johnston would have cover from O'Donnell who in turn would provide an attacking threat. As was mentioned, he looked good when going forward with Scotland.
The rest of the team picks itself given the threadbare nature of the current situation.
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7 hours ago, weeyin said:
Any time a team is struggling the knee-jerk reaction is complaining about "lack of passion", "lack of commitment", "no leadership", etc.
99 times out of 100, however, it's just a lack of confidence;
I agree 100% with this. I think what we see as lack of commitment, lack of effort, poor attitude is simply a lack of confidence. I think Long and Polworth are in that category almost certainly this season and it does not take much to filter through a team. It is a vicious circle that can be difficult to get out of.
Think of playing a game of 5 a side with your mates. One week everything comes off, you see passes clearly and make decisions without thought. The next week small hesitations make you look like a clown.
Multiple that feeling by a factor of 10/100 and you have the pressures of the professional football player who in fractions of seconds is making decisions than can make him look like a superstar or a total dud.
The beauty of football is that a fraction of a second can cultivate a moment of genius or a career changing mistake. They say that dreams last just a few seconds. In football, in these blinks of an eye, one players dream can be another players nightmare.
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41 minutes ago, grizzlyg said:
Ross co win has just given me a massive haddock
It has taken a while but I have finally laughed at a Grizzly joke. After a shit weekend maybe this signals the start of a bright new dawn.
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On 2/20/2021 at 6:27 PM, Well-Made said:
Was reading this earlier today What do struggling clubs need to stay up. It reckons 32 points is the average points required to avoid finish 11th in recent seasons. Used to be 35.
If that's the case where do we see 4 points coming from?
At this time, I can't see us scoring 4 goals during the games that are left let alone get 4 points.
That article makes for interesting reading but I can't really see that a win and a draw this far out from the end of the season can ensure safety.
Assuming it is, it is hard to see where the four points will come from pre-split.
Tommy Wright will have Kilmarnock in better shape by the time we play them again, Hibs are going well as are St Mirren and Livi. In football though results can come from nowhere and sometimes when you least expect it. Who would have thought Accies would have beat us 4-1 last week?
So a win mid-week is by no means impossible and one win, whenever it comes between now and the end of the season would go a long way to ensuring safety. So the question for me is will we get one win between now and the split regardless of who it is against?
Sadly I think not. There is just too much wrong at the moment to see a change in fortune any time soon.
I think we will be looking at a couple of very tense post split head to heads to see us over the line. I have only just recovered from the Rangers play-off drama. I am not looking forward to going through it all again.
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1 hour ago, steelboy said:
It's Burrows fault for putting such a daft contract in front of him that always had the potential to backfire rather than just offering a three year deal.
Apparently Gallagher was represented by his father when signing for us but has an agent now. Burrows obviously thought he was getting one over them but now it's came back and bit him on the arse.
LOL Steelboy. If Gallagher had signed a 3 year deal and had been a dud you would have been the first on here complaining about why Burrows had committed the club to a 3 year deal. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
That aside, I am struggling to see your point. Talking hypothetically (because we do not know the circumstances in this specific case) you seem to be arguing that it is Alan Burrows fault when:
a player signs in good faith (my word is my bond...!) a contract with Motherwell and then months or a year later realises that, due to a good spell of form, the contract no longer suits his needs 100%. The player refuses to play, potentially jepordising the future of that club (holding the club to ransom you could argue) until such times as the contract is amended in his favour.
If that is your argument, then it seems to me, that it gives license to every future Motherwell player with a sob story, to renege on a contract, rendering the club completely helpless.
Player power in the extreme I would think and a genuine recipe for disaster (if disaster has not struck already).
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Watching GA's post match interview, what strikes me is that he has aged somewhat over the last month. I think I would be placed in the happy clapper camp because I tend to argue for the managers we have. This comes from a base point of recognising how tough it is to be a manager at any football club but particularly a club like Motherwell. I think the strain on GA's face tells it's own story there. Replacing managers is not an easy fix.
My other main reason for generally backing managers is that I am no fan of player power. The Gannon saga was mentioned a few pages back and whilst I will admit to losing the argument then regarding Gannon being a decent manager, I still believe that something was rotten then regarding one or two of the senior players behaviour. Possibly the same could be said about Baraclough's last month in charge.
It lightning striking again? Possibly. We will never know the full story but again the current situation has a stench about it that is becoming an all to familiar theme at Motherwell. For my money this squad of players are more than capable of staying in this division and since the first ball was kicked in August, they have constantly underachieved. I have said a good few times before that in August, I don't think I heard anybody on this board saying we had a poor squad of players, infact, it was quite the opposite.
If Declan Gallagher is refusing to play for contract reasons then I don't think we have to look any further for reasons why all is not well in the dressing room. If your club captain is refusing to play it is bound reflect in the other players. Given however that this is sheer speculation I am going to assume for now that he is genuinely injured and will be back soon.
Looking at the positives, it is always small margins between success and failure as this particular team has shown repeatedly this season. As it stands we have two Scotland internationalists who we must assume, will be highly motivated to play in the Euro's this summer. This has to be to Motherwell's advantage no matter what else may be going on in the background. A rested invigorated Alan Campbell would also make a big difference to this team. I also believe that if Christopher Long could score a few goals we would have a transformed striker on our hands. I believe his issues lie in a lack of confidence rather than any inherent poor attitude. The enigma for me is Polworth? A good player who is visibly showing signs of being in the huff. Get him switched on and suddenly the team looks strong again. It is the very, very difficult job of a Motherwell manager to get all the pieces of the jigsaw in place.
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2 minutes ago, Great Balls of Shire said:
have you heard they dont like him?
just think , even if that was the case, you want to be earning win bonuses etc....at a club like Motherwell, that makes a massive difference to your wage.
No it was just based on a comment Craigan made on BBC Radio Scotland. He was commenting on the lack of fight in the team. I think he was talking in general terms but he did say that not liking he manager is not a reason for a lack of effort.
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2 hours ago, star sail said:
Sounds like we are beat before we kick a ball?
Another way to look at it is that it gives the fringe players a chance to stake a claim. You don't get paid as a professional football player if you are a total dud!! These players should be capable of stepping in.
Campbell needs a rest so whether enforced or by choice it is maybe no bad thing in the longer term that he is getting a chance to rest.
Somebody said we have not won on a Saturday since October, well get the beers chilling in the fridge cause I think we are winning this one.
2-1 Motherwell.
Well blind optimism did not work.
It is the lack of fight that is the biggest concern. Craigen said on the radio 'you don't need to like the manager but you still have to try' or words to that affect.
I hope he was speaking in general terms and not specifically about the players feelings towards GA.
Very difficult to find the positives right now. I suppose it is only football so I hope everyone can enjoy there Sat eve just the same.
Wednesday now becomes another huge game.
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Sounds like we are beat before we kick a ball?
Another way to look at it is that it gives the fringe players a chance to stake a claim. You don't get paid as a professional football player if you are a total dud!! These players should be capable of stepping in.
Campbell needs a rest so whether enforced or by choice it is maybe no bad thing in the longer term that he is getting a chance to rest.
Somebody said we have not won on a Saturday since October, well get the beers chilling in the fridge cause I think we are winning this one.
2-1 Motherwell.
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On 1/23/2021 at 5:43 PM, Andy_P said:
Deep breath.....
........and relax!!!
Great win and just might represent a turning point in the mentality of the team.
On Alan Campbell, he needs a rest. I read that Callum McGregor at Celtic has played more minutes in the last few seasons than any other outfield player in Europe. His performances have been going backwards as a result. Given Campbell’s U21 commitments, he cannot be far behind.
I have read a few comments about Polworth too. He is a good player. I would rather see him in our team as not. He made a mistake on Saturday. It happens particularly under the circumstances the team finds itself in.
A motivated Polworth is an asset to this team. Hopefully GA can work his magic.
Another huge game next week.
Deep breath...
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58 minutes ago, Spiderpig said:
Pish, we will be nowhere near the relegation places come May, the wins are coming, keep the faith.
For the very first time, I am starting to have my doubts. This team should not be in a relegation fight and yet it is and every week we talk about bad luck and poor decision making.
Today was a big game, Wednesday is now massive. I am just not sure this team have the wherewithal to get themselves out of this. I don't think ability has ever been the issue. There is something else missing. Determination, guile, intelligence? I don't know but it is the same every week.
I was reasonably confident about today. I thought a draw would be likely and that we might just sneak a win. Aberdeen are not a great side. It was the same story again however. No goals and a game changing mistake on our part. I can't see what it going to change it.
Polworth reminds me of Vigurs. Full of ability with a very questionable temperament.
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I think this is our biggest game of the season to date and could go some way to setting the narrative for the rest of the season. A win could well be the start of a much better second half of the season, a defeat underlines that we are well and truly in a relegation battle.
I have never really bought the notion that we have a very poor squad (few did in August). I think this team is closer in ability to Hibs/Aberdeen than Accies/Ross County and we have matched the forementioned teams in games this season. Our record against Aberdeen has been good in recent years.
Having said this, a draw looks the most likely with both teams not prolific in from of goal. Whilst a draw keeps the unbeaten run going it does not give us the breathing space we need.
I think another 0-0 sounds about right. A win would be a huge shot in the arm at what could be a turning point in the season.
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On 1/16/2021 at 1:47 PM, Ya Bezzer! said:
Unfortunately our fans, as well as most others, tend to be partisan towards their own clubs interests and see things through a rather warped prism.
If the roles were reversed most of the folk in here would be doing full 180s.
Ultimately the correct decision has been made and the SFA has proven it's self far more competent than the catastrophically inept ghouls running the SPFL.
Is it a warped prism in this case?
Remember ultimately what is at stake is peoples lives. I think the problem generally is that football often sees itself as operating out-with the norm. The SFA is a great example of an organisation that believes that it is above the laws and regulations of the common man.
Professional football as with many other professional sports throughout the world, is very fortunate to be operating at all at this time. I see the tennis players are having a hissy fit because they authorities dare to quarantine them because they were sitting on a plane beside positive testing passengers. My opinion is that these sports, football included should not be operating at all.
The hardmen of football are very good at playing the victim. Neil Lennon's outburst yesterday is a total embarrassment. People are losing their lives. People are losing their jobs, businesses going bankrupt. Vulnerable people have been imprisoned in their own homes for a year. Young people are being robbed of the joys of leaving school, starting university , starting a new job and somehow it becomes a travesty that Kilmarnock are deducted 3 points for not being able to behave like responsible people?
The professional sporting world should think itself very privileged indeed. I am not a fan of the SPFL but for once does the (relatively small) punishment fit the crime. Absolutely.
After Neil Lennon's antics, how about professional football in Scotland is held to the same standards as everyone else and told they cannot operate. At the end of the day, football as with all professional sport is non-essential. The hardmen of Scottish football maybe need to swallow their pill like everyone else.
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What a great result and totally unexpected.
I don't understand the thinking amongst some regarding the quality of the squad. Given that the standard in our league is poor I think we have a squad that is more than capable of getting us out of this situation.
Watt, Gallagher, O Donnell, Polworth, Campbell, O Hara are all players that could steak a claim in any Spfl team ourhwith the OF.
If Alexander can sort Long's head out there is a player there. Mugabi showed today the potential is there. Carroll, Lawless, Cole are all players that deserve to be playing at his level. Lang could have been added to that list too.
Losing Turnbull was really the tipping point between a decent Spfl squad and a mediocre one. This is the first window since Turnbull left so let's see what happens.
The quality from the bench needs addressed but if you look at the benches of Kilmarnock, St Mirren, Ross County, Livingston there is nothing much to inspire.
I don't think anyone could say that we matched Rangers today, they are much the better side but we have matched Aberdeen an Hibs this season.
It has been small margins all season. It is not going to take much to get this team heading back up the table.
A decent goalscorer this window may be all we need if we can keep the better players till the summer.
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10 hours ago, Squirrelhumper said:
Find some of the comments on this thread laughable.
We were told by NHS Ayrshire and Arran that our full squad had to isolate, we had no choice whether to play the game or not. We literally had no players.
The decision to make the full squad isolate was a health board decision, and we've seen this vary across the country.
The decision was always going to be overturned as it was a laughable decision in the first place.
How many 3-0 defeats have been handed out in England for same reason this season? None.
I understand why you would be annoyed at losing out on an easy 6 pts but fuck me, the original penalty was farcical.
Every club will have had minor covid breaches. Was only a few months ago Motherwell directors weren't paying any attention whatsoever to COVID rules in Coleraine.
If anyone thinks Motherwell should be awarded 6 pts and 6 goals for this then they need to have a word with themselves.
As far as I am aware NHS Ayrshire and Arran did not ask the full squad to self isolate for no reason. They asked them to self isolate because players within the squad had tested positive and the wider squad had not followed the protocol put in place to allow Kilmarnock to control and manage the situation themselves. Other clubs in the Spfl (except St Mirren) have controlled outbreaks and have therefore been able to fulfil fixtures.
The rule was that if you could not fulfil the fixture because protocol had been breached you lost the three points. I don't think there is anything laughable about applying the rules.
What is laughable is that the SFA (as always) are making it up as they go along contradicting Scottish Government guidelines and completing misjudging the importance of sending out a strong message that professional football in this country takes its responsibility seriously in playing its (very) small part in getting us out of a National disaster.
I don't think that is laughable at all. It's not really about the six points.
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2 minutes ago, Andy_P said:
What do we have to appeal though? We were under no threat of sanction.
I tend to agree with the earlier posts that whilst we have been considerably inconvenienced the best course of action for us it to keep our counsel, at least publicly, and ensure that six points from six are secured when the fixtures are eventually played.
If the club make a song and dance about it and you just stand to be accused of showing desperation in trying to get six points without earning them. I think it's fine as fans for us to make the obvious points but much as we've been messed around we would ultimately gain nothing from any public complaining.
I agree with this. It is a public relations battle the club would not win and whilst it could be argued that it does not matter what the wider football community thinks, it is a least a distraction and at most an added pressure the club do not need.
As a footballing person I would like to see the 6 points won on the football field and if this decision does not put a bit of fire into the bellies of this squad then even Jurgen Klopp would not be able to motivate this team.
Regardless of the circumstances Motherwell find themselves in, it is proof positive, if any was ever needed that the footballing governing bodies in Scotland are totally inept and it turns Scottish football once again into a circus.
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8 minutes ago, Shaka said:
I agree it was never a penalty, but do you know how it definately wouldnt have been given? Hmmm maybe if Mugabi hadnt dove in and looked like he clipped Erwin!! What was happening if he just stood? Absolutely NOTHING! Even Stevie Wonder can see Madden needs absolutely no excuse to penalize us in the box, so why is he diving in.... AGAIN?!
As I said in other posts, I wouldnt even mind if today was a 1 off, but last week the second goal, a simple clearance for even a pub league centre half, but he rashly and unexplicably tries to swipe at a ball 5 feet in the air with his foot, made a cunt of it and 5 seconds later the ball is in the net. And how many penalties has he given this season, 4? 5?
Not even exaggerating, literally every single time he plays he makes a major fuck up that causes a goal. When we are unable to score goals ourselves, that is suicide!
Shaka, I often think that much of what you say makes a lot of sense but the passion with which you say it detracts sometimes from what can be good points.
Mugabi is far from perfect, a raw talent I think is what you could call it but there is a player in there if he could iron out the mistakes.
I get the frustration. Been there myself shouting and bawling in the stands but at some point you have to cut the players a break.
Mugabi can’t be blamed today for past mistakes. Calling him a c**t is in my opinion a step to far.
I think now is a good time to let these boys prove themselves and let the new manager either drop them or turn them into better players.
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I cannot understand the desperation from a small minority of or fans to criticise and disparage the club at every single opportunity.
Robinson, Burrows, Mugabi, Grimshaw, the boy Whyte.
That was never a penalty in a million years and yet we have posters like Shaka throwing all sorts of insults at Mugabi.
It is the strangest thing! Totally bizarre.Opposition fans would not be so critical of our club and players.
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26 minutes ago, Bert the Sailor said:
It would appear so. But Mugabi was on the pitch so it gave Madden a decision to make apparently.
Reminds me of poor Kipre when Craig Thompson was the referee.
Soon as big Cedric put a foot on the pitch Thompson was reaching for the red card.
Season 2020’21: Game 31: Hibernian (A)
in Club Chat
Posted
I don't want to speak for dennyc but I think it just means that all players do not get treated equally. Vigurs was a wage thief if memory serves me correctly. He had a back problem and some fans did not believe it was real. Polworth is the current wage thief. Hastie was a traitor. Ainsworth only tried near contract extension time. Others were imposters. The list goes on and on. You just need to look at the comments over the last month regarding Roberts, Magloire, Lamie and Crawford from the starting 11 yesterday and you get the idea.
Maybe the point is that Gallagher is being shown a benefit of doubt that others would not be afforded. I would like to think that all the players and managers would be given the benefit of the doubt so I am pleased if Gallagher is being given that benefit.
edit: sorry dennyc you just beat me to it.