Kmcalpin

Yes, the system doesn't seem right does it?

Yes, thats by no means unlikely Greg. As you say its the Motherwell way.

I've been slagged off in the past for wanting us to be more physical and I've had a hard job convincing some posters that I didn't mean hammer throwers, thugs and hatchet men. Your description of Kipre above is exactly what I meant. He was strong enough to hold off 3 opponents in the corner and as far as I've seen hasn't resorted to any nasty stuff. He can also play a bit of football.

Potentially some very hard ties in prospect. Hibs away, Partick away, Ross County away or either of the Dundee clubs away don't excite me.

Our midfield is definitely better than it was last season although the mix wasn't quite right when McHugh stepped back into defence. Had he been available I think Campbell would have been the perfect deputy. A few have been bemoaning recently the lack of first team exposure for young up and coming players like Campbell. Thats all very well but they have to slot in to a position for which they are suited. As we've seen last season its no good having 3/4/5 central midfield players if they are all slow and defensive. Its too early to judge Carson in goal as he's had little to do and in 3 games I've only seen him flap at a cross once. If the defence and midfield do their job its purely academic anyway as he'll only be required to deal with crosses once in a blue moon as Andy Goram pointed out several times. I think Carson is entitled to expect more aerial protection than Samson was ever afforded. As the midfield is not only better but better balanced, that will give the defence more protection and the strikers more support. It will also ensure that Moult, or his successor, is not the only source of goals, as we've seen. However, we are over reliant on Moult and that has to be addressed.

Today's game was very similar to the one in Edinburgh earlier this week. In both we enjoyed plenty of possession, played cross after after cross into the opposition box and frustratingly lacked a cutting edge. All 3 goals came from low crosses, Davie Cooper style. Still we won and remain undefeated. Thats the bottom line. A strange starting line up which didn't last long due to Hammell's injury but even in that short time we looked very disjointed down the left. Like Ropy I was and still am very concerned at the lack of central defensive cover and to play McHugh back in defence was a throw back to last season and weakened the midfield. Was McManus punished for a poor defensive display in midweek? I just couldn't figure out playing with one striker against a side who came to park their bus. I assume, for no other reason than I can't think of a feasible alternative explanation, that Robbo set us up this way simply to practice this formation for the coming league campaign. He would have played this way irrespective of the opposition. To field one solitary striker against an ultra defensive outfit doesn't make sense unless all your strikers are injured. It rendered Tanner's role largely meaningless and unnecessary. It also affected Rose's game too. Frear was my MOTM although Kipre continues to impress. Dunne too looked good and although his passing wasn't 100% he was very quick and looks to be an excellent defender with good positional sense. Tait didn't have a bad game although he was done for pace quite a few times. McHugh was badly missed in central midfield and on 2/3 occasions Berwick found a direct opening on goal in the middle which better sides would have taken advantage of. Despite us having a bigger team than last term Berwick proved no physical pushovers and more than held their own unless Kipre or perhaps Dunne was involved. We continue to have problems up front but to be fair Moult looked far from being match fit. He is also no target man - never was and never will be. Fisher again failed to impress when he appeared. Newell? Looked very sharp and energetic although a little frail. We still need another striker, be it Newell or someone completely new, and most certainly another central defender - like now please.

Frear for me although Kipre wasn't far behind.

Spot on. Dylan Mackin scored a few goals for the Under 20s but was never a prolific scorer. he never really played for the first 11 bar a single appearance as a sub I think. If I'm wrong correct me. I assume therefore that management did not think he was good enough to promote to the first team squad. He may fit in fine at Livingston and that might be his level. Very few youngsters fail to make the grade at Fir Park and then move on to bigger and better things. I'm just using Mackin as an example to back up Superward's point.

Can we set up a separate thread for Well Fans II please? Discussion is starting to go well off topic. We have a game tomorrow; what sort of team should we field? Our strongest 11 with a view to the following weekend or give some fringe players game time?

My you've a long memory.

Rightly or wrongly, thats how Mark McGhee referred to him.

Pretty much agree with that. If Bowman had scored early on it would have been a different game. The pitch was absolutely horrific; I didn't realise just how poor until half time. Two City subs were passing the ball 10/15 yards on the deck to each other and l couldn't believe how much the ball bobbled about. City were always going to park their bus and play out of their skins. An indication of their intentions was that, at times, they tripled, not doubled up on Frear. We created a lot of chances but their keeper was only required to make one decent save in the whole game. Cross after cross went into our opponents box but we couldn't finish them off. Irrespective of the line up we should be able to beat a team like Edinburgh City. Given a free choice, I doubt if Robbo would have chosen the team he played. Some players missed out because of the pitch while others were played in unsuitable roles eg Rose. Cadden and Tanner made a difference when they came on and that turned the game in our favour. As the game wore on I thought it more and more likely that City would score and it was no surprise when they did. We've seen that scenario play out many times before in games which we've dominated. But, we were the better team and we won. letdown but we can't judge him on last night. Still last night it was job done and the fixture gave some more players game time.

I think Tanner might meet your requirements for a No 10. Still a question mark over Frear being played as a wing back for me. Otherwise I agree.

Agree with all of that. Don't forget he's been out of the game for months.

By all means play 2 or 3 other experienced pros from the start but we should do the business first then bring on the young lads. Albion Rovers anyone?

I think part of the problem is that he's being played out of position and by that I mean too deep. Many teams also double up on him. I like him but he has got to be played to his strengths for him to be fully effective.

Is he counting Griffiths?

Quote from the Morton website "A physically imposing and dominant Well were proving a real menace at deadballs..." Its a long time since I read anything like that.

I'm coming round to Bowman but he has to be played in the right role and with the right support around him. Yes, Kipre looks impressive and we held our breath yesterday when Quitongo rather unwisely had a go at him off the ball - he remain unflustered though and refused to be rattled. I was expecting the former to end up flat out on the deck out cold! Quitongo did himself no favours whatsoever with his attitude. He should concentrate more on his football. I thought Dunne had a solid game at right back for someone who has been out of the game for months. He got the basics right - a big guy who can win tackles, is positionally aware and sticks to his opponent. Chipped in with a useful goal too. That said he'll receive more exacting tests against better teams.

I don't know but we'll find out soon enough. Certainly the team seemed to show a different attitude yesterday. Their off the ball work was a class above what we've been used to in the last few seasons. They certainly worked far harder to make life difficult for Morton, by running, chasing and closing them down. As I wrote earlier, even at 4-0 up they still worked their socks off. As CoF wrote last season we would not have dominated midfield and would have given Morton the odd chance or two by failing to close players down or by making the odd blunder.

Add on my fiver Iain.

No real protests from Morton players at either goal and thats usually telling, but both calls were very tight and you may a point. Harkins' card was a red all day and he has previous for that kind of thing. A shocking tackle. The annoying Quitongo was a very lucky lad indeed to last as long as he did.

I felt more optimistic when leaving Fir Park today than I have for a while. We played some decent stuff at times, scored 4 goals and kept a clean sheet. Yes, Morton aren't a premiership side but they're a decent Championship team; just the kind of side who've caused us trouble in the past. It was a real team effort with the likes of McHugh, Bigirimana, Kipre, Dunne and Tanner catching the eye. McHugh was my MOTM. We looked more solid than we have done for a while and the midfield stood out. In the past few seasons, our midfield has struggled in games like this but not today. Although Morton didn't show much in an attacking sense our defence did look solid and closed them down very well. Not something we've been good at. Overall we looked more organised than of late and the work rate was far higher than we have been used to seeing from our team. It was really heartening to see our lads off the ball work at 3-0 and 4-0 - chasing, harrying and closing down. Again not something we've seen for many a year. Our team looks a good bit bigger than last term and it showed in giving us a competitive edge I thought Tanner had a good game in a very difficult role. Dunne too impressed me, and although he didn't have a particularly demanding afternoon he looked as though he may be a class above Hammell defensively - time will tell. Early days though. McHugh played a real captain's role. I can't recall the last time both our (full) backs scored in the same game or when a debutante scored so early in his Fir Park career. All that said, there were a couple some negatives for me. Frear was deployed far too deep and that just isn't his game (maybe the dearly departed Dom Thomas had a point; just the one, when he mentioned wingers and defensive roles). Secondly we still look uncomfortable when playing with a lone striker. Bowy worked his socks off and won quite a few aerial balls but more often than not, there was no-one near him to take advantage. We just haven't got that aspect of our game right yet. At times we missed a second out and out striker in and around the box to finish off moves. Early days and we mustn't get too carried away but we do have grounds for cautious optimism. Whatever happens this season we will have a different kind of team to the ones we've been used to watching in recent years.

Personally I value Stephen Craigan's assessment. If he doesn't know the player's capabilities and weaknesses then who does.

Maybe maybe not. Scoring goals is not just about a striker putting the ball in the net he has to have decent service. For long spells last campaign Moult's service from midfield was shockingly poor. I'm hopeful, this season that irrespective of the strikers playing they'll receive more and indeed better quality service.