MelvinBragg

Beaten by a better team last night, there's no disgrace in that. I thought we played as well last night as we did in Nancy last year but Steaua were more ruthless than the French. An achievement in itself, given the comparative lack of experience in the team that started last night. Really impressed with Ruddy and Coke on their debuts. If they can maintain that level, we've got two great signings. If not for the big keeper, it could have been a lot worse than 3-0. And Coke's run the length of the park to slide in and put the guy off stopped a certain goal and 4-0. Coke got stuck in when he had to and also seemed to use the ball very well. If he'd stuck away his chance, our result would have looked even more respectable. The defence still needs work, but I think we all knew that. I don't think we'll meet many teams with such slick movement this season. Hutchison looks raw but certainly has the tools to be an excellent player. My only concern is that I don't know if Craigan is good enough to coach him through the games while maintaining his own level of performance. Saunders had his best game of the season last night even though he was done for the third goal. He has a good throw on him as well. A quick word for Sutton and Slane. Sutton didn't have a lot to work with last night but whenever we got the ball to his feet he seemed to find a Motherwell man with the ball. And Slane showed enough to suggest that he will be able to cut in the SPL no problems at all. As impressive as he was last week, we had to take into account the level of opposition. Last night, he made the step up, no problem. Gannon continues to impress me. He even seemed to notice last night that having given away the penalty, Forbes was letting it get to him and he withdrew him. I'm sure he'll have a few words with him and try and help him learn from it...

I know. Never watched football in a sauna before...

No one is rushing to judge these guys, we all know that early promise can peter out (David Ferrere anyone??) but Frazzle just asked for early impressions. And that's what fans' forums and pints after the game are for so... Ruddy His kicking from passbacks was poor last night but some of the passbacks were a bit iffy and in any case kicking is way down my list of priorities for a goalkeeper. On the basis of last night's game, he looks good. Commanding, vocal and made a few good saves. Glad I'm not going to be the one to try and make him wear the pink kit... Jennings I think he's looked the part. A less showy, more sensible Maros Klimpl. His positional sense has impressed me and although he looks to be carrying a bit of weight, he still seems to be getting about the park. Not wishing to stereotype but he looks like a Scouser... Coke Looked good to me last night. Athletic, could mix it when he needed to, but also looks like he can pass a ball. Missed a glorious chance but that to me was the only black mark on his performance. Really need to get a nickname for him though as I can't bring myself to shout "C'mon Giles!!!" or "C'mon big Coke!!"... Humphrey Looks nervous, need to give him time. Certainly has pace but his final ball has left a little to be desired thus far. He's surrendered possession a bit too easily thus far, maybe needs to be told that if he can't get past the man then look for an out ball. I reckon he'll look better if we have a good attacking right back playing behind him. Still young but at the moment he wouldn't be my first pick... The thing that has impressed me with all of Gannon's signings is the fact that they look like athletes. With the exception of Humphrey (who's not tiny), they're all big lads. Too often in the past we've seen ourselves dwarfed at corners and free kicks. Don't think that'll be the case this season...

The case of Fitzpatrick is a funny one. Sometimes I think that semi-final goal was the worst thing that could have happened to him. It cemented him in some fans' eyes as a natural successor to Stephen Pearson and there seemed to be an expectation that he was going to be the next attacking goalscaring midfielder down our left side. For me, he's not that type of player. He strikes me more as a left footed Lasley type. Good grafter, he does a lot of ugly stuff. He doesn't seem to have enough about him (at the moment) to be one of a central 2 in a 4-4-2 and has never really looked comfortable wide left in that formation. McGhee's formation seemed tailor made for him as he looked the part on the left side of a tight midfield three. Forbes emergence this season has meant that we haven't seen thus far whether he could have played the role of one of the two midfielders playing in front of the back four. Forbes certainly looks to have a range of passing that Fitzpatrick doesn't have but whether he will bring the same defensive qualities remains to be seen (my gut feeling is that the goal we conceded over in Albania, Fitzpatrick would have been more likely to track the runner that scored the goal). On Fitzpatrick's future, the fact we have signed three midfielders suggests he might find himself surplus to requirements. Maybe it's best for him and Motherwell for him to move on (though I don't imagine having him in the squad is a massive drain on our resources). As an aside, as Motherwell fans we appreciate young players coming through. The problem for me is that a lot of the time these young players have to be a McAllister, McFadden, Clarkson or Pearson to be appreciated. By that, I mean someone who will move on for a fee to a higher level. In the cases of the likes of Hammell and Fitzpatrick, it doesn't seem enough for us fans that these players develop into solid SPL pros, unlikely to garner us a fee but likely to give solid performances most weeks in the league. Maybe we need to temper our expectations a wee bit. If Paul Slane doesn't turn into the next McFadden but instead is the next Jim O'Brien, I hope the fans cut him more slack than they have cut Fitzpatrick...

Stevie Hammell has played three out of four games this season. Misses one and suddenly people have him getting sold off. I like Hammell and think he's a good solid SPL player. But I can't see Aberdeen wanting him. They have Mulgrew for that position. Now if you tell me Hibs are interested, I might believe you. Should we really be selling him on the basis of one game at left back from Mark Reynolds? For what it's worth, I reckon the only two guys in the squad who look totally out of the picture at the moment (and likely to be moved on) are Fitzpatrick and DL Smith. Possibly McGarry should be worrying if we have Murphy, Slane, Humphrey and Coke for attacking midfield positions...

Is the game on the radio at all...?

I remember a home games versus Hearts early in the 93/94 season when we "hammered" Hearts 2-0 and McGrillen and O'Donnell got the goals. Unbelievable that both guys are now gone. Was McGrillen not also the sub that Tommy McLean subbed for not doing what he was told...? Sad news...

That and the fact that he doesn't really know the back four. Fraser, for all his frailties (that's what they are, he's not shown himself to be "pish"), has at least had a chance to work for a month with the defenders who will be in front of him. The belief that Fraser is some sort of terrible goalkeeper seems to stem from that first leg against Llanelli when no one covered themselves in glory. Neither of the goals against the Albanians could be described as goalkeeping howlers. He seems a bit of a bombscare on crosses, but I'm not sure how that makes him any different from any other goalkeeper we've had in the last 15 years...

You're not the only one, but I have to ask the question? Why are so many people certain that Ruddy will be better than Fraser? If having seen him in action, you think that, then fair enough, but there's a few people rushing to get this guy in the team...

Could have? Mibbe. Would have? Not so sure. I think playing one up front over in Nancy was the sensible thing to do but it should have been Clarkson or more likely Porter doing it. the fact that he brought Bob Malcolm from nowhere near the team to start both games is a decision of McGhee's I will never understand. And deciding to go three at the back for the first time since 94/95 for the home leg was also baffling. And Hughes at right wng back. Christ, when I list it like that, it's a wonder we didn't lose 8-1... Nancy were technicaaly gifted, yes. But they were also strong and fast. There may have been more technically gifted players in both Old Firm teams last season, but the boys from Nancy could barge people off the ball then play football. Not something you would think of Nakamura or Ferguson. I don't expect Steaua to be as tough an ask as AS Nancy were. Were we going into this game with the Motherwell team of November 2007, I'd be predicting us to go through. As it is, we're going in with kids and signings we know very little about. How anyone can make an accurate prediction of how this tie is going to pan out is beyond me. Enjoy it for what it is. A European tie against a team whose name conjurs up all sorts of mystique. I mean, of course, for us fans to do this. For us to have any chance of going through, the players must play against the team Steaua Bucharest rather than the name Steaua Bucharest. Must confess that having a team half full of kids might be an advantage on that score...

Kind of jumping the gun there big fella. Going from, an SPL club is interested to Well have signed him. More likely to be Dundee United who would be after him...

For obvious reasons, I've held back from posting on this thread. Given my reputation as one of McGhee's harshest critics on here, it would have been easy for me to jump all over it. For what it's worth, in all my posts on the subject of McGhee I never denied he was a good manager. I maybe exaggerated the negative aspects of his management but that was due to the fact that for many, he had no flaws whatsoever. There were questionable tactical line-ups, his approach to the transfer market (which many are mocking now he's at Aberdeen - strange that they had no problem with it when he was at FP) and his public flaunting of his availability are just a few. And for those who say that he couldn't be blamed for most of the players who left, I ask you this: was it not his job to prepare for the eventuality (probability?) of these players leaving? Are we expected to believe that he threw himself into this task with gusto given he had a fair idea that two jobs he coveted were becoming available? Having said this, the McGhee bashing now is embarrassing. Have the balls to criticise the man when he's here if you think he merits it. As Jay and Lobey have pointed out, ye're a lot of bandwagonjumpers... And as I said earlier, he's a good (not great) manager. I'll save my gloating for if we finish above them next May (OK, a wee bit might sneak out if we hammer them this season )...

Actually, no. Relatively calm after last night's joyful experience. Just pointing out that he didn't mention Murphy by name. And I think given the number of games Murphy has featured in now for Well, he shouldn't need the kid glove treatment, as SD described it...

How do you know he's talking about Murphy and not simply talking about Hutchison, Slane and Forbes and the likes who haven't played nearly as many games as Murphy...?

Given the circumstances, you'd think so, wouldn't you? I'm not holding my breath...

It's an astounding pre-season for the players because by the time we play St Johnstone we'll have played 6 competitive games, irrespective of the quality of the opposition. Unlike Falkirk, who will now have to find friendlies for the weeks they may have had UEFA games. And although Flamurtari were no of the best quality, bear in mind that Falkirk were defeated in Europe by a team from Liechtenstein. It's all relatively good news for us. I'm not happy clappy at all, but I think we have to be pretty happy about how things are going at the moment...

Jeezo, guys, can we not just enjoy last night for a day or two? The manager and players need to start thinking about it right away but as fans we're allowed to bask in victory a wee bit longer surely... The only thought I've had about it so far is that it'll be tougher than the last two rounds. And I'd like the home leg to be at Fir Park...

Aye, Flamurtari were poor. But as I've said earlier, I'm sure we've all seen Motherwell lose to worse teams in the cups over the years...

It was indeed. You and your father were a good laugh...

Aye, that was me. And aye, I'm always that loud. Just be thankful you don't sit next to me all the time...

As I said earlier, I'm well aware that the teams we've played so far have been poor, but no poorer than some sides that have knocked some experienced Motherwell teams out of cups before. And last night was one of those nights when everything clicked into place. That won't happen every week. No one is saying we're going to do this, or achieve that, but I think it's fair enough to sing the praises of young guys who've done everything that's been asked of them (and one would argue) more. On the point of Forbes needing time on the ball, he needs no more than Stephen Hughes or any other creative player does. Whether he's able to create that time and space for himself, time will tell. But I don't imagine that he had loads of time in the hurly burly of the lower leagues with Dumbarton. We also have Jennings, who on last night's evidence, may be able to protect him a wee bit, buy him that space. If we can't go a wee bit over the top after an 8-1 win, then when. The realism will come back again soon enough. We just need to make sure that we don't criticise these guys if they don't live up every week to the high standards they have set themselves...

I know that Flamurtari were a poor side but, as I said to someone last night, I think we've all seen Motherwell struggle against poor sides before (think Alloa, Ayr United, East Fife) so to go about our business in the way we did was refreshing. Some people have criticised the defence last night. Fair enough, there were a few mix ups but bear in mind it was the first time that back four had ever played together. O'Brien wasn't great, but it was his first game at right back for us and he at least had the pace to get himself out of any bother he got himself into. I'm not suggesting that he's going to make a Paterson-like transformation into a full back but last night he stuck to his task manfully. Also involved in one of the highlights of the night for me. When we took Slane off and brought Page on, O'Brien moved to the left wing, I turned to Mitch and said "We're like f***ing Ajax 1970s, our right back is away to play on the left wing, total football". Forbes and Slane were superb. It makes a mockery of someone (with a big face) last season saying how our lack of squad depth was responsible for poor form in November. McShovelface talked about giving Slane his chance. Forbes never got a look in. Gannon has come in and they've played four competitive games, not letting themselves down. What has he seen that our previous manager couldn't? I'm not going to burden Slane with the new McFadden tag, but he has some of the same qualities; cocky, ball hungry, aggressive, fearless. Forbes ooozes class. I can't think of a Motherwell player, but he reminds me of a young Barry Ferguson, comfortable on the ball, seems to glide about the park, yet willing to get stuck in. Murphy seems to have a bit of his confidence back. I must confess I'm not sure if he has the physique to progress in the game, but last night he certainly took his chance. The two new guys did alright. I thought Jennings looked solid and did a lot of unglamourous stuff really well. Humphrey did OK, but I get the impression the game might have been a bit too early for him. In the case of both of them, it was obvious that the other players' preseason had started earlier. Sutton. Given the stick he's taken recently (some from me), I take my hat off to the guy. And to Gannon for playing him in the centre of his three attacking midfielders. Stroke of genius. Won every header he went for, and his flick ons were raced on to by Slane, Murphy and Humphrey. He was at the centre of all our best attacking play. Shame the big man couldn't get a goal, but he was my man of the match. Certainly made me doubt my assertion that he couldn't contribute to the team in the same way that Porter did. Tol sound like Andy Gray, take a bow, son. All in all, a good night at the office...

You, sir, are aff yer heid...

Could it simply be that given Gannon is an unknown quantity, they fancied a chance to see us in action to prepare for next season. It's not like Hibs or Aberdeen, where other SPL managers will have a fair idea what Hughes and McGhee are about. I reckon it'll just be forward planning watching us for the SPL...

Sutton, for me. Playing him behind Murphy as the central of the three attacking midfielders was genius. He never lost a header all night and every time he flicked one on Slane, Murphy and Humphrey were away after it.