superward

7 changes for Celtic. What a night ahead of us.

Well. No one saw that line up coming! Honking. Hopefully they prove me wrong.... Could have just signed his own p45 with that.

otherwell boss Stephen Robinson's frustration over the consistency of his team is set to spark some changes during the transfer window. The Steelmen have struggled to replicate their displays of last season and currently sit ninth in the Premiership. Robinson added the likes of Liam Donnelly, Aaron Taylor-Sinclair and Conor Sammon during the summer to improve his hand. But with his team struggling for form and missing key players Chris Cadden and Trevor Carson long-term, the Northern Irish coach said he'll consider new tactics for the transfer market come January. He said: "I don't have any money to replace anybody at this moment in time. "It'll have to be a case of trying to get people out. "There's players we have brought in, we perhaps have to move some of them on, which we'll do over the course of the next few weeks. "That's easier said than done. "Once players have contracts it's not quite as easy to do that. "I'm well aware everybody needs to freshen things up. "In the summer I strengthened our squad because our budget allowed me to. "I didn't feel our starting 11 could be strengthened with the budget we have. "That's something I needed to look at and perhaps some of young boys who weren't quite ready will be ready by Christmas. "David Turnbull, Allan Campbell is improving all the time. "Barry Maguire came in and did OK on Saturday. "Jake Hastie, who is out on loan, wasn't ready to start in the summer, he is one we may bring back because we do lack wide men. "There are young boys who have moved on which perhaps allows me to move some of the squad players out if we are able to do that and strengthen our starting XI." Robinson has parked contract talks with Turnbull, who has been a revelation in recent weeks. "He wants to sign for the football club, whether his representative believes that's the right thing to do I'm not so sure," Robinson said. "We've tried to let him concentrate on his football. Let him enjoy himself and hopefully he'll keep doing what he's doing." https://stv.tv/sport/football/1433484-robinson-plans-new-transfer-strategy-to-spark-motherwell/ Celtic visit Fir Park on Wednesday, with Motherwell looking to take points off the champions once again after doing so twice at home last season. Robinson is to welcome back experienced performers Peter Hartley and Carl McHugh after suspension, while Andy Rose could return after recent injury problems. He added: "We have been up and down this season, we've lacked consistency, and how you get that back is do the simple things well each week, what I call the free stuff in football - run further than your opponent, make sure you land on second balls. "If we go and try and outplay Celtic, the reality is we'll lose the game. History tells you that. "We've had to tweak things, we haven't been quite as physical, we haven't had people that were rattling about, we have had to put more footballers in the team due to injuries and circumstances. "If you look at our team on Saturday, Barry (Maguire) and Christian (Mbulu), two young boys, Allan Campbell and David Turnbull. "So it's important we get a bit of experience back in the team again, a bit of know-how, and get back to doing the basics better than the other team."

Aye, I considered that too, but on the other hand I'm not sure I want to see Bowman and Main up top either. Right, I think I'd go with the below: (3-5-2, attacking wing backs) Gillespie Tait, Aldred, Hartley, Dunne, Livingstone Turnbull, McHugh, Gorrin Main Johnson - Dunne not fit then Maguire/Mbulu and shuffle it, Bigi is an easy fall guy but he can be very lax defensively at times so Gorrin gets a chance and we rely on Turnbull and Gorrin for the ball playing, McHugh I do honestly think gives it more stability but at the same time is a bit of risk for pace and a rash tackle..., as for up top I don't want to see one up there or a Bowman/Main pairing so it's that I think

As for tonight, a few things for the manager to consider indeed. Tactics: Of the most used formations we attempt - we cannot go with the narrow 4-4-2 diamond as it leaves us too open against the better teams. Not a huge fan of the dependency on 3-5-2/5-3-2, especially if we go long ball as we often just don't create. Do we set up to frustrate Celtic or do we set up to play our own game? Does it matter?! Players: Hartley and McHugh available again but derided by many for recent performances. Dunne, Donnelly and Livingstone all played 45 mins on Monday with an eye on tonight perhaps. Will the manager prefer a 'stronger' player like Rose and sacrifice a 'footballer' like Bigi or Turnbull? We seem to have plenty of options to change it anyway and I'm struggling to even pick a best 11! Whilst not popular, I'd be bringing Hartley and McHugh back in and warning the latter not to fucking sell the jerseys. I'd probably bring in Gorrin for a start too as he can offer some ball playing and strong on the tackle. Tait has to play on the right as well.

Not quite central but Sheephaven Bay, Camden will be showing it as it's a Celtic boozer. Chelsea and Arsenal on so might struggle outside of a Celtic/Irish pub.

Wow. Someone needs have a wee google about Ireland. Don't let that stop ye though. Craic on.

The manager likes a big, strong and hard running team. It's not a surprise to see comments along those lines...albeit not best put the way they were. I do think the mix wasn't right on Saturday for facing a team like Livi mind you. So whilst I disagree with the takeaway headline of 'footballers' I do think there is an element of truth in there....up to the manager to find the right balance as there is no need to go the extreme hoof ball or search for the extreme total football.

Be a sore one to lose this. Not there today but fully expected us to take something...sounds like we've been awful though.

A bit of tongue in cheek there I think given then slagging Stewart got on social media I thinks...

Oh dear.

Thanks. Not to be sniffed at paying half a million off. Things moving in the right direction for sure but plenty to do.

Would also be good to know what the running total is now in regards how much we still owe.

Aye, good results and a pleasing read. Lots of people seeing it too due to the afore mentioned video...good social media game as ever.

Yep that's what I thought.

Sincerest apologies :-)

Not sure the best place for this- seems closest. Interesting read, nothing new or groundbreaking but highlights some up to date 'ball park' figures https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/revealed-extent-of-celtic-s-financial-dominance-over-scottish-football-rivals-1-4834962 The GSSS report said: "If the money alone talked, then the title would be Celtic’s with Rangers as runners-up ahead of Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibernian. Livingston, St Mirren and Motherwell would be scrapping it out to avoid the drop. But as has already been demonstrated in Scotland in 2018-19 so far, financial advantage can be wasted while good managers can turn lesser resources into a greater sum than their parts"

Every pundit can get Turnbull mixed up as much as they want until that contract is signed

Seems fair enough. It did ricochet of the aberdeen player to find it's way to Turnbull. He still did well to finish it though.

Great win today. Not much more to say the folk haven't covered. A few things imo: -Mbulu looked great. Very very positive. -Gillespie assured coming for crosses and some great saves. -Grimshaw set the tempo for me from the off. Snuffed out Lowe pretty much. -Turnbull had a quiet game but the finish for his goal was lovely. Plenty would not get that shot away as cleanly. -Johnson has that goalscorer instinct and his perseverance and finish for the first was a joy. All in, a great day at the office in all positions.

Think it's a bit more than that to be honest. Cadden looked good from right back against Dundee and St Mirren.

Aye, definitely I'm genuinely intrigued to see how we line up. Really hope to see Livingstone in. But also won't be surprised to see Tait left back, Grimshaw at right back. Or do we return to a three? Mbulu or Maguire?

He'll sign ;-)

Club website is now updated weekly with that info which is quite useful: https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/club/team-news/

Carson, Cadden (for a few weeks too) and McHugh (2 matches) all out as well as the other more long term absentees. Be interesting to see how we line up