Well 4 Europe

Points dropped for a third time this season to bottom of the league Hearts tonight, who were down to ten man.

Just seen the highlights, fair say it didn't look like a classic but I'm not bothered one bit. Was all about the result tonight. Cracking ball by Kerr for the first and a great take and finish by Anier, should do his confidence the world of good after his recent injury problems. I make it 8 goals in 16 starts in the league for him this season, very decent return for a relatively young player in his first season in a new country. Still a bit rough round the edges but he's got all the attributes to be a very good striker for Motherwell and getting him on a long term contract was a very good bit of business. Blatant shove on Moore in the build up to Christie's goal, it was a good hit but Gunnar probably could have done better. Build up play to the winner between Moore and Vigurs was very good, great leap by Sutton to win the ball initially, a lot of composure shown by young Moore and Vigurs finished it with aplomb. Huge 3 points for us, well done to McCall and the team for showing character and bouncing back after the disappointment of Saturday

So, are we all now firmly in the 'Ian Vigurs is a cracking player' camp?

That's what I thought. That Inverness team looks utterly shite as well to be fair. Can see this being a shitter of a game in horrendous conditions, however if we can bundle one in from a set piece and grab all 3 points I won't be complaining. Fair play to the 'Well fans who've traveled through tonight for this one.

I was slightly worried when I saw the team, not because Faddy was out because I didn't expect him to be risked. However when I saw there was no Carswell I was worried about the shape and balance of our midfield with Vigurs in the middle of the park and ZFA wide left. First of Zaine, now he has some attributes to be a decent player; pace, strength and he's decent enough on the ball. However he lacks any sort of positional sense and in game awareness. He must have played over 50 games for Motherwell and I honestly couldn't tell you where his best position is? He looked dodgy at full back last month and after an alright first half today was anonymous 2nd half at left wing today. Perhaps a wee break and spell back in the U20's would be the best thing for him cause after good start to the season it's not been happening for him lately. And of course by putting him there you have to shift Vigurs out of the left midfield berth he's excelled in and made his own in recent months. Now, Vigurs had another very good game today and was head and shoulders above the rest of his teammates. Everything positive came through him today. However him and Hammell have developed a decent understanding down that left side in recent weeks and we finally had a bit of decent shape to our midfield. Can't help but feel by not bringing Leitch in for Carswell McCall has tinkered too much with the shape and balance of the midfield which has won it's last two games. Lasley struggled today and him and Vigurs never really clicked as a partnership, don't think him and Vigurs are the suited to each other in there. We failed to get a hold of the midfield today and never really had any dominant spells of possession and were overrun in the middle of the park by Killie today, especially 2nd half. Leitch and Lasley dominated the middle of the park against Hearts at Fir Park and allowed the flair players like Vigurs do their thing. Today we never really got to grips with the midfield and the forwards were feeding off scraps as a result. Then when Killie got a deserved eqaulizer, McCall finally tried to address the problem and change the shape by punting Vigurs to the right and bringing on Leitch for Ainsworth(who was woeful). He then punted Vigurs back to the left and brought on Fraser Kerr which baffled just about everyone in the stadium. So aye, I would have brought Leitch in and tried to keep the same shape that's worked for us in recent weeks but I suppose it is easy to say after the event. Then again maybe just too many of our players didn't turn up today and having ridden our luck in recent games today was the day it eventually ran out. Although when Eremenko fluffed his lines I genuinely thought we'd gotten away with one, the fact we didn't heed that warning and lost the goal from a similar scenario only 90 seconds later was criminal. Anyway, all ifs and buts. Today's a right off, just have to focus on Tuesday and try and bounce back with a positive result and performance.

Vigurs, for his goal and for being the only 'Well player who actually tried to bring the ball down and pass it.

Ainsworth was pish today and a passenger. Rightly hooked, I would have done it sooner. Also there's a long list of players who you could fault for their performances today, Gunnar wasn't one of them. Made several good saves and was left badly exposed at both goals.

I've talked up Vigurs ever since we were interested in signing him, always thought he was quality player whenever I'd seen County last season and had no doubt he'd be a great signing for us. Glad to see the doubters are finally coming round. He has next to no pace but he doesn't really need it. His touch, vision and technique are all top drawer and he always capable of finding and/or creating space for himself. Always willing to take the ball and try and make something happen. Even his work rate, which was usually used as a stick to beat him with, has improved in recent times and he's starting to be an integral part of the team. Vigurs was signed during a major summer overhaul and because things didn't just click instantly for him or the team he came in for a hard time. It was obvious from the start his laid back approach would see him singled out for abuse in much the same way Higdon was, slow, shite and lazy etc. Same pish, different player. No surprise that as the new team has gelled together that Vigurs has settled and started to show his qualities on a consistent basis. Anyway he was outstanding today and my man of the match.

I think after throwing away a two goal lead in our last game, when we didn't get the third goal tonight after an hour or so McCall decided the most important thing was to make sure we didn't concede and let ICT back in the game. Might not have been pretty the last 20 mins but we did secure our first clean sheet since Tynecastle in early January and more importantly secured all three points. At the time I wanted a few of the younger boys like Thomas and Moore to get a run out and try get a few more goals but in the end looking back you can't argue with McCall's reasoning. I think if we'd got a third he might have brought some of the younger boys on and we might have got a few more goals but 2-0 is a funny score and after Easter Road I think McCall just wanted to make sure we got the points. Make no mistake, that was a big win tonight. Well done to McCall and the team for a good, solid win.

I disagree almost entirely. Ainsworth was playing up front with Sutton I assume because McCall wanted to utilize his pace through the middle. That's why he was playing in such advanced areas. To be honest even though he got a goal and an assist I'm not convinced the 4-3-1-2 formation having Ainsworth through the middle was a raging success. We surrendered the wide areas and let far too many crosses into the box which in my opinion was a result of the system not a lack a work rate(especially from Vigurs). Playing with a narrow 3 meant there was an inordinate amount of work for Leitch and Vigurs to do and how anyone who was at the game can accuse Vigurs of not putting a shift in for the team is beyond me. The guy may have had questions asked about his work rate in the past but he burst his baws for the team on Saturday and put in a real shift. Also I agree with Steelboy that Ainsworth had to come off, he looked lost up front 2nd half and dropped out the game completely. However you can't really argue with another goal and another assist.

Bryson turned down Motherwell because in his own words, he thought he'd have more chance of playing regularly with Clyde.

He's an inexperienced, right footed centre back who ended up having to play left back in only his 2nd ever appearance in professional football. I thought he did quite well all things considered. Anyway there were no failures, the much maligned duo of Vigurs and Faddy were the stars of the show and were a real joy to watch. Reid and Ainsworth both had good games and linked well down the right. Lee Hollis was solid and quite frankly that's all I'm wanting from a keeper at this moment of time. Special mention to young Jack Leitch who had a very good full debut. Very impressed by his willingness to get on the ball and his range of passing. A few overly ambitious passes but he certainly offers more on the ball than Carswell and offers more going forward, was great to see him get forward a few times and get into the box and was unlucky with his effort that Macdonald saved with his legs at the near post. Hearts were rank rotten but you can only beat what's in front of you and after the week we've had it was always going to be important to bounce back with win, the fact we did it in such style was a real bonus.

Ah well, McCall's team will pick itself then. Nielsen/Hollis Reid Hutchinson McManus ZFA Ainsworth Carswell Lasley Vigurs Faddy Sutton Only question mark is whether he goes with Nielsen or Hollis.

I never said he was! However he does fit the criteria of the OP. Anyway, I thought you were fan of Cummins?

Cummins debut was against Aberdeen and it was under McCall. Craigan. Clancy and Hutchinson were all out and Cummins partnered Page in defence as we won 1-0. So he should be added to the list.

We have a thin squad no doubt but I'm glad I'm not the only one slightly perturbed by McCall's complete lack of faith in your youth team. In our last two games before tonight he unbalanced the entire defence by shifting our left back to right back just so he didn't have to give one of the young boys a game. Not surprisingly we conceded 6 goals in those 2 games. Surely time to give one of the young boys a chance at right back for the next game? Nope, let's spend more money(that I thought we didn't have?) on bringing in an unattached journeymen right back who's just been released by the team bottom of the league below ours instead of giving one of our own boys a chance. Another 3 goals shipped again tonight, not that I'm blaming Reid mind but you can see where I'm coming from. Also Carswell was clearly not fit on Friday and the game passed him by but again he was patched up and put out meanwhile Jack Leitch who's been in good form for the U20's this season is sitting on the bench kicking his heels. Not surprisingly he struggled again tonight. Could the young boys really do any worse?

3-5-2 tonight? Reid and ZFA wingbacks with Vigurs playing in behind the strikers? Would make sense given he's dropped Ainsworth ahead of ZFA.

Pretty grim stuff. No pace or creativity going forward, pedestrian and too may hopeful balls forward. Few quick points before I go.. Keith, even with one good leg was still our best player. Carswell and Vigurs were miles off the pace, contributed little and you have to wonder if either was actually fit? Nielsen wasn't actually at fault for any of the goals and for me was actually fairly solid with one good save in particular during the 2nd half. I'm a fan of Ainsworth but he was absolutely fucking shocking tonight. The rest weren't much better mind. Reid should start on Tuesday, makes a huge difference having a natural right back and Hammell back on his natural side. Also gets ZFA out of defence as his positional sense and awareness is dreadful. I'm off to drink until I forget that one. Poor stuff.

If Lasley is out, for me you simply can't move Carswell. Dundee United are a team with pace, energy and mobility and a 442 with Lawson and Vigurs at the heart of it would in my opinion end up being disastrous. Both lack mobility and they would get overrun in there and offer very little protection to our fragile, makeshift defence. If Lasley is out we're going to desperately need Carswell's energy, mobility and tenacity in the middle of the park. The young lad will have to step up in Keith's absence and be on top form if we're to come away with anything from this one.

Motherwell keen to snap up Dundee back-up keeper Twardzik Is it the end for Hollis?

Not really. Panathinaikos was a Champions League game which can't be compared to any other Motherwell manager as no other Motherwell manager has competed at that level. However his record in the Europa League, poor as it is, is really no worse than our other managers in recent years. If you look at our recent UEFA Cup/Europa League exits it looks like this.. Motherwell 0 - 3 Nancy (Playoff Round) - McGhee Motherwell 1 - 6 Steaua Bucharest.(3rd Round) - Gannon Motherwell 1 - 3 Odense BK (Playoff Round) - Brown Motherwell 0 - 3 Levante (Playoff Round) - McCall Motherwell 0 - 3 Kuban Krasnodar (Playoff Round) - McCall Has McCall really done any worse than the others?

I gave up watching around the time the third goal went in but from what I saw we certainly weren't awful. At 1-0 and 2-0 Sutton and Faddy respectively both missed golden chances from less than 10 yards out. You score them who knows but you can't miss chances like that at Celtic Park and expect to come away with anything. Nor can you defend like we did and expect to get anything. Always the same, miss good chances and gift cheap goals away down the other end. A real shitter today but Aberdeen and Dundee United both losing was a real bonus. Aberdeen next week is a massive game, should be a cracker.

Surely it will be Carswell at right back and the same shape we used at Firhill.

We've apparently got some Icelandic keeper called Ögmundur Kristinsson coming in on trial this week.

Except of course at yesterday's crucial goal where Iain Vigurs quickly presses the Hearts player in possession to win the ball back in his own final third before moving up the park to set up the goal.