couttsy

Whilst Campbell gets stuck in he has little or no presence....... Put it this way, I’ve lost count of the amount of headers Ohara & Donnelly have won in front of our defence in that holding role in recent weeks, whilst I’m a Campbell fan he’s just not physically capable of that.

He’s 6ft 2in!

Here you go...... https://www.eticketing.co.uk/motherwellfc/EDP/Event/Index/160

It’s on the official site if you hit buy match tickets.

Let’s hope Ohara’s fit for this one. A midfield without Donnelly, Ohara or Turnbull is likely to get rolled over in this league. Presuming he’s fit, I would go 3-5-2 with Gillespie, Tait, Gallagher (in the middle of the 3), Harley, Grimshaw, Campbell, Ohara, Polworth, Aarons, Long, Watt. Think Aarons might be more effective on the left given he’s left footed. Without Ohara we may need to start with Maguire in there to give us a physical presence, all be it that it would be a big ask given he has played in the 1st team for months.....

I see Hearts are looking for £29 and £21 for over 65’s on Saturday. Shocking pricing for any game in Scotland.

Donnelly is suspended for the next 2, we better hope O’Hara is fit or Davie might need to play more than we’d like.......

So so much wrong I’m not sure where to start.....With the defence, Gallagher literally playing right back, why not Donnelly out there Gallagher in the middle of the 3 and Hartley (given he’s left footed) on the left. Then when Donnelly goes into midfield Tait moves to centre half but on the left not the right where he played so well against Saints in the 2nd half last week........ Midfield, Campbell and Polworth both terrible, if O’Hara is out as well as Donnelly in the next 2 games we’re in even more trouble. Going forward, why not even try swapping Aarons and Hylton at any point so that they’d be on the foot they kick with when they get to the bye line? F@cking even more raging with that tonight that I was last week. 180mins against Accies & St Mirren without a goal from open play. Just as well we have enough points to stay up.

Thought at the time the challenge on Aarons was a red and that it wasnt given because it was so early in the game, haven't changed my mind since seeing it on TV. Anyone else noticed that the timing in the game bizarrely makes a difference to how referees apply to rules!? Long was an idiot and as others have said almost looked hell bent on getting himself sent off......However, the yellow for kicking the ball away, whilst correct is just not applied constantly at all. In the 2nd half an Accies played (Gogic I think) took a throw it that he blatantly knew was our ball just to waste time, yet was not carded. The Gallagher booking was the one that really got me on Sat. Clearly the ref thought a player with a small nose bleed was unable to walk 2 yards off the pitch for treatment, then yellowed Gallagher for asking him why not, and finally just to put the tin hat on it, asked the player to leave the pitch before the treatment was finished...…………...

Bad news re Carroll, who is another that’s had a good season in my opinion, he also gives us that balance being left footed! Hopefully we’ll have Dunne and Turnbull back in a few weeks. A midfield of Campbell, Ohara and Turnbull, with Dunne, Donnelly and Gallagher at the back and Watt & Long up front sounds appealing. Add Aarons who has done well and you have more than the makings of a good team. My feeling of doom after Tue is finally starting to lift... Life as a Motherwell fan, eh....

Agree with much of what you've said re Hylton, Aarons and MacIver, although our options at full back without Carroll are really poor. Grimshaw has been terrible for weeks in my opinion, with Tait being almost as bad when he has come in at RB. Dropping our goalkeeper for throwing the ball out to defenders under pressure when he's been instructed to do so because we have no physical presence up front is harsh in the least! Hopefully with Watt (and maybe MacIver) coming in we're back to having better options for him to hit with throws and kick outs. Who has or hasn't signed contracts beyond this season cant come into our thinking at this stage. Maybe if we are secure in top 6 and not getting into Europe then that becomes a consideration. I think the inclusion or not of Gallagher tomorrow could swing this game one way or the other......Lets hope he's fit and ready to go!

‪Easy option is to go 4-3-3 with Gillespie, Grimmy, Tait, Hartley & Gallagher, 3 from Campbell, Donnelly, Ohara & Polworth then Watt & Aarons & Long (Maciver if not fit). However I’d go 3-5-2 with Gillespie, Gallagher, Donnelly & Tait. Aarons & Hylton as wingbacks, Campbell, Ohara & Polworth, Watt & Long (Maciver if Long not fit‬). Talk of dropping Gillespie is crazy in my opinion.....With the exception of Gallagher I think he’s been our player of the year.....

Donnelly....,no argument

Yeh, we all know Main is no world beater but he’s showing us exactly the type of player we’re missing...... Let’s hope Watt can give us a bit of that, plus a goal or two!

Looks reasonable given injuries, however I'd go with Campbell in for Grimshaw and play OHara a RB. Lets hope Watt can hold the ball up, win the odd header and stick one in the back of the net.

I’d start with a 4-4-2: Gillespie O’Hara, Gallagher, Hartley, Carroll Aarons, Donnelly, Campbell, Polworth Long & Watt Not sure if O’Hara has played RB before but he seems to have all the attributes to play there. Really, really don’t want to see us line up with 2 lightweight wingers and Long again......

Not normally one for hysterics after a defeat, but can’t help but look at how far Killie & St Johnstone are behind us never mind Livi and Hibs.....We have been awful since the break... The sooner Dunne and Turnbull return to add reinforcements the better. Oh and can we please stop playing with Long and 2 lightweight wingers, just does not work, nobody holds the ball up, nobody to win the ball in the air. Watt must play on Sat, if he’s not fit enough he should play the first 60 mins rather than bring him on.

Deffo not at a left back, I think Carroll’s had a great season. Toss up between a fit Dunne & Hartley for me. Dunne maybe just having the edge due to the pace he brings.

Spot on. In 35 years of going to FP he’s by far worst I’ve seen.....

Let’s hope Gallagher makes it, the thought of Hartley & Mugabi gives me the fear! Would love to see us start with Watt, Long and Aaron up front but suspect Watt will be on the bench if we get clearance in time.....

Tough one to take tonight....Positives are that the 1st half was a massive improvement on Sat, Arrons looked lively and Long had a far better game. Have to say that heading to FP I thought that going toe to toe with Celtic and playing 3 forwards was always going to end in tears and so it proved. A lot wrong in the 2nd half but need to bear in mind the quality we were up against, particularly Edouard who was outstanding. Other results couldn’t really have been better for us, which should hopefully give us a bit of encouragement going forward. On to Saturday and what now feels like a pivotal game in the season, a cup quarter final to look forward to and 3rd in the league come Sat evening will see us feeling good about ourselves again. Lose and it’ll be 3 defeats in a row 4 without a win and a real feeling of panic......

Prior to selling Scott, the transfer window closing with us bringing in another fast winger/forward type and then watching us on Saturday I would have said no to Watt...……...however with the those 3 things going as they did I think its a no brainer until the end of the season as long as he is showing the right behaviours, fit and up for it!

I’d go with a 4-5-1 and try and stay in it until the last 20 mins or so. Gillespie, Grimshaw, Gallagher, Hartley, Carroll, Campbell, Donnelly, Ohara, Polworth, Aarons (if he’s fit, Ndjoli if not), Mazinga.

As others have said, what a horrific performance, with so much wrong it’s hard where to know where to start.... If I was to have a go, I think the biggest problem we have going forward is the lack of a physical presence up front. Lost count of the amount of times Hartley had the ball at his feet yesterday (particularly in the first half) only to look up and see everyone running away from him, desperately needed someone to come and take it to feet, on the chest or in the air. Not saying Scott would have made a huge difference yesterday, however he is a presence and would have fulfilled a bit of that role. I fear the fact we haven’t signed a 6ft+ centre forward who can hold the ball up and bring other players into the game is going to result in a slide down the table....hope I’m wrong. We had no out ball at all yesterday meaning when we played it forward it just came straight back. Think Long needs to play off a bigger striker, also think he’s getting off very lightly due to the fact a lot of his team mates were also poor yesterday, thought he hid throughout....

At the figures quoted it seems to be a good deal and probably one the club can't really turn down, however its not half depressing for fans that good, young talent seems to be heading out the door after 1/2 a season if you're lucky...…...Although, granted its better than developing young players that aren't good enough and no one wants as a result, would just be good to get a couple of seasons watching them develop. I fear a slide down the table and a Scottish Cup exit if we don't sign at least one striker today....