Motherwell v Hertha friendly 25/07/2025

[well_said]

1 hour ago, weeyin said:

Ref thinks this is the Champions League Final.

Walsh is like his collum , he has to be the centre of attention.

[wunderwell]

Hertha have a turnover of 100 million euros - wow.

[gaz7]

They are a wee bit better than us. But we hung in we played some great moves and we got a draw. It is another 2 steps forward. Happy enough with that tonight and a wee bit excited how far we can go with 2 or 3 additions.

[Spiderpig]

We played some good football tonight, effective high press, playing out from the back looking like we actually knew how to do it, still had the odd defensive error especially when the ball was played over the top and direct, but all in a very good  performance.

If we can get a decent striker, and a central defender in this transfer window I think we will do well.

[texanwellfan]

I saw the first hour and then the last few mins after it was already 1-1 but I was pleased to see us attacking at the end. Such a pleasant change to watch us trying to play football. Probably had more completed passed the past 5 games than we have the past 5 years.  

[real dosser]

£2 million now for Stama.

[Spiderpig]

9 minutes ago, wunderwell said:

Hertha have a turnover of 100 million euros - wow.

They  ifinished 11th in Bundeslig 2 last season so not a top German side but still a step up in class from what we will face most weeks in the premiership, so a very good test and result tonight.

[MFC-craig]

Pleasantly surprised with the performances in the last two games. Thought we held our own against their press in the first half and took advantage when they got tired later in the game. Watt, Fadinger and Slattery played well and the subs contributed well. Said is a unit.
Can’t wait to have my chips pished on at the weekend. 

[weeyin]

28 minutes ago, MFC-craig said:

Can’t wait to have my chips pished on at the weekend. 

Just heard JBA talking about the Ranger's game:

"Next week we have some neighbours over for dinner. Let's hope we enjoy dinner the most"

So maybe your chips will be fine.

[FirParkCornerExile]

2 hours ago, mio said:

Been a bit disappointed with slattery tonight, been quite slow on the ball at times and if he was a bit sharper a few goal shoot chances could have happened.

I still think Fadinger is class. I think he’ll get better and better.

Slattery was poor but he did set up the goal. He seems to think he has more time than he does and is so very slow turning. Like everyone else he will need time to adjust. 

[FirParkCornerExile]

1 hour ago, weeyin said:

Good workout against a higher quality of opposition. Took a little while to adapt to the higher level opponents,  but we improved in the second half.

And more triangles than an Airport Toblerone.

Last 15 mins we finished strongly, spoke to a few who were behind the goal and said it was never a penalty , be interested to see the highlights. 

[FirParkCornerExile]

1 hour ago, gaz7 said:

They are a wee bit better than us. But we hung in we played some great moves and we got a draw. It is another 2 steps forward. Happy enough with that tonight and a wee bit excited how far we can go with 2 or 3 additions.

Technically you could see they were better but got to say how many direct shots did they get on our keeper ? I think we handled them reasonably well still plenty room for improvement but going in the right direction. Still a wee bit too over elaborate in and around the penalty box but that is a minor criticism.

 

Excellent turn out from the Hertha Berlin fans btw.

[ropy]

15 minutes ago, FirParkCornerExile said:

Last 15 mins we finished strongly, spoke to a few who were behind the goal and said it was never a penalty , be interested to see the highlights. 

Keeper kicked the attacker.

Another keeper may have dived on the ball to smother it but then he would likely have got kicked.

[texanwellfan]

No complaints from our players so makes

me suspect ref called it correctly

[wellgirl]

Club 100 was completely packed tonight over 500 fans inside and the Cooper was really busy. No away fans in the Cooper - they maybe didn't know they could have got in. I couldn't get in club 100 so went to the Cooper 

[Yabba's Turd]

I'd be selling Stama, all he does is score goals FFS

[wellgirl]

Just now, Yabba's Turd said:

I'd be selling Stama, all he does is score goals FFS

Indeed - he must go. He's scored two in two games - sell him 

[texanwellfan]

I’m hoping highlights go up soon so I can see the goal and get another look at the pk 

[Kmcalpin]

3 hours ago, weeyin said:

Good workout against a higher quality of opposition. Took a little while to adapt to the higher level opponents,  but we improved in the second half.

A good summing up. I'd rate Hertha as being somewhere between Hearts/Aberdeen and Celtic. They didn't look 100% match fit though as fans of German football on here will know.

A draw was a reasonable outcome as we finished strongly after  a slow start. We played some good football but too often the final ball wasn't quite right. That might come. Fadinger and McGinn were my MOTMs. 

Now onto lessons learned (again some might say). We lack physicality in midfield and up front. To me, Watt, Fadinger and Slattery are all a wee bit similar and we need a solid physical defensive midfielder in the battle zone to halt central midfield runners in their tracks.  How will Just fare against the likes of the Gogics, O'Haras and Devlins of the Premiership world? Ap Stam ran his socks off but to no effect - he is a penalty box striker, possibly a good one, end of. We need a big target man up front. Tonight I thought our passing from  midfield to set up attacks was a bit slow.   All too often the chance to catch a retreating Hertha was lost due to dilatory decision making and execution. All that said we played not too badly. The new style will take time to implement. Hopefully speed comes later. 

Hertha had some decent players and I liked the look of Toni Leistner. 

I believe we only had 4 subs due to another team comprising young players, fringe players and trialists(?) playing Hertha's B team this afternoon. 0-0 draw from what I heard.

A good workout and not your usual friendly.  

[SteelmaninOZ]

The gaffer said 

 

[wellfan]

I left at HT, so I’ll keep my assessment to the first half:

• Nick Walsh is a useless prick.

• Stama spent nearly the entire half glued to the centre circle. He needs to offer far more movement and presence up top. He’s a penalty box striker and that’s it. 

   

[SteelmaninOZ]

Stama 

 

[wellon]

14 hours ago, FirParkCornerExile said:

Last 15 mins we finished strongly, spoke to a few who were behind the goal and said it was never a penalty , be interested to see the highlights. 

I've only seen it once from behind the goal, thought it was a stonewaller tbf.

[steelman1991]

2 hours ago, wellon said:

I've only seen it once from behind the goal, thought it was a stonewaller tbf.

Agreed

[Pettywulliegrew-2]

17 hours ago, wunderwell said:

Hertha have a turnover of 100 million euros - wow.

53’000 average home crowd last season…..71’000 at their home game with Hamburg