Hearts v Motherwell 23/08/2025

[joewarkfanclub]

57 minutes ago, MJC said:

Exactly. 
 

Talk of top six finishes and silverware when we’re yet to register a league game victory is absolutely wild.

It actually reminds me to an extent of the early days of the Jim Gannon era when you had people talking about Gannon being a ‘Visionary messiah’ and us splitting the Old Firm and Ross Forbes and Paul Slane (yes Ross Forbes and Paul Slane!!!) being future Scotland mainstays because we scudded an Albanian ‘pub team’ 8-1 in the EL Qualifiers…..And we all know how that turned out…on all of those fronts. 
 

There are grounds for optimism so far but that’s all it is and until we start showing that we can win football matches in this league then it won’t go much further than that. 

If you dont dare to dream when things are looking good, when can you?

We could well fall flat on our faces, and if we do, you will be right and we will be wrong. But some of us will have had some fun along the way....

🧡❤️🧡

[wellgirl]

3 hours ago, numpty said:

Would be nice to win a league game first, mind you.

You're right. But we are currently 5th - so not doing so bad eh? 

[wellgirl]

53 minutes ago, MJC said:

Yeah I get that and like you I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far this season. But we need that first win badly. 
 

The reason I brought up the Gannon time is because that is the last time there was this overall excitement about the place early in the season which was based on, dare I say it, more than we’ve seen this season, and some of the talk about how good we would be was wild. And it all fell apart very quickly.

I’m not saying JBA is anything remotely like Gannon but it is still very early days and regardless of improved performances we still haven’t managed to win a game yet. So, I’m not getting carried away.

I think JBA is much better than Gannon - and we've signed players who still need to get up to full fitness with hopefully more to come in

[numpty]

3 minutes ago, wellgirl said:

You're right. But we are currently 5th - so not doing so bad eh? 

Not at all. Like everyone else, very much enjoying what I'm seeing so far.

[wellgirl]

1 hour ago, MJC said:

Exactly. 
 

Talk of top six finishes and silverware when we’re yet to register a league game victory is absolutely wild.

It actually reminds me to an extent of the early days of the Jim Gannon era when you had people talking about Gannon being a ‘Visionary messiah’ and us splitting the Old Firm and Ross Forbes and Paul Slane (yes Ross Forbes and Paul Slane!!!) being future Scotland mainstays because we scudded an Albanian ‘pub team’ 8-1 in the EL Qualifiers…..And we all know how that turned out…on all of those fronts. 
 

There are grounds for optimism so far but that’s all it is and until we start showing that we can win football matches in this league then it won’t go much further than that. 

Is it really? Is that a dig at my post - sorry for trying to be positive. I was responding to a post saying they didn't think we were going to keep Jens - context matters 

A team could be bottom of the league and potentially win a trophy 

[wellgirl]

2 minutes ago, numpty said:

Not at all. Like everyone else, very much enjoying what I'm seeing so far.

I wasn't having a dig. I do get the wins need to come soon 

[mfc]

Play like we have been and the wins will come,for me to be actually looking forward to watching us play is the big thing,for to long it's felt like a chore going to the football so I'm going to enjoy this period we're in as this looks like a manager and team that you really feel like wanting to get behind,that yesterday for the most part was as good as I can remember any motherwell team playing and I'm buzzing for the next game already.as a fan being excited for your team is what it's all about so let's see where it takes us.

[Stuwell2]

Not trying to put a downer on things as I’ve also enjoyed the games so far and hope that it continues but my expectations for this season, at the moment, is no greater then any other season, avoiding relegation first followed by a good cup run then trying for top six.
As the season progresses that might change but for now I’m enjoying the games and will dream of giddy heights but reality and previous experience will keep those dreams as dreams until something’s in the bag. 

[grizzlyg]

25 minutes ago, Stuwell2 said:

Not trying to put a downer on things as I’ve also enjoyed the games so far and hope that it continues but my expectations for this season, at the moment, is no greater then any other season, avoiding relegation first followed by a good cup run then trying for top six.
As the season progresses that might change but for now I’m enjoying the games and will dream of giddy heights but reality and previous experience will keep those dreams as dreams until something’s in the bag. 

Are you MJC......are you MJC....are you MJC in disguise?.........are you MJC in disguise.....🤣🤣

[MelvinBragg]

1 hour ago, Stuwell2 said:

Not trying to put a downer on things as I’ve also enjoyed the games so far and hope that it continues but my expectations for this season, at the moment, is no greater then any other season, avoiding relegation first followed by a good cup run then trying for top six.
As the season progresses that might change but for now I’m enjoying the games and will dream of giddy heights but reality and previous experience will keep those dreams as dreams until something’s in the bag. 

I think you make a fair point. My expectations are always avoid relegation and see what happens. Invariably I expect us to finish around 8th. But there are different ways to finish 8th in the league. We could grind our way there or we could play the way we're playing just now, win a few and lose a few but entertain along the way.

Would I like us to finish as high ip the league as possible? Of course. But I enjoyed watching Butcher's team that finished bottom more than Alexander's team that finished fifth. Basically I want Motherwell to be as successful as possible but don't know if I want that if it means watching dreadful football...

[MFCL84]

11 hours ago, joewarkfanclub said:

If you dont dare to dream when things are looking good, when can you?

I think that what allows us to dream this time is not that the team are playing attractive and entertaining football, but that way of playing is being implemented by, what I think we would all agree is, a better quality of player from what we have had as the norm in recent years. The first 11, and a few on the bench are, in my opinion anyway, the equal of, or better than most teams in the league. Therefore, I don't expect a collapse. We won't win the league, we may not even get Europe, but a top-6 finish is certainly possible. Who knows where my dreams for this season will end?

[Kmcalpin]

5 minutes ago, MFCL84 said:

I think that what allows us to dream this time is not that the team are playing attractive and entertaining football, but that way of playing is being implemented by, what I think we would all agree is, a better quality of player from what we have had as the norm in recent years. The first 11, and a few on the bench are, in my opinion anyway, the equal of, or better than most teams in the league. Therefore, I don't expect a collapse. We won't win the league, we may not even get Europe, but a top-6 finish is certainly possible. Who knows where my dreams for this season will end?

Its premature to make predictions about this season for several reasons. In theory, a team can sign better players than they did in the past but what if rivals sign even better players? In short, its all relative.  With the exception of last Saturday, we've had problems in converting possession into goals. That might change with the arrival of Hendry and Osong. Who knows?  Our midfield is the match of most in the league, although it currently lacks a defensive element.  Our defence, including the goalkeeping position, though concerns me. Our goalies are probably ranked in the bottom 4/5 maybe? Full backs? Early days but probably mid league. Central defence? Probably bottom 3/4. 

All this could change in the next 7 days of course, with the arrival of new recruits hopefully. So far, I like our new style of play but questionmarks remain, for me, as to whether it will be effective in securing results.   

[wellgirl]

9 minutes ago, Kmcalpin said:

Its premature to make predictions about this season for several reasons. In theory, a team can sign better players than they did in the past but what if rivals sign even better players? In short, its all relative.  With the exception of last Saturday, we've had problems in converting possession into goals. That might change with the arrival of Hendry and Osong. Who knows?  Our midfield is the match of most in the league, although it currently lacks a defensive element.  Our defence, including the goalkeeping position, though concerns me. Our goalies are probably ranked in the bottom 4/5 maybe? Full backs? Early days but probably mid league. Central defence? Probably bottom 3/4. 

All this could change in the next 7 days of course, with the arrival of new recruits hopefully. So far, I like our new style of play but questionmarks remain, for me, as to whether it will be effective in securing results.   

There's a where will we finish this season thread on the boards - I completely get what you are saying - but every year you get people saying some fans don't have ambition if they see avoiding relegation as the main priority and it should be top six and a cup run we are aiming for. I have always been more or less safety first - the league is tight as folk know. 

But I don't see why we can't aim for top six if we get a couple of more players in and we keep playing well. 

[wellup83]

The wins will come. Christ, we've played 4 games! No-one expected 3 points against Rangers (We got 1). StM (Very much our level) 1 point on their turf (decent result) StJ were never going to be a pushover. Best of the championship with something to prove. (We got through) We battered Hearts for an hour in capital and not a soul would have expected that. Yes we should have seen it out but we'd all have taken a point before a ball was kicked. That said, I expect 3 points on Saturday against the one who shall remain unnamed.

[texanwellfan]

Focusing on the plus side of the game our three goals were very good especially the last two. 
The second goal we won the ball around the half way line then moved forward a little before ending up going back to the keeper from there, we of course, ended up scoring. 11 passes in total. 
the third goal we won the ball around our 18 yard line and again ball was played back to keeper and again, we scored. 9 passes in total. 
Our ball possession is as good as I can remember it ever being and hopefully we will get better as the season goes on. 
(can you tell I’m retired) 😂

[texanwellfan]

7 hours ago, wellup83 said:

The wins will come. Christ, we've played 4 games! No-one expected 3 points against Rangers (We got 1). StM (Very much our level) 1 point on their turf (decent result) StJ were never going to be a pushover. Best of the championship with something to prove. (We got through) We battered Hearts for an hour in capital and not a soul would have expected that. Yes we should have seen it out but we'd all have taken a point before a ball was kicked. That said, I expect 3 points on Saturday against the one who shall remain unnamed.

I’m sure there were a lot of people (not just MJC) thinking, but maybe not saying, that we would be on zero Points after the first three games. To come thru those first three games undefeated is very encouraging indeed. Yes, we need to win games but we can all see areas that need improving. If we can address those areas before this window closes you have to be optimistic of us doing well in the league

[grizzlyg]

I have not been there biggest fan at times and with good reason but I thought the Bois played a blinder with the tribute to Dougie Imrie,  a touch of class and proves that it is only a game.  Comes nowhere the tragic loss that poor lad, his partner and his family are going through

[grizzlyg]

8 hours ago, wellup83 said:

The wins will come. Christ, we've played 4 games! No-one expected 3 points against Rangers (We got 1). StM (Very much our level) 1 point on their turf (decent result) StJ were never going to be a pushover. Best of the championship with something to prove. (We got through) We battered Hearts for an hour in capital and not a soul would have expected that. Yes we should have seen it out but we'd all have taken a point before a ball was kicked. That said, I expect 3 points on Saturday against the one who shall remain unnamed.

Exactly,  it's been a good start and the playing style has us all excited and buying into it.  To quote Kevin Keegan...I WOULD LOOV IT...LOOV IT IF WE BEAT THEM ON SATURDAY.

I hope I am celebrating with a pint of mythos,  ouzo and a Gyros and smashing plates!! 🤣🤣😎😎

[Yabba's Turd]

21 hours ago, joewarkfanclub said:

If you dont dare to dream when things are looking good, when can you?

We could well fall flat on our faces, and if we do, you will be right and we will be wrong. But some of us will have had some fun along the way....

🧡❤️🧡

You can only dream when we are 4 points ahead with a game to play

[twistandshout1983]

9 hours ago, wellup83 said:

The wins will come. Christ, we've played 4 games! No-one expected 3 points against Rangers (We got 1). StM (Very much our level) 1 point on their turf (decent result) StJ were never going to be a pushover. Best of the championship with something to prove. (We got through) We battered Hearts for an hour in capital and not a soul would have expected that. Yes we should have seen it out but we'd all have taken a point before a ball was kicked. That said, I expect 3 points on Saturday against the one who shall remain unnamed.

Absolutely 💯 this

I have been very happy with the start to this season 

It's been very much a case of rip it up and start again from previous seasons , the signs so far have been very encouraging