Leaderboard

Looking at the ‘bigger picture’ re: Kettlewell, I’m glad that we’ve been able to get through a season without having to change manager and will more likely than not have the same manager in charge going into next season. After the Alexander to Hammell to Kettlewell upheaval of 2022/23 it’s good that we finally have a bit of stability and hopefully that benefits us during the summer window. SK does need to show that he’s learned from previous mistakes with transfers, granted, but he’s earned the right to another chance after comfortably keeping us up.

Is your phone in Foghorn Leghorn mode today? I say...I say boy 🤣🤣🤣

This. And you know looking back at this thread from the beginning. Are there many names that folk were saying that back then that they would rather actually have right now instead of Kettlewell? Loads of names were mentioned am sure including Levein. He's got loads of management experience and look at the position St Johnstone are in right now. Of course he'd made fuck ups along the way but a massive for me was that he didn't lose the dressing room when we were on that poor run.

Aye another Saturday night ruined for you, all that negativety and pent up rage with nowhere to vent it.

Couple of goal scorers

Oh oh oh it’s magic you know we’re going to win three in a row boom boom 💥

On the plus side, was a fantastic piece of business for us. Picked up on a free, got a season from him, then sold him for a tidy profit.

If that's true I think that's a bit off. Kettlewell is on record as saying there were no discussions with him regarding his future at Motherwell when we were going through that poor run. McMahon was also on record as saying in February that he thought Kettlewell was the person to take the club forward - and our form still wasn't great at that point But Craigan who has no connection to Motherwell apart from being an ex player is told by a board member that they were considering sacking Kettlewell during that time period. And he's repeating this publicly? The pundits think the board deserve enormous credit for not sacking a manager during a poor run? I completely agree with you re the revolving door of managers issue btw. I just think that Kettlewell deserves to have the pressure eased off him a bit - and get a bit of credit as well. I know we didn't get top six and that some of his signings were poor. But we've been up against it as well. The injury list. Mika and Spencer being recalled. And tbh for me. This was honestly the first season in a long time where I actually really did think we might end up in a play off position and I didn't fancy our chances if we had. It's been a huge turnaround even if it might not always feel like that.

Could be pal, just teasing Could be pal, just teasing Ba Boom Ba Boom

I understand that the 10th spot thing is often cited for budgetary purposes, which can be misrepresented, and I expect and hope the playing targets are indeed set higher. My comment that we should be aiming for nothing less than the top 6 and, more so, a good cup run is in no way linked to me suggesting that we should be irresponsibly speculating to accumulate. I think these targets should be the absolute minimum for us, and it would be more progressive and positive to frame our approach like that instead of pleading poverty about our 10th-best budget position. The latter will never improve until the former becomes a stable reality.

Not sure there is much different there to what I was getting at. Kellys performances this season certainly havent been anywhere near as good as they were in his first season, so I agree, over the piece he has been average. Strangely though, as others have said, having Hollis in goals didnt stop us getting top 6. But he had much better defenders in front of him. Regardless. We need better value for money when it comes to recruitment. Given Kelly is on above average money for us Im comfortable with him moving on.

Yeah. Top six and, more so, a good cup run should be the absolute minimum targets set each season for the manager. I'm sick and tired of the 10th spot less-than-mediocrity crap, as nothing will ever be achieved when the minimum targets are set so low. Some may call that unrealistic for whatever reason. However, given our 40-year presence in the top league, our likely budget, our stature and structure, aiming for anything less is just treading water and hoping for an annual miracle against the odds.

Congratulations on producing the most sanctimonious of all posts on this topic. I hope you've enjoyed the victory atop your massive ivory tower. I'm surprised you found the time to enjoy the result late last night while searching for a months-old post of mine written off the back of an appalling winless run on 2 January. Context is key, but petty irony is free.

We will always have high/low points to a season. In terms of what he's been asked to do re league position I'd say he's delivered . To secure 7-9th with a lower budget is job done. Comes across as a good man manager, getting the most out of players. Would really like to see an improvement in recruitment. Some loanees have been very decent, could do landing some decent perm 1st team regulars.

I do as well.

Only good teams like Motherwell can win in Dingwall in 2024

Ye ragin', aye ?

Indeed, but a lot of these replies are to posts stating that so-in-so is shite, and the worst ever in a 'Well shirt. Over the course of this season, this accusation has been aimed at, Kelly, S O'D, Bevis, Spittal, Slattery, Paton and our entire strike force, to name but a few. And that doesn't start to cover comments on Kettlewell. As always, in football and in life, nothing is black and white and most of us (I suspect) realise that and, more importantly, accept these failings as part and parcel of being a 'Well fan. The constancy of those statements I, personally, find tiresome and occasionally irk me enough to comment. I'm lucky enough to have seen the likes of Bobby Graham, Willie P, Tommy Coyne, Davie Cooper, to name but a few. I've also seen some total haddies. No one in this team is likely to feature in an all time 'Well XI, I suspect that none of them would feature in an all time worst either. 😀 To summise, chill people.