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That's nonsense, just because you are swimming against the tide doesn't mean your opinions are not welcome, it's a fan's forum not an echo chamber, be very dull if we all agreed. Forums can be a bit of a cesspit at times but I've found SO far more balanced and less confrontational than it used to be. You have made very good points and have been consistent, but if you post a view on a fan's forum you have to expect it to be challenged if someone disagrees,, but you seem to take it personally when someone challenges your views, my advice is try not to, just counter it, then just let it go. FWIW I am very much known amongst fellow fans I see at games as a 'Happy Clapper', have never barracked the team or an individual, something I hate to see happening, and I don't like to see hard working guys like SK fail, so I understand where you are coming from. However my view has now changed with the evidence on show in recent weeks, and this is only ending one way sadly.

I'm hurting like many on here but when sensible and constructive posters like dennyc and clackscat are expressing such grave concerns, SK should be bothered too, although of course those two posters have never played professional football or managed a senior football club (as far as I know) so they can be quickly discounted 😈. This was pretty much the "Souness Defence" to criticism but I don't think SK has reached those heights of performance. I'm sure he works very hard but things just haven't worked out for a whole lot of reasons this season, most of which have been rehearsed on here for a while. The board may let things play out because they think SK still has some "credit" but if these disjointed and spiritless performances continue, the fans may well turn on them as well as the manager and things will be liable to change quickly. Defeat against Celtic is probably a given, so the next three matches in February will be vital., all winable in normal circumstances for a competent and motivated football team. If the manager can achieve a couple of wins at least and fashion an organised team which plays with some shape and spirit, he will certainly deserve some more time. However, for me, things are approaching Alexander levels of disengagement and disillusion with our "style" of play. I simply can't be bothered listening to the manager's explanations any more either. At least if the worst comes to the worst, given our choice of strip this year, I can kid myself I'm not really watching a Motherwell team 😱. May The Force be with us.

Stop being so sensible Texan 🤣

When you’re winning you can get away with those questions by saying it’s goals that count. Indeed, no matter what, it’s goals that count. He doesn’t have that cop out now because we are giving up goals for fun and not scoring. The fan base is rightly very worried about our form, so now we need to hear from SK regarding numbers like shots on target, possession time, formations, substitutions etc. and how he is going to fix things. He should be empathizing with the fans. He’s getting paid every game but the fans are shelling out their hard earned money to watch these subpar performances. Somebody at the club needs to take him aside and steer him away from confronting the fans and have a word about his stubborn approach to the game. From the fans side they should refrain from personal abuse of SK and keep comments to the football issues. I think that’s at least 4 goals conceded recently from corners where the opposition have scored from inside our 6 yard box. 3 against St Johnstone and 1 at Hearts. Add that to our low number of clean sheets and it’s fairly Obvious that we can’t defend very well. So options are score more goals and/or keep possession giving the opposition less time to score. I don’t think you have to be in anyone’s shoes or a seasoned professional to work that out

you are correct but for someone who has been in the game as long him he should know that the use of certain words / phrases particularly if there is an inference that its directed at the fans - even if that wasnt his intention - he has just created an unnecessary stick for fans to beat him with. Defo not a sacking offence, his style and tactics will ensure that.

On your first point, there’s no need to concede right or wrong. We both had our opinions at that time and that’s that, but fair play regardless. Things have moved on. On your questions, I would say that the recruitment issues are as big a problem as the manager, and I’ve said my piece elsewhere on Daws being a big part of the problem. In short, I don’t really think we have any sort of logical recruitment strategy. It’s all a bit scattergun. Lots of gambles. Plucking players from here, there, and everywhere. And with a heavy reliance on loans to get us out of messes, which sees us continually having to rebuild once they leave. It also appears that Kettlewell is perhaps being given a little more rope than other managers with similar sized budgets would get. I.e. he knows he’ll always get away with it and be bailed out However, we do have a new Board in place, who are different to those in place during the 2023/24 saga, although they have just emptied the clubs pockets for Kettlewell, so who knows what’s next on their agenda. My feeling is we need to stop promoting from within, unless it’s well-justified, and try to adopt a longer term strategy, which includes developing and integrating more of the young boys instead of constantly wasting money on developing other teams’ young players through our over reliance on loans. All of this will require a strategic overhaul of the management, coaching, recruitment, and academy departments, at least. Because at the moment, it’s all just firefighting and hoping that some of the expensive shit thrown at the wall sticks every year. We’re a fan owned club and should demand something better for the present and future of our club.

This team cant beat Celtic. Especially given the way we will set up. Anything less than 3 will be a miracle. Next game please.

I agree with you

I agree with Wellfan's comments about the detrimental effect on ticket sales and the bond between club and fans. However, I'd also pose the question what if we retain SK until the end of the season, despite continuing poor results, and we end up in 11th spot or even worse? I think we have a lot to lose through inaction. All that said, no-one knows the precise optimum time to call it a day. Its a judgement call.

As that woman said to Meg Ryan .....'I'll have what you're having' 🤣🤣

We have over 4000 season ticket holders and obviously say probably about 50 regular posters on here but I am struggling to find anyone still backing Kettlewell. All the ones that have defended him including myself have now lost faith and that interview was just bizarre considering in middle of January 1700 fans paid a lot of money to watch that performance yet we don't have a clue when it comes to management. If he had been at another club he would have been binned last year but they stood by him and yes he turned it round but there has been no improvement and a style of football that makes Alexander look like Rinus Michels ( one for the oldies). He is employed and no one wants to see anyone out of work but he will be fine, he will get another gig and loads of media work though sportscene might have to become a 3 hour show!!. Again if he can turn it round I will be on here apologising but I think we are beyond that stage. COYW

We’ve got a different Board now, so perhaps their approach could be different.

Suspect he’ll get until the end of the season and he probably deserves time as he’s built up sufficient credit . It’s been kept fairly quiet but we’ve got more points than last season and got to a semi. 😉 in all seriousness he needs to be given time to turn it around - we’ve been brutal since November , time will prove out whether he has what it takes .

I think Miller will now leave this window. With us being knocked out of the Scottish Cup and on a downwards trajectory, there’s absolutely zero incentive for him to hang around until summer.

Thanks for your response. I appreciate it

Correct , I disagree with plenty folk and make an arse of myself often enough, you just take it on the chin.. the poor wee me , everybody getting at me mentality is pointless on a fans forum. I tend to put those types on ignore.

SK would just have baffled him with 💩 and told him were 5th And been in a semi final ( which he shat the bed ) but sky guy asks what about your shot on target these last 4 games what about your posetion stats last 4 games you said you instructed the players yesterday at HT to keep pushing forward ? Then your your players play deeper and we cant get out wrong instructions stuart or can the players not carry the instructions out i could go on n on but cant be bothered tapping

A very reasonable view to take Jim. Unfortunately, I've not been so reasonable these past 2 games, when I've let my frustration boil over a little at McDiarmid Park at the end of the games. Football is an emotional game and the day I couldn't care less about a result or performance is the day I'll give up attending games. I've not been as bad for many a year! That said, I never resort to swearing or abuse. Whatever I may think of SK's management of the team, he is a human being and deserves respect for his hard work and dedication. I fully accept he's trying his best. Thats not in any doubt. I really don't want the situation with the fans become toxic. That benefits no-one. Currently things are at tipping point.

I get that Ian, but of late my expectations have been very modest. I really thought that we'd see a positive reaction yesterday at Perth but it ended up much the same as our cup exit. Its not so much the line ups and tactics its more the attitude of the players, under instruction of course. A very passive, stand offish attitude and an unwillingness to get stuck in old fashioned parlance. I really hoped that SK would have fed them raw meat before yesterday's game but that wasn't on the menu.

Thing is, SK has to do better than that, a reaction to the complete shitshows, show he can prepare his team properly and display competency, I don't feel quite as bad as when Bobby Watson's side took on Celtic in the 80's but we are close to being that bad a team.

Don't take things personally. The bulk of us give constructive criticism. You have every right to defend Kettlewell, even though you are wrong! 🤪🤪 Yes......that was a joke 🤣

Didn't realise Kettlewell had been suspended from posting !🤣🤣

I have been a season ticket holder for decades but I cannot remember feeling as low as I feel now. And I have seen us relegated and survived Malpas, Kampman and Hynd. Maybe it comes with age, but I sat there today thinking ' What is the point?'. No doubt I will buy a Season Ticket next season because I enjoy going along to the games with my mates. And it is better than shopping....usually. But these last few months have been challenging......much more than the unbeaten run last season......because I am losing belief and more than a little concerned at the decline I am witnessing week on week.