MFCL84

They surely practice head tennis. Some very competent series of keeping the ball in the air.

Oh dear, oh dear. Wasn't that an absolutely shocking performance? Unfortunately it is just one of many so far this season and there is no doubt that there will be more of that standard to come. Entertainment value for the paying customers is NIL and I've said it before, continuing to produce this level of performance will lose fans and Well Society members. Like many who have posted today I was baffled by the formation and tactics. The team seemed to line up as 3:2:3:2 with no width. Why would you do that and then proceed to "punt and foul" your way through the game? Surely if setting up to play narrow the ball needs to be on the deck and a pass and move approach taken in order to make headway in the constrained space. There were a multitude of things that I felt were wrong with the way we set-up and played today, but a couple that were particularly annoying were the lack of support for Grimshaw and a lack of movement when Turnbull was looking to make something happen. Grimshaw ran into the corner probably a dozen times during the game today, but wouldn't have had to if there was someone willing to overlap, or show inside to take a pass. He was left to run a loan furrow against a couple of Saints defenders every time. The lack of attacking options when we have the ball in a good position in the middle of the pitch has been evident all season, but was highlighted today on a number of occasions when Turnbull was looking to make a pass; nobody came towards him to draw a defender out, nobody burst through from midfield to give a forward option, nobody ran across the back line there was just nothing happening around him. Invariably he had to go sideways, back or get caught on the ball. Movement, teamwork and organisation can be coached, first touch and passing can be practiced. None of this appears to be worked in training at Motherwell. I can't see what the time is spent working on. The management and coaching staff need to sort that out.

Having just heard Robinson's interview I do agree with him when he said that Gillespie and Gorrin were the only pass marks. I have no idea where this idea comes from that this team can bounce back. If they could bounce back they wouldn't be where they are in the league and they wouldn't lose 7 (seven) to anyone. The player reaction is same old same old. Nobody ever really looks beat up about results like this. All very flat media sound bites. Where is the passion?

Second best all over the pitch today. Livi had more energy, more strength, a greater desire to win, and most worryingly they had players with more ability and better technique. This Motherwell team is in bother.

A very solid all round performance today. Comfortable without being exciting, but right now comfortable will do me just fine. Gillespie stepped in and had a fine game. His handling looked very clean. The team held its shape very well throughout generally preventing Aberdeen from getting any real penetration. Johnson will get plaudits for the Goals, but Grimshaw had an exceptional match while everyone else stuck to their tasks very well indeed. An unexpected but very welcome 3pts.

Turnbull takes the plaudits today. Special mention for Grimshaw who put in a shift today and drove the team forward at times. Cadden also looked more like his old self.

Decent performance, deserved 3 points. Turnbull the pick of the crop with Grimshaw and Cadden doing well. Nice to see a win at Fir Park. Still a lot to do but the biggest problem right now is not having a cutting edge to our play. It will cost us dear as the season progresses.

Turnbull did well for an hour and deserves MotM. I actually thought that Main put in a good shift too.

A team devoid of ideas and options. Punt and chase for more than a season now. This worked when we had a striker that could work from scraps or do it himself but Moult is long gone and so is any goal threat from this team. We may survive but it isn't going to be pretty and it is going to hit our attendances hard. Zero entertainment at Fir Park these days.

Totally agree with this. I just don't understand what plan the manager thinks we're playing to. He may be happy with the way the team are playing, but as a paying punter I can say that I'm not being entertained by anything that has been on show this season. Last season was poor, but tolerable as there were some highs in there, but not this season. I'd much rather watch us lose while trying to play football than lose in this turgid style that will do nothing for attendances or for the progress of our young players.

Horrible performance today with no hint of any light at the end of the tunnel. Winning or losing that style of play will drive people away from Fir Park. For most of the game it was like watching pinball with neither team able to control or pass. Something needs to change and very soon. We are in deep trouble. I cannot see us taking anything from St. Johnstone. A relegation battle it will be for this season.

Lots of successes today. Carson absolutely superb on cross balls. Rose great in there today especially returning from injury. Grimshaw ran his socks off. Cadden kept Aberdeen quiet down his side all day. Centre backs won everything that got into the box. Main though is a machine.

Excellent display by the team. Campbell and McHugh bossed the midfield in the first half and kept going when Hearts were pushing. Once again the back line was solid and Carson was excellent when he needed to be. Campbell for me though.

Ciftci call was a definite penalty.

I thought we played pretty well today. Certainly the best football I've seen from Motherwell this side of the winter break. Despite losing I actually enjoyed the game. Excluding the first few minutes of the game our back line were completely untroubled. I was pleasantly surprised by the midfield today. Andy Rose had a really good game, as did McHugh. They put themselves about and at no time were they overrun by the Killie midfield. Ciftci was quiet in the game. He has a good touch and is capable of making things happen, but I don't think that we have the players that can link up with him. Generally there is very little movement in the team, which makes it very difficult for ball players to find a pass before being crowded out. I think this is also part of the reason that Tanner holds the ball so long too. Though I would agree that there were a few occasions today where he had early and better options to release the ball. The only real failure today was Frear. Sorry, but he just doesn't seem to have the heart for a physical challenge. He hid through much of the game today. He also had an chance to close down the shot for the Killie goal but stood off.

I went for Tanner. Much of what happened up top went through him. I see a lot of praise for Dunne, which is deserved. Defensively he is looking really good. However, his distribution is quite possibly the worst I've seen. No vote from me until he improves that aspect of his game.

Not dirty and not even overly physical. In the St Johnstone match I'd say that they were as physical as Motherwell and had a dirty player on the pitch putting it about. I don't think that Motherwell have a dirty player on their books.

2nd half performance much improved resulting in a deserved victory. Special mention for the back 3 who are excellent as a unit. Hard working midfield broke up everything from St Johnstone. Main's graft and Ciftci's craft worked well. Now for the bad - That 1st half was torture. It has been said by many before, winning the battle and creativity do not need to be mutually exclusive. SR needs to find a way to get both aspects of our play on to the pitch at the same time.

Campbell gets it but I have to praise McHugh in the middle who was immense in the aerial battle and snapped away on the ground. The back 3 are also acquitting themselves very well at the moment.

Joe Wark

Kipre outstanding today, but special mention for McHugh who I felt did a lot of breaking up play and was very good in the air. He just has to improve his speed of thought on the ball.

I too think that a goal for Fish will completely turn around his season.

I thought that Tanner was our best, but good performance from Tait, Carson and Hartley. Also thought that Bigi worked very hard for the team.

And here we go again...

Nobody has even mentioned Griffiths Swan dive a few minutes after the pen which the ref completely ignored. Definite yellow for simulation.