wellfan

Okay then. From here on in, and because all managers must now have our unquestioning support, no football fan is allowed to call into question the tactics or decision-making of a manager until they've got the same coaching qualifications as the manager they seek to critique.

That's a ridiculous binary argument of qualified individuals vs social outcasts. It is not one or the other, and that is not my point anyway. You've cherry-picked a part of a sentence from my post and commented on it without context. Anyone can get all the qualifications required to undertake their role. E.g. Obtain a medical degree to become a GP, a UEFA licence to become a manager, or a teaching degree to become a teacher. However, that in itself does not automatically make those individuals good at their jobs. They can be qualified but shite. Furthermore, in no way have I said that an armchair supporter is more qualified in this instance. My point is simply that the argument that an ex-pro must know what they're doing purely because they're an ex-pro is flawed.

He's done reasonably well to keep us up so far with the poor resources he has, but that does not and should not absolve him from criticism. He's on course to achieve the minimum requirements of his job. Bravo. By that logic, nobody is allowed to question anything unless they've practised it, which, of course, is nonsense and leads to the shutting down of debate. See Kmcalpin's comment above. A point worth noting is that it's not always a hard and fast rule that all players automatically make good managers, so it's a flawed argument to suggest Kettlewell will automatically have more tactical nous than every fan out there just because he's an ex-pro. He may well do, but he's yet to prove that to some due to the outcomes of some of his decision-making, which is where most valid criticism stems from.

You're right. He often seems to see so far beyond the basics that he forgets what many of them are.

And nobody is going to want to pay to watch the SPL with our current standard of officiating. It couldn't be further from sport or entertainment as it stands.

Livi are fighting for their lives and we went on holiday after the Hibs game, meaning we’ll be lucky to get a draw out of this one.

That's not the point I made though, is it? My point, and that of others, is that Vale is a striker and that a striker is often wasted when being made to play out of position. If Kettlewell wants to play Vale in another position, then so be it, but these tactical decisions will rightly raise questions and bafflement from fans when they don't lead to positive results. Furthermore, and as you’ve said elsewhere, we wouldn't have a forum if fans agreed with the manager on all his decisions.

We need a new keeper. Kelly is too expensive for what we get from him now. We either want someone who can command their box or stop shots very well, but we likely can't have both. Depending on what formation Kettlewell settles on for next season, and with the defensive aspect of our game being one of our major weaknesses, there’s a need for a least 3-4 new defensive players, and I include the full/wing-backs in that assessment. We need a couple of midfielders and a good bloody winger. What we don't need is several guys past their peak. We also need another striker as I’m not sure about Ferrie so far, unfortunately. So, I make that at least 7 or so new first-team players are required, and a massive clearout. Several players can go immediately, and Kettlewell needs to be brutal in this cull. If Kettlewell (and Daws) doesn't get his third transfer window right, and it's his biggest challenge yet, he’ll be gone by Christmas.

It baffles me that Kettlewell can't see what the fans see every week regarding Vale. He's a striker; play him beside Bair. It's that simple. Although I bet he starts Nicholson instead of Moses next week. It's time for a new keeper next season. For a team like ours, I’d rather have a big commanding keeper than a smaller shot-stopper. I'm pleased to see that Kettlewell isn't afraid to call out the officials on this incident. However, it’s a shame he's not as quick to learn from his own persistent failings, as perhaps that would give some indication that he's capable of implementing effective changes across the piece.

He was a midfielder. https://www.transfermarkt.com/stuart-kettlewell/leistungsdaten/spieler/69429 The point stands that we've got some shite defenders and that he seemingly can't coach them to do the basics. Every opposition manager knows that all their team has to do is lob balls into our box, and then we'll gift them goals. It's pathetic.

A relegation play-off dogfight is incoming.

We needed to sign a commanding centre half in January, but he didn't. The rest is history.

Davor has time on his side to allow him to develop into a good SPL defensive midfielder. Slattery is probably looking for a fresh start post-injury, which is understandable.

According to 10 years of Premier League data, the prime age for a midfielder is 25-26, then there is a drop-off after 30. Davor, Slattery, and Paton are all at their peak with a few good years left, Spittal is at his peak, Miller is just getting started, and Halliday, Easton and Scougall have peaked. Do we need that many midfielders in their early 30s? No. At best, one or two would be worthwhile and experienced additions to the squad. I'm all for signing local players, but let's not become a convalescent home for the older ones. https://theathletic.com/2935360/2021/11/15/what-age-do-players-in-different-positions-peak/

Nicholson hasn’t exactly impressed during his time with us, and I think his contract situation in the States is a little complex, so who knows where that leaves him. He signed a 2.5 year deal until winter 2024 with Colorado Rapids, although he was waived in January which allowed him to sign a short-term deal with us. I'd probably rather have Easton in the Spittal position than Nicholson.

If Bair continues to improve and score more goals, his goal contribution alone could be worth more than £750K in cup runs and league placing next season. The best-case scenario would be that he signs a one-year extension on improved personal terms until the end of season 2025/26, he performs like a Messi/Haaland hybrid next season, then is sold for 4x that figure next summer. Or we sell him this summer for £750K, spend it on a few English lower-league jobbers, then hope that Moses becomes Messi(ah) next season.

There are some fantastic goals to choose from, but it's got to be Bair's dink against Livi for me. Honourable mention for Spittal's thunder bastard strike, however. The other takeaway from that video is how important Spittal has been for us. Putting Bair's revival and goals aside, Spittal has been our most important player by far this season, and it's not the first time I've posted that on this forum. We're going to miss him a lot.

You're not wrong, but I never have time to attend these events, otherwise I would raise such points in a public meeting. Furthermore, from the meetings I’ve attended online, a lot of time seems to be taken up by certain individuals with axes to grind, rather than having a focus on positive change. It's tiresome.

Yep, I agree. I daren't criticise anyone who gives their time to the cause either, but as a paying member, I am happy to question/criticise the Society as an entity. I'm looking forward to whatever proposals come forward, from all parties, as I'm not one to make up my mind without a full view of all the detail.

Maybe, but why should it have taken until now for the Society to up its game? Why wasn't the Society actively examining and proposing meaningful ways to increase the membership and raise further inward investment? Why has it taken until now for the Society to confirm that 3800 members don't correlate with 3800 active monthly direct debits? Has the Society been in cruise control for many years, resting on its laurels until it felt a threat from the Club? Both the Society and Club are within their rights to propose anything concerning ownership and inward investment, and perhaps it's just that the latter got its finger out first. I am a monthly paying Society member and have been for a long time, but there are so many other unanswered questions and points of speculation to be had from both sides, which has me questioning what's going on behind the scenes. This whole thread is becoming a tit-for-tat nonsense. Keep it up, everyone.

Let's hope he (finally) scores the goal required to secure our safety.

https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2024/04/16/500-and-not-out/ New contract announcement soon?

Some people will blame the bad weather on the Scottish Government if it fits their agenda. Ignore them.

The bigots are not to be trusted.

I can only assume you’ve followed me around Fir Park for the past 30+ years with a clicker in each hand noting my boos vs applause. But, if you must know, I never boo my own team or players, and I generally always stay behind to applaud the team, regardless of the result. It may come as a shock to you, but what people choose to critically express on a football forum after a match and how they carry themselves at the match are often not one and the same. Happy Monday to you!