wellfan

Except we failed to understand that Biereth could've been offski after 6 months if he did well, which has left us relying on a player who was originally signed to be our 3rd or 4th choice striker. We've no other options because, Biereth aside, our striker recruitment has been far from good enough. So, if we want to naively rely on quality loanees, then we need a Biereth lined up every window. We can't allow ourselves to be blindsided at the same time as we’re trying to develop projects and nurse crocks. It's hopeless.

Correct. But that's the risk a club runs when it puts all its eggs in a loanee-shaped basket to make up for its permanent strikers being crocks or crap. No club should do business in such a way that it makes them reliant on loanees; it's too risky. Loanees should be seen as temporary solutions and bonuses.

And I'd rather have Bair than Obika, but it shouldn't have to be a choice between a player with a stinking scoring record and one with a bad injury history, but here we are because we signed both.

https://twitter.com/search?q=Alen Ozbolt&src=typeahead_click&f=live

No, but you can implement strategies to mitigate against the risk of non-contact soft tissue injuries in training and during games. Strength and conditioning training in addition to footballing drills is one key example, and another could be recovery methods or nutrition. I'd say that there's a lot more to it than just accepting that certain types of recurring injuries across an entire squad are part and parcel of the game. At the very least, we could avoid signing players with known injury records. I'd rather have an average player on the park than a good player permanently on the treatment table. Monty's previous hammy injury record was known, as was Obika's.

Mark Ferrie.

If the news about Monty is correct, it means we'll not likely see any more of Gent as a left inside forward, which is a real shame as the two of them looked good together on the left against Alloa, and Gent was excellent in that more advanced position. Furthermore, who's cursed us?

I'll see you here again in May.

He's definitely in the forward category on our website squad list. As others note, however, he's played mainly as an attack-minded left midfielder/winger. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sam-nicholson/profil/spieler/169573

I agree with you on Miller. I also think Mugabi will start this game, as his powerful heading will be needed to deal with the inevitable many balls shelled into the box and long balls over the top. Butcher doesn't seem able to deal with those (E.g. Butcher vs Sammon). So, I think we'll see the same team and starting formation as the Alloa game, with Miller, Halliday, Elliot, and Nicholson to come off the bench and change things when/if needed in the second half.

I've already addressed some of those points here: https://www.steelmenonline.co.uk/forums/topic/18449-202324-ins-outs-discussion/?do=findComment&comment=632655

As I said above, if we’re content to settle for the likes of Bair, we’re screwed.

Bair's goal-scoring record before signing for us was (I think) 8 in 95. But, if we're content to use Bair as our yardstick for success now, that is a quick race to the bottom. To see how he stacks up this season, see here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/scottish-premiership/top-scorers However, to address your point with another point, other non-old firm clubs will have signed players this summer who have scored less than Bair, but those clubs will also have more than just him as their sole fit and available striker.

To address both posts, I don’t know how many times I and others have to say this, but here it is again: We're in this position because he made an arse of the summer window in terms of strikers. He's the manager and it's on him. That's my view and others can have their view, but if some people want to call me a fud then they've lost the debate. He resigned Obika knowing fine well that we was an injury risk. Poor recruitment. He signed Wilkinson, who contributed little and is now gone. Poor recruitment He signed Shaw, who contributed nothing and is now gone. Poor recruitment. He signed Biereth, which is his only good bit of business, but it's risky business to end up in the position of having to rely on loanees, and he's now gone. He signed Bair, who everyone knew had a poor record in front of goal. Poor recruitment. He put Tierney out on loan and released McKinstry, and didn't replace them, effectively meaning we could only play one style as he settled on having no number 10s or wingers. This may have been a budget decision, however. I could go on, but there's no point. The outcome of all of this is that we're 2 days away from our first league game after the window and we currently only have one recognised first-team striker, and that player was signed as a long-term project, who was likely set to be 3rd or 4th choice at that time. We're in the Premiership FFS; this is a ridiculous position to be in. Yes, he's been good at moving players on, but he wouldn't have to move players on if he didn't make errors of judgement in signing them in the first place. Yes, he's been stung by injuries to Obika, but he should've known that would happen and not signed him again. All told, perhaps some holding his hands up instead of making the usual excuses wouldn't go amiss. That would be the honesty and ownership that I want. Such behaviour draws respect and suggests an individual is capable of learning from their experiences and mistakes.

With six days to go, Kettlewell is getting his excuses in already. Tick tock. https://www.thenational.scot/sport/24074093.striker-scenario-evolving-time-says-motherwell-boss-kettlewell/ Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell admits his striker hunt is an ever-changing scenario as he prepares to face St Johnstone with Theo Bair as his only experienced option. The departures of Mika Biereth, Conor Wilkinson and Oli Shaw plus a hamstring tear for Jon Obika, who faces “at least another few weeks” out have left Motherwell desperately short up front. Mark Ferrie will return to the squad following the end of his loan spell with Stenhousemuir, although the 18-year-old could not break into the runaway League 2 leaders’ starting line-up. Motherwell were this week linked with a move to take James Scott back to Fir Park from Exeter but he joined former Well boss Stephen Robinson at St Mirren instead. On his hunt for a striker, Kettlewell said: “It’s been the priority since the start of the window but as we all know January is a tough window. “We have spoken to a lot of players and clubs and tried to dress up a number of situations, some of which looked really positive, and sometimes you fall flat on your face. “But I suppose that is part and parcel of it in a transfer window. You get a bit annoyed and frustrated at a number of people along the way but you always have that plan B, C and D and think about other routes you can go down. “And you need to have players that want to come to your club – the guys that jump through hoops to get here are always the best players for you.” Given Obika has suffered three hamstring injuries and only started seven league games since first joining the club 12 months ago, Kettlewell would naturally want more than one striker in. But he said: “I want to get one in first and then I will see where I am from there. What does that leave us in terms of finances? “There are so many things in question, everything depends on money and availability. “The situation is evolving all the time, we are having to shift the goalposts depending on being turned down by a player or whether we can afford one, or if we can afford him does that mean it’s only one rather than two? “Because we have had so many injuries, we sometimes have to think about having that cover and ensuring it’s maybe more than one.” After Arsenal recalled Biereth to send him out to Austrian title challengers Sturm Graz and successful spells for the likes of James Furlong and Brodie Spencer plus current loanee Georgie Gent, Kettlewell is hoping to persuade major clubs to trust him with their young players. “We have been working in that fashion, if we are speaking to clubs about young loan players we believe we can evidence the opportunities here and that they will flourish in this environment,” he said. “But that sometimes still comes down to money and relationships with other clubs.” Kettlewell might have some more experience to call on in Perth after naming six 17-year-olds on his bench for last weekend’s win over Alloa. New Zealand international Callan Elliot and former Hearts midfielder Sam Nicholson joined this week but both are short of match fitness, while Dan Casey and Shane Blaney are back on the training pitch following injury but will not necessarily be ready.

If Kettlewell and Daws get this winter window right and address the 'mistakes' of the summer window, I expect we will successfully drag ourselves over the finish line, but only once we get more strikers in the door. Any rumours? I will be pleased and have enjoyed the rollercoaster, but it'll be due to the ridiculous panic mode we've seen before. However, many of the current squad and the January short-term signings will likely be out the door by June, meaning a rebuild will be required to reset for the 2024/25 season. Would you want Kettlewell and Daws in charge of that again? I wouldn't because the current evidence suggests it could lead to January 2025 repeating history. We can't lurch from window to crisis to window to crisis like we've been doing recently. It represents a complete failure to adopt any sensible strategy. Therefore, by summer, I hope we have the promised new CEO and Board, a new and experienced management and recruitment team, and a player development strategy to set us on a different path from what we've had to endure/enjoy recently. But then again, that would lead to a boring forum, so maybe give a 5-year contract to Kettlewell and lifetime immunity to Daws so we can see ourselves successfully progress into the Lowland League.

Much to my dismay, it's just been set for the evening of Friday 9 Feb. Nothing will convince me that these cup games shouldn't be at 3 pm on a Saturday to maximise fan turnout.

As it stands, we’re going into our first league game after the winter break with one recognised striker. That is a huge concern.

A winger? We also need strikers and a centre-back.

I've no idea what happened with McGinley, but I hope he finds a team and can play regularly again.

Unless I am mistaken, this is who we've brought in so far, which means we're probably still looking for a centre-back, maybe another midfielder, and at least two forwards. Defenders Monty Elliot Midfielders Halliday Forwards Hee haw

I would assume it would go to McGinn (current vice-captain) or Butcher (should he remain fit), although both are out of contract in June 2024. So, if Kelly and those two leave, maybe it will go to Halliday, as he'll be under contract for another year. However, I think and hope McGinn will be extended.

A funnier and more versatile t-shirt would say “Sorry B(l)air”

True. I guess I've viewed his time at Motherwell as his first proper/sustained stab at management. Regardless, everyone reading my posts will know what I think about him being crap.