Tweed

Never have I seen a three page thread about something on here about which I really don't care. Football is a passionate game and whether you are chairman, tea lady, player, manager or supporter you are determined to win. Craig Brown was never a long term solution for Motherwell - he came in, did a good job and has moved on. I think we now have a manager who has the potential to be that long term solution, who has us playing a more exciting brand of football and I think could make us a much better team than the methodical, efficient, streetwise one Brown had. I think the split came at more or less the right for us and while he shouldn't have said I'm staying then going that boat has long sailed. Get over it.

Very satisfying afternoon's work. We outplayed them in the first half and Humphrey was just superb down that wing. Poor Stevie Smith just couldn't cope with his raw pace. Given Brown knows both of these players I find it astounding he allowed that mis-match to happen. Jones had a different talent down the other side and he makes up for his lesser pace by being a bit more intelligent in finding space. But what made us dominate the first half so much was the pressing game that Lasley, Hateley and the defenders played. It forced them into a lot of balls that were frankly shite and we were never threatened. All this was going on and you just knew that after our efforts on Wednesday we probably needed a second goal as there was every chance we were going to run out of petrol. And as we spurned chances you just had a feeling that it could finish 1-1 as they came more and more into the game. Just when I had resigned myself to having to hold on to 1-0 we scored a second and I really didn't see Aberdeen scoring 2. Until they scored 1! But by then Saunders, Lasley and Humphrey were the walking wounded, we were on our umpteenth defensive formation and we did well to keep them out. But overall we overran them in one half, dug it out in the other and three priceless points - Well done Motherwell. And I don't know about anyone else but it frightens the living daylights out of me that that referee is a FIFA official.

If Humphrey hadn't been there I think we'd all have been a sleep after 20 minutes. But every time he got the ball you could feel the anticipation in the crowd. And the flick that set up McHugh for the shot that won as that corner at the end was sublime. Best player on the pitch by quite a distance.

I went for Sutton. I'd struggle to make a case for the full backs or Randolph just because not enough work came their way but I could make one for the rest. But for me Sutton and Gunning at opposite ends of the pitch won every ball and created space and if Sutton hadn't created the areas he did we wouldn't have seen that Jeffers performance so going for him. But all in its a tough call.

Most teams in the SPL you can split by a fag packet but last night everything was pointing to an away win. Their first team were all coming back to full fitness whilst we seemed to be bandaging up defenders and shoe horning them into any position what we could. I would argue that until the last five or six minutes they probably edged possession and territory but they were completely toothless with it but every time we had the ball we looked like we carried a major threat. Their full backs just didn't cope with Humphrey and Murphy. Sutton won everything and while he was doing it Jeffers was creating space. Jennings and Lasley dominated the midfield and the two centre backs won every ball they floated in. I really just couldn't believe how well we played or how poor they were but not going to grumble about it. Was a great support last night - the loudest we have been for ages and the away support was top drawer - you have to take your hat off to that - its been a long time since anyone other than the OF brought that number of fans to Fir Park.

I think we were a bit unlucky today to find ourselves where we were. We had three injuries picked up over yesterday, the warm up and the first five to ten minutes of the match. We don't have a converyer belt of players ready to jump in to play in every position. We ended up needing Hateley in two positions, with a central midfield that had no pace and our most inexperienced defender up against Eremenko. Had we reshaped we could have ended up with square pegs in round holes all over the shop. Considering the number of setbacks we had we started very well socred a lovely goal and looked on. The equaliser was a blow but we did all right after that but they had upped their game. This may not be the best team we have ever played but Kilmarnock are a very tough nut to crack this season and the confidence their leveller instilled in them caused us as many problems as our own deficiencies. We then get a nonsense penalty given against us so we are behind and their confidence level is up another notch. We have a couple of other issues as the 2nd half starts. Both our central midfielders are on a card (one of whom is lucky to be on the pitch) so can't go sliding in willy nilly and the loss of Saunders meant he had one less change in his locker so couldn't change too soon. Just to compound all that a goalie who has looked assured at every corner just about all season long decides to have an absolute clanger and we're 3-1 down. By this time Killie are flying and we are struggling to get out but the ease they got through us at times was because we were trying to play a higher line to get back in the game. Bearing in mind the makeshift nature of this team it was always likely to cause problems which it did. But what has kind of pissed me off is that people have a bee in their bonnet about McCall are using this game to have a pop without considering the mitigating factors of which there have been many and also people saying that the team didn't try. Weren't good enough maybe but not trying I think is grossly unfair. I wasn;t at the game and watched it on telly but to me there was no vibe of lack of effort until the later stages of the game - probably just after the goal line clearance. McCall has us pressing well and he has us passing well. Sometimes it isn't working but this is not yet his team but I think he has the signs of being a good manager. Funds may cause him a problem long term and the lack of ability in the squad may make his ideal system hard to work but I continue to grow to him even in adversity,

First half was a decent enough performance and I thought we were very unlucky to go in behind after a phantom penalty and we probably had as much of the game as they did. Second half started badly with a rare rick from Randolph and we tried hard enough but they defended too well for what we offered. When they cleared the corner off the line that seemed to knock the stuffing out of us and from then on we seemed to have given in. Their corners caused all sorts of problems and in some way or another all their goals came from one. Jennings should have been off Clancy should have been off Forbes booking was harsh Penalty was a joke Hutchinson's booking wasn't even a foul! Though credit where its due the referee was excellent in the 2nd half. But I feel the penalty turned the game.

And because the call up period starts on Monday 21st. Therefore the players involved could be with their squads by the 22nd/23rd. I would have thought a better solution would have been Thurs 31st giving an extra day recovery, move the Saturday league games to Sunday 3rd and then our game with each other until 6th.

Not that I disagree but Rangers games are being organised by the SPL, ours by the SFA so not the same body so the one rule for us and one for them would be hard to prove. Did there not used to be a rule that if three players were away you could get a postponement? Maybe I made that up.

Credit to the club for doing that - anything to get us a wee bit extra dough. Was never going to stop me going to the match but for those who couldn't afford the time because of other commitments or unable to travel was as well the club made the money. I just hope it didn't stop people travelling but we'll never know.

I voted Hammell, not in his natural berth but you would never have known and two delicious crosses for the goals and generally good all round play. Strikers and Randolph valid contenders, the rest not far behind.

I actually thought the midfield was all right today. Murphy was fine attacking wise - not brilliant but good enough. His problem was his tracking back and defensive awareness. Hateley and Lasley were good in the middle and were just a tad more aware offensively than the usual two and just seemed to get the balance right as a pair and I thought Hammell was excellent. He pushed forward when he could - both our goals came from him but he knew when to track back and when Gunning had an offensive moment he sat back. You're right about Humphrey tying up two men and that is when Jennings and Lasley become an issue because they only tie up one as they are relatively limited offensively and that evens it up again. Not sure about bringing Page into the middle of midfield. Would give Meechan a shot there first I think. But its a real tough call because I think Lasley and Jennings have been two of our best three outfield players this season.

You missed out that trouble was flaring in the middle east and we beat the holders (not happened yet but if the rest holds true....) As for today's game I thought it was excellent. Enjoyed that more than any other game I've been to this season. Both teams had a right good go and we saw two goals of the highest quality. You just wonder why we don't possess that threat more often. I just wonder if having Lasley and Jennings in the team hampers us creatively sometimes as the midfield today had a much greater influence on the offensive side of the game. Early on I thought Saunders and Murphy were going to cost us with their defensive duties on our right side. Neither got close enough to Conway and United had obviously seen that area of the field as a weakness but as time wore on Conway got lazier and drifted out the game before being hooked. Going forward Jeffers and Sutton were a handful and the vision that Jeffers has keeps so many defences true and in check. With another yard of pace in Jeffers I think these two could have great fun over the rest of the season but that was his best game I've seen him play. We passed the ball well (which we did last week as well to be fair) but there was a bit of a cutting edge this time and every ball was about creating space. On the whole we did OK defensively and Craigan's experience kept the shape. A couple of scares in the first half but a couple of real lapses with Daly in the second. The goal he scored from our point of view was a disgrace and the free header he got after he sauntered on from the bench at a corner was criminal - no lesson learnt there from last week. However after that setback I was impressed that we kicked on and tried to win it. Both of us had chances and I don't think either team deserved to lose. Thought it was quite a physical game and to be fair I thought we gave as much as we took and the referee decided to be lenient both ways and I have no problem with that as long as he is consistent. Goodwillie's antics after we kicked the ball out were shocking though there is nothing a referee can do about that. Sadly the man is just a cretin. But if the second game is as good as that my heart will be knackered and one team are going to be very unlucky to be out.

Our defending on Saturday was atrocious. I'm willing to give them that as an off day because we normally are OK at the back. But again the blatant failing is our inability to have a cutting edge. We spent 80% of the game on Saturday passing the ball sideways. Lasley and Jennings are our ball winners but their ability at being creative is limited. As Inverness missed out the midfield time and time again on Saturday they were wasted jerseys. Billy Dodds said on Sunday night Motherwell are best when playing a pressing game - Aye fair enough Billy but its hard to play a pressing game when the other team have no desire to hold the ball. We need an ability to create more and until that happens every game is a toil.

The three in the middle on Sunday was designed to stifle and break the play up and stop them getting the ball wide. Is that going to be necessary against Inverness? Not so sure. Think I'd be inclined to bring Jeffers in for Forbes (which is no reflection on his performance on Sunday) and play a 4-4-2. Alternatively I'd play the same shape as we did at Aberdeen and remove Humphrey.

Having just watched the rerun of the first half on Sky I'd like to apologise for criticising him about the yellow for Lasley. Had he just booked him for the foul criticism would have been merited but the Celtic player tried to play on and Las hauled him back so to me the yellow was the right decision whether it was first foul or not. Agree Mastorovic was lucky not to be cautioned earlier than he was but no complaints about Las now.

I thought the referee generally had good foul detection but then let himself down with inconsistencies with bookings. Even taking the C&A tinted specs he booked Lasley for his first and let Forbes away with about six similar offences. Though to be fair I thought Gunning's tackle, first or otherwise, was cynical and late enough that it merited a yellow on its own. But Lasley could have found himself out the game if he couldn't tackle because of that. The other huge issue that was wrong was the shocking application of advantage after the foul in the first half. Firstly it looked like a foul but not clear either way so to play on was fair enough but the assistant was flagging so he brought it back just as Humprhey was about to be one on one. That was staggeringly poor. Of course the biggest decision in the game was the penalty which the assistant on our side gave. From our side looked a penalty. From the other side where the ref was less clear as proved by original telly footage. So credit it to him for working with his assistant and getting it right. Definitely room for improvement but I've seen a lot worse.

Lasley, Jennings and Forbes worked well as a unit. Gunning looked like he'd been centre half partners with Hutch all his life, Murphy and Sutton retained the ball well to relieve the pressure, Randolph made excellent saves when he had to and the full backs nipped the supply excellently. Humphrey had some great runs as well that while he didn't play as well his speed had them shiting it. After that analysis I don't have a clue who to give MoTM to but as I never null vote I think I'm just going to plump Sutton.

While people shouldn't get suicidal because we lose 1-0 to St Mirren we shouldn't think we're invincible because we beat Celtic 2-0. But we matched them with the three in the middle which made it hard for them to get the ball to their more effective players on either wing. Also apart from a ten minute spell in the middle of the 2nd half we made use of the ball when we had it which meant we were never under siege and therefore didn't collapse. Celtic were really sluggish at the start and us having a lead made us a much more determined opponent for them. It all instilled belief in our mob and doubt in them. THe penalty was as clear as day from the East Stand but less so from the side the ref was at so was good to see the assistant get involved and do his job. Ref had a couple of blips but overall his foul detection was excellent just felt he was inconsistent with his cards - even within our team he booked Lasley for his first and Forbes got three of them before he was done for persistent fouling then you add in the no bookings he gave Celtic apart from dissent until the last minute. Take a lot of hard work to wipe the smile off my face tonight.

Sky Sports 4

My opinion is based on my judgement. My judgement may be flawed - it has been in the past - or it may be bang on. However at the moment my judgement gives me hope. Are there things I'd have done differently? Yes - I'd have played Forbes last night. I would have hooked Gunning when he couldn't run, I'd have left Jeffers on. But holistically I think he is a promising manager. And I'm basing my judgement on seven weeks as I really don't know enough about what was going on at Bradford to make informed comment on how good, bad or indifferent he was.

I can see what McCall is trying to do. A pressing game, on the deck and ball retention is more important than taking a gamble. I like what he is trying to do. But he is a couple of offenisve cogs short of that wheel at the moment. So he is working with the hand he was dealt and in poker terms it looks like Queen high. But all this time he is learning the players and deciding what he wants to do in the summer. Also McCall has had real bad luck with injuries compared to Brown, Gannon and McGhee. We seemed to stay really healthy for three or four years and while our list is not huge with the squad we have it is the most damaging for a long time. For me he gets to the summer as free reign and next season makes or breaks him. As long as he uses this time for learning the pool and getting the right faces close season I think he could be a manager who will bring our players on. So far I;m encouraged rather than discouraged. And for those who say he has made tactical mistakes - I agree. But he has come into this league mid season, not knowing the team or the ones he is playing that well so he will. But the key is learning from them and he is incredibly bright and I'm sure he will.

Hammell doesn't generally play up against six foot clogging centre halfs. And Sutton wins his share. Again not a great game tonight but one we'd miss.

We lack a spark in midfield. If you nip the supply in the bud with us then you're absolutely laughing. They played with at least seven in the box and a couple on the winger that had the ball. But as soon as one winger can't see a way in he either punts it in anyway which they'll win or we pass it back to Jennings and Lasley and at times Craigan who works it out to the other winger and continue until we either cock up a pass or they win the ball in the box or very occasionally we blaze a header over. Having Humphrey and Murphy on the wing (and I grant both have played better than tonight but form isn't the issue) is fine. But teams have sussed that and double up on them. They sussed it when we beat St Johnstone 4-0 and three managers since then constantly don't seem to realise. We have absolutely no creativity in the middle. Jennings and Lasley are maybe our best two players but all they do is enforce and play the ball sideways. And whilst Gow never performed with us having him in front of those two at least had a potential plan B. But now we have hee haw there and are focusing everything on the wing. Defensively - on the whole we are fine. Craigan shouldn't have been caught out as he was for the goal and Hutchinson a tad slow to react but even then Randolph looked like he had it until it took a heavy bounce. And for all we were terrible they deserved to win feck all either. I've felt in a lot of games recently we have pressed a lot but tonight we didn't do that as well which let St Mirren break more often but they were so bad it barely mattered most times. Overall I find it hard to blame effort and I think some of the guys are playing pretty well but it just isn't happening with the killer ball and its demoralising seeing us have the territory and possession but constantly ending on nil. The Killie, St J and St M games we have always been unlucky to lose and we probably should have drawn them all 0-0 but scoring is an issue and until that is addressed I just see more and more games like this that are a battle to get in tune with. Though I can see what McCall is doing - it is a pressing game with passing to create space but I think there are a couple of key cogs to that wheel missing which is limiting us. Sort that in the summer and we can be an effective team next year. And can someone find the dough to tie Jennings and Sutton up please.

His first job being to install some? It was a foul. He stopped him moving towards the ball. I really think its deflection from another shocker of a loss to remove some pressure from his players. And to be honest all managers spout shit for similar reasons so I don't really care enough to give him the time of day.