StAndrew7

I don't think that's what they're saying at all. It was our first semi-final in seven years and if you believe some of the pish spouted on here, it's with our worst ever manager, squad and tactics. I think Kettlewell got his tactics wrong on Sunday but we competed with Rangers for the majority of the game. The issue is the massive gulf in quality makes it difficult to maintain that competitiveness, without adding in shooting yourself in the foot by making ridiculous/baffling/poor substitutions. I said it on another thread somewhere that Stama scored goals with proper supporting play; he was either always in a pair with wingers in a 4-4-2/4-2-4, or in a 4-2-3-1. We don't have the players fit and available to play any of those systems (yet). The clear difference in those formations is that they provide real attacking width. Our wing backs don't provide that as often as I'd like but I think that will come. Kaleta is raw but has capabilities that I think are similar to Gent. Definitely an athlete and with the right coaching could become a real threat. Seddon has quality in his delivery and I think him and Wilson down the left could be a real pairing if given time to develop more.

Aye, absolutely. All about 'forwards' nowadays rather than the strikers, Haaland and the two you mention aside. Although the supporting cast around him are so good he can essentially just poach like Lineker did in the bygone era etc. I definitely have issues with Kettlewell's tactics but I do think he's hamstrung by the injuries we have currently. I know it's an excuse but it's glaringly obvious we're missing Paton's ability to carry the ball into the box (something I never thought I'd type, tbh) and Nicholson's creativity.

I totally agree. I do think that's what is so frustrating about it; they were absolutely there for the taking and we stuck to a rigid counter-attacking style with a really ineffectual press on their defenders. They definitely went up a gear in the second half. They took Miller out the game completely by sticking Barron on him at all times and doubling up when he was on the ball. That completely nullified our game plan because we had no other creative outlet, particularly after Kettlewell's mind-boggling double sub.

You'd have thought with everyone being so well informed about how shite Kettlewell, the players and our tactics are, that they'd have been able to prepare themselves for the result on Sunday and not get too upset, eh? I do hope that all of the ACLs and other ligaments that have been ripped apart by the knee jerks heal up well. For the record, Sunday was pish. It wasn't season and managerial career defining by any means. He fucked up and he'll hopefully learn from it moving forward. Fifth in the league on goal difference with a game in hand on fourth, four points clear of sixth with a game in hand and two games in hand over seventh, a cup semi-final and all with a team playing shite football without a striker who's scoring goals.

Aye, it's definitely a step in the right direction but I agree with others that it does feel like a relatively minor one. It is, like I say, moving things forward and demonstrating the model can/will work. There's undoubtedly more negotiations taking place in the background as well. The app sounds like it will provide a lot of answers to questions people had about how they can manage their contributions, see what they've paid in etc. @Kmcalpin I accept it won't be for everyone but it will cover off a significant portion of contributing members. I would imagine once it's in place, there'll be a relatively straightforward plug and play into the back end of the Well Society website to replicate its capabilities for those who don't use their phones/are desktop based.

Aye, I feel for SODs; it would have been his first appearance with a club at Hampden in a game like this, I think. Might have played there in a league cup game.

Had a quick look on Transfermarkt at last season and the majority of games he scored in he played with a partner in either a 4-4-2 or 4-2-4. On the odd occasion he played (and scored) as a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1. All formations which are set up to provide a striker with more support than we've managed to provide him with so far, I'd say.

Aye, I'd heard a rumour about the wrong stuff being ordered or something along those lines.

Or end up at Ayr in January; Broony signed him for Fleetwood, I think?

Slattery is Christmas for full contact/training and I think matches from January. Not sure about the others.

It was fine earlier in the season and you could argue that Kaleta and Koutroumbis especially deserve time to prove themselves. Granted, Gordon has been an ever-present just about. I made the point on P&B earlier today that I don't quite get the unease around Blaney; I think he's more than capable of doing a job and has always done all that's asked of him. e.g. he was absolutely outstanding at Ibrox last year and then was just... dropped. I don't think he'll ever amount to more than a stand-in as and when required but he's... fine. We're always going to have a drop off in quality eventually but right now, we don't.

SODs moves across to RCB and Kaleta or Johnny K to RWB. Or Blaney comes in as a direct replacement. It's nice having squad depth, innit?

He's not played a single minute yet that I can see; I appreciate the travel will knacker him when he heads home later today/tomorrow, though. If he doesn't play at all I wouldn't be surprised to see him start and get 60 minutes or so. Also, he scored last game; I think he has to start as it'll help him build confidence and hopefully get another on Saturday. You'd like to hope he's been on a decent fitness regime for the last two weeks so he may well be. Still a nice option to have come on with 20/30 minutes to go as well, similar to Moses. Cause some chaos/general shithousery. I think Kettlewell will go back to Casey; he only really drops players when he absolutely has to which is one of my biggest complaints about him, although a settled XI obviously breeds familiarity and confidence. As you say, it's a shame for Balmer as I don't think he did anything wrong against Hibs, particularly considering his throw in won us the game. Longer term, I do think Balmer is going to be an upgrade on Casey; I think his ceiling is far higher in terms of ability passing, reading the game etc. from what I've seen. He's also not prone to the brainfarts Casey can have. Like, I think Casey is a great player for our level; reminds me of Chico Dunne that way. I don't think he'll get much higher than that (see him pissing off looking for better and realising he couldn't get it) but I can see Balmer getting his chance and being sold for a decent wedge to a Championship side next year or the year after, a bit like Brédéric was.

On his day, there weren't many better shot stoppers in the league than Kelly. A "modern" keeper needs to be able to do that as well as collect the ball and relieve pressure for his defence; Ox being the perfect example of that and what a difference it's made. Also, lol at these stats:

Can't help but feel this is the warm up to a contract extension, now that Ox has been announced. Good #content too, great to hear the praise he's got for Ketts and the coaching staff helping him with his fitness, diet etc.

Anyone else think there's a dig at Douglas/the previous WS heads in there? Interesting wording around the engagement and communications...

Agreed, but the difference is, is that Ox is actually made of something stronger than a stale poppadom, unlike Kelly.

They both started last match; Ketts has said that AP isn't quite fit enough to start/won't be risked from the beginning, so really not sure who is ready for that, aside from Watt or Maswanhise.

Moving to Ravenscraig in its current state (and with a lack of any real future planning about what it will become outside of the previous pipe dreams) is a total no-go for me. If we did move there, you'd expect public transport links to improve; the Club would need to effectively demand they did otherwise everyone would be driving or walking. The former wouldn't get past planning and the latter, as you rightly point out, isn't possible for quite a few fans. ... and is an absolute pain the arse to get to as a result.

Aye, a very grown up and dignified response, which some would argue after yesterday's petulant rant he doesn't deserve in the slightest.

I think it's both; the WS are working jointly with the Club to interview potential appointees to the Exec Board and co-options to its own. They released this statement earlier today: https://thewellsociety.uk/2024/10/02/update-on-board-recruitment-progress/?swcfpc=1

Aye, I work in construction consulting/design so totally appreciate all the nuances, too. Very much in the heavier side of industry, rather than fitba stadiums though.

I think it was spoken about at one point (or maybe even they did), but I don't think they do. It was sold in April 2021 for £215,000 and prior to that in 2002.

Aye, I was about to make this point. Also, as Stephen's document points out (as do others above), this kind of project would wreak havoc on the local community and the Club: Knowetop would more than likely lose its car park due to both the demolition and construction work, The astro would more than likely end up as the contractor's compound, removing its use for years, Traffic etc. towards Our Lady's would increase, as would noise for the neighbours on that side, Access to Fir Park Street and the School would be restricted, as would residents' access and parking I could go on, but aye, it's not a small undertaking. Definitely needs serious thought and appreciation of what it means (along with significant engagement with the local community and residents) prior to anything going ahead. Now, you need to include consultation events as part of significant works like this but they're normally limited to one or two evenings. I think if it does go down this route, the Club will need to go above and beyond that for hearts and minds purposes etc.

Good post @joewarkfanclub. Just to pick up on the investment point you make; McMahon and Dickie bleated on about it for years at the AGMs, going back to well before COVID came about. Kept going on about "we've got an amazing story to tell" then promptly did fuck all about it, because we were doing fine financially. As you rightly point out, the re-energised Well Society board arrives in October and wants to (rightfully) have more of a say in the Club and act like an owner and all of a sudden the messaging around the "money in the bank" required every year is peddled at the AGM, along with the catastrophising about budgets, lack of cup runs and so on. I think it's quite telling that Derek Weir (for all his faults), decided to go before the investment discussions went much beyond initial introductions. Definitely feels like distancing himself from it, aside from having opening chats with the parties.