joewarkfanclub

I agree with most of that. He should have changed away from 3 at the back during the Euros when KT got injured. We would still have had difficulties given we were already without Doak, Hickey and Patterson for pace and width, but he compounded it by playing an extra centre half instead of bolstering the midfield. He 100% should have changed back after the second half in Athens, with KT fit and available, and no Doak.

Its not irrelevant. Far less risk playing a young winger than a player right in the centre of the park. The winger has the freedom to take players on and if they lose it, its not going to be in a area where you can be hurt. Totally different situation if your no.6 does the same. You also ignored the competition for places. Unless you are calling Gilmour, McTominay, McGinn, Christie and Ferguson duds. In addition to Doak, Clarke has also thrown in Hickey, Patterson, Conway and now Johnston and Wilson. The idea that he doesnt play young talent is a myth.

As did Max Johnston in Athens.....

Your comparing apples with oranges. The 17 year old greek was a winger. Clarke started Doak at 18 years old on the wing in the Nations league on the wing to some success. Miller is up against Gilmour, McTominay, McGinn, Christie and Ferguson for a start. I get that McLean started both games and folks will point to that, but he captains Norwich in the Championship and is highly experienced, not to mention under rated. Do we really think Lennon is ahead of any of these guys right now? The boy has a great future ahead of him and will have a great career. But lets be realistic about our expectations and not just react to what was undoubtedly a poor performance.....

I dont think it was the right circumstances. Regardless of the fact that Clarke would have still been hoping for a miracle right to the death, putting him on in, what was by then, a totally unbalanced team getting the runaround wouldnt have been fair to the boy at all. What chance would he have to shine? Play him from the start against Lichtenstein and/or Iceland alongside some experienced midfielders and give him the best chance to show what he can do. Just my opinion mind.....

I dont disagree. As I said, I would have played Tierney in a 3 and Max instead of Ralston. Just to get some pace back into the side and give Greece something different to think about. I probably wouldnt have dropped Ferguson and I might have been tempted to put Hirst up top with Adams to give him some support. All decisions Clarke could have made differently. It just annoys me that when Scotland lose folk start scapegoating players like Hanley and Ralston who give everything to the cause, when there are others who were just as poor and make just as many mistakes. PS. To turn this back to Motherwell players, Miller will undoubtedly get his chance in the June friendlies. There was just too much riding on this camp for it to happen unless the circumstances had panned out different.

Hanley and Ralston were both absolutely outstanding in Athens on Thursday night. Lack of first team football didnt seem to impede either of them then. Max Johnstone has been a bit part player for Sturm Graz. Hardly a first team regular. I rate him and I would have liked to see him given his chance last night. I would have reverted to a back 3 with Tierney available again and Ralston not suited to the RWB role. It would have been a risk either way. But for me the way the second half panned out in Athens, we should have offered Greece a different test. Thats on Clarke.

As someone who follows Scotland home and away, thats just not true. Miller is in the squad at 18 years old. I still think its a bit early for him but absolutely delighted with his inclusion. Turnbull was in plenty of squads with the chance to impress. Maybe he didnt? He only got dropped when he got injured for Celtic and then couldnt force his way back into the Celtic first team (and then onto Cardiff where he is again injured). Doak was selected for the Euros squad at 18 years old when not even commanding a first team place at Liverpool. He didnt go because he got injured in training. He isnt in this squad cause he is injured again. Slicker, Conway, Hirst, Adams, Dykes, all selected in problem positions where there literally are NO naturally born Scots youngsters battering down the door. There really isnt anyone in Scotland good enough who isnt being selected because of a so called "non-scot".

The only person responsible for Billy Davies being out of the game is Billy Davies. Im glad we didnt entertain bringing him back.

It was mentioned previously that SODs extension was probably appearance related. Given the number of games he has played this season, thats most likely to be the case. Im pretty relaxed about it. He does make mistakes, but is no where near as bad as some make him out to be. He is a local lad and senior pro. Every club needs them to drive standards and look after the younger ones. He may not play that many games if McGhee comes in and McGinn gets fit again, but a good utility player to have in a squad. PS delighted the club have taken their option on Slattery. He is looking good right now and we might get suitors in close season. If we dont he has proved a very useful player to have around.

Out of interest. Where is Carver going after these games?

I know. Precisely my point.

Good to see Slatts grabbing a brace and winning another MOTM. We are a much better team with him in the midfield than without.....

Didnt see the game yesterday, so will reserve comment on that. However, there does seem to be a helluva reaction to Robbo employing "Robbo like tactics". Whilst fans are fickle and entitled to be hypocritical, I dont remember too many people complaining about it whe he was with us. We actually revelled in it at times, so much so that the phrase "Thunderdome" was coined. I do find it surprising that he has had a go at our fans though. He was generally well regarded at Fir Park and I dont recall feeling any ill will towards him or St Mirren when he went there and started filling the team with our ex players. It was actually quite amusing. Really pleased we managed to get the draw and keep our noses un front of them and in touch with Hearts. If we can get anything at all out of the Aberdeen game then it should hopefully set up a winner takes all in the final game before the split.

"The Tommy Coyne" was an absolute classic. I still have mine but its a bit pooked and would love to get a new unblemished one. "The Van der Gaag" white away shirt is also my favourite away kit of all time. A wee tip of the hat to the 1950s league cup winners of Andy Patons era....

No way the club are offloading a player we paid a 6 figure sum for without trying to re-hab him and recoup some of our outlay. It would be very poor business to do so. The 3 injuries he has had are all different, so to suggest that his body isnt equipped for Scottish football without any further knowledge or medical information is presumptious at best. Given that he has 2 years left on his contract he wont be going anywhere. Better to offload some of the players we already know are not up to the standard/fitness required for Wimmerball and give us options/support up front. The loan boys will be away with Armstrong the only one Id consider trying to get permanently. Also, I think we need to be careful with suggesting that his injuries are "convenient". He may well be finding it difficult to settle, but how do you fake having surgery and a metal plate in your wrist? We need to give the boy a break and all the support we can as a club AND as a support.

Great wee video from the club. Calum comes across as a nice humble young man, grateful for the help he has received in getting back playing. A million miles away from the self entitled wee twat he was portrayed as after his indiscretions with the polis. You never really know what someone is going through when you see the worst of them. A lesson for us all there I think. 🧡❤️🧡

Great initiative from Aberdeen! Lets get this sold out! 🧡❤️🧡

No Motherwell fan hates Rangers more than they love Motherwell. Some hate Rangers more than they hate Celtic though, and that seems to get up your nose, or at least under your skin enough to make comments like that. Halliday is playing better because he is being used properly in a system that he can contribute to. I think we can all unite and get behind that, no? 😘😘😘

It was ever thus! 😍😍😍

Its all about the high ball wins! 😍

The most fouled player in Scottish Football should have had a red card for persistent fouling! 😜😜😜 Billy from Springburn come on down!

Not gonna go after Kettlewell on this one as our performances against Rangers and Celtic were generally pretty good. The 2 games at Ibrox last season in particular, were 2 of the best performances there in a long time. However, the way we were set up this season there is no way we score the two goals we did as we wouldnt have been far enough up the park to take advantage of the mistakes. In fact, you could argue the mistakes would never have happened without the pressure on the ball. Thats not to say we might not have created chances in a different way, but there is no denying, this getting after teams is eminently more enjoyable to watch. Be interesting to see if anyone is able to come up with a solution to beat the press.....

A hoop or a band? 😜

Given that Motherwell generally only win 40% or less of our games, forecasting a loss every week means you are, more often than not, likely to be correct! Maybe folk should cut MJC some slack! 😍😍😍