Onthefringes

Behave yourself. What was constructive in your criticism? Take my coaching quip away, how can you quantify your point of view ‘We don't currently have any midfielders at the club who have any creative ability’? To say we don’t is crass at best. Possibly confusing creativity with flair? Suppose for those who understand, there are those who won’t accept explanation - for repeat, when the midfield is briefed to retain a shape rather than retain the ball which has been the set up you get the showings we have stifling creativity. Let’s see if a fresh philosophy bears fruit, in my opinion it will.

Judging on that game? I’m not sure I share that. We’ve still to get up to speed for the reasons I mentioned. New blood is a given, hoping we don’t rest on our laurels and a swift appointment gives room for manoeuvre in assessing & making changes to squad. For some reason, Alexander seen both as number 6’s, neither are. Cornelius doesn’t have to be creative. His strength? Energy with the ability to go beyond our forward line yet, neither used to advantage.

Do us a favour and let us know the coaching qualifications you’ve attained to come to that conclusion? Have you never thought that the midfielders are just playing to instruction? That has to change with a fresh outlook. I do agree we need to add to our midfield - an experienced head to force the play and help develop fairly inexperienced Slattery and Cornelius. Yet some on here balked at our Steve Davis interest - I’d have been all over that. On today’s game - we are a few weeks behind in pre-season & competitive games than St Mirren yet, we’ve headed home with 3 points and a clean sheet. I’d fancy us to improve, them not so much.

More word soup? Your earlier point about ‘A well-run club should have most of its significant and necessary signings and required tactical changes sorted before and during the preseason’ is based on what? Given we’ve tried that many times before in the recent past. Recruitment in general has changed, not just at our club. Striking (no pun intended) a balance is becoming ever harder before we even talk budget constraints. How many on here think we were just going to improve attacking options by adding this mythical ‘backup’ striker? Who is going to sign knowing they’re likely to just fill that role? The nature of the summer transfer window suggests we’ll have someone in when other clubs further up the chain have assessed their squads in full and decide who benefits from possible loan or move. My cohesion/stability take was on less recruitment as foundation of squad was built - its open to debate wether it’s the right players though. The idea of a refresh rather than constant rebuild still stands. One thing he didn’t do after Watt was sold was manage enforced change, could have reshaped strategy rather than what loads on here want/wanted - a direct replacement. Decision was a little out of their hands - January was never going to be a quick fix. Dropping the captain? Don’t think you need to dig deep to know why. On your closing question - granted, I don’t see a lot and like many suspect the damage has already been done. I was one of the earliest critics. Listening to & not just hearing he recognised failings towards the end of last season I’d hoped for some recovery, Thursday left me far from convinced.

Not endorsing the recruitment thus far, but, your argument has more holes than Swiss cheese. Fans are obsessed with signings. Check social media… The journalists who cover transfers have the most followers. But, research has shown that cohesion/stability are key… and that the most successful teams don’t actually make many signings in one window.

A starting 12 line up? Liking it already

Certainly not the point I was making. On 4-3-3 or variations of - we have the players to play that way. Just some so blind they maybe cannot see. Team is the sum of all parts - Alexander just not using that to best advantage. Back to basics? 4-4-2? You do realise football has evolved? It’s dinosaur stuff and totally ineffective in modern day - even St Johnstone don’t favour it!

Questionable… and the input of our Head of Recruitment to now doesn’t look to be value for money at any rate. Whilst merit in what you say, key areas not addressed for me either - Leadership and the bonus of pace in defence, experienced midfielder & viable attacking option my preferences. Safe to suggest another keeper was likely though with the introduction of new goalkeeper coach fully expecting Matty Connolly to leave on loan as injury curtailed that plan last season. I don’t buy a lack of preparation as much as those who’ve seen only two results and one friendly they most likely could attend. We played St Mirren 2 days into pre-season for example. if I hear we lack pace or mobility in midfield again I think I’ll scream. Said before, retaining a shape over retaining the ball is the major problem. Balance required also, take Slattery on the right hand side, it’s folly. Pace? Hardly a major requirement in that area of the park, a capable engine wins over everytime. There’s stats that’ll back theory up of that I’m sure. An outlook to go beyond our forward line? We have personnel who can do just that rather than to shoehorn them into number 6 roles. We need to add energy & set the tempo where we never the other night. Take the shackles off…

Face to face sales so if you’re planning travelling over a week earlier & look as if you attended Our Lady’s High you may just strike lucky unless they’ve sold out already. know a few who fancy the locals will give tickets up if they take a doing on Thursday & the tie is put to bed early.

It’s a disgrace if the 10 who travelled to Albania don’t get briefs for this. Hang your head in shame Burrows…

McGinn in a midfield 2? We should have a better idea of how we’ll set up after Saturday.

It’s as if very few have read the press release… official line is ‘a deal that’s suits both the club and player’ suggests to me minimal - club accounts will confirm if that were the case or not. Good business could be argued we’ve moved on a player who’d expressed a desire to leave regardless of finances.

Deary me

As I said, suppose time will tell. If he goes, creates opportunity. I’m certainly not going to get bent out of shape over a player who played second fiddle to Joe Efford. The rights and wrongs of that is a different debate…

Suppose time will tell. Think most react with mirth when realising the random information is from the source who claimed we had signed the £15million rated Sofiane Feghouli from Galatasaray last summer.

Not in Austria. Suspect he’ll have been in pre-season training at least as long as we have if not longer.

Not this shit again

That’ll be news to the manager

If it comes to pass, I’d question releasing Donnelly & Grimshaw then…

In reply to C&A’s post… He’s not a defensive midfielder though? Filled in there when not injured last season. Decent pedigree of where he’s been at a young age, good engine by all accounts. Read before his favoured position is right back & can play centre back. Ticks versatility box, would need a dominant centre back alongside? I’m not sure any of our current crop are dominant. Has Motherwell supporting regulars as family.

It is if Morton aren’t in the market to sell. As I suspect the club do, just don’t see the value in recruiting from Championship where development/transfer fees may be involved. The management/recruitment team have made their squad choices for that left back berth. Anything from on here expecting different is just noise.

Glossing over the fact he’s extended his stay at Morton, if we went for everyone who ‘tore our defence a new one’ last season we’d be heading for admin again.

Tierney was never ear marked to play if at all last season rather a development player - the manager has stated that. Circumstances brought him into the team. Remains to be seen how Alexander will set us up moving forward. Asking a 20 or so year old to lead in that position is a bit of an ask, up to now it’s the only role he looks suited to. It would take evolution to help develop with Spittal arguably added to do same. Suspect you’ve answered why there was the gap between midfield & the forward line with your closing statement.

I’m loathe to say, winger. He’s not been described as ‘across the front 3’ we have a penchant for.

Only one was the player, so trialist. And he’s not a defensive midfielder…