Rather than jumping two feet first into a tirade after the game, I decided to take a breath and put this into context.
It’s utterly appalling that as a club, we have not managed to win against Rangers/ sevco in the league for 18 years - that’s one part of this. In what you can only assume is some sort of mental block, it’s a woefully embarrassing statistic.
The performance today, itself, was absolutely appalling. As I commented early in the match, do I expect us to turn rangers over in every match, no, but do I expect us to compete - without a shadow of a doubt. Today, we showed no quality, leadership on or off the park, Grit, ideas or invention. ‘Flat’ did not cover it. Going out with a whimper at home is pathetic.
For me, the performance today and Robinson’s subsequent comments were clearly indicative of a spiral of decline which is currently surrounding the Club. In context, we are playing in the middle of a pandemic so yes, there are no supporters and supporter finance (except season tickets and Ppv) but that doesn’t accurately portray a picture as to how/why we find ourselves in our current state as all clubs, bar the Old Firm, are bound by the financial uncertainties which no fans bring.
The reality of the matter is this. Last season, we finished 3rd whilst budgeting for 10th and were awarded prize money as such. Yes, we missed out on some home gates however all things being equal, the club should have found itself on a relatively equal footing given that budgeting for 10th doesn’t mean playing the OF at home after the split. Factor is the transfer of James Scott and the announcement of being debt free, we arguably came into the start of the new season with as little impact on the overall, financially, as any club out with the arse cheeks of Glasgow.
We released senior pros and large earners in both captain and deputy captain from contracts in the summer and brought in Lamie and White on Pre-contracts, as well as adding Mcginley, Hastie and Lang. We’ve sent our own youngsters on loan whilst bringing in loan players from other sides In the league in a questionable strategic move.
We sold our biggest talent to a league rival and bowed out of Europe after netting 750k Euro in prize money, have our captain in the press saying survival is the only objective after 5 matches and meanwhile learn that yet another young prospect is likely gone before seeing First Team action.
Throughout the course of all this, the pandemic means that unemployment is rising And times are hard for many, yet I, like most of us on here, will continually put hand in pocket every month to contribute towards the Society, giving what possible to support the club; knowing both the state of transfer fees and prize money generated.
I’ve never been one for chanting about sacking a manager or criticizing Burrows but there comes a time, when as a supporter, you think, what’s the point?
As Motherwell fan and attending Fir Park for 30 odd years, do I expect to win all the time, absolutely not, but I expect to be entertained or at least feel a sense of pride in the club.
The looming apathy of all of the above was manifest in a single match today and thus it’s time for the club to take action.
So, now, is a challenge to the Board. Do we believe in Robinson? If so, then as supporters I expect to be entertained and given the state of finance, money must be made available to allow him to bring players to do so. Or, as a board, do you not? If so, the time to act is now, to secure a new manager in time for making changes and new players under that person.
Doing nothing will breed apathy and continue the spiral towards relegation which is becoming ever more a possibility. For a fan owned club in the current economic environment (despite the big selling of assets), that’s the biggest danger of all.
