Ya Bezzer!

Paulsen.

If not for the penalty/red card decision we could have realistically held out for a draw. That said Freiburg were better than us in every department and I was actually a little disappointed in our performance when we were on the ball. Obviously we are playing a team a lot better than most of our domestic opponents but there was still too many passes going astray and some poor decision making. Outside of the goal I don't remember doing anything of note attacking wise. I thought we defended the 18 yard box well enough and the keeper had a good game but the midfield was basically overwhelmed for most of the match and the forward going players were working off scraps. Missing Priestman is a big blow to us and without him our midfield doesn't quite have the right balance. To put it in context Freiburg have an annual turn over of £162 million and we have an annual turn over of £7.2 so that is the scale of the task we had tonight. Ultimately we were competitive but at the same time I didn't tink we were at our best tonight so it's a difficult one to judge but there are levels in football and we as a club just aren't operating at the same level as Freiburg.

No idea what we are going to get tonight, could be a thrashing or maybe even a wonderful night but all you can ask is the players give their best and there are no regrets about the performance. I thought HJK would have been favourites against us but beatable. In the end I think we showed we were actually a level up from them. Obviously this is a much better team but again we have a huge opportunity to show how good we can be. Freiburg are a barometer and we have the chance to really measure up to elite level football.

We fluked a result there last season so I'm not hugely surprised. It's a bad pitch and not an inspiring place to play. Scape goating young players is totally out of order, we weren't good enough as a team and Stenhousemuir were just better than us. If we know anything about football coming off a European match is always dangerous and that's something you just have to deal with if we are in Europe. We were poor against Falkirk as well. You have to believe in the system and there is no point going ape shit at the first set back, that's the 'old' Motherwell coming out there.

It'll happen multiple times. If you want to play this way that's something you just have to accept. Just the same as if you want to give young players a chance you have to accept they will make mistakes and they have to learn the game. The great thing Askou gave us was his notion of risk/reward.

He's behind most of the team in terms of match fitness which is plainly evident. He's also a striker and needs an open play goal for the confidence boost.

We all love a wee stat. Motherwell have won more European matches in their last 4 matches than Rangers have in their last 15 matches.

Not sure what was more outrageous last night. Said's goals or the queues for a pie! 🤣

It's a public vote.

Excellent performance. Dare I say it, we were a level above HJK and well worth the win. And I think we still have levels of sharpness to go up. Said's goals were outrageous. Maradona-esque. Defensively we look very sound, Priestman and Fadinger were excellent. Looks like a strong core down the middle.

Airbles Road is back to being the boy racers 1am race track.

As accidental butt deflections go. 🤣

I'm just desperately trying to remember we have a game on a Thursday.

Stenny have been good for the last couple of seasons and we barely got past them last time.....but we should be able to put out a second string and at least be competitive and perhaps bring on key players if and when needed.

Not see any 'all the injuries are the managers fault' type comments. 😎

Falkirk have struggled this season. I wouldn't write them off just yet but their only wins have been against Edinburgh City and Stranraer and they have lost to Ayr Utd and St Mirren. On a free week I'd be confident we'd beat them but with extra games and travel, as well as injuries, it makes it a bit harder. Still think we should be getting at least a point out the game although at the moment you are kinda wondering what kind of team we will put out when each game rolls round.

Also Shkendija coach was refused entry to UK for tonights match against Hibs.

HB are ranked 215th in Europe. HJK are ranked 153rd in Europe. Hearts are ranked 138th in Europe. I think that gives you an idea of what we are up against. HJK will be favourites over two legs but the tie is winnable for us. What, maybe a 40-60 chance of getting through?

Every HB European home result in the 21st Century 24.07.25 Brondby (D) 1-1 01.08.24 Hajduk Split (D) 0-0 13.07.23 Derry City (D) 0-0 07.07.22 Newtown (W) 1-0 12.08.21 M. Haifa (W) 1-0 22.07.21 Buducnost (W) 4-0 22.06.21 Inter Escaldes (L) 0-1 23.07.19 Linfield (D) 2-2 16.07.19 HJK (D) 2-2 07.07.16 Levadia (L) 0-2 09.07.15 Riteriai (L) 1-4 22.07.14 Partizan (L) 1-3 08.07.14 Lincoln (W) 5-2 11.07.13 Vestmannaeyjar (L) 0-1 19.07.11 Malmo FF (D) 1-1 20.07.10 Salzburg (W) 1-0 23.07.09 Omonia (L) 1-4 25.07.07 Hafnarfjordur (D) 0-0 15.07.05 FBK Kaunas (L) 2-4 21.07.04 WIT Georgia (W) 3-0 16.07.03 FBK Kaunas (L) 0-1 09.08.01 Grazer AK (D) 2-2 P22 - W 6 - D 8 - L 8 Record is decent and has improved in recent times. It must be said though that some of their most impressive results, for instance beating RB Salzburg, came after away pumpings and it's unclear how motivated the away side was or if they played second string sides.

It's almost as if they actually update the page multiple times a day and that algorithms will determine what you see.....

Having seen Antman play I think their interest in Maswanhise might increase again in a couple of weeks!

There are two articles and a podcast concerning Motherwell on the first two rows of the BBC Scottish Football web page. BBC radio live broadcasts just about every match day involving a Scottish club, league, cup or Europe. It also puts out daily podcasts and broadcasts a TV highlights show for every set of league fixtures and is set to broadcast live all Scotland matches on TV. They also live broadcast plenty of lower league matches. Scottish football has lots of problems but media coverage isn't one of them. Scottish Premiership clubs get vastly more coverage than similar sized clubs in the English lower leagues. It's fashionable to knock the BBC but if it didn't exist we'd be in a much worse situation. You'd be lucky if you even got a highlights package on terrestrial TV as its doubtful anyone else would pay for the rights.

Fancy us to score at least once and that means HB would need to get 3 just to get it to extra time. Based on what I saw at Fir Park that doesn't seem very likely. I think our team is significantly stronger with just Longelo and Maswanhise back. I know Maswanhise won't start but coming on the last 20 minutes might suit him with his pace.

I've probably mentioned this before but when I was a teenager Stevie Kirk used to come into our local chippie at lunch time and get a big bag of fritters! Obviously on his way home from training. Dunno if Tommy knew! 🤣

What colossus of the contemporary music scene do you propose to replace it? Doechii? Chappell Roan? Psychedelic Porn Crumpets?