Ya Bezzer!

For me it will be McGinn, Gordon, Balmer at the back so they are essentially our back up CBs.

Poor performance. Only really hit the levels we need to be hitting for 15, 20 minutes at most. Two things before we get into all the negatives. Partick never really had a fully fledged chance in the match, whereas we had 5 or 6, so I don't think we were every in danger of losing the match. Secondly, I think our first XI during the season will be a lot different from the line ups we've seen during these cup group matches. Now on to the match... Oxborough did OK, but didn't look especially comfortable with the ball at his feet. Distribution needs to improve also. I thought Gordon looked decent and defensively I thought we were OK apart from one or two loose balls. Midfield is where the problem is. Personnel has been effected by injuries but the blend seems way off right now, even the shape doesn't look great. Obviously we are far too narrow and there is a lack of creativity. Not sure about a lot of those players. To me O'Donnell and Halliday just look past it, like a couple of older guys huffing and puffing in a works team. Davor, doesn't do a whole lot for me either, won a couple of tackles that's about it. Add in Wilson's inexperience and that's 4 out your 5. We can't carry a midfield were 4 out of 5 are not going to be at the right levels. Though we missed Paton today. OK, he's no wizard but he gets on the ball and moves it and we looked far too sluggish today. Up front I was pretty disappointed in Stuparevic, totally ineffective, but I thought Robinson showed something, needs to start putting away the chances though as he had a few today. Probably 7 or 8 first choice players out, so perhaps you can look at these line ups as a second string but for me the midfield is totally dysfunctional and we desperately need changes there. It remains to be seen if Nicholson, Slattery, Koutroumbis, Sparrow, Callachan etc (and the return of Paton) will make the difference in the midfield. One last thing. We knew 0-0 was going to put us into the next round and I felt like that did effect the performance especially in the second half.

We were sluggish for the first 25-30 minutes but we've basically created all the chances in the game. Partick had one ball across the box but that's been it from them. We are a wee bit; unlucky not to have the lead at half time. A penalty shout, hit the bar, some decent saves from their keeper. We just need to start taking them second half

Not great but we finished the half well on top so hopefully we can build on that second half.

Isn't our Euro co-efficient about to fall off a cliff? Will there even be 5 European places next season?

I'd imagine our first choice defence will be Hegyi and the back three will be McGinn, Gordon and Balmer, with either O'Donnell or Koutroumbis and Seddon at full back positions. They've not played together at all so far, so I don't think we should be projecting our League Cup defensive line ups into the future too much, and since there are 4 or maybe even 5 new players in there you are going to have to give them time to gel together. You can't just put a bunch of players together that have never played and expect them to play like Leighton-Miller-McLeish.

Today Agyeman scored Airdrie, Hastie scored for Ayr Utd, MacIver scored twice for Falkirk, Dom Thomas scored for Queens Park and Connor Sammon scored for Alloa.

Paton always gives you 100% and that's rare. I think that's a blow cos I'd have him in the team over a lot of the other options.

Stama, as I'm calling him, is already in our squad on the Transfermarkt website.

Yeah but I don't care about character. I've never been friends or wanted to be friends with any Motherwell player. I support the club and I care about watching good players and watching good football and succeeding as a club. When I pick my Motherwell all time XI I don't bring into consideration wanky behaviour, responsible parenting, political beliefs, faithful marriage, criminal records, good guy status and so forth. Like I said I don't care about Tom Boyd's opinions on anything but I'll quote him from a 2022 interview with the suggestion that you're maybe getting your knickers in. a twist over not much. "We did not necessarily compete consistently but it was an unbelievable moment for us all that day. If you watch the footage back, you can see me shaking my head as I get handed the trophy because it was just an unbelievable moment for us as a team. “To lift the trophy for a club like Motherwell who have not had too many of those types of days at Hampden was special. It was a great day and a fitting way to leave the club. I will always be grateful to the club for giving me my start in professional football.” Source : https://worldfootballindex.com/2022/08/tom-boyd-on-celtic-motherwell-captaincy-and-scotland/

Tom Boyd was one of Motherwell's best ever players in the 40 odd years I've been supporting us. I don't really have it in me to hate on a player that did us a turn, never mind one of the best and one that was instrumental in the only success we've had in (almost) living memory. The fact that he's a Celtic fan doesn't bother me one iota.

I must hold a grudge cos Eddie Forrest and Karl Ready are still right up there.

I'm prepared to label him unpronounceable.

Now I'm not especially a fan of Jim Goodwin but he was talking there about how lower league teams have 18 player squads and can put out there strongest team in these group matches while Premiership teams have 25 man squads and they have to get minutes into players so they are fit for the league season. We also have injuries, new players we are trying to blend into the side, younger players who probably will be out on loan come the season proper and a squad who are maybe 85% fit playing on poor surfaces. You can't judge the team on performances right now especially since we've got results. Several bigger teams than us have lost matches in these group stages to lower league teams. If we have lost 8 out of 11 come October or whatever, Kettlewell will be under pressure but right now it's not a fair assessment. I'd expect us to step up next week with progress on the line against a better level team. If we don't and lose, you have your first opportunity for fair criticism.

You can call me a lot of things but happy clapper isn't one of them. It's just your position, and others, is absolutely preposterous at this stage of the season.

Noted Ewan Wilson has 3 assists in 3 matches.

You are probably jealous of Hibs tonight. 🤣 Undefeated, +5 over three matches, win next week wins the group.

He said he expected to bring in 'one or two others' so it's obviously budgeted for.

Don't know if Clyde are a step up on either. They were lucky to stay in the league last season. Montrose are certainly a lot better, you can argue the case for Edinburgh I suppose but while they were a bit of a catastrophe club last term it was in a league up the pyramid.

Good player on the odd occasion he's fit.

Another stinker. Not even sure we could wear that against Hearts so probably only wear it against Dundee United and Aberdeen.

You've literally not seen some of them play. None of us have. And turn us around from what? Being a top level side that almost always gets out the group stages of the league cup? You need to relax. Let events unfold and when players are actually fit and the squad is finalised and we've got a round of fixtures in, then you start looking at it. Sure, it's a possibility we'll be utter mince and bottom of the league but it's no more a possibility than us being middling or even being around the Top 6. However all three are speculation right now based on factors you can't possibly foresee or know and in your case it's speculation with a built in negativity and bias. Just let the season happen first. Then you can present a case on actually facts and context.

We still have about 6 first team contenders that haven't kicked a ball yet and some that aren't at a fitness level to start matches. I don't agree with the notion that you should treat these games as pre-season friendlies but you have to take into consideration that it is July. Players simply won't be anywhere near match day levels until August. We need players in but there is loads of time to do that and I'd rather wait and bring in the right person than rush a signing in to play against Clyde.

Yeah sacking the manager two matches into the season really worked swell last time.

Window doesn't close for 6 weeks. Players aren't up to speed and won't be until we are into the league season. Bit early for knicker wetting. How about we agree to wait until, say, November?