star sail

Not really that relevant to the thread but it reminded me about that guy (think he was French) who scored a hat trick against Hibs on his debut then did nothing for the rest of the season. What was his name again? Think it was during Butchers time, maybe before?

. Nice one.

Maybe read what is being said more carefully before getting all aggresive. The respect aspect was in relation to the comments by Ewing Graeme regarding the up and coming Well game. I did also say that we all know the reasons why the McGeady story gets put on the back page, particularly if it's the aquatic deal of the century. Pond Weekly would no doubt go nuts over it. To continue the theme of missing the point completly however, I will agree with you, that printing the McGeady story has fuck all to do with showing disrespect for the game. It is simply a shit story and sensationalism untill such times as there is any substance to the fact that McGeady is going to Villa.

Agreed, I think Radio Scotland do a good job but as an example of where they too get it wrong, I remember driving up to the first Aberdeen v Well game at Pittodrie last season and from 1pm untill we got out the car at 2.50pm they talked exclusively about a takeover at Rangers, a takeover that at the time did not even have any faces associated with it (ie a non story). We had been listening to hear team news of a game that was happening that afternoon and were still waiting as we got out the car. Having said that it is more the written press I would criticise when in comes to so called bad press.

A brilliant example and in todays papers too. This shows in a nutshell the disrespect journalists show to the teams outwith the Old Firm. Over the last few days we have seen the papers full of Martin O Neils comment that Aiden McGeady is a Preimiership standard player. This is a complete non story and yet it is given much more significance than two of the Scottish teams playing in Europe this week. We all know the reasons for it but it is slowly killing the Scottish game. I am sure that Ewing Grahame is much too full of self importance to worry about that.

Agreed but it's not just the SPL and SFA that seem to think that change is bad. Remember Graeme Spiers article not so long ago speaking of Motherwell as a yo-yo club with nothing but self interest regarding league reconstruction. I think it was an article in response to Craig Browns comments on league reconstruction. The press in Scotland have possibly the greatest power in our game (as regards creating the atmosphere in which our game operates) and could if they were responsible enough have an influence on the future of the game in this country. Unfortunately they are so obsessed with stories (or non stories) regarding the Old Firm that they completely ignore the bigger picture.

The problems in football go beyond anything that the people at Motherwell can solve. There are different factors affecting the game worldwide and specific factors that cause problems for the game in Scotland. The biggest problem Motherwell as a club faces is it's proximity to Glasgow. I find it depressing to stand at Motherwell station at 5.30pm on a Saturday eve to see trains from Glasgow offload a few thousand Rangers and Celtic supporting Motherwell residents. This is a historical problem and there is nothing Motherwell can do to fix it. From what I see and hear the people at Motherwell try very hard to make the business viable and they have not been shy over the years to try new initiatives. For me the only way forward is to keep investing in the young players. Hopefully Motherwell could be seen as a centre of excellence for young players such that the most talanted youngsters in the country would choose Motherwell as a club to sign for. I think supporters need something to buy into and given that the Old Firm have a strangle hold on the SPL, I think that the next best thing for a support is to have the satisfaction of seeing the next James McFadden develop under the Fir Park floodlights giving us some thrills and spills along the way. Whichever way is up Leann Dempster has a hell of a difficult job and we can't expect miracles.

I have big concerns about our defense at the moment. Losing sixteen goals in five games at the end of last season may be a freak but I have seen nothing to suggest that we are any more solid at the back. I suppose the arguement is that we have played 180 mins in Europe and not conceeded but we could have lost four or five goals across the two games had Briedablik been more clinical in front of goal. What concerns me further is that Craig Brown seems to feel that the strength of the team lies in the two central defenders. That may suggest playing the same tactics again in Norway. The success last night I felt was down to Jennings being superb and a large slice of good fortune. If Aalesunds are a step up in quality (which we have to assume they are given that they are a pro team) I am going to go for a 1-0 or 2-0 defeat in Norway as I can't see us keeping a clean sheet and with one up front (though Murphy was immense last night) the chances of scoring are slim. May be overly negative but those are my thoughts.

That was my initial reading too but I think what was meant was that the Norwegians play on the Sunday so Craig Brown has to get up to see that game. Not 100% sure but that was my understanding.

This is like watching a game of Junior football. Most worrying is the long ball tatics Motherwell are employing. Hit it over the top of Murphy and let him run for it seems to be the tactic. Would like to see Well take control and pass it about a bit in the last ten minutes. If the Norwegians are even half decent we could struggle.

As a club Motherwell can't be to judgemental on this one given crimes of admin past, but ofcourse have every right to go after the money. Only concern is that after the last hard line taken by the club (and strongly worded club statement) regarding post split fixtures, hee haw happened so not holding out too much hope that the club will ever see this money.

I would expect Rangers, Celtic, Hibs, Dundee Utd, Hearts and Aberdeen to make up the top six so best I am hoping for is best of the rest. We have had a very succesful few seasons and the danger is that we begin to expect on a regular basis. Reality is that we are punching above our weight. Would love to reach the play off's in the Europa Cup (can we dream of the group stage?) and as far as domestic cups are concerned, not going out to a lower division team would be a good start.

I think that it will be almost impossible to tread water this year. For all Gannon had his faults he pulled a rabbit out of the hat with the squad he assembled last summer at such short notice. The three players you mention will not be replaced I fear and with Hearts and Aberdeen looking at the likes of Paul Hartley (thought McGhee had no money?) they are bound to be more competitive this season (I assume). Brown and Knox have a real task in front of them this year I fear but then I do tend to be pessimistic. Don't think we will be relegation fodder however.

I think he was asking the question about who we think were the best players not those who played most often. Smith probably played most games in goals over the last 10 years but nobody has picked him yet. There is no right or wrong only opinions my friend.

Goram Quinn-Kemble-Reynolds-Hammell Hughes- O Donnell-Pearson McFadden-McCormack-McDonald O Donnell during his first spell at the club is possibly one of the best players Motherwell ever had. Does not count but just saying.

In actual fact we are in some ways singing from the same hymn sheet because I hope Reynolds does go on to bigger things. If anything I get frustrated at times that he does not live up to the potential he clearly has. It's a win/win for Motherwell. Keep him and we have a good player for another season, he moves on and we get the finance and the satisfaction of seeing a Well player come good.

I don't know, will it? As far as coaching methods are concerned, Reynolds has worked under Butcher, Malpas, Gannon and Brown and his ability has stayed fairly consistent despite different coaching methods. The point I am making is that Reynolds is Motherwell standard at the moment. Is your point that players with basic skill and pace are too good for Motherwell? As far as knowledge of the game is concerned, if you are 'football man' with experience and expertise that I could only wish for then I am happy to accept that Reynolds is a player with ability that stretches beyond the SPL and would be delighted to see him progress to bigger and better things. Is seems to me however that the mysteries of the game that you football men are happy to wax lyrical about are actually not that mysterious.

Think it will be really tight but expecting Well to get an away goal to just see us through. Aggregate score 2-2. Well to win on away goals. (Shit wrong thread. Should be in the other Euro thread.) How do you delete post?

I actually think that Reynolds has found his level with us. He is a good player with pace and good skill for a defender but he is prone to some howlers (Nancy penalty, Boyd goal at FP, dodgy passbacks to a struggling Fraser) and he lacks the agression/presence of a top defender. Given that he was an integral part of one of the shackiest defenses in the league last season (Ruddy apart), I don't think he has proved himself yet and may never. He is not at International level and not at Premiership level. You could see the dilema Gannon had with him last season. Gannon could see the raw talent but did not know where best to utilise it. I don't think Gannon saw him as a true Central defender hence the experimentation without ever leaving him from the team sheet.

Did not realise that. Maybe I have not read carefully enough the circumstances of the move. Will give the player the benifit of the doubt in the sense that I don't think he has the intellegence to look at the bigger picture and was probably being advised by Celtic minded people. The Old Firm clubs should take some responsibility in this regard. They are very short sighted when dealing in these situations. They consistently go about the business of weakening the opposition when in actual fact stronger opposition would make them more competive. I think that this is a mute arguement anyway as I think that Craig Brown's attitude towards him while Slane was actually here suggested that he has no interest in playing him.

I find the hypocrisy regarding Slane unbelievable. The analogy made earlier by someone about one of us as an 18 year old playing for Clyde, Queens Park etc and getting a chance to move to Motherwell is a good one. I think 95% of the people on this board would take that move even at the risk of not getting first team football because you would hold out hopes and dreams that you would make it. If Slane arrived and started scoring and setting up goals weekly the support would be behind him in an instant. I would happily take Slane back. Someone mentioned Scott Severin too. Would have him in a minute. Way above average SPL player standard but I fear his wages might be likewise.

Forbes in definetly going to divide opinion amongst the fans. I can't make up my mind about him at all but would probably rather he were in the team than out.

Shows it really is all about opinions. That Breadablik should have scored three times but for poor finishing suggests to me that the defense did not stroll through the game. When Breadablik came forward with pace we looked vulnerable at the back and a good few of Reynolds forward passes were to no one. If I had been a scout at the game last night watching Reynolds I would be keeping my money in my pocket.

Pleased with the result last night. I would have taken 0-0 before kick off so 1-0 gives us a really good chance of going through. One thing that I have found interesting with this tie is that for once the manager, players and supporters have gauged the opposition well. We were not unjustifiably confident, the team were professional and gave Breadablik the respect they deserved and ultimately put in a workmanlike competent European performance. The players that stood out for me for good or bad were Murphy, Humphries and Forbes. Murphy because I think we have a really talented young player who is going to be a big player for us over the next few seasons, Humphries because unfortunately despite his pace his final ball is often woeful so the jury is still out and Forbes who is going to have a real love/hate relationship with the fans. No pace, no dig, at times a lack of desire (except when he was wrestling the ball off Hateley for free kicks) and yet a left foot that can turn a game on it's head. One last observation was again the lack of pace in the team. Man for man Breadablik were faster (Humphries apart). I think we have to put that one down to genetics. If we do get through it may be worth trying to attract one or two of their best players to the club.

Last time we played a part time team at home in Europe we lost 1-0 so it's not unreal. Potentially very real.