star sail

Much has happened in MM's time. Phil's tragic loss, qualification for Europe, the Scotland saga, the Hearts saga, the Nancy games, the dip in form and the current resurrection. How have way behaved as fans during that time? Do we give our young players enough encouragement (Reynolds, Fitzpatrick) and are we happy with the atmosphere at Fir Park? Do we give the manager enough backing? Are we as guilty as Rangers fans of 'believing we deserve better'? I think that the reaction to Phils death and the Nancy excursion alone warrent top six but I can't put hand on heart and say we are best in the league. Would be really interested to know what the general feeling is.

I think he is a good young player. His pace at times is a real asset and he is good with the ball at his feet. He does make mistakes but so does Craigan. Look at Dundee Utd last week, their defence was desperate to loose goals and Wilkie is a rated defender. It happens. I would however like to see him in another position, and that may happen if we can sign another central defender. I agree with you about Pressley today. Thought his experience showed but I'd rather have a young, promising player than a has-been.

I have been a big critic of Craigan over the years, and felt at times he was a liabilty last season, but results don't lie and since his return the defence has been excellent. Goes to show that football is not always about what we can directly see. Craigans influence must have a very positive impact in subtle ways. It's great to have him back. The old silver fox!!!! Also the two rather controversial summer signings JOB and Klimpl are really starting to come good. Hats off to MM for having the faith. Brilliant result today. Mon the Well!!!

Hard one. Between Brian Martin, Luc Niholt and Tommy Coyne but going for Tommy Coyne. Remember watching Italy v Reb of Ireland during the World Cup in the USA and feeling really proud that a Well player was giving Franco Barraza a hard time.

There are two things that I think must make Mark McGhee feel a bit aggrieved at the moment. Firstly he is still getting criticised for the Hearts situation in the summer. In actual fact MM showed a degree of loyalty to the club which I think is almost unprecedented in modern times. Tommy McLean would have been at Hearts just now had it been him. Terry Butcher would be at Hearts just now had it been him. It is a minor miracle that MM did not take the Hearts job and I for one feel that he made a mistake by not taking it. At that time MM let his heart rule his head and has had nothing but stick for it ever since. Secondly the attendance at FP this season has been shocking. As a rough (not quoting exact figures) idea, Aberdeen had approx 16000 at their home game against Hearts the other day. Going by current attendance MWell would have to play 4 times to match that figure, and yet there is an assumption (by some)that MWell should be sitting third in the SPL. It just does not add up. Some First Division teams like Dunfermline are getting close to Wells attendance figures at the moment. That MM has defended himself recently is only natural and right. I still think he is the best manager in the SPL and we need to get behind him or we will most certainly loose him. Actually I am sure it is already too late because I am sure he his desperate to leave given the way he has been treated.

I have not spoken to any Mwell players directly but I know people who have both in recent times and in the past and players have commented on the intimidating nature of the East Stand in particular and Well fans in general, when things are not going well. Well fans are not good at getting behind players who are struggling. Go and play a game of 5's with your mates and get them to shout, boo and criticise you and then see how it affects your game. It is no different for profesional players. They are human, and often young boys and do hear and are affected by the piss that comes from the stands at times. That old chestnut of ' I pay my money and have a right to do/say as I please' is true but don't be kidded about it having a positive effect on a team. If a person really wants to support a team they at worst go and keep their negative vibes to themselves, and at best keep on encourging when the team are 2-0 down to Killie with 10 mins to go. (fr that the Well boys should be applauded) I am not saying that it is wrong to go and moan, just that it does not help and infact makes some players (if not all) worse. I get particularly frustrated by the critisicm Mark Fitzpatrick has to suffer. I think he could be a good young player but he will have to leave Mwell to do it because he has not and is not going to get a chance at Well amongst some sections of the support.

If I was the owner of the club I would be looking at two major concerns, firstly the sense of a lack of any permenancy of the manager/players at the club and secondly the falling attendances. Although I enjoyed last season and did feel that the team played some of the best football in years I did not feel at any time that we were at the start of something big at the club. This was due to the uncertainty about the managers future and therefore an uncertaintity about the future of many of the players. I think that that uncertainty has come home to roost this season. Mark Reynolds, Stephen Hughes and Chris Porter all look unsettled and look like players who don't believe they will be in a relegation dog fight at the end of the season because they don't think in their heart of hearts that they will be at the club come the end of the season. These players are not fighting for a cause and it is very obvious. Why did Mark McGhee openly promote a better future for these players at other clubs rather than promoting a brighter future at Motherwell? You could say MM was being realistic but success comes from dreaming, aiming high and having optimism for the future. Realism though practical is not often inspiring. So I would be sitting MM down and asking him about his vision of the clubs future and his roll within that. If he was to then answer in his usual all things to all men, non commital, you don't know what the future holds kind of way I would be cutting my loses now and looking for a new manager. If on the other hand he had a long term plan (ie 2/3 year), that involved our most promising first team players fused with the talanted young players and some signing targets I would give him a chance. Then I would ask him to share that vision with the fans such that the fans might also have something to believe in and buy into. Hopefully that would go some way towards solving the second problem of falling attendances. Then I would cut all gate prices to £15 and abolish this totally ridiculous pricing scheme that is in place at the moment. I believe that MM is the right man for the job but only if he wants to be at the club. For what it's worth I think he made a big mistake not taking the Hearts job. He actually did an admirable thing walking away from that job, but unfortunately as far as the fans are concerned it was too little too late and he has never recovered from that. His indecision at that time has permeated through everything that has happened at the club since. It is going to take a big statement of intent to change that.

I think that the point about leisure time being scarce is a good one. To go along on a cold Saturday afternoon to a ground that is far from modern, to watch football that is often mediocre at best, to stand in queues for at times 15-20 mins for food and drink all requires a kind of labour of love. I just don't have the love so much these days and sometimes use my time off for other things. I don't have a season ticket but pay in maybe 10 times in the season. As far as John Boyle is concerned, I don't think cutting your nose off.. etc is the way forward but maybe it is time that there was some kind of unified protest amongst the fans to get the point across. John Boyles behaviour from the club going into admin, to his deals with Zoom, to his out and out lies to fans leaves a lot to be desired at times. If it turns out there is foul play regarding Motherwells undersoil heating it would be another example of a sheer lack of scrouples (sp?). I would not like to think that Motherwell develop a reputation for unsporting behaviour. I don't know what the answer is, but this thread shows the level of discontent there is amongst supporters, and not just because of results on the pitch.

I think last nights game was marginal, and with the exception of the Hibs game the whole season has been like that. Think back to the D Utd home game. We played better than them and should have won. As it turns out Utd are looking like a decent side this season and we are one of the few teams to have out played them. The first home game against Aberdeen was another example of a game that could easily have been so different. A few changes of fortune here and there and we could have been looking at a swing of 6-9 points. Last night Motherwell played well in spells and had they scored first, I think it could have ended up a very comfortable victory. Porter gets one of his chances in the second half and again we could well have gone on to win the game. Motherwell are a better footballing side than Killie, St Mirren, Accies and Inverness, I have no doubt about that. I know that this does not ensure safety from relegation but a few confidence building results and in a few months we could be in a strong position again. We have to keep the faith. What other option is there?

I don't think that tonight was as bad as people are making out. We passed the ball better than Killie, had more possession of the ball and had more chances. The problem is that its all a bit too light weight and not direct enough. Unfortunately as well we have two strikers who don't look like they would score if they played for a fortnight. Killie were allowed to play poorly and walk away with three points. We just need to toughen up. The basics are there. This is not as bad as the Malpas days. Not yet anyway!