Kmcalpin

3-5-2 is Motherwell speak for a 5-3-2 or a 5-3-1-1 formation Del. At this stage its almost impossible to call the outcome. We don't know who'll be in charge; it'll be a weaker defence yet with Heneghan missing out; Moulty will be returning; and who knows about injuries. One thing is for sure it won't be a classic. Whatever, I'd like to see either Frear or Pearson starting wide left as that would take the pressure off our sole outball (Cadden). I think young Campbell deserves some game time either from the start or from the bench as we badly need some energy and bite in midfield.

Agree 100%, but it does make you wonder about the quality the other candidates if thats who we've approached. Still we might be pleasantly surprised.

The club may also have approached some candidates who did not apply. In Rumsfeld language its a known unknown.

Lets just take stock shall we. Stephen Robinson has been appointed on a caretaker basis until the Aberdeen game or more likely until a permanent successor is found. So on that basis he's not going to be sacked nor should he be. Postiejim never suggested that he should be fired. The suggestion that he had failed, on the basis of 2 games, is a world away from saying he should be sacked. Its not a matter of semantics nor splitting hairs. There are many opinions of Stephen Robinson on these forums and each member is quite entitled to express them, without being subject to ridicule. I may not agree with some but thats what sensible reasoned debate is all about. Live and let live. Postiejim doesn't think that Robinson has done well and presumably shouldn't be given the job permanently and thats fine. There are quite a few others who agree. That does not mean they should be ridiculed by you or anyone else. There are yet others who think he has done well and should be given the chance. And, finally there are those like me who don't think he has done much (for better or for worse) to help the Directors make their difficult choice - an in between or neutral view if you like. There are many views in between. Stephen Robinson was given, probably, 2 games in charge and its hard to achieve a lot in that time. He's had to work with players not of his choosing. I wasn't expecting miracles in that time. The Killie result, against a fellow bottom 6 side, was good but our defending was still a bit shambolic, Killie hit woodwork several times and we seemed to struggle in the latter stages...yet again. Yesterday we cut out individual calamitous errors, but our defending was still a bit shambolic, we lost and to a late goal again. It was to the league's second best team. So, I was neither impressed nor disappointed by Robinson's 2 games in charge. As for filling the vacancy, A lot is going to depend on who the other 4 candidates are.

Not sure where you picked this up from Stu. I've checked back the posts after the game and haven't found anyone who has suggested that Robinson be sacked from his caretaker role because of the loss today. Given thats only liable to last for a few more days, I can't fathom out what that would achieve. I merely suggested that his performance over the past 2 games has neither helped nor hindered his prospects of landing the job. A lot will depend on who the other 4 candidates are and we don't know. If you can find the source suggesting that he be sacked then fine.

Whether it was a penalty or not is irrelevant; FWIW I didn't think it was. However Killie should not have been in a position to claim one late on when instead we should have been keeping them well out of our danger area. As Spiderpig said we don't know how to see games out vis a vis keeping opponents well away from our goal. We just seem to defend deeper and deeper as the game goes on.

Absolutely Allan. In our last two games we've lost a 92nd minute goal and conceded a very late penalty. Thats not how to see games out.

Its the first time in in recent years that no-one seems to know who the candidates are, with one exception. Not quite sure what that means...maybe media apathy?

It would be hard not to improve on those 2 results Iain. Unless there are things going on behind the scenes, I'd tend to disregard these 2 latest results in assessing his suitability. It seems like we defended for pretty much 90 (95) minutes today without really troubling Aberdeen at all. As we all know in that situation, theres only going to be one outcome. How many shots did we have on target today? I could thole that had we sneaked a 1-0 win but we didn't.

But will it generate confidence? We seem totally incapable of keeping a clean sheet.

I don't know if he's had his chance and failed Jim, but I'd say his brief spell in charge (so far) has been inconclusive. I don't really know what the Directors can take from his 2 games in charge.

In our situation, a defeat is a defeat end of. It really doesn't matter whether Aberdeen's goal came in the first or last minute the result would have been the same. As with games against the gruesome twosome just glad its out of the way. Hopefully Bowman's injury wasn't bad. Certainly a lot better than 7-2. Now we can get down to the real business of appointing the new manager.

Interesting support for Alex Neil on here and I wouldn't disagree with that although I have no idea whatsoever about his track record at Norwich. However at Hamilton he was very much in the John Lambie/Tom Wright mould - very competitive but dull sides. They would kick bite, scratch and claw their way to a result. Other things being equal I think he'd be a good fit for us but I certainly wouldn't expect exciting, flowing football.

Fair comment. There is a reasonable argument for appointing Robinson until the end of the season but as you say what would be the point in advertising the vacancy?

Or a tough midfielder....just ask the Dons for advice.

I agree with your post. We can assume that Robinson will be one of the five interviewees next week but it wouldn't surprise me if at least some of the others are outsiders/not been mentioned. As others have posted we have a crucial short term aim ie to keep us in the top league and a sustainable longer term aim of developing and selling on young players. Next week will be interesting.

Thanks for raising my question Jay. Good to get some feedback.

Ryan Bowman might actually be a better fit for our style of play at Pittodrie than Moulty. Bowman is a bigger lad and can chase all day but importantly can hold the ball up in a way that Moult can't. That said, Moult is the deadlier scorer.

Maybe once ...ie once more than in May 2014?

I wouldn't say that his stay there is irrelevant, just that we have to afford it limited weight in any assessment of his track record. He is a well respected coach and again that counts for something but again thats a world apart from being the man in charge. I'm not saying that he wouldn't make a great or even good manager but we have to be cautious in weighing up candidate's track records. As others have said we must also weigh up the competing candidates, whoever they may be. It is after all a competitive process.

I can't say that any of the names quoted in the media so far excite me. Thats not to say that they are actually in the running for our vacancy of course. The club is rightly keeping things quiet. As far as Stephen Robinson is concerned I think he is very much an unknown quantity. His only, short, managerial stint was at Oldham in admittedly very difficult circumstances. So as far as that goes the jury is still out on him. The step up from Coach to Assistant Manager is a very big one indeed and the step up from Assistant Manager to Manager is even bigger. So his time with us as Assistant may not offer much of a guide as to how he'd do in the hot seat.

I always thought that the original deadline, if indeed there was one, of having our new man in place by this weekend was unrealistic for a club of our size. A few days longer won't make much difference in the great scheme of things.

Mark Reynolds' deliberate and unpunished handball on the goal line....

STV still going on about Ryan Bowmans tackle at Parkhead. Time they let it drop.

Result annulled today. We've been awarded a 3-0 win. Now top of the league! http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2017/03/07/development-league-result-annulled/