MelvinBragg

Am I the only one who gets nervous when people post on here that they think we're going to hammer teams?

Massive blow if Johnson doesn't make it. Wouldn't start with Dom Thomas. Maybe start Erwin wide left and play Sutton up top alongside McDonald? Problem is that leaves Straker even more exposed than normal...

I notice from an article on the BBC website that Les Ferdinand agrees with the original poster in this thread. Stating that underage leagues don't provide as good a grounding for young players as the old reserve leagues...

Think he was talking about McGlinchey...

Aye, defeat last night really cost us. We're totally cut adrift after today's results...

We may finish bottom two but that wasn't an absolute garbage performance. Solid first half undermined by two minutes of madness in the second...

I don't mind us getting beaten if teams outclass us. What gets my goat is giving away points through our own stupidity...

Equally scary is the fact that he's already signed to Nike as well...

It always amuses me when people say that Sutton offers nothing to the team and then advocate for Ainsworth to start. Just saying, like...

Must confess that I think people are overstating what we'll need to stay up or underestimating our ability to get it. We're currently two points behind Ross County. Match their results til the split and we'll be two points behind with five games to play. Not impossible. They have Tannadice to go to and St Johnstone go to Dingwall and they're more than capable of getting a result there. A defeat next week won't have me reaching for the panic button...

Funny how people see things differently. I thought, free kick aside, McDonald was poor. Lost possession a lot by holding on to the ball too long. Johnson, I really like the look of. Final ball is variable but I have a funny feeling if he stays with us, I can see him becoming one of the most fouled players in the league. Can draw a foul, gets his body in the right position.. Law is the answer at right back. Similar to Hateley in that he's not the best defender in the world but he's good enough there and offers a great deal more on the ball than Reid or Ramsden.. On the Ainsworth debate. He is without doubt the most frustrating player at Fir Park. He has the ability but sometimes his decision making and willingness to take a chance can leave a lot to be desired... Would have been nice to win today but the commitment and shape remained from last week. If we keep that up, we'll pick up points...

No. 26, not sure which one that is...

No real options at full back on the bench. Bit of a concern. Could have sacrificed Ainsworth, Moore or Thomas and still had plenty of attacking options...

Ref apparently coming in at 11am for an initial look at the park. Should know one way or another sooner rather than later...

I'm already making alternative plans for this afternoon...

Important that we don't get too far ahead of ourselves. Saturday was a vast improvement but it was only one game. Winning our home games would set us up well ahead of the split but easier said than done. Left back remains an issue and let's not kid ourselves, other teams will be aware of this. If we can keep Pearson and McDonald fit and find a solution at left back, we'll give ourselves a chance...

Cross for the first goal was a thing of beauty. Just had to get that out of the way first. Night and day from last week. Organised, committed, good shape. Pearson and Lasley in tandem looks a better balance than we've had since Nicky Law left. McDonald and Erwin worked well together and while it wasn't always coming off for him today, think Johnson will turn out to be a cracking player. Just see something in him. Defence for the most part did OK. Laing seems to, once a game, go chasing a ball he's never getting leaving a big gap behind him but today was the best I've seen him play. Thought Law was excellent at right back (bar that attempted pass back in the first half). Win next week and hopefully confidence will really pick up. Well done to the players and staff...

A right footed left winger among them. Johnson could easily play on the right. Would have preferred Watt at left back but happy enough to see it's not Straker. Sutton, I agree on. Bring in a guy who looks the ideal partner for him and then bench him. Baffling...

Interesting lineup. Ramsden or Law left back? Long Ramsden Laing McManus Law Johnson Lasley Grant Pearson Erwin McDonald

Need to wait and see if it comes to pass. Certainly seem to be throwing a lot of money at trying to stay up...

According to..?

Robinson may have a good reputation but prior to joining Motherwell, he had only really worked with Northern Ireland U16s and U17s. Coaching kids is a different kettle of fish to coaching adults. Kids are probably more receptive to new ideas...

Doesn't surprise me. Disappointing as he's looked as competent as anyone else at centre back this season, and unlike Ramsden and McManus he has potential to get better...

Regards the new signings, I think Straker looks out of his depth. I think it was Frazzle at the game on Saturday that said he looked like he'd been bundled into the back of a van, driven 100 miles and then just been chucked out onto the park. Looked lost and confused. Laing looks rash and no better than what we had. On several occasions on Saturday, got himself dragged totally out of position leaving a massive gap in behind him. Grant, you can see has good technique but our midfield was getting totally overrun on Saturday so he didn't have time or space to use it. Johnson and Nathan Thomas. Johnson, I'd prefer to see on the right wing. He was picking up the ball and trying to make things happen but kept cutting inside on to his right foot, into a crowded area of the park. Like to see him use his pace to get to the byeline and get crosses in. Also fair to mention that he didn't track his man at the goal but not the first winger you can point the finger at for that. Nathan Thomas, with the exception of the horrendous occasion when he trod on the ball, actually looked not bad on the ball and again was at least trying to be positive. Long, there's not much to say about. Didn't do much wrong but wasn't required to do anything that Twardzik wouldn't have coped with. For me, two defenders don't look good enough. Jury's still out on the others...

Am I the only one thinking that if it's a Saturday night after a game that I'm not that bothered? And that though it seems to be our young players getting it in the neck for their choice of Saturday night activities, these seem to be guys whose fitness in the following games you can't call into question?