MelvinBragg

I was saying when I saw the lineup on Saturday that my concern was that I didn't know where a goal would come from. When I saw how the game was panning out, I figured we would only score from a worldy or a set piece. There was little evidence of the guile or movement required to create clear cut opportunities. And so it panned out.. I've been going to Fir Park long enough to have seen us lose countless games like Saturday 1-0. The fact we didn't is a sign that we are at least doing something right. That's five clean sheets in the last eight league games. We've only conceded more than two goals in a game on three occasions this season. Pretty good by Motherwell standards. I bring this up because I've read a few comments that Grimshaw had a poor game on Saturday and that a new right back is required. I would admit that he didn't have his best game against Hibs but even saying that, the mistakes that led to Hibs best chances didn't come from him. He's an easy target, perceived as a midfielder converted to full back. Is he Cafu? No, but he's part of a solid defensive unit and does a job. We've had far worse full backs and will have again...

Devante Cole signs a permanent deal with Doncaster. Explains why Wigan took him back as they had someone willing to pay a fee for him...

Went for Donnelly, range of passing was impressive, although whole midfield played well. Interesting to see a couple of votes for Gallagher. Not saying he had a bad game, but he definitely put us in bother a couple of times by being casual...

I said on here that I thought we'd lose this one. Glad to be proved wrong. Speaking of proved wrong, it's noticeable how important Liam Donnelly has become to our team. No coincidence that two of our poorest home performances this season have come when he's been unavailable (thinking of Aberdeen and Accies at home). As others have pointed out, Long's injury is a concern. A lot of weight on James Scott's shoulders...

Funny feeling we'll lose this 2-0. Still comfortably fourth after 22 games, I can live with...

Where did you read we've suspended him for 4 weeks?

Sure I read somewhere Robinson say that Dunne might be available for this game. Not necessarily an area we're short of bodies, mind you...

Not sure how Ben Hall would have developed in the clusterfuck that was McGhee's last season...

Thought strikes me that they both might have ended up at that level despite early promise. So you then wonder if they made the right decision because they've 'found their level' and having the career they were destined to have but have struck it lucky by getting a relatively lucrative contract early in their career. Sensible decision by both of them? Or are we saying that by staying at Fir Park they would automatically have improved and be better players..? Just a question...

If Scott leaves, we'll need to bring in at least two forwards. Add to that potentially a replacement for Sloth should he leave, it could be a busier January than anticipated...

Got what we deserved. Thing is, a bad day at the office can happen but the concern was that it was obvious an Accies goal was coming and the manager either chose not to change it or didn't feel he had the options to change it positively. The change to 352 did nothing to improve things. What we needed to try to do was improve our ball retention. Semple an option? Without Cole there was no option that was going to make the ball stick up top. You could have moved Scott up top but he needed removed for his own protection about 10 minutes before it actually happened but it looked like Robinson didn't know what to do. A few had their worst games in a Motherwell jersey today. It happens. We move on...

Must confess that part of me hates these games. If we win, we're supposed to. If we lose, we never hear the end of it. At least it's at Fir Park and not on that plastic travesty...

So what you're saying is go all in on Grimshaw or O'Hara to score anytime. Frankly hoping for a comfortable afternoon but if you offer me Motherwell 1 (Grimshaw 90+1) Hamilton 0 then I'd rip yer arm off and beat you with the wet end...

Only Premier team that got a possibly tougher draw than us was Hibs and while you could say the same about Dundee, you know United definitely have full focus on promotion so might rest players. Tough draw when you compare it with the draws that Killie, Accies and St Mirren got. One thing is certain: if we get through we're likely to get a Premier side given it's likely most if not all will get through...

For me, McCall's best performance...

Interesting to read the debate on Grimshaw. For what it's worth, I wasn't at Parkhead on Sunday but was talking to a Celtic supporting colleague and unprompted he singled out Grimshaw as a Motherwell player that had impressed him...

Could be 352 with Tait in the back 3, could be 433 with Grimshaw in midfield and Polworth on the wing. Best guess is 352... EDIT Also could be a 442 diamond midfield...

Hard game to summarise. Wasn't much on it before we scored, and for about 5 or 10 minutes after it we seemed to haring about trying to get a second goal before they could reorganise properly. Their goal really seemed to knock the stuffing out of us and we continued to make bad decisions. From their goal til half time, they were the better team. By far.. Half time team talk seemed to work as we seemed to move the ball a bit quicker in the second half switching from side to side. You know, the stuff you're supposed to do against ten men. When we scored, it felt as if the goal was coming. The cross from Carroll was something else. The longer we went without getting the third goal, the more nervous we got and it seemed like Killie sensed that as well. Defensively we looked pretty shaky. For me, best performers were Long, Donnelly and Carroll. Campbell was Campbell. Hylton looked like a man with something to prove tonight, and had some good moments but also some bad ones. Polworth having a bit of a dip in form is a concern but still winning while you have key players not quite performing is encouraging...

I went for Long as well. Needs a goal but never gave the Kilmarnock defence a minute tonight...

Was Carroll injured when he went off?

I wish people would get over this. 352 is not a problem in itself. Playing 352 with two right footed wing backs and immobile forwards and midfielders is brutal. But playing any formation with those kind of players leads to brutal football...

I am Stephen Robinson...

Suspect I'll be way off the mark...

Anyone know the situation regarding Hartley? Will he be available? Asking as I'd be tempted to go 352 for this one. I am aware that there will be rolling of the eyes on here at the very suggestion, but 352 as a formation isn't specifically a bad idea. With the midfield we have at the moment, we might be better at ball retention. I know that 433 has been working in general but just feel that the extra security a back three might offer will be useful here. Carroll being available would mean that we would have a natural option at left wing back unlike when we were shoehorning Tait or Frear there. A front two of Long and Cole running the channels between the centre backs and full backs would hopefully exploit the space their full backs leave behind them, particularly Tavernier. I'd go with Gillespie Gallagher Hartley Mugabi Grimshaw Campbell Donnelly Polworth Carroll Cole Long I don't expect many to agree, and I don't think we'll go this way but given Aberdeen were set up perfectly to combat our 433, a plan B (and trying it in a game that we're probably not expected to do much) might not be a bad thing...

One of those days. When your best players all have stinkers, your most experienced defender goes off injured after you miss an early penalty, you get a feeling it's not your day. The way we conceded the first two goals summed it up. What I would say is Aberdeen's injury crisis maybe helped them. Lack of midfield options left them with two defenders or defensive minded players in there who nullified Polworth and Campbell. What I would also bear in mind while listening to the media wax lyrical about Mcinnes and how well he did in the situation, we were missing Dunne, Carroll, Donnelly, O'Hara and Turnbull today and lost Hartley during the game. A lot for a squad our size to take. And still a penalty miss away from being a very different game...