Stuart Kettlewell discussion thread

[prideoflanarkshire]

Who would make the decision to sack him? The board or the WS?

[grizzlyg]

3 minutes ago, prideoflanarkshire said:

Who would make the decision to sack him? The board or the WS?

Yodo

[wellgirl]

4 minutes ago, star sail said:

You are doing a very good job of supporting Kettlewell and by association the team. It is difficult swimming against the tide.

I really hope you prove to be right. I just get a sense now that we may be heading down an all too familiar road and that Kettlewell's time may be running out.

It feels like deja vu from the last days of Baraclough, Robinson, Alexander and Hammell in recent weeks. There does come a point where maybe we have to start considering the possibility that not all managers are rubbish and that the challenges run a little deeper.

Keep fighting the good fight.

Thank you. I agree with you. I just feel sad. I hoped it would turn out better with Kettlewell. But if his time is up it's up. 

[wellgirl]

4 minutes ago, prideoflanarkshire said:

Who would make the decision to sack him? The board or the WS?

The board 

[Spiderpig]

13 hours ago, prideoflanarkshire said:

Who would make the decision to sack him? The board or the WS?

We all know unless SK walks away he's in charge for the rest of the season. From being in a decent position before Christmas it all went wrong since then, yes there are mitigating factors re injuries  etc, but SK needs to stop the rot very soon as we are only 6 off the playoff spot now.

It's not going to happen next week against Celtic but we need to find a settled shape and style soon, making 4 or 5 subs every game hoping something will happen is bullshit. I'm not 100% certain SK will manage it and there are signs he may be losing the dressing room but where we are just now 2 or 3 wins will make all the difference so here's hoping he can sort it.

As ever its where you end up in May that matters so with 14 games left to play, 42 points on offer, this could still end up a decent season. 

[santheman]

I've kinda made peace with myself that until Miller is back(assuming he's not away this window) and Slattery can last 90mins then we're not going to have anything close to a functioning midfield so I fear it wil be more of the same for the forseeable future at least.

[FirParkCornerExile]

49 minutes ago, santheman said:

I've kinda made peace with myself that until Miller is back(assuming he's not away this window) and Slattery can last 90mins then we're not going to have anything close to a functioning midfield so I fear it wil be more of the same for the forseeable future at least.

I agree to a point but we've been shite for 2 months except the Rangers game and 15 mins against Aberdeen and Lennon Miller played in most of those games. SK's set up is killing the likes of LM and dragging him down to the dross round about him. I don't think LM's return will change anything until SK starts to play a style that gives him a chance. If LM has any sense he will get out in January cos the current Motherwell team is wasting him. 

[wellfan]

18 minutes ago, FirParkCornerExile said:

I agree to a point but we've been shite for 2 months except the Rangers game and 15 mins against Aberdeen and Lennon Miller played in most of those games. SK's set up is killing the likes of LM and dragging him down to the dross round about him. I don't think LM's return will change anything until SK starts to play a style that gives him a chance. If LM has any sense he will get out in January cos the current Motherwell team is wasting him. 

I think Miller will now leave this window. With us being knocked out of the Scottish Cup and on a downwards trajectory, there’s absolutely zero incentive for him to hang around until summer. 

[coldonmac]

The Well Society have no direct say in the matter. The Board of MFC, as does the Board of any Company,  makes the decisions with regards to its business. The only thing the WS can do is to make clear its feelings via its appointed representatives on the Board. But ultimately the MFC Board are responsible for any/all decisions with regards the running of the Club.

[wellfan]

3 minutes ago, coldonmac said:

The Well Society have no direct say in the matter. The Board of MFC, as does the Board of any Company,  makes the decisions with regards to its business. The only thing the WS can do is to make clear its feelings via its appointed representatives on the Board. But ultimately the MFC Board are responsible for any/all decisions with regards the running of the Club.

The new Chairman has his first impending crisis to deal with. 

[santheman]

18 minutes ago, FirParkCornerExile said:

I agree to a point but we've been shite for 2 months except the Rangers game and 15 mins against Aberdeen and Lennon Miller played in most of those games. SK's set up is killing the likes of LM and dragging him down to the dross round about him. I don't think LM's return will change anything until SK starts to play a style that gives him a chance. If LM has any sense he will get out in January cos the current Motherwell team is wasting him. 

 

27 minutes ago, FirParkCornerExile said:

I agree to a point but we've been shite for 2 months except the Rangers game and 15 mins against Aberdeen and Lennon Miller played in most of those games. SK's set up is killing the likes of LM and dragging him down to the dross round about him. I don't think LM's return will change anything until SK starts to play a style that gives him a chance. If LM has any sense he will get out in January cos the current Motherwell team is wasting him. 

Miller was ploughing a lone furrow most of the time with little or no support but at least he offered something in an otherwise poor midfield.

For the boys sake I hope he finds a good club in the window if that's what happens but from a purely selfish point of view I would like to se him stay and help to get us back on track.

Personally I don't think we've looked the same team since he was injured.

[FirParkCornerExile]

2 minutes ago, santheman said:

 

Miller was ploughing a lone furrow most of the time with little or no support but at least he offered something in an otherwise poor midfield.

For the boys sake I hope he finds a good club in the window if that's what happens but from a purely selfish point of view I would like to se him stay and help to get us back on track.

Personally I don't think we've looked the same team since he was injured.

we may not look the same but we play the same and get the same results, hes wasted in our team.

[wellfan]

You can bet your bottom dollar that if Kettlewell survives this season's crapfest, just like he survived last season's shitfest, we'll find ourselves in yet another shitty situation of his own making come Dec 2025/Jan 2026. What we're witnessing now is a pattern. He needs to be shown the door; if not now, then definitely by the end of this season. 

[wellsince75]

Suspect he’ll get until the end of the season and he probably deserves time as he’s built up sufficient credit .

It’s been kept fairly quiet but we’ve got more points than last season and got to a semi. 😉

in all seriousness he needs to be given time to turn it around - we’ve been brutal since November , time will prove out whether he has what it takes .

[wellfan]

5 minutes ago, wellsince75 said:

in all seriousness he needs to be given time to turn it around - we’ve been brutal since November , time will prove out whether he has what it takes .

I don't buy this view anymore and it's why I posted the above about this being a pattern of crises we're now seeing.

He got time during/after the 15 game winless run last season to turn it around, and we ended up finishing 9th thanks to Bair hitting a purple patch. Perhaps he turned things around or we limped over the line. That's up for debate.

We're now into a new season, suffering another bad run and have a humungous and (likely) expensive squad due to his scattergun approach to transfer business, yet folk are again suggesting he be given more time to turn it around. Unfortunately, however, the togetherness of last season isn't there and he's clearly a man rattled. More time to do more damage is looking more and more likely.

At point point do we cut our losses and look for someone else? I'd say now, before either (a) he turns it around, we just about survive, and the cycle repeats itself next season with the budget being blown again to bail him out again, or (b) we're relegated this season as he fails to turn it around. 

The bigger picture is do we keep accepting season after season of streaky runs and crisis management as the new norm under Kettlewell, or would we prefer to seek a bit more consistency in form and an actual footballing identity?!

[wellsince75]

3 minutes ago, wellfan said:

I don't buy this view anymore and it's why I posted the above about this being a pattern of crises we're now seeing.

He got time during/after the 15 game winless run last season to turn it around, and we ended up finishing 9th thanks to Bair hitting a purple patch. Perhaps he turned things around or we limped over the line. That's up for debate.

We're now into a new season, suffering another bad run and have a humungous and (likely) expensive squad due to his scattergun approach to transfer business, yet folk are again suggesting he be given more time to turn it around. Unfortunately, however, the togetherness of last season isn't there and he's clearly a man rattled. More time to do more damage is looking more and more likely.

At point point do we cut our losses and look for someone else? I'd say now, before either (a) he turns it around, we just about survive, and the cycle repeats itself next season with the budget being blown again to bail him out again, or (b) we're relegated this season as he fails to turn it around. 

The bigger picture is do we keep accepting season after season of streaky runs and crisis management as the new norm under Kettlewell, or would we prefer to seek a bit more consistency in form and an actual footballing identity?!

I agree with many of your points and like you mentioned the togetherness of last season isn’t as apparent. 
 

also agree with signing policy - it’s been really poor and honestly I feel like this since Dawes . There’s been the odd couple of signings but in the main shocking .

where we differ is picking the time for change . My thoughts are we don’t have much to lose be retaining until end of the season . By then we’ll know if we’re better or worse , as annoyed as I am I’d like to see how the season plays out . 
 

As a club who are doing reasonably well over the season with horrendous injuries I think we’d be wise to see how the next few months go , at worst I think we’ll be 10th 

[wellfan]

8 minutes ago, wellsince75 said:

where we differ is picking the time for change . My thoughts are we don’t have much to lose be retaining until end of the season .

Fair enough. I think we have a lot to lose in terms of ticket sales if this shit continues this season. The bond between club and fans could also be damaged. Future season ticket sales may also be impacted.  

[wellsince75]

3 minutes ago, wellfan said:

Fair enough. I think we have a lot to lose in terms of ticket sales if this shit continues this season. The bond between club and fans could also be damaged. Future season ticket sales may also be impacted.  

That’s a solid point . If it continues to be as poor and the club does nothing then yes can see that happening .

that being said as a club I think we’ve always tried to do the right thing and suspect action would be taken 

[wellfan]

1 minute ago, wellsince75 said:

that being said as a club I think we’ve always tried to do the right thing and suspect action would be taken 

We’ve got a different Board now, so perhaps their approach could be different. 

[Spit_It_Out]

7 minutes ago, wellfan said:

We’ve got a different Board now, so perhaps their approach could be different. 

The time has came and went for them to do something tbh instead they let him probably use the last of the funds so pretty clear where they stand.

So it is what it is the end of the day we are stuck in quicksand slowly going downwards.

[Throughthelaces]

I'd like to think that he gets the county game and if were me I'd be telling him anything less than a win against County and Dundee and he's out the door.

[grizzlyg]

We have over 4000 season ticket holders and obviously say probably about 50 regular posters on here but I am struggling to find anyone still backing Kettlewell.   All the ones that have defended him including myself have now lost faith and that interview was just bizarre considering in middle of January 1700 fans paid a lot of money to watch that performance yet we don't have a clue when it comes to management.

If he had been at another club he would have been binned last year but they stood by him and yes he turned it round but there has been no improvement and a style of football that makes Alexander look like Rinus Michels ( one for the oldies).

He is employed and no one wants to see anyone out of work but he will be fine, he will get another gig and loads of media work though sportscene might have to become a 3 hour show!!.

Again if he can turn it round I will be on here apologising but I think we are beyond that stage.

COYW

[Kmcalpin]

1 hour ago, wellsince75 said:

My thoughts are we don’t have much to lose be retaining until end of the season . By then we’ll know if we’re better or worse , as annoyed as I am I’d like to see how the season plays out .

I agree with Wellfan's comments about the detrimental effect on ticket sales and the bond between club and fans. However, I'd also pose the question what if we retain SK until the end of the season, despite continuing poor results, and we end up in 11th spot or even worse? I think we have a lot to lose through inaction. All that said, no-one knows the precise optimum time to call it a day. Its a judgement call. 

[wunderwell]

2 hours ago, wellfan said:

We’ve got a different Board now, so perhaps their approach could be different. 

So as 2023/2024 went along me and you had a bit of a ding dong about Kettlewell.
In the short term in my opinion I was correct by backing him, things did turn around and things ended up ok (no more no less)
I will give you credit though for spotting a larger long term viewpoint about Kettlewell that I was blind too and admit that you were correct. I tend to back longer term so I will concede my friend that you were correct overall!!!
Don't ask me to repeat!!!

My question for you is this though are the flaws larger than Kettlewell?
Who is authorising this bloated squad? Are there others in the mix regarding our choice of players?
Do you feel we need fresh blood on recruitment?

[wellgirl]

3 hours ago, wellsince75 said:

I agree with many of your points and like you mentioned the togetherness of last season isn’t as apparent. 
 

also agree with signing policy - it’s been really poor and honestly I feel like this since Dawes . There’s been the odd couple of signings but in the main shocking .

where we differ is picking the time for change . My thoughts are we don’t have much to lose be retaining until end of the season . By then we’ll know if we’re better or worse , as annoyed as I am I’d like to see how the season plays out . 
 

As a club who are doing reasonably well over the season with horrendous injuries I think we’d be wise to see how the next few months go , at worst I think we’ll be 10th 

I agree with you