Motherwell v Saint Johnstone 09/11/2024

[wellsince75]

Appreciate the frustration with the lack of entertainment.  There's not a huge amount of creativity , similar to last season we need to rely on young wingbacks to create.  

Given our current squad I'd be tempted to play Watt behind the front 2 and try to link more via midfield.

That said credit to the team for conceding less goals, averaging 1.2 goals lost per game v's last seasons 1.7. That difference has us very nicely in the top 6. 

[steelboy]

Btw putting the away fans in the top tier is tinpot stuff and pathetic from a fan owned club.

[MelvinBragg]

13 minutes ago, Welly Machine said:

Flat second half and again subs didn't make much of an impact. Have to hope we can make changes that make a difference when the injury situation improves.

I actually thought Paton made a bit of a difference when he came on in terms of helping us retain possession a bit better...

[stv]

I think i was at a different Fir Park today than some posting on here.

We never gave them much of chance in the first half thought we played very well pushing forward . And scored two good goals . Second half stood back and let them play and pass the ball for some strange reason.

Three good points today.

 

 

[texanwellfan]

46 minutes ago, David said:

When I got back into the house after the game, I thought I had dreamt that we'd won 2-1.

With the response of some in this thread you'd think we hadn't just won again, weren't sitting in 5th with a game in hand over the team in 4th, and two games in hand over the team in 3rd, and a nice wee cushion of seven points and a game in hand over the team in 7th.

All accomplished while we've been missing numerous new signings, our captain, and our co-captain.

What's mental is, that we've done all of the above without playing all that well. 

I agree with your sentiment but I think 3rd is a typo, you mean 6th. 

[grizzlyg]

3 hours ago, steelboy said:

Halliday is completely done. He was blowing out his arse after 20 mins. 

Get him a half season ticket for Ibrox, a Celtic one for Fat Tony and a wee Saturday job somewhere for Davor and we'll be looking a lot better going forward. 

Give him a rest pal,  I know you don't like him but he's not that bad

[grizzlyg]

1 hour ago, steelboy said:

Obika, Wilkinson, Shaw, Stama, Watt, Moses, Robinson and Stuparevic.

Kettlewell really does have an eye for a player. 

 

Thank feck we didn't lose today!! 

[grizzlyg]

Wasn't pretty but looking at some posts can I just remind everyone that we actually won and are sitting 5th with a game in hand!!

Usual suspects get criticised but I didn't think young lennon had best game today.  For me kaleta was excellent and Sparrow also impressive.  Big Ox is such an upgrade on Kelly but Liam still brought us great service.

Watt once fitter will be just fine but jeez can we keep Moses in opposition half please, looked clueless at times. 

Referee honking but at end of day it's 3 points so can we all have a big smile? COYW

[grizzlyg]

Stuart Cosgrove......Eilidh Barbour.....the wee guy that was in Taggart.   Can you hear me?....... your boys took a helluva beating!! 🤪🤪

[thewelllfan]

Got to give credit to Kaleta. He looked poor the 1st 2 games he played but he's been absolutley brilliant for us since then. Cross for the goal was great on his weakfoot and was solid defensivley hope he doesn't get recalled his loan. Maswanhise and Sparrow also had great games. We seem to have recruited some decent players over the summer so here's hoping we can add 1/2 more come January to help us in push for top 6/Europe. 

[Welly Machine]

1 hour ago, MelvinBragg said:

I actually thought Paton made a bit of a difference when he came on in terms of helping us retain possession a bit better...

I suppose he did a bit and he is just back from a spell injured so hopefully another option in midfield going forward.

[Kmcalpin]

4 hours ago, steelboy said:

 34% at home to St Johnstone is criminal.

I agree, but it's how we play at the moment. Saints were always going to dominate possession. Until we sort out midfield this stat isn't going to change. Returning players will help of course, but we didn't field an out and out defensive midfielder today and as the defence would tell you, it showed. 

[Kmcalpin]

2 hours ago, Mootherwell86 said:

Stamatelopolous is quite clearly a decent player. 

Yes, he is, but we're not getting the best out of him. He's not suited to to the role he's being asked to play. 

[joewarkfanclub]

I really despair with this place.

If nobody can see any positives out of that first half today, I dont know where to start with you.

Yes, St Johnstone played some nice stuff at times, but it was reminiscent of us under Hammell and we know how that turned out.

We havent had a functioning midfield all season. Our tactic is clearly to let the other team have the ball and to hit them on the break.

And you know what? It works!

I thought Seddon was immense first half mopping up at the back and spraying passes about. Kaleta was electric down the right and Maswanhise gave their centre backs a torrid time.

We scored 2 really good goals and really shoulda been outta sight by half time.

St Johnstone made 3 changes at half time which shows you how Simo thought it was going, and tbf to him, it did make an initial impact until we worked it out.

Thought the rest of the second half was scrappy, but I didnt see Saints scoring until the penalty.

Not really sure what Halliday is supposed to do. Its fired straight at him from close range and he turns his back on it. Yes it hits his hand and its the kind of thing that was given regularly last season, but we had raised the bar this year and I thought we had seen the last of those decisions. Obviously not.

At that point I think the players lose the plot. Balmers head was gone after his clash with Kimpioka and Davors miss, deary me!

Couldnt see the hand ball for their 2nd, but VAR calls it so happy to take it after the pen call.

Overall. Far from perfect. It never is with us. But lots still to like and another well deserved 3 points.

2 weeks to rest up now and re-focus as we go into a very important run of games which could effectively see us clear of relegation by xmas which would be nice.

PS thought Lennon Miller looked a little bit off it second half today. Not suggesting he should call off from the Scotland U19s. But I wouldnt be devestated if he had a niggle that kept him out. Boy has played a lot of football.

[grizzlyg]

14 minutes ago, joewarkfanclub said:

I really despair with this place.

If nobody can see any positives out of that first half today, I dont know where to start with you.

Yes, St Johnstone played some nice stuff at times, but it was reminiscent of us under Hammell and we know how that turned out.

We havent had a functioning midfield all season. Our tactic is clearly to let the other team have the ball and to hit them on the break.

And you know what? It works!

I thought Seddon was immense first half mopping up at the back and spraying passes about. Kaleta was electric down the right and Maswanhise gave their centre backs a torrid time.

We scored 2 really good goals and really shoulda been outta sight by half time.

St Johnstone made 3 changes at half time which shows you how Simo thought it was going, and tbf to him, it did make an initial impact until we worked it out.

Thought the rest of the second half was scrappy, but I didnt see Saints scoring until the penalty.

Not really sure what Halliday is supposed to do. Its fired straight at him from close range and he turns his back on it. Yes it hits his hand and its the kind of thing that was given regularly last season, but we had raised the bar this year and I thought we had seen the last of those decisions. Obviously not.

At that point I think the players lose the plot. Balmers head was gone after his clash with Kimpioka and Davors miss, deary me!

Couldnt see the hand ball for their 2nd, but VAR calls it so happy to take it after the pen call.

Overall. Far from perfect. It never is with us. But lots still to like and another well deserved 3 points.

2 weeks to rest up now and re-focus as we go into a very important run of games which could effectively see us clear of relegation by xmas which would be nice.

PS thought Lennon Miller looked a little bit off it second half today. Not suggesting he should call off from the Scotland U19s. But I wouldnt be devestated if he had a niggle that kept him out. Boy has played a lot of football.

Well said sir,  the negativity even after a victory really grinds at me

For Davor miss I believe he was offside anyway.

Big concern for me was amount of space we left on our left hand side, we have done this for years bizarrely going back to days Hammell played there

[grizzlyg]

Also an impeccable silence observed before the match apart from whoever was drying their hands in the john hunter stand toilets!! 

[SteelmaninOZ]

The gaffer said 

 

 

[Kmcalpin]

8 minutes ago, grizzlyg said:

Also an impeccable silence observed before the match apart from whoever was drying their hands in the john hunter stand toilets!! 

Yes, a nice touch to see one veteran representing each team with their wreaths. Total silence and respect from the stands. 

[steelman1991]

2 hours ago, grizzlyg said:

Stuart Cosgrove......Eilidh Barbour.....the wee guy that was in Taggart.   Can you hear me?....... your boys took a helluva beating!! 🤪🤪

The wee guy that was in Tggart is actually a Falkirk fan I think.

[mfc]

53 minutes ago, Kmcalpin said:

Yes, he is, but we're not getting the best out of him. He's not suited to to the role he's being asked to play. 

Exactly,the manager has to find a better way of using him.from the clips of him when he signed he looks like a penalty box striker,his goal at easter road is how we should be using him more often,he showed decent movement and produced a good finish that day when he was allowed to be effect in the box.i think our forward line will continue to struggle until kettlewell changes our style a bit.ideally we can keep picking up points like we have been and get to january and sign someone that will finally be able to link the midfield to attack and then allow miller to play as a 6 and build the play from deep,I think if we have a decent attacking midfielder that miller can pass too that would go a long way to us having more possession in games like today.

[grizzlyg]

7 minutes ago, steelman1991 said:

The wee guy that was in Tggart is actually a Falkirk fan I think.

Hmmmm not sure about that but not sure,  anyway ...ha ha cosgrove

[weeyin]

Slattery can link the midfield to attack.

Trust me, despite the detractors on here, I expect the Miller / Slattery combo in midfield to add the extra dimension we're lacking. 

[sinjy]

4 hours ago, steelboy said:

Obika, Wilkinson, Shaw, Stama, Watt, Moses, Robinson and Stuparevic.

Kettlewell really does have an eye for a player. 

 

You forgot Theo. Oh wait we got him for nothing and was a donkey that we sold for a couple of million. Some people will never be happy and have selective memories to back up their negativity.

[steelman1991]

9 minutes ago, grizzlyg said:

Hmmmm not sure about that but not sure,  anyway ...ha ha cosgrove

My bad you're right enough. I could have sworn I heard Tam Cowan introduce him on an episode of Off the Ball as a Falkirk fan, but a quick look at Wiki confirms St Johnstone.

[weeyin]

14 minutes ago, sinjy said:

You forgot Theo. Oh wait we got him for nothing and was a donkey that we sold for a couple of million. Some people will never be happy and have selective memories to back up their negativity.

Kaleta, Sparrow, Seddon, Gordon, Balmer and Maswanhide are looking decent enough this early in the season.

Given all the injuries, if you told me we be in joint 4th at this stage, I'd have bitten your hand off. 

Many were predicting a dour relegation battle from day 1.