Motherwell say farewell to "best team since 1991"
ON Sunday, arguably Motherwell’s best team since the 1991 Cup win, signed off in their final match at McDiarmid Park against St Johnstone.
Interestingly, McCall didn’t start with our strongest side, excluding Tom Hateley, Darren Randolph and Chris Humphrey from the squad. At first I put this decision down to the fact that they all had agreements with new clubs and McCall, doing the decent thing, didn’t want to injure them, however, he said after the match that both Hateley and Humphrey had failed fitness tests.
Darren Randolph was replaced in goals by his deputy, Lee Hollis. Hollis had a fairly mediocre match. Blameless for the goals lost, he only had to make some very routine saves. His distribution was good (has he been learning from Randolph?) but he needs to work on his kicking. Living in Randolph's shadow for so long, it will be interesting to see a more even fight for the No. 1 spot between him and a new 'keeper!
Motherwell attempted to stroll around the uneven park but were often caught out in a weak pass by an eager St Johnstone side.
Read more... Add new comment
Lets give Motherwell Fir Park send-off they deserve
TO say last Saturday's game versus Inverness didn't go to plan is a bit of an understatement. With a solitary point needed to secure second place in the SPL, and having given Terry Butcher's side a hiding on the previous three occasions this term, it seemed like a foregone conclusion for many in Claret and Amber that this would be the game to nudge The Well over the finish line.However, when Billy McKay grabbed his second of the game to make it 3-0 to ICT with just under a half hour played, the script was well and truly ripped up and thrown away in the Highland bluster. While I imagine there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth from some parts of Lanarkshire, being three goals behind at that juncture didn't really phase me.
Having been dragged to Glasgow on a shopping trip with the Mrs, I had a rare Saturday where I was depending on Twitter for my football fix, while feigning interest in the wares of various shops on Buchanan Street. I'd forgotten just how frustrating Saturdays in retail used to be, with busy shops and just people in general getting in the way of keeping up to date with the scores. By the time we were making our way back to the car, James McFadden had pulled one back, and from there I sensed that The Well would get back in to it.
Last few games of a special Motherwell side
AFTER last week's announcement of the SPFA Player of the Year nominees, this week has seen the SPL Team of the Season, as voted for by the players themselves unveiled, and by all accounts, there can be few complaints about it, particularly from this blogger's point of view,At the risk of reading repetitive, the Motherwell players listed in the side of the season have been outstanding candidates and fully deserve to get their inscribed medallion at the awards ceremony this coming Sunday night. With the voting cast a few week's back, Sunday's game against Celtic was a great showcase for the four Steelmen named in that team by their peers, as to a man they all performed to their utmost to ensure a second win of the season over the SPL Champions.
Darren Randolph, the subject of much transfer talk in the week leading up to the game, may have made his only real mistake of the season in last weekend's win, but even then his rash decision to come out to challenge Tony Watt is what most keeper's would have done in the same situation. In a season full of solid performances and breathtaking saves, big Darren was forgiven for the judgement call, even before he had to make it, after heroically denying Gary Hooper inside the six yard box, before getting two good palms on Charlie Mulgrew's only decent set piece of the game.
While his opposite number Fraser Forster had a game to forget, Randolph played another blinder, as he has done all season long to to spur The Well on to another fine victory and an eighth game unbeaten. The same can be send for the other defensive choice for the SPL TOTY, Shaun Hutchinson. Having been a Man of the Match candidate the last time the side's met at Fir Park, he has let little phase him, and as such, rifle takes his place amongst his fellow professional's selections.
Michael Higdon helps Motherwell to Europe
ON Sunday, Motherwell secured their second victory over Celtic at Fir Park this season.Surprisingly, Neil Lennon fielded a very strong Celtic line up. While I expected we would see people like Dylan McGeouch and Miku getting a start, the remainder of the starting 11 were all fairly established first team players.
Celtic started quite slowly and didn’t stamp their mark early on, as they normally do. This could have been due to them not coming out to resume their warm up when the kick off was delayed. The sharp eyed ref, Euan Norris, had spotted an advertising board which was partially hanging off and waving in the high wind which was swirling around Fir Park!
Once the game got underway, Chris Humphrey found a lot of joy down the right wing, especially in the first half, as Emilio Izzaguire repeatedly got caught out trying to attack. With no natural wide players whatsoever in their team, it looked like Celtic were relying on their full backs to get forward. Considering that they have often caught us out down the wings over the years, while not at all unhappy about it, I felt that their team selection was unwise!
Listen up Neil Lennon, Michael Higdon is player of the year
WHO would have thought that this year's PFA Player of the Year award nominees would court so much controversy? Is this the Armageddon that folk spoke of at the end of last season? No Celtic players in the short list means that there's an agenda against The Bhoys according to Neil Lennon. Is this the storm he spoke of last week when hit with his three match ban?
As his side travel to Fir Park this Sunday, perhaps his comments have been intended to create a little bit of edge to the proceedings. What better way to wind up your opponents than by belittling and complaining about the efforts of the nominees in the week you come up against arguably the front runner for the POTY award? If the SPL was the WWE, this would be seen as proper heel tactics to gain cheap heat in a territory where Lennon is likely to be more disliked than liked. However, I don't really believe this to be the case.
Instead, it's just another dummy spit in an ever increasing line of them, designed to detract from his own side's shortcomings. Winning the SPL Championship last weekend should have been the crowning glory of Celtic's season, and in his heartfelt speech to the green and white masses after the game, he delivered a pretty decent promo in regard to the achievement. That should have been enough for him to say this week.
In light of his rant, it was revealed that up to seven of his men had been voted for, but much like the rest of the SPL sides have cut one another's throats this season, they cut their sides chances of having a nominee by diluting the vote between themselves. This has paved the way for the first PFA Player Of The Year nominations not to feature an Old Firm player since 1990, and with 24 goals so far this season, Michael Higdon is more than worthy of a nomination, if not the award itself.
As his side travel to Fir Park this Sunday, perhaps his comments have been intended to create a little bit of edge to the proceedings. What better way to wind up your opponents than by belittling and complaining about the efforts of the nominees in the week you come up against arguably the front runner for the POTY award? If the SPL was the WWE, this would be seen as proper heel tactics to gain cheap heat in a territory where Lennon is likely to be more disliked than liked. However, I don't really believe this to be the case.
Instead, it's just another dummy spit in an ever increasing line of them, designed to detract from his own side's shortcomings. Winning the SPL Championship last weekend should have been the crowning glory of Celtic's season, and in his heartfelt speech to the green and white masses after the game, he delivered a pretty decent promo in regard to the achievement. That should have been enough for him to say this week.
In light of his rant, it was revealed that up to seven of his men had been voted for, but much like the rest of the SPL sides have cut one another's throats this season, they cut their sides chances of having a nominee by diluting the vote between themselves. This has paved the way for the first PFA Player Of The Year nominations not to feature an Old Firm player since 1990, and with 24 goals so far this season, Michael Higdon is more than worthy of a nomination, if not the award itself.
Motherwell: The beginning of the end starts tonight
AFTER what seems like eons of chat about league reconstruction, 12-12-18, pyramid systems, 11-1 voting and about how rubbish the Scottish product currently is, despite 14 goals over two excellent Scottish Cup Semi finals, it's time to get back to reality and the actuality of the current set up. Before we can seriously chat about a structure change, this season needs to finish. The beginning of the end starts tonight.
While the Top Six split hasn't always lived up to it's billing of importance or indeed proved it's merit, it has always been a yard stick by which a team's league success has been measured. It is also a good indicator of how unpredictable Scottish Football in general can be. With Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen confined to the lower half dozen, and Dundee United scraping in to the top half by the skin of their teeth, it's fair to say that least Diddy of the Diddy teams have failed to meet expectations.
The top half is also an anomaly in that other than Celtic and to an extent Motherwell, few commentators or fans would have predicted that the rest of the Top Six would be dotted up the A9. Ross County and Inverness have got there on merit though, and regardless of their final positions, will look back on the 2012-13 season as a stop rival one for them in a few regard. For Motherwell though, grasping second place come the final day would be another massive achievement for Stuart McCall and his side.
While the Top Six split hasn't always lived up to it's billing of importance or indeed proved it's merit, it has always been a yard stick by which a team's league success has been measured. It is also a good indicator of how unpredictable Scottish Football in general can be. With Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen confined to the lower half dozen, and Dundee United scraping in to the top half by the skin of their teeth, it's fair to say that least Diddy of the Diddy teams have failed to meet expectations.
The top half is also an anomaly in that other than Celtic and to an extent Motherwell, few commentators or fans would have predicted that the rest of the Top Six would be dotted up the A9. Ross County and Inverness have got there on merit though, and regardless of their final positions, will look back on the 2012-13 season as a stop rival one for them in a few regard. For Motherwell though, grasping second place come the final day would be another massive achievement for Stuart McCall and his side.
Sitting in that berth at the moment, the opportunity to extend the lead over Inverness to six points comes at Tannadice tonight, with the game itself being looked at from a few vantage points, some baffling, some confusing and some, believe it or not, for the actual football.
Motherwell: Thoughts on the draw with St Mirren
On Saturday, Motherwell managed to enter the split in second place thanks to a James McFadden free kick earning them a point against St Mirren.
The first half saw Motherwell dominate the match and hold the majority of possession. This resulted in St Mirren sitting back and keeping the game in front of them.
Motherwell played the ball from right to left, desperately attempting to find a gap for one of our quick, wide players to exploit. But St Mirren were very organised - I suppose you don’t win a domestic Cup with a leaky defence!
Occasionally, they posed a threat down our left hand side taking advantage of Zaine Francis-Angol filling in for an absent Steven Hammell at left back.
Having only seen him play a handful of times, I am not quite sure what his natural position is. McCall, on the occasions he plays him, seems to prefer him at left back, however some of his most convincing performances have taken place in a more advanced position on the left wing.
On Saturday, his best play came when he was going forward although this sometimes left us a bit exposed defensively on the left hand side.
Stuart McCall putting in place fine Motherwell legacy
SATURDAY'S 3-0 victory over Dundee was hopefully a statement of intent from Stuart McCall. Having signed a two year contract extension on Thursday night, it could have been too easy for him to let the squad pick itself and help John Brown's side continue it's mini revival since he took charge. Instead, McCall's side was set out to attack and perform, which it did, proven by the three excellently taken goals that clinched the victory.
Having been away with Scotland in between Saturday's victory and the 4-1 demolition of Hibernian, the gaffer finally had time to catch his breath and find a pen to put his John Hancock to a new deal, which he admitted was never in any doubt. Another two years of stability beckon for Motherwell now that he has confirmed he'll be here, barring a more attractive club coming hunting for him, which they duly will.
Having taken Motherwell to the Champion's League (qualifiers) last term, and the Scottish Cup Final the year before, a second placed finish this season will no doubt look great on his CV for prospective suitors. The only thing missing is something more tangible from his era at Fir Park, a domestic cup. Having been largely disappointed by the last Hamden performance, his side have not managed to get anywhere near the national stadium since.
Having been away with Scotland in between Saturday's victory and the 4-1 demolition of Hibernian, the gaffer finally had time to catch his breath and find a pen to put his John Hancock to a new deal, which he admitted was never in any doubt. Another two years of stability beckon for Motherwell now that he has confirmed he'll be here, barring a more attractive club coming hunting for him, which they duly will.
Having taken Motherwell to the Champion's League (qualifiers) last term, and the Scottish Cup Final the year before, a second placed finish this season will no doubt look great on his CV for prospective suitors. The only thing missing is something more tangible from his era at Fir Park, a domestic cup. Having been largely disappointed by the last Hamden performance, his side have not managed to get anywhere near the national stadium since.
The contract extension may well have seen the lack of a trophy coupled with the desire for one as a target to aim for next season, so that he can truly put himself in to the Well's history annuls. As my MFCTV commentary partner tells me regularly, my generation of Motherwell fans are spoiled, as they have never seen the club relegated, despite a few scares, and over the last few years have seen some great successes in terms of European qualification, exciting football and top six finishes. However, the failure to turn up at a rain soaked Hampden in May 2011 ranks amongst the biggest of the modern missed opportunities.