MOTHERWELL FC: NOT THE BEST WEEK TO BE A WELL FAN EH?
One of the things that I love about being a Motherwell fan is how quickly the Club can revert between sublime and ridiculous. Whether it's during the course of a season, a week, a day or even a game, the occasional brilliance can be bested by our self made downfall.
For all intents and purposes, Sunday's semi final at Hampden was a great game, bar the result. By taking the game to Rangers, as it was vital to do, we showed them up in terms of effort and spirit, yet sadly not in front of goal.
Jennings and Lasley were immense in the middle of the park, stifling Davis and the ever unlikeable McCulloch for most of the match. The fact that Jenno was man of the match, despite The housewive's favourite Keef bagging a priceless goal at the national stadium, shows how stern the pair were on the middle.
Sutton led the line greatly, Hammell put in one of his best ever shifts, while Murphy and Humph on the wings looked to get forward as much as possible. Despite the best efforts of Weir and Papac, Humphrey got to the by line on a number of occasions.
Naturally it was our defence that was our undoing. After bumming him up on here last week, Craigan had a torrid game, mishitting clearance after clearance, playing the ball right to Rangers attackers and in general had a poor game.
For both Rangers goals, the defence are culpable. A poor clearance and "too much respect" to Edu led to a great strike from the American. Likewise, the defence switched off to first allow Jelavic in behind and secondly to give Naismith a free header.
The air of opportunity was kicked out of us and no matter how much we huffed and puffed, we couldn't find another goal. As gutted as the 6000 odd Well fans were, we clapped our players off as if we'd won.
The reaction of the Rangers players and fans was that of any other game. No fanfare that they had made yet another final. Treated like it was business as usual. The happiness that success brings eh?
Depending on what you read, getting beat off Rangers swung it enough for 1 of 5 potential signings to decide against us. Rumours abound that the striker in question was David Healy spread and were distinguished when he later signed for Rangers.
The return of both Clarkson and Porter were mooted but bore no fruit, while the 24 hour shambles that was Mike Grella's signing, had not been put to bed.
Alas, come 11pm on Monday, no striker had been signed. Jones had looked impressive in the 3 games he'd played and young Gunning from Blackburn was brought in as left back cover, but a team whose strikers haven't scored in an eon, needs new frontmen.
Perhaps the clubs riches couldn't stretch to bring one in. Perhaps there is truth in what Stuart McCall said about "personal crisis" scuppering one deal. Perhaps McCall's targets just didn't want to come to us.
However it is viewed, it leaves us with 4 tested strikers in Sutton, Murphy, McHugh and the enigma that is Esteban Casagolda.
With ten minutes left on Sunday, we needed an imposing presence in the box and the big Spaniard wasn't given his chance. On Monday night, I chatted to him on Facebook, as remarkably he accepted my friend request.
The informal interview went something like this:
K: Hola Este, how are you enjoying life at Motherwell?
E: I like Motherwell. Now I want to play more.
K: Do you think the gaffer will start you against Stranraer in the cup?
E: excuse, you repete, I translate espanol google.
(after translating) ah up to manager.
K: you are a cult hero amongst some fans.
E: =)
K: what do you think of your countryman Torres going to Chelsea?
E: can't believe 35million Andy Carroll.
K: me either.
The rest was general chit chat, but come Wednesday he wasn't chatting to randoms on the Internet. Instead he led the line against Kilmarnock. Listening on the radio, Derek ferguson slated him as much as he praised Eremenko.
From the highlights, the sitter Casa missed was a very good tackle by the Killie man, and had Cammy Bell not played out of his skin, Gloria may have contributes to a fine win.
Instead, we got beat. Again.
Another game dominated, another game down the pan. We are crying out for a deadly striker. I'll forgive Casagolda for being off the pace in his first start, but the ball would just not go in.
Bell proved why he's been called up for Scotland, saving from Murphy, Jennings and Saunders I think, but had we been more savvy in front of goal, we could and should have won it.
Talk on the web today suggests the "fox in the box" Francis Jeffers could be the solution. A free agent, a spell in Australia could end with him donning claret and Amber for the rest of the season.
When was the last time an £8 million player played for us? Granted he's not worth that now having score 13 goals I'm a decade, but could he do a job?
Steve Jones was slated for being too old before he'd kicked a ball but has been very effective, so why not take a punt on Jeffers? He's played at the top level, has 100% scoring record for England (1 game 1 goal) and has could be rejuvenated by a run in the SPL..
So, with a that in mind, playing out our skin on 2 occasions and losing both sums up where we are at. We'll break this slump yet.
6 points will be tricky in next 2 games at Ibrox and Pittodrie, 4 would be magic, even 3 against Aberdeen would suffice. I'll take the Rangers game as it comes but a win in Aberdeen is a must.
Not just for the points but to stick it right up Brown and his "integrity".
Up The Well!!!
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