MOTHERWELL FC: INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

The Mighty Well have the weekend off as Craig Levein's Tartan Army take on Brazil in London. While the rest of the home nations are in Euro 2012 qualifying action, Scotland are being set up to be scudded Samba style in a country that already ridicules us and now has an outlet to relay that to the rest of the UK.

News that Brazillian playmaker Pato is set to out led Levein to bring in his trump card. Craig Mckail-Smith. Not David Goodwillie. Not Scotland's top Scottish scorer in the SPL, David Goodwillie. Not the scorer of goal of the season for his Wayne Rooney-esque bicycle kick against Motherwell, David Goodwillie.

What's that? Dundee United have an important Cup replay on Wednesday nightagainst Motherwell? They've been playing loads of games because their park is in worse nick than Fir Park. Who did Levein formerly manage? Ah, now I get it...

Of course I'm being facetious, and ironically playing the Paranoia card. I'm sure Craig Levein has his reasons for picking Peterborough's cod Scotsman over any other Scottish striker. We should be thankful he is picking strikers at all.

The whole Scottish by association thing really riles me. If the homegrown game is to be improved, then surely that should begin by showing that home grown players are capable of filling in when Rangers players... Oops, ANY players pull out of squads.

Instead, the trend is to find anyone sounding remotely Scottish at the last minute to earn an honorary cap or 2. Apparently the real reason that the Lockerbie bomber was sent back to Libya, wasn't due to illness, but because being called Al Megrahi was putting him in contention to partner Gary Caldwell at the back.

Under Levein, I am not too fussed about Scotland games. I've never liked his managerial approach and the Czech game with no strikers really irked me. It's testament to his methods that the best Scotland performance under him was a typically Scottish "glorious defeat" to Spain. Every Scotland boss gets one.

The Scotland squads under Walter Smith and Alex McLeish instilled me with much more confidence and pride in my country. There was more of a core of a team with these squads. I'll take in to account that times change and those players are mostly injury ravaged or getting on a bit. There's just nothing about Levein's choices that make me think we could cause an upset like beating France twice. Instead we are relieved at getting last minute winners against "minnows".

I can have no complaints at a lack of Claret and Amber selections for the squad, as we don't have anyone at international calibre. Reynolds has been the only one realistically on contention this season, but he seems to have gone off the radar now that he's Sheffield Wednesday. The grass may not always greener in the English leagues but the pay packets certainly will be.

From what I've read this morning, Stephen Craigan has been dropped for Northern Ireland's game tonight. I don't know which way to take this. It could be good in the sense that it keeps him fit for the replay next week, or it could affect his confidence going in to that game. Does it really matter either way? The whole defence's scattergun season shows no sign of letting up, so regardless of the impact of Crags being dropped, it's impossible to predict the outcome.

More of a worry will be getting Darren Randolph back from Republic of Ireland duty in time. A cup quarter final is no time to be chucking in a back up goalie, particularly when Randolph has been the only thing preventing gubbings in the last 2 games.

He was a bit shaky on Saturday, but so were everyone else. Stuart McCall used the word 'capitulate' in his post match chats. That about sums it up. For the first 20 minutes, we had the beating of Killie. Humphrey was roasting Clancy, John Sutton had obviously read my blog from last week by getting 1 then hitting the post. Had his glancing header gone in, we could well have got more. Instead, we chucked it.

Humph stopped playing, and the defence chucked in 3 goals. The penalty was harsh, but to be honest, Jennings should have walked long before it for his 2 footed breenge. Peaks and troughs, eh?

Once this Scotland game is out the way, it's back to FP on Wenesday night, for what could be the step we need to end 20 trophyless years or the kick up the bahookie to salvage a top six spot for the season. A semi v St Johnstone would give us a great crack at the final, but a defeat on Wednesday could effectively end our season.

Next weeks blog will echo one of those 2 sentiments.

Up The Well and Come On Scotland! (I am still supporting them despite my views...)

Alternative Match Report: Steelers @ Clan 19/03/2011

Sheffield put one hand firmly on the Elite League Championship with a competent and powerful display against Braehead. After a tight opening period, Steelers took control and delivered a 5-1 victory for their large travelling support.

Before the match, both teams were recognised for having players in the League All Star team and Bruce Richardson picked up Hockey Journalist UK Coach of the Year award, to a rapturous ovation.

Play raged from end to end in the first 5 minutes, with neither Mustukovs or Perras being tested too much. Clan were the first to get a decent chance when Richardson's shot cannoned back to Bruce, whose follow up went wide. Tait had an effort that went in to the Clan's side netting before Mustukovs prevented Cook from opening the scoring.

Perras became the busier of the 2 minders as he stopped Legue on a 1 on 1 and then stopped Thomas and 2 efforts from Hewitt to keep Braehead in it. Munn then served 2 penalties in quick succession, giving the ref absolute pelters for the second. It would soon become a game full of bewildering ref's decisions that incensed both teams.

Cook then had a great chance to put Clan ahead but hit the side net from Chaumont's cut back. Much like the previous meeting at Braehead, the game showcased a lot of niggle. Kyle Bruce spent the first of a few penalty minutes in the bin for roughing, after a tussle with Simon. Simon was sat atop Bruce and wouldn't let him up, getting the expected response that Clan's EIHL Entertainer of the Year nominee would give.

When he returned to the ice, he almost instantly gave Clan the lead, but Mustukovs again stood firm. Perras then made a great one handed save from Globke, before Steelers took the lead. Phillips prodded home from close range after good net work from Globke at 19:08

The second period descended in to a farce for Clan as Steelers spent much of the 20 on the powerplay. The numerical advantages were too strong for Braehead as Legue, Talbot, Clark and Tait put Sheffield 5-0 up. However the turning point of the game were Darnells penalty calls.

Firstly, Jon Landry decked Ben Simon after Steelers number 8 had been slashing at him. He pounced like a tiger, almost giving him a Lou Thesz Press ( one for the wrestling fans), resulting in a bit of a rammy in the Clan goalmouth. The antagonising Munn then got involved but was soon contained. Both Landry and Simon were given penalties.However, Steelers already had Phillips in the box for hooking, but were allowed to still have 4 v4 on the ice.

Munn then took out Richardson's legs from under him on a break, which Kyle Bruce didn't take too kindly to. An epic brawl erupted at the boards between the 2, with both men landing some heavy blows before Munn hit the deck first. As they skated away, Bruce threw up his arms in celebration at getting 5 for fighting plus 2 for charging. Richardson also got box time and Munn was called for roughing. Again, Steelers were allowed their full compliment of players on the ice as Clan were down to 3, conceding twice as a result.

If Richardson's men want to play with the big boys next season, then they need to work on their discipline. Too many times this year, games have been thrown away for silly penalties and players guilty of losing the head. As entertaining as it is to see the fisticuffs, and as good as Sheffield were at instigating indiscipline, keeping the head could be the difference between 5th and 1st next year.

Both Richardson and Bruce had words with the ref as they left the ice, with Munn again winding up Bruce at the close of the period. The 3rd began with Sheffield content to sit back and absorb pressure, while attacking on the break.Clan had more urgency in the 3rd, but found it hard to break down the Steelers backline. Bruce and Noel both had half chances stopped, while Hewitt forced a blind save from Perras.

Mustukovs then plucked a rifled shot from Krestanovich out of the air before Noel hit the post. Bolibruck then received a penalty for holding, which Clan finally took advantage of. Chaumont pulled 1 back from Cook's set up at 51:15, but Steelers held out til the end.

Legue and Krestanovich picked up the Man of the Match awards in what was a fast paced, entertaining game. The performance of Darnell in the stripes played a major part in the outcome, but Sheffield deserved their win. Unless Braehead can stop their momentum, Steelers will be league champions come Sunday evening.

Clan's season isn't over just yet though, as the playoffs begin next week. Their first match is against Challenge Cup winners Nottingham. Discipline will be key in progressing.

Final score at Braehead Arena, Steelers 5-1 Clan.

MOTHERWELL FC: TIME TO WIN, NOT WANT.

I've deliberately not blogged for 2 weeks based on the 2-0 win over Celtic. While I had a good crow about it on Facebook, Twitter and to my Celtic supporting mates, I felt that I should keep my blogging thoughts to myself until after the Inverness game.

A win in Inverness would have put us in a strong position for achieving 4th place. It would signal the turning of a corner for Stuart McCall's patchy tenure. It would also give the players the confidence to go in to Sunday's Cup game full of confidence, form and momentum.

Instead, as lamented in my previous blog, our inconsistency struck hard, resulting in a 3-0 defeat and a toothless display. Having not attended either game, I can't say first hand why the performances differed so much. A phrase that has been banded about more recently in footballing circles is the notion of "wanting it". Against Celtic, Motherwell's performance showed they "wanted it more", while Inverness "wanted it more" last Saturday.

I say this is a cop out excuse. Last time I checked, football was a competitive sport. The aim is to win, to want the victory. Indeed the "want" attitude should be scrapped altogether. For example, I don't necessarily "want" to do my job, but I do it to the best of my abilities to merit my pay at the end of the month.

Footballers have a job to do and thus the "want" to win should be replaced by putting the effort in to get it. If you can raise your game to beat the top team in the league, you should be able to do the same against the lesser teams. This just doesn't go for Motherwell, every SPL team is guilty of it.

This brings in the question of "lying down". In the aftermath of beating Celtic, I , like many Well fans, was chided about how we lie down to Rangers to the score of 6-0, but then go and beat Celtic. Is it because we have a former Ranger as manager? Do we have a team full of proddys? Is it because were just "Huns without the bus fare?"

I turned this around and asked why no one questioned Rangers lying down to Celtic in the last pathetic pantomime excuse for an Old Firm game. I mean, they can raise their game to beat us, but can't muster the effort against their so called nemesis. Double standards much?

Alas, no one bit on my fishing. (Need to learn from the master of reeling in the Old Firm, fellow Well fan, Alastair Flemington). As frustrating as performing so poorly up north was, the focus must now shift to Sunday.

Dundee United in the Cup is always a special game, due to the 1991 connection. As I've said in past blogs, my only memories of that day in May are of my Grandad being overjoyed when I got back form a friends birthday party. The video of the occasion however, is etched on my mind. The drama of relinquishing the lead with mere seconds left to go to extra time. Ally Maxwell's broken ribbed heroics, Super Sub Kirky netting the decisive winner. And Phil "Brave as A Lion" O'Donnell, stooping to head home the goal of his career.

United games will now be synonymous with Uncle Phil as they were the opponents on the day he died. In the years that have passed since then, Dundee United and Motherwell fans have been allies, where others would not.That connection will take a while to disipate, but the best way to overcome the emotion of it would be a win on Sunday.

With Rangers out, anyone left in is capable of making the Scottish Cup final this year.We've been to Hampden once already this year for a Semi. Our unpredictability could very well see us there twice more in our quest for a cup.While Mccall has mixed tactics around in games, he has pretty much kept to the same players for his formations, dependant on injury and suspension. For us well fans, it's frustrating seeing the same set of players win one week and lose the next.

This could work in our favour at the weekend. Not knowing what team will turn up may see Dundee United usurped by our complacency. The fact it will be their 3rd game in a week also means they may be tired and leg weary. Their win over Accies last night showed they have the mentality to go the distance, but could come a cropper.

We've put them out of one Cup this season, and I hope we do it again, but the players need to show commitment to the cause. I made quite an impassioned plea in my pre Hampden blog a month or so back, so I'm not going to spit out the same jingoistic inspirational stuff I did there. Instead, all I want to say is that anything can happen in the cup. Sometimes playing scrappy can win a Cup game and lead to success. Style is not the issue in a one off match, the result is the most important.

There is no reason why the intensity shown in the Celtic victory should not be matched this weekend. No passengers allowed.For guys like Craigan, Lasley and Hammell, realistically this could be their best attempt at a trophy at MFC. Players like Randolph, Humphrey, Jeffers even could use a cup win as a platform to a higher level. (Hope not in Randolph's case though...). For the youngsters like Hutchinson, Murphy, Saunders, Forbes, et al, a crack at some silverware so early in their careers would do wonders for their confidence. Johnny Sutton could earn himself a place in history by firing us to the Cup in a way that only a man who looks like he's running through treacle can.

United are there for the taking. For one weekend, forget about the league and what's happened in the past. Concentrate on the task at hand. Don't "want" it, take it!

Up the Well!!!