Onlooker
ONLOOKER
ACTION REPLAY- Funny how I thought I saw a similar gift on TV from the last time Motherwell visited our former bosses club in Jute City. Pity Eddie May seemed to have learnt nothing during his enforced rest. Has Stevie Woods got Aussie relatives? What is his problem, his walkabout antics have cost the club too many games and goals this season - Sort it Out Stevie!!!
LEFT IN THE LURCH- Good of Eck to leave the club just prior to our Cup tie v. the Masons, and in the play off spot in the League just above his new charges. Alex inherited a side which had finished third top playing neat on the ground football. The following season he improved the position but with basically the same squad of players left by Tommy McLean. Subsequently our fortunes have dropped dramatically as has the far on offer, virtually playing with a non-existant midfield therefore resorting to long punts for the two front players to chase, not pretty to watch.
However the constraints placed upon him limited the players available for selection, however the tactics employed along with the motivation seemed lacking. How much this is due to the payers at the club we shall shortly fin out under his successor.
Although wishing Eck no ill I hope his new charges remain below Motherwell. As I stated in the last issue of GLF McLeish's legacy will be judged by the player he has left us with, it is to be hoped that Kampman can motivate them. The timing of his resignation could prove to be very detrimental to the club'' survival in the Premier League. This appears to be the worst possible time for a club to lose its Premier status for whichever club is eventually relegated.
I hope that the club's ambitions can be satisfied by the successor appointed in Mr. Kampan, and that better times lie ahead. At least we may be spared the dreadful tactic of drawing all our players back to defend corners, that at least would be a positive move.
Lets also hope that we won't be Waiting too long for the Great Leap Forward!! Who knows a new manager might even manage to institute a decent youth policy for us!!
DOUBLE UP- After the previous free gifts at Tannadice , the smartly taken goal by "Springy Coil" ensured he doubled up against "Wee Tam's Arabs" as well as allowing Motherwell to double up with a couple of home wins against them. The result was more important than the spectacle, which was again dire, but in these days the end is more important than the means. The win meant that Motherwell leap frogged a couple of places thanks to results elsewhere going our way, C'est la vie.
A RICHARD- Those who read the other fanzine "OSB" will have read my comments on a certain Marco Van Hoogdalem who appears (note the phrase) for my German favourites Schalke 04. He again managed to put paid to S04 doubling up on their UEFA success, having taken the game into extra time thanks to a wonder goal from the Belgian Gossens, "Van Hopeless" collided with another S04 player allowing the Lira laden Milanese to score an undeserved equaliser on the night. Perhaps Harri could swap last seasons bargain buy for "Van Hopeless", at least neither club would complain about being short changed. LAST REVIEWS - The final programme reviews of this season - Paton's Plodders effort is much better than his side, in fact its pretty good, despite the mascot "Richard" sorry Sam the Clap, Crap getting to write in it. Pity they couldn't manage to put an update into the old issue. Mr. Judas' issue looks highly glossy, like a comic, a bit like his new charges at Easter Rd., proving that all that glitters is not gold. Not particularly the most riveting of reads still I'm sure the first division punters will enjoy it next season.
Super Mo's effort the Divvy Three winner by a short neck from Queen's Pks programme, as per the anorak's Prgramme Monthly. This contained a couple of decent items, updated Div 3 transfers along with the usual statistical info. Perhaps the fact its given away free on entry swayed the judges form Programme Monthly. Then again they placed Motherwell's second bottom of the Premier pile, so they obviously have a clue! Personally I'd rate QP's effort higher than Super Mo's but I'm probably biased.
POINT TAKEN- At last, Motherwell managed to secure points from our jinx sides, the Jambos and the Ayrshire Tattie Howkers. As I saw neither game I can't comment on the displays, being on holibags in Deutschland seeing decent sides play. I managed to se the goals on TV on my return. The pint gained at Swinecastle probaly has brought reality to the Jambo fans reinforced by the defeat by Judas' mob on the Saturday that they will win eff all as they say. The first point taken from the Tattie Howkers at least stopped a whitewash by them however surely one point is an unsatisfactory total to glean from the likes of these journeymen.
TRUTH HURTS- So Magoo's legal eagle mouthpiece jumped to the megalomaniac Bunnet's aid after the judges summing up in the "Bunnet v. LoubieLou" case came too close to the mark for comfort and the "Daily Ranger" made the comparison with Sadam Magoo!
JAMBO JINX- before we gained the point v. the Jambos mentioned above we were hit for four again at Fir Park despite getting a two goal start, but once their pacey forwards did what I anticipated i.e. they ran the legs off our 30+ central defenders, the result was inevitable. But did "Teflon Gloves" have to help them so much, the fourth goal was offside but was irrelevant by that stage as there was no way that we could come back against the Jinx Jambos.
SORTED- At least when going two ahead against Luggy's cluggers we managed to hang on a couple of days later. No thanks to the official in charge, yet another soft pen award allowing Luggy's lot off with assaults all over the park, how they managed to finish with as many as ten on the park was a mystery. At least they didn't get their 600 notes bonus off us this time. It is games against the likes of Luggy's mob which we must win to escape the drop.
A LOAD OF GUFF- So the funny handshake didn't help Captain Guff when the big ten went East (or West) in the draw at Masonville v. the Jambos. If Guff;'s dismissal was wrong, so was "KC's" against the same loveable Jambos pre-Christmas at Swinecastle.
AMBITIOUS OR FOOLHARDY- The appointment of our new manager/coach from Finland is either an ambitious move for the club or an act of sheer folly. So I hope it is the former, at least the Finn has recognised the importance of a youth policy and the requirements for decent training facilities. Something his predecessor failed to recognise during his stay. I spoke to a Finnish journalist at Fir Park prior to the Mypa defeat, he said that Harri's side were a decent well organised team who would surprise Motherwell. Let's hope he can bring some of his organisational skills to the club. The only nagging doubt expressed to me by several long term supporters is the hope he wasn't brought as the cheap option with no recompense to his former employers therefore Motherwell getting him for a wage contract only.
DUBLIN'S FAIR CITY- The proposed move of the Paper Hankies to Dublin can be viewed either as a sell out or a move for financial stability. I used to go to see the Paper Hankies when they played in their home town of Clydebank but since moving to Dumbarton I have only visited once. The crowd for a seemingly attractive game against QOS, who had just been beaten closely in the Challenge Cup Final, attracted if that is the word about 350 souls, true the Chumps Big Bucks League was on the box. But such a small crowd for a side in second top position against fair opposition who brought about 100 fans leaves a pitiful home support.
John Creighton
TRUTH HURTS- So Magoo's legal eagle mouthpiece jumped to the megalomaniac Bunnet's aid after the judges summing up in the "Bunnet v. LoubieLou" case came too close to the mark for comfort and the "Daily Ranger" made the comparison with Sadam Magoo!
JAMBO JINX- before we gained the point v. the Jambos mentioned above we were hit for four again at Fir Park despite getting a two goal start, but once their pacey forwards did what I anticipated i.e. they ran the legs off our 30+ central defenders, the result was inevitable. But did "Teflon Gloves" have to help them so much, the fourth goal was offside but was irrelevant by that stage as there was no way that we could come back against the Jinx Jambos.
SORTED- At least when going two ahead against Luggy's cluggers we managed to hang on a couple of days later. No thanks to the official in charge, yet another soft pen award allowing Luggy's lot off with assaults all over the park, how they managed to finish with as many as ten on the park was a mystery. At least they didn't get their 600 notes bonus off us this time. It is games against the likes of Luggy's mob which we must win to escape the drop.
A LOAD OF GUFF- So the funny handshake didn't help Captain Guff when the big ten went East (or West) in the draw at Masonville v. the Jambos. If Guff;'s dismissal was wrong, so was "KC's" against the same loveable Jambos pre-Christmas at Swinecastle.
AMBITIOUS OR FOOLHARDY- The appointment of our new manager/coach from Finland is either an ambitious move for the club or an act of sheer folly. So I hope it is the former, at least the Finn has recognised the importance of a youth policy and the requirements for decent training facilities. Something his predecessor failed to recognise during his stay. I spoke to a Finnish journalist at Fir Park prior to the Mypa defeat, he said that Harri's side were a decent well organised team who would surprise Motherwell. Let's hope he can bring some of his organisational skills to the club. The only nagging doubt expressed to me by several long term supporters is the hope he wasn't brought as the cheap option with no recompense to his former employers therefore Motherwell getting him for a wage contract only.
DUBLIN'S FAIR CITY- The proposed move of the Paper Hankies to Dublin can be viewed either as a sell out or a move for financial stability. I used to go to see the Paper Hankies when they played in their home town of Clydebank but since moving to Dumbarton I have only visited once. The crowd for a seemingly attractive game against QOS, who had just been beaten closely in the Challenge Cup Final, attracted if that is the word about 350 souls, true the Chumps Big Bucks League was on the box. But such a small crowd for a side in second top position against fair opposition who brought about 100 fans leaves a pitiful home support.
John Creighton
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