The decent run of results Motherwell enjoyed before the cup game was only papering over the cracks in my opinion, as we still have a good number of players who would struggle to get a game for any other team in the league. Every 'Well fan knows who they are, but I am still going to name and shame them anyway.
In order of uselessness:
1 - Steven McGarry
2 - Mark Fitzpatrick
3 - David Clarkson
4 - Jim Paterson
(the list could go on but they are the worst in my opinion)
The midfield against the Saints must have been just about the slowest in history, and was absolutely humiliating to watch. Time after time the first division team attacked with floods of midfield runners coming forward and you could count on one hand the number of runners we had in the whole match. Malpas knew exactly how the opposition would play, they would come at us, not give us any time on the ball, but he still put out the slowest, most inept, midfield he possibly could. We have improved throughout the season - but I'm sorry Malpas your tactics and team selection were a joke.
I don't want anyone to tell me that he did not have options, as Vadocz and Molloy were on the bench, and McCormack is quite capable of playing wide midfield. MM told us Vadocz was not ready, but he played well against Hearts and would surely have done more than the nervous, hiding Fitzpatrick who has no clue how to play centre midfield. Also Molloy deserves a chance, he hasn't set the heather on fire yet, but still looks far far far better than the pathetic McGarry and the joke winger that is Jim Paterson.
I can hear the cries now, JP has been good for us this season, one of our better players - well that just shows how shocking we have been!!! He did ok at left-back at the start of the season when we were shipping goals left right and centre but since he has come into midfield he has done less than Andy Roddie on a bad day. If we had pace in the centre of midfield and down the other flank he might get away with being sluggish and dawdling, but we don't so we can't afford for him to play.
I would play Murphy (before his injury) wide midfield and
Up front Keegan deserves a chance, but MM obviously does not fancy him or he would have started against Hearts. Even when we were chasing the game, and crying out for a bit of physical presence up front, he refrained from putting him on and instead kept faith with the prolific Clarkie. Clarkson works hard, I know, but it time we all stopped kidding ourselves because he is a Motherwell boy - he is fackin useless!!!
Drastic surgery is needed in the summer, and I only hope Malpas is up to the job. He needs to be identifying targets now as he knows he is losing at least two key players in Skippy and Kerr. We need two new forwards and at least three new midfield players as the only players we will have left in these positions are Lasley and McCormack. Molloy might come good and Vadocz may stay, but Malpas has to prove he is capable or we could face an even tougher season after the summer.
Ideal team to face Dundee Utd:
Gk - Smith
Rb - Corrigan (has lost some pace, but will still come good)
Lb -
Cb - Reynolds
Cb - Craigan
Lm - Murphy (injured so Molloy)
Rm - McCormack
Cm - Kerr (injured so god help us….. prob McBride)
Cm - Vadocz (looked promising against Hearts)
For - Skippy
For - Keegan (deserves chance)
MM