GLF 54: Ricky's Rant
Ricky's Rant
You know, despite having been on a losing five - game run, I still think it is a terrific time to be a Well fan. And I tell you this, ain't no better, finer people in the country than we are. Take a bow everyone !We’ve lost our entire midfield at times.Been without key players,and still played some of the best football in the country with little or no reward.It’s all about perseverance, and this has paid off big - style this past week.
Our depth of squad was always going to be a bit of a problem, we cannot afford to have a huge squad but with the quality we do have in reserve it’s proved these guys are ready for the responsibility first - team football brings.
I was particularly pleased for Marc Fitzpatrick,especially after Easter Road.A miss like that could easily have seen his head go down and him disappear back into the Reserves.Fortunately,Tel thrust him into the team at Luvvieston and he performed exceptionally well in our 5-0 thrashing of the team nobody likes.Even against the Tayside Mafiosi,he was terrific in the midfield role he appears determined to make his very own.More performances like that and it would be impossible for Tel to leave him out.
The football we are playing this season is some of the best stuff I have ever witnessed from a Motherwell team in over 20 years of going to the games.We’ve had arguably more talented squads than this previously,been in possession of again some might say more talented players.But they failed to perform regularly, I think you only need to go back to Motherwell squads under the likes of Billy Davies and you’d see what I mean.
Highly paid and under - performing, that was a regular, not accusation, but fact aimed at those players.Not to say we don’t have talent just now,sure we do.But we also have an envied team spirit, an unrivalled work ethic, and the refusal to admit defeat at any time.Installed in the team by a terrific Management which is becoming well envied in other parts of the country.
Tuesday night there was one of the best 90 minutes I think anyone of us has spent in recent years.To win 5-0 away from home,against the Cup holders in a Quarter final, is dream-like stuff.Doubt anyone of us wouldn’t have bitten a hand off if offered a fluky, last - minute, forty - five deflections later - winner.As it was, as poor as the Luvvies were, we did all that was required.The support, on the whole, was superb and we almost all backed everyone of the team.However,another, less admirable side to things has begun to spring up in recent weeks.
The abuse which certain players have been subjected to is nothing short of shameful and those who dish it out can hardly call themselves supporters.The clue is in the title as to what a supporter actually is.It certainly is not someone who shouts personal tirades at a member of the team he is there to back.Some of the chants have been downright personal and I find it hard to believe they are coming from our own fans.NO matter how poorly someone is performing, they have a claret - and - amber / white jersey on, with a Motherwell badge attached - that commands respect.
How would you feel if, because you were sitting quiet in the stand,the players turned round and abused you for lack of support ?To criticise someone who is warming up is ridiculous, yet I’ve seen and heard it happen.We are a great clubto support, as I say on the whole we get behind the lads and support them through thick and thin.But it’s the small,but noisy element we have which constantly picks faults and personally abuses players that gives the fans a bad name.Look at how the lads have responded by solid,positive supporting.
That 5-0 win will be talked about for years.We had 1,764 fans at Almond / City / Courier / Whogivesaf**k Stadium.We need to take as many to Hampden, or wherever, for the Semi.Cheer, support and back the lads through the rough times,makes the good days all that sweeter and I guarantee you will feel all the better for doing so.
Everyone has an “ other ” team, and my team is QPR.Sitting 5th in the Championship,more regularly know as the English First Division,they are perhaps punching above their weight in a very competitive league.The Manager,Ian Holloway, is an absolute legend and is attributed with spectacular quote after quote.Like at Fir Park,he has installed at Loftus Road an attitude which is second - to - none and has the players believing they can achieve greatness.
Just promoted on the last day of the season thanks to a fantastic 3-1 win away in Sheffield,many expected the real Hoops to struggle badly and be content with a relegation - escaping season.Not so at the Loft, Holloway is building a squad the envy of many on that old shoestring budget we are accustomed to, and to amazing effect.
It just underlines that you cannot buy some things in football.Togetherness is a thing which cannot be purchased, but achieved with the right kind of people in the right environment.We have it here,QPR have it down in London.Not only that,they also have a fantastic set of supporters who BACK the team irrespective of the result and travel in huge numbers to away games.QPR are not too dissimilar to ourselves,a bigger club obviously able to draw on a much more populated catchment area,but there are a lot of similarities.They too have to compete with much - larger local rivals,have money constraints,but have a Managerial team intent on improving the Club’s fortunes in the right manner and a support to be proud of.
The Scotland set-up has changed, though not as much as many of us would have liked.Burns is now in charge,help us all,a situation akin to having someone escape from Carstairs and given the “ football ” regularly carried around with the US President.It’s one thing to get rid of Vogts,a bad appointment at the time when it happened,but to keep Burns on is ridiculous.He couldn’t manage a ménage,and his squad for the Sweden game proves it.
We have two of the most consistent players in the country in Stevie Hammell and Martyn Corrigan,yet still neither get the International recognition they deserve.Burns said that as Corrigan had not played Under - 21 he had missed out.Crap.Rubbish,Oh,and just downright nonsense.In fact, Martyn recently has played in midfield and performed better than elbow - man Severin who got the nod mid - week.And that’s Corrigan played well out of position too.
Hammy too has been outstanding for weeks, it’ll take someone with sense,brains,tactical know - how and,above all,lack of blindness to pick these guys.And Burns sadly has not a single one of these assets.Indeed, he is an ass-et.
The news that Willie Kinniburgh has just signed an extended contract certainly lifted the spirits amongst the typical Media chatter.Recent news reports have all but demanded Hammy got to Legoland in January.I am sure Hammy sees the significance of Kinni signing a contract extension,added to those of Clarkson and Quinn it proves Tel’s policy of promoting youth is working.It also shows that the grass is usually greener where you stay.
Best shown,I think,by a certain ginga - headed nobody who now warms the bench at Legoland.It’s one thing to go for better money,but when you are barely in your 20's, with the future ahead of you,more often than not biding your time is the best policy,Who knows,even staying where you are and becoming a success there could prove the best thing to do overall.
And so,after a quite stunning week just gone past,we look ahead.This’ll be at the printers by the time we go to Shi*ecastle.If we can get a result there then we really have bounced back to maximum effect.If not,worry not.We’ll do ‘em in the Semi.Just believe in it and make it happen.
Keep the Faith, folks, and you will be rewarded !
Cheers
Ricky Mullen
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