Be Patient!
With the season starting once again, it is imperative that Motherwell fans are patient with the team at the moment. At the time of writing this we have played our first two games with mixed opinions and views coming from all quarters. I think it is widely accepted this season is going to be tough as replacing a team to the extent that Billy Davies has had to do is going to be a long process.
On reflection, the game at East End Park was not as bad as it looked (and felt) at the time. Despite the over flattering score line for the Pars there are positives we could bring out of the game. Our first half performance was very encouraging and if not for the early second half strike from Dunfermline then who knows what could have happened. Once again Stevie Hammell performance was good and Ned Kelly up front got through a lot of running. The young keeper Mark Brown was virtually faultless for the goals that went in and even made a tremendous save form Andy Dow to boot. Our passing in the first have was excellent and the move that led to the penalty was right out of the top drawer. Despite this we did fall to pieces in the second half and sitting in the stand watching the team getting humiliated was highly embarrassing for all 'Well fans. Not to mention the absolutely ridiculous performance of John Rowbotham, which didn't help or cause. (On a personal note, for somebody that travels to every game, home and away, it was great to see such a big away support and despite the loss I hope it continues for the rest of the season… But I doubt it will). The media seized the opportunity to stick the boot in with talks of a crisis and imminent relegation splashed across some of the rags. All of this with just one game gone, completely idiotic!!!
Despite the loss we weren't last with St. Johnstone & Aberdeen falling victim to the Old Firm. We faced Dundee Utd next at Fir Park in what can only be described as 1 of the most entertaining noscore draws you are likely to see. Once again the media brushed the game off as a bore but that's hard to believe. Not only were there 2 chances hitting the woodwork, there were 2 penalty claims(one being a stone-waller),throw a 20 man brawl in there and you have the makings of a 1/2 decent game.
The game was much like the Dunfermline game in that we were far better in the first half than the second. Our inability to take chances is slightly worrying but I'm sure with the addition of Neil Tarrant playing beside Ned Kelly then we will not go wrong for much longer. As far as the twenty man rumble is concerned… It was great to see Neil Tarrant going in full melt to a challenge that he was entitled to go for. The man who caused most of the problems was infact Jim McIntyre. His insistence to act the big man incited the rest of the Motherwell players, and rightly so. Speaking of the former Dungman, how often did he try and get big Karl Ready sent off. His diving and constant shirt pulling was only designed for one thing. No wonder Ready reacted the way he did in the first half. A final mention for the ref Mr. Mitchell. Is it just me but is the officiating in Scotland getting worse and worse as weeks go by. Every week we seem to be the victim of very poor refereeing that is costing us. Something must be done Mr Mitchell/Mr Taylor or who ever the bloody hells in charge of the game nowadays.
So there you have it, the first 2 games have been very different & very similar in a paradoxical way. Both games we played really well in the 1st half without converting our chances and managing to fall away in the 2nd. But unlike the Dunfermline game, we didn;t concede any goals against Dundee Utd.
But what conclusions can we draw from these opening games that may help our cause for the season ahead. Well both the team and the fans have to take part. We as fans must remain patient and keep up a high vocal support. We must try and keep any comments positive and must bite our lip if not. As for the team. They need to show the form that they did in the first halves of each of the games against Dunfermline and Dundee Utd. They need to keep up the passing game and closing down the opposition as quickly as possible. We are not the best team in the SPL but we certainly don't have the worst. Hopefully by the time you read this we have recorded a few victories and have pushed up the table. If not for us, but to shut up everybody that has already condemned us for the drop!!!
Ever the optimist- Alan Burrows
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