Ricky's Rant
Ricky's Rant……………
As ever with our beloved Motherwell, it's been another couple of months of change. A new manager and before long a new team on the park for sure, and given the start to the season it's perhaps not such a bad thing. Billy Davies has gone, it's Black and Butcher, let's hope that means depression and ruthlessness aimed solely for the opposition.
Writing was on the wall for Billy long before he went. Results to start the season were abysmal to say the least, and for me the team just didn't seem to be performing for him. That seemed to be borne out by the way they destroyed Hearts at Fir Park just days after his departure, and by the admission of several of the players. I think he was right to go, like McLeish it was another gamble gone wrong. And I know we have what appears to be a similar situation with Eric Black being an untested Manager there are many differences. The main differences are that Black has experience of being in Management, albeit as a Number two, he has a strong coaching background, and he has massive connections, which we have already begun to utilise. Billy Davies had an arms' length of coaching badges but no experience whatsoever in the Managers' office. Neither did McLeish. As for Softie and Mio sure the team played well under them but in the longer term they had no experience either and in the middle of slump could they have dug us out of it?
The Managerialship of Black and Butcher, whilst not the number one choice for perhaps the vast majority of people, is right when thought is put into their appointment. Terry Butcher as a number two will be a positive step. His motivational skills alone are a huge asset. It was terrific to see Chris McCart back at Fir Park, talking to him not long after the appointments were made he was visibly delighted to be back at Motherwell. One of the Cup-winning heroes of '91 he will be another asset to us. Things haven't begun all that well under the new manager's offices, but they will turn around. Already the one new signing to date has made a great impression already. Eric showed he'll do well for us, cool and collected and if that's the type of player we can look to coming to Fir Park it's good times ahead.
It was obvious at Pittodrie we need a striker and I would imagine, by the time we play the sheep again at Fir Park, we'll have our target man running the line up front. It's one of two glaringly obvious things we need, the other a goal-scoring midfielder. Motherwell must be one of the few teams in the country without a midfielder who can through in a few goals a season. Leitchy does a superb job, battles hard and is tough as nails and I would have him in every week. Keith Lasley is another top performer for me in the middle, but neither pitch in with goals and we must have someone who can. As for defensively, that will be sorted. Every position on the park will have to be evaluated by the Manager; everyone of them is fighting to retain his position. And if no one is doing the job, they'll be replaced. It's going to take a while before the team is re-jigged, keep faith with them.
Had to laugh when, given Scotland's not too unexpected failure to qualify for the World Cup Finals, erstwhile Ned Neil Lennon appealed for a winter break to be re-introduced to give him and the other hard-worked Auld Squirm players a rest. All these games clearly taking a toll on their form and undoubtedly resulting in humpings, like the one they received at that European great, the elite of World football, Rosenborg Trondheim. Great to see Harold the barrel come back to haunt them, I'll never forget the time we won 2-0 at the home of the great unwashed and on comes Harold to a huge cheer……from the away support. Magic. Anyway, I couldn't believe Lennon appealing for a rest. Whilst playing in the Premiership Lennon never dared moan about playing Saturday/Monday at Easter, or a barrow load of games during the Festive season. It's called the price of success, Neil, don't win things and you can have a nice wee rest during the week. Not that you do much on a Saturday as it is anyhow. Never did the Liverpool team of the seventies and eighties any harm when they played upwards of 70 matches in a season, and given the season lasting perhaps August to May some 40 weeks. Now that's almost two matches a week every week, and from what I can recollect it got to the stage Liverpool played sometimes three or even four in seven days. No one then complained of tiredness. So Neil, get off your lazy fat arse and earn the right to be tired.
The thorny issue of Referees as you know is one dear to my heart, and again It raised it's none too ugly head again at sheepyville yesterday. Good old Wullie Young is rated as one of our top whistlers, which says not a great deal about the rest of them. One incident struck out markedly when, during the game, Leitchy went for a tackle. You could see Young with hand already in pocket just waiting for contact be made so that he could book him. Derek Young, also known as Jet Li by some, has a go at Martyn Corrigan and then gives Young and the linesman verbals without as much as a batted eyelid. Then, after booking the game's biggest cheat, Zerowally, for deliberately punching the ball in to the net, the Moroccan does it again (deliberate hand ball) soon after and gets away. Young has always done this to Motherwell, goodness knows why he has a dislike for we Fir Parkers but as you know it's a common trait with Referees. Ever since we dared to upset the apple cart back in 94 by almost winning the league. I'm not paranoid, honest…..who said that? Step forward Mr Young…….
I was going to say it's almost the silly season but then it always is. Christmas will soon be upon us and with that usually brings some far-flung travels. Not so this year, for a change we are home twice and away to the unwashed. And prior to Christmas a nice wee boost in a visit to Swinecastle. Makes a change, and after three trips (some had four) up in the direction of Dumpdee, lighter on the pocket!!
Anyway, gotta go. Despite things not being so great you just know they will get better. We never give up, we are no fair-weather Auld Squirm "fans". We are Motherwell FC, and don't you forget it!!
Cheers, Ricky
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