Kyle Reese

I think Ojo was remarkably restrained. The fat f**k deserved a clump for that. Feel for Ojo, he reacted instinctively to approach the guy afterwards, but then restrained himself from feeling his jaw.

Maybe. Not how I saw it though. We set up to hit on the break, with a lineup that was changed from our last game (and best performance of the season), because Halkett was injured. This led to Moore being put back in to centreback, and Smith returning from injury in at RWB. Moore was getting involved in the midfield from RWB (v United), and it allowed our two CMs to play. Same applies to Cochrane on the other side. Halkett being out removed him from the role of ball/winning CB, and meant Souttar had to move in to the centre of the back three/Halkett role, where he is less effective. One injury disrupted our defence and midfield. Motherwell deserved the win, but we were shockingly bad. My biggest worry, is that it was obvious from early on that we weren’t coping, but Neilson just let it play out and left it far too late to make any changes to try and get back in it. Lessons need to be learned.

Really frustrated about Saturday still. Similar to the Aberdeen game, where you had the feeling early doors that we just weren’t going to make the changes necessary to win. The wingbacks weren’t getting involved enough, meaning we essentially had a two man midfield v their three. Halkett’s injury was a big part of that. Moore was man of the match for me vs United. Back on the horse though, it’s only our second league defeat of the season. He needs to learn from it though, and we need to strengthen every window, to make sure we don’t collapse when one key player gets injured or suspended. We obviously don’t have the strength in depth that I thought we did.

We did miss him. Not just the defence either. It also impacted on the midfield moving Moore out of the RWB role. Against Dundee United he was helping out the midfield, and Smith sadly just doesn’t seem to be as effective at that. Moore was my man of the match in our last game, and without him helping out Beni and Devlin, they got overrun.

We were utter garbage and did not deserve anything from the game. It was obvious for the whole game what the problem was, but we didn’t have a plan b to get around it.

Assume the £5.19m loss is sucked up by Cormack, and not actual debt?

That’s why I’m surprised your record against United is so good for that period. Honestly, during that time, I just saw Aberdeen as like a northern Hibs, who we just always beat. United on the other hand regularly gave us problems. Conversely however, it looks like you guys were doing United. Funny old game.

Astonished by this in all honesty. I remember Dundee United giving us a sore nose a few times, and Aberdeen being absolute shite. There you go though. Maybe it was just us that beat you regularly, but had issues with United, in that time? genuinely happy for you to research that last one. Saves me the bother.

Can’t stand that wee guy. His percentage for transfers role at United, for Stephen Thompson was suss as f**k. I have a pretty unhealthy dislike for the guy. As soon as Souttar appointed him as his agent, I gave up on a decent monetary return. Sneaky wee Jackie.

So head to heads you were a bit better. Let’s see the league placing and points accumulated. I remember Aberdeen being absolute garbage in that time, and Dundee United being a decent side. I’d be surprised if the stats show otherwise, but you never know.

I’m being 100% genuine here, when I say this. I wish Dundee United and Aberdeen were pulling in 15k minimum every fortnight. Late 00s Dundee United we’re a very good side. Shame Eddie’s son turned out to be a complete w**k.

To be fair though, they absolutely dominated you for ten or fifteen years before that.

So true. The slaughtering he’s received all week. It’s like he’s being stroppy.

Fancy seeing this game actually. Is it on Alba or anything?

Yeah, I’m only being half serious tbh. Not exactly unheard of at Tynecastle either. I thought Motherwell looked good when we played them at our place earlier in the season. Our two goals were from set-pieces, but it would have been interesting to see how the game had progressed if we hadn’t got them. You looked a pretty ‘robust’ side, but there was ability there too. I was surprised that you fell away quite sharply after that match.

That’s what we have Gnanduillet for, in theory anyway, doesn’t really seem to work very often however. Surely the Motherwell plan won’t be to sit in and give Hearts the ball at Fir Park though? Season ticket holders must be having an absolute riot this season, if so.

Doesn’t really make sense, but appreciate the effort.

If he doesn’t get his life together soon, then I doubt he’d be in a position to step in to help Hibs or St Mirren (who’s the next step down after those two?), by the time that happens.

I have been pretty critical of managers’ pre-match decisions, on plenty of occasions, and usually I’ve called it wrong. We don’t get to see the players in training, and we don’t have honest conversations with them regarding their fitness. I’d love to see us start the way we did against Dundee United, but at the same time, I’m acutely aware that there’s a reason why my preferences are not worth a shitty titty compared to the manager’s. Motherwell are not the same team as Dundee United, and away games are different to home games. Who knows. Personally, I think it’s just because I was so impressed with the way we played v United, that I want the same again. So many reasons why that might not be possible this weekend though.

Suspect Robbie will bring Smith and Boyce straight back in. I hope he doesn’t though, because that was our best performance in years a couple of weeks ago v United. I’d be seeing if it works as well again, away from home, and bringing Boyce on later in the game, if possible. Also, as much as I love old Mikey Smith, Moore was absolutely outstanding in his last game. Players deserve to keep their places after performances like that. Nothing is more likely to cause a player to stop performing, like patiently waiting his turn, and doing really when it comes around, only to then be benched.

Hoping we start with the same players and formation as we did v Dundee United.

I’m surprised we never beat them by more, when you look at that list. We should have maybe got an international quality striker on loan from a cash rich English club and got them to pay his wages for a couple of years. Might have scored even more.

If you place your ear to the screen, you can actually hear the moment when the wee elastic band in his head snaps.