Motherwell FC - A Thread For All Seasons

[capt_oats]

6 hours ago, Gianfranco said:

Semple’s through ball for the 2nd goal was class. I think he looks good on the ball. I think folk need to remember that was his first ever start at Fir Park.

5 hours ago, wellboy1991 said:

I think he’s class tbh. His awareness & maturity on the ball for someone so young is impressive.

Not quite DT levels but I think there is a right good player in Semple. Cracking passer of the ball.

I think the thing with Semple is that he's still trying to find his position (unlike Turnbull, Scott et al who have been established in their positions in the u20s and playing there for seasons).

Any time I saw Semple play for Craigan's u20s he was used up front either wide or centrally, even for Scotland he was being used as a #9 I think. Listening to the MFC Podcast interview @AndyRoss did with Mo Ross he highlighted that when he took over he felt the way Semple had been utilised wasn't getting the best out of him and that he has the tools to be a #8 which is where we seem to have been using him, though he looked like there were times yesterday where he was in Ally Gorrin's #6 area.

I mentioned this a few pages back but I'm interested to see what type of player Semple becomes as, to me at least, it's still quite up in the air. Given he's not long turned 18 he seems pretty robust and he's got a great range of passing, has a v.decent dig on him and looks to be comfortable on the ball. In that respect it's probably worth factoring in that he's 2 years younger than Turnbull.

Edited July 28, 2019 by capt_oats

[AndyRoss]

While I agree we've not had much luck, I don't think we should in any way be feeling too downbeat about this draw, especially at this point where we've played four competitive games, won all four and not conceded. Hearts have been in the same position and not achieved the same results.

I think this is a decent time to get Hearts, though I suppose the next few weeks will allow us to judge that a bit better.

[MJC]

18 minutes ago, RandomGuy. said:

Your one Scottish Cup draw last season was against a lower league team.

Correct and we made a pig's ear of that one, though drawing the league leaders in he Championship as Premiership strugglers as we were at the time wasnt necessarily a kind draw. However that was the only time out of the last possible six Scottish Cup draws where we have been paired with a side out with the top flight. I would add in the 2018 SCSF against Killie/Aberdeen but there were no lower league sides remaining in the competition at that time.

[The_Kincardine]

1 hour ago, MJC said:

We didn't draw East Fife, that would involve us actually getting a decent draw in a Cup game against a side from the lower reaches of Scottish football.

We drew Hearts at home, our usual Premiership side in a domestic Cup and we absolutely WILL lose to them. I'll be putting my tank on it.

I don't understand the pessimism.  Hearts at home is an easier draw than East Fife away.  Hearts are absolutely woeful.

[Swello]

We've got a great record against Hearts at Fir Park - tough draw but we've got every chance - looking forward to it....

 

[MJC]

4 minutes ago, AndyRoss said:

While I agree we've not had much luck, I don't think we should in any way be feeling too downbeat about this draw, especially at this point where we've played four competitive games, won all four and not conceded. Hearts have been in the same position and not achieved the same results.

I think this is a decent time to get Hearts, though I suppose the next few weeks will allow us to judge that a bit better.

That is fair comment AndyRoss and you are correct to say that at this stage of the season it's probably as good a time as any to draw someone like Hearts. It doesn't though stop it being hugely frustrating to see us yet again paired with a fellow top flight side, especially when you consider that we have sailed through our group with a 100% record and conceded no goals and ended up seeded for this round...only to yet again draw another top flight side and one with far greater resources. It just makes you think "what's the point?"

[Swello]

24 minutes ago, MJC said:

That is fair comment AndyRoss and you are correct to say that at this stage of the season it's probably as good a time as any to draw someone like Hearts. It doesn't though stop it being hugely frustrating to see us yet again paired with a fellow top flight side, especially when you consider that we have sailed through our group with a 100% record and conceded no goals and ended up seeded for this round...only to yet again draw another top flight side and one with far greater resources. It just makes you think "what's the point?"

It's a home draw, it's not Rangers or Celtic - what's the big deal? You'd be the first to mention that we've blown it in countless games against lower division teams in the past (Earlier, I was thinking about a game I saw at Forfar where we got put out in the LC) - we're arguably better when we are an underdog, even though there won't be much in it odds-wise. The low point of last season was getting papped out by County, a lower division team(!), at Fir Park - I'm happy to take our chances against Hearts as a win would have such a positive effect on the new team.

[scmwell]

Anybody know what the small scaffolding structure is at the end section of the east stand ?

[capt_oats]

4 minutes ago, scmwell said:

Anybody know what the small scaffolding structure is at the end section of the east stand ?

Possibly for a Capo?

Edited July 28, 2019 by capt_oats

[scmwell]

Was thinking that myself [emoji106]

[thisGRAEME]

9 minutes ago, capt_oats said:

Possibly for a Capo?

So buzzing for this btw.

Also, Hearts are gash, come ahead.

We can't all win cup finals only playing humpty teams (Looking at you, Hibernian).

[capt_oats]

1 minute ago, thisGRAEME said:

So buzzing for this btw.

100% into it if it is.

[Busta Nut]

1 hour ago, capt_oats said:

Possibly for a Capo?

It 100% seems to be

[Ludo*1]

I suspect Danny Johnson has already paid for himself with today's goal seeing us net a home tie vs Aberdeen. He's a cocky lad at times. His celebration after scoring was, 'This is what I do'. He said he'd quite like to face off against you lot in the next round as it'd be 'Interesting'. And he's just constantly giving a remarkably self confident answer of give me the ball and I'll put it in the net that I've never quite saw before.

[ropy]

9 minutes ago, Busta Nut said:

It 100% seems to be

Lost me

[Swello]

Any ideas as to why these "story of the match" type vids are in that weird square aspect ratio this season? I'm sure there will be a valid reason for it but it looks poor on a 16:9 screen to my non-creative eyes....

I originally thought it was for people who watch everything in portrait on their mobiles - but it doesn't look much better on the phone...

[AndyRoss]

1 hour ago, Ludo*1 said:

I suspect Danny Johnson has already paid for himself with today's goal seeing us net a home tie vs Aberdeen. He's a cocky lad at times. His celebration after scoring was, 'This is what I do'. He said he'd quite like to face off against you lot in the next round as it'd be 'Interesting'. And he's just constantly giving a remarkably self confident answer of give me the ball and I'll put it in the net that I've never quite saw before.

He scored twice against Aberdeen in a 3-0 win back in November and also scored our winning goal in the second round against Livingston.

Few good omens for you.

[capt_oats]

1 hour ago, Ludo*1 said:

I suspect Danny Johnson has already paid for himself with today's goal seeing us net a home tie vs Aberdeen. He's a cocky lad at times. His celebration after scoring was, 'This is what I do'. He said he'd quite like to face off against you lot in the next round as it'd be 'Interesting'. And he's just constantly giving a remarkably self confident answer of give me the ball and I'll put it in the net that I've never quite saw before.

I thought your game today was a pretty accurate representation of Johnson tbh. That's what you'll get from him as he was very publicly announcing on the telly.

He got himself into good positions, the one he put over the bar was quite something and his goal was typical 'penalty box striker' stuff that he "does". I have absolutely no doubt he'll score goals for Dundee and if you keep playing him alongside either Nelson or Curran then he'll potentially be a very good player for you.

The flip of that is that when the ball was going up to him, it was coming straight back a fair amount.

There was one instance where he gave away possession, chased back for a bit then just stopped and watched. I think it was Keatings who had the shot that brought out a decent save from FlapJack. That's kind of OK when you have a front pair chasing and harrying centre backs but it's not OK when one of the main roles is to hold up the ball (which it is in our current shape).

His whole 'this is what I do' chat is quite amusing because it suggests that he's still completely oblivious as to why Robinson wasn't playing him. For Robinson him sticking the ball in the net wasn't enough he needed someone who could offer more in terms of his all round game. Johnson either didn't get that or he was just unwilling to adapt.

It's been clear since January that we've changed our style of play we binned 2 up top and switched to a shape with direct wingers with Ariyibi and Hastie, the centre forward needs to be someone who can hold the ball up, bring others into play (and score goals so cheerio Curtis Main).

Danny Johnson, much like Elliott Frear, is a bit too specialist a player. We seem to have focused our recruitment this summer on players who offer a bit of flexibility, pace and creativity. Which is nice. It also meant that Johnson became marginalised.

Our form for the post-winter break without Johnson had us 3rd behind Celtic and Rangers and the fans generally seemed on board with what we've been doing with the #SexyMotherwell brand. Unfortunately as others have said previously in the thread when Johnson did get on the park his cameos where he was trying to fit into our system were painful to watch at times.

Absolutely no hard feelings towards Johnson, he wasn't Jacob Blyth, he chipped in with goals but it was blatantly obvious that he didn't fit with the direction that we were looking to go in. It's been quite weird reading reactions from Motherwell fans on Twitter who don't seem to get that.

This article is particularly odd in so much as it completely contradicts itself:

Quote

"Johnson was easily the best natural finisher at Fir Park. Why Motherwell have decided to let him go after just over 12 months is baffling."

It's not baffling, it's answered in the next paragraph.

Quote

"Well boss Stephen Robinson likes to play with a big number nine who can press and hassle the backline with physical presence. Johnson just doesn’t suit that role, and despite being the best finisher, he never got a chance because of it."

Our current #9 Chris Long is neither particularly big nor is he a physical presence, but...OK.

Quote

"If Robinson gave him a run of games, Johnson would have thrived at Premiership level."

The article has just said that "Johnson just doesn't suit that role". It seems a stretch to then immediately suggest that he'd have thrived in a role he wasn't suited to.

Ultimately it is what it is, he was surplus to requirements at Fir Park because the team's style evolved rather than it being a reflection on him. He's been offered a chance to get first team football at a club who look like they're going to set up with a shape that will suit his game and will presumably free up a wage for us to bring in someone who fits with what we're trying to do.

Absolutely good luck to him.

Edited July 28, 2019 by capt_oats

[Ludo*1]

I've not quoted you due to the length of the post Capt, but interesting reading as per usual. The one thing I don't understand is that, yes, I get why you'd want a striker that can do a multitude of things, but if Johnson is the goal getter that everyone makes him out to be (And based on yesterday he looked like being), then it's foolish of Robinson to get rid. Who better to bring on when chasing the game and reverting to 2 up top?

Yesterday was the first I've ever saw Johnson, or at least watched and acknowledged. If his skill is putting the ball in the back of the net - Then he'd surely have his uses, and it's surprising that Robinson let him go for nothing.

[capt_oats]

19 minutes ago, Ludo*1 said:

I've not quoted you due to the length of the post Capt, but interesting reading as per usual. The one thing I don't understand is that, yes, I get why you'd want a striker that can do a multitude of things, but if Johnson is the goal getter that everyone makes him out to be (And based on yesterday he looked like being), then it's foolish of Robinson to get rid. Who better to bring on when chasing the game and reverting to 2 up top?

Yesterday was the first I've ever saw Johnson, or at least watched and acknowledged. If his skill is putting the ball in the back of the net - Then he'd surely have his uses, and it's surprising that Robinson let him go for nothing.

Tbh, I think Craigan touched on it in it on BT when he said that Robinson would have been happy to keep him around as a squad player but it wasn't really fair on the player given he had clubs giving him other options. He may just have been being polite in saying that IDK.

The upshot is that a squad player is all he'd have been. He barely got a look in off the bench from January onwards and keeping him around vs freeing up what is presumably a first team wage for a guy who would likely have been lucky to see minutes makes sense. It'd also mean that on a personal level Johnson gets to play first team football rather that be 4th possibly 5th choice here.

Robinson's been talking about bringing in another player (it has to be a "starter", "someone who's better than what we have" "not a squad player" apparently) for a couple of weeks and has previously indicated we set aside some budget in case anything comes up later in the window. I guess we'll see if Johnson's wage is added to that and who we bring in.

Edited July 28, 2019 by capt_oats