Big, Horrible Motherwell vs County - 25/09/2021

[For Your Pies Only]

Have to admit, I had County pegged for relegation or the play-off spot this season, but they certainly didn't play like a bottom of the table side. Worked hard and had some nice attacking build-up play. If they had a good striker, or even a fairly average poacher, I think they would be higher up the league.

Absolutely feels like a game we would have lost last season and I think it's telling that Alexander made the same point in his post match comments. Call it belief, confidence, sheer bloody-mindedness, whatever - the difference in attitude he's instilled in the team is quite something.

Slattery is right fun to watch. First name on the teamsheet right now, imo.

[Ewan8472]

13 hours ago, ropy said:

5 shots on target and only two goals, poor day for the stats.

St. Johnstone - esque

[Ron Aldo]

I thought O’Donnell had another really bad game. 
 
 

I'm not sure if it's just the way he moves but everything he does looks so slow and predictable. There was a couple of times yesterday where he tried to beat his man before putting a cross in and it was just so easy to read.

[steelman1991]

10 hours ago, scmwell said:

Credit to County much better than their league position Cooke and Alston the standouts. We were superb for first 10 then struggled afterwards. As Ga said post match we would’ve lost that game last season. Special mention to Tony who is just the perfect fit for us works hard,wins fouls and can finish. Reminds me of wee dougie.

Assume you meant Cooke and SPITTAL? He was the stand out player on the park yesterday.

[Well Well]

26 minutes ago, steelman1991 said:

Assume you meant Cooke and SPITTAL? He was the stand out player on the park yesterday.

I thought their number 8 Callachan who appeared to be marking Slattery for most of the game was pretty decent. Calm on the ball and was involved in most of their attacking play. Think he was the player who was the victim of the shirt pull back as he was bursting away.

['WellDel]

36 minutes ago, Ron Aldo said:

1 hour ago, Allroy for Prez said:

I thought O’Donnell had another really bad game. 
 
 

I'm not sure if it's just the way he moves but everything he does looks so slow and predictable. There was a couple of times yesterday where he tried to beat his man before putting a cross in and it was just so easy to read.

This definitely doesn't help his cause in regard to the criticism he receives, especially in international games from people who don't see him week to week and realise its his natural gait. I don't know if there's anything a running coach can do to help him change things, (although I suspect they would have tried before now if so) but he looks positively arthritic in his movement and, as you say, so easy to read.

As already said above, he and Grimshaw really struggled at times today and a lot of County's positive stuff came down their flank.

[scmwell]

Assume you meant Cooke and SPITTAL? He was the stand out player on the park yesterday.

Aye spittal [emoji23]

[Gianfranco]

I wasn’t there yesterday so all I’ll say is what a ball by the Bathgate Maldini for the winner.

[steelman1991]

1 hour ago, Well Well said:

I thought their number 8 Callachan who appeared to be marking Slattery for most of the game was pretty decent. Calm on the ball and was involved in most of their attacking play. Think he was the player who was the victim of the shirt pull back as he was bursting away.

He was one i reckoned could have done a job for us (when available in the summer) - box to box and can finish too. Would have been an ideal foil for Slattery, pair them both with Spittal and you've got a fairly tasty well-ballanced midfield.

[ropy]

2 hours ago, Ron Aldo said:

3 hours ago, Allroy for Prez said:

I thought O’Donnell had another really bad game. 
 
 

I'm not sure if it's just the way he moves but everything he does looks so slow and predictable. There was a couple of times yesterday where he tried to beat his man before putting a cross in and it was just so easy to read.

He had an excellent overlap with Donnelly and put in low driven cross into the six yard box, was it O’Donnell that put the cross in for Watt to head onto the bar, he also kept the ball alive for Slattery’s goal so he certainly contributed in the attacking front.  He was being doubled up on in defence and that side didn’t always look too clever.

[Forfinn]

On 22/09/2021 at 23:00, Swello said:

For years I used to head through from Edinburgh - and because the intercity trains were pretty unreliable - I always got the Glasgow Central/Shotts train to Carfin (depending on where you are in edinburgh, it also stops at Wester Hailes, Slateford and Currie), which takes about an hour. I used to get a taxi to Fir Park from there which was a couple of quid and less than 10 mins. If memory serves, they leave Waverley at 25 past the hour.

This is a good shout, btw. Thanks. Will bear it in mind for future trips if Cross Country don't get their timetable back to normal.