1st Half Analysis/2nd Half Predictions

['WellDel]

With the winter break now upon us and the transfer window open, other than expectantly watching for in's and out's at our respective clubs, there's not much to keep us occupied on the league front. What are everyone's thoughts on their own team and how they've fared so far, and how do you see the second half of the season panning out? What changes do your manager or board need to make to get your club to where they need to be?.

Are we going to see a genuine tussle for the title, and does anyone either than the support of those two actually care? Who will claim the remaining Euro spots and top 6 places, and who will prevail in the battle to avoid the drop? Have your own team over or underperformed so far, and what changes, if any, would you like to see?.

For Motherwell's first half analysis, I'd say we came into it strongly on the back of Kettlewell's ridiculously successful start in the hotseat, and early signs were very promising. However, the wheels have come off in spectacular fashion and we really are floundering at the bottom. Injuries to a few key players in what is a very trimmed down squad certainly haven't helped, but neither have some frankly bizarre team selections and formations by a manager that many have long since already lost faith in. A really poor first half, and 4 points from 6 in our last two games really could just be papering over some massive cracks.

My 2nd half prediction is that we require 3 to 4 new bodies, including at RB/RWB, who'll all need to hit the ground running, and a decent points haul from our first few games back, which are all against teams around us at the bottom. If we could make that happen I'd be delighted to scrape 8th placed obscurity.

I think Hearts will finish comfortably 3rd, there will be an interesting fight for the remaining Euro spots, and Livi are toast. It's also looking like a 3 way fight between us, St Johnstone and County to avoid the play off places. Will Levein get it right, or will Uncle Roy get his cheque book out again?

What are your thoughts at the midway point and hopes for the 2nd half?.

[10menwent2mow]

Aberdeen

Pish/Better

[RandomGuy.]

Being aswell splitting our half of the season into halves again.

One half is us getting pumped 4-0 by Stirling and looking doomed to relegation. The second is one of recognising a football team again.

January window huge for us but have hope we can grind out points when needed. We desperately need stability though, so really need Levein to succeed this season and have us looking virtually safe by the split so planning can happen for next season.

If we can find a way to score more goals i think we can be 7th-9th, if we cant then itll 10th-12th.

Still worry the 8 game head start we gave everyone means we can play well and pick up a lot of points under Levein yet still finish 11th.

[VincentGuerin]

For all the noise about Shankland, if Hearts can continue to concede as few goals as we have so far, we will be third. I'd imagine 60 points will do the job, and we look on course to make that, even if form dips slightly.

Performances so far a hugely mixed bag, but notably better defending crosses. Injury situation is markedly better than last season, and it shows. We look a more substantial side, which is hardly surprising when better players are available. Kent has been an excellent signing.

Wouldn't be surprised if we, Hibs, and Aberdeen make up the Euro spots again. Hopefully The Franchise go down, never to return. I reckon Levein will see St Johnstone ok, and either Motherwell or Ross County will win the playoff final.

Edited January 4 by VincentGuerin

[coprolite]

1 shite

2 more shite

[Wilsons14]

Very impressed with our first half of the season. A few last minute goals conceded/dodgy decisions have done us out of a few extra points, but by the same margin there’s a few games where we’ve been a little fortunate ourselves with opposition missing big chances late on and the Watson last minute winner against Aberdeen when neither team really deserved to win that game. Hoping for similar consistency in the latter parts of the season which should see us finish in a European place, which I would be delighted with (as long as we don’t draw Connahs Quay in the qualifiers )

As for the rest of the division I reckon it’ll end up something like this

1st - Celtic (Will come down to the last old firm game and they’ll win by the odd goal)

2nd - Rangers (Will lead the table on the 6th of April after beating Celtic at Ibrox but lose that lead weeks later after drawing with Hearts at Tynecastle)

3rd - Hearts (Will manage to hold onto Shankland with him ending as top scorer in the league. Will finish a comfortable 9/10 points above 4th)

4th - Killie (May be a little biased but I reckon we’ll be consistent enough to sneak 4th ahead of Hibs, St. Mirren and Aberdeen)

5th - Hibs (Will struggle following the return from the winter break but win 4 of their last 5 pre split and pick up enough points post split to pip St. Mirren to 5th)

6th - St. Mirren (Also have a difficult few games following the winter break but they’ll have a great run of results in February which will be enough to keep them in 6th ahead of Aberdeen)

7th - Aberdeen (Will go on a dreadful run following the winter break leading to Robson getting sacked after a loss to Killie on the 24th of February. New manager will lead them to 4 victories in their last 6 pre split but it won’t be enough)

8th - Dundee (Will be one of few teams to have a decent return following the winter break which will have them in 6th ahead of Hibs in mid February, however a run of 4 defeats in a row will follow and they’ll eventually slip to 8th)

9th - St. Johnstone (Back-to-back victories against close competitors Motherwell and County will have them in a good position following the winter break. Will pick up enough points in the rest of the season to finish above those 2 and Livi)

10th - Ross County (Uncle Roy will open the chequebook this month and pull off 1/2 good bits of business which will be enough to see them narrowly avoid the playoff. Adams will have another meltdown at some point which will be very amusing)

11th(R)- Motherwell (Sorry Well fans but it’s your time. 4 points from the last 2 games has papered over some cracks but the loss of Bierith to another injury in February will seal their fate. Louis Moult to score the winner in the playoff final)

12th(R) - Livi (Will go on a small run of form between late February/early March which will give them hope but 5 losses in a row pre split alongside a measly 2 points post split will be enough to send them down. Won’t even reach 25 points 

[bennett]

I can't see us being to reduce celtics 8 point lead, just too big a safety margin for them. Just hoping that we can find someone daft enough to take Lammers off our hands. 

 

 

[Jacksgranda]

2 hours ago, coprolite said:

1 shite

2 more shite

That's my boy! 

Edited January 4 by Jacksgranda

[Hoose Rice]

Pish

Bottom 6 pish

[AJF]

We quite clearly regressed massively under Beale this season and the transfer window turned out to be catastrophic with a relatively decent wedge of money spent. The only real successes from the summer recruitment would be Butland () and Sima.

Clement has certainly steadied the ship and his record to date is impressive. Topped our Europa League Group and won the first domestic trophy of the season. His only big failing so far came last Saturday.

8 points behind will likely be too large a task, even with 2 games in hand, with Celtic likely to strengthen in January. He has been left with too many players not up to it. There are signs of improvement but we would need to recruit a genuine quality striker to have a shot and it's unlikely we will be able to afford that this month.

[RandomGuy.]

12 minutes ago, AJF said:

We quite clearly regressed massively under Beale this season and the transfer window turned out to be catastrophic with a relatively decent wedge of money spent. The only real successes from the summer recruitment would be Butland () and Sima.

Clement has certainly steadied the ship and his record to date is impressive. Topped our Europa League Group and won the first domestic trophy of the season. His only big failing so far came last Saturday.

8 points behind will likely be too large a task, even with 2 games in hand, with Celtic likely to strengthen in January. He has been left with too many players not up to it. There are signs of improvement but we would need to recruit a genuine quality striker to have a shot and it's unlikely we will be able to afford that this month.

Whens Danilo fit again? 

[AJF]

48 minutes ago, RandomGuy. said:

Whens Danilo fit again? 

Pretty sure it’s not til April or something. Had to get surgery on his knee.

[HeartsOfficialMoaner]

End of season - OF win the title then Hearts, Killie, Aberdeen and then a n other.

Livi going down.

Naismith talks about getting the structure right and we have looked organised and we play as a team but sometimes we look a mess after the subs come on. They need to work on that. 

If the players comeback from injury okay then the 2nd half will be better than the first.

[hk blues]

Much will depend on our transfer dealings, and losing our star man was a blow, but hopefully we can maintain our half-decent first-half and make it into the top 6 for the 1st time in a while.  Not counting any chickens though, and we need to make sure we get good value from our games in hand otherwise we could find ourselves fighting to avoid 11th.