Ricky has a few words
3 February 1997
Dear WFTGLF
Hi All!! Well, here we are in our seemingly forgotten, yet once-accustomed position of fighting for survival which we came to know and hate under the Managerial ship of Mr. Ferret now of Camel fame. Things are looking bleak, but then again, they could be worse - we could be where Raith are. And, despite all that has happened, we are not down and out - least not yet.
It‘s been a frantic few months since the last WFTGLF. We almost lost Eck, some would say should have but on looking around I can‘t see who could replace him and do a better job given the circumstances with which he has had to operate in. It is up at Board level the problems are existing, filtering through to team level in that improvements to the squad are hindered due to no money being provided.
We had to lose Jamie Dolan just to make a new signing, even under the Ferret things were never that bad. I would appeal to anyone interested in buying the club to please come forward like yesterday!! It is true to say that Mr Chapman risks losing any self-respect he has left by clinging onto the club and letting us slide still further, he has done a brilliant job in the past but now that he wants to let go (so we are led to believe) he refuses to put any further cash into the team. There are people interested, and you have to ask why they haven‘t come in yet - are there strings attached? Why else would no-one want to buy us? After all, we are on of the major provincial powers in the Scottish game, but if we are to remain there something must be done immediately. I still want to see Alex remain in charge, don‘t forget how long it took the Ferret to produce a team capable of competing.
We were almost relegated year after year with him. A few of Eck‘s signings have failed to shine, so did a lot of the Ferrets (remember Baker, Jones etc.). Alex will get it right, I feel confident of that. Take Youth level, the club is actively promoting this side of the business a lot more prominently than most Scottish Clubs, initiated by Alex. This will take time to come to fruition, but to me it illustrates just how forward-thinking Alex is and how committed he is to the job now. The alternative is more instability, and at a time like this the last thing we need is a new face at the helm trying to settle into a club in turmoil. Alex will keep us up, and take us from strength to strength, have faith our Chief.
The Dolan for Coyle swap was great value for us I felt. Jamie has often flattered to deceive, and although he seems to be performing well for United, I reckon Coyle is a striker who, when settled, will do more than a job for us whilst Jamie was merely going through the motions. I always felt Jamie had great potential but never realised it at Motherwell, and I did enjoy his time with us, but Owen Coyle is a striker of real class to get the goals which will keep us up. Already, he has proven his worth with the crucial goals against Kilmarnock, and though he has gone a little quiet in the past couple of matches he will do it for Motherwell. A good piece of business by Alex I thought, and to also receive some money in return was an added bonus.
There are a couple of players we have who could go likewise, the most obvious would appear to be Chris McCart. To me, Chris always seemed to be Mr Motherwell, right to the core, but ever since Ferret played him no matter what injury he had Chris has fallen back a bit. Now it seems Eck does not see Chris fitting into the back four and it could be time for Chris to move on, though I would prefer to keep him, in case we need the cover. The one story I heard was Rougier of Raith for Chris, though I can‘t see Raith letting their star man go just like that.
We could be in for a little windfall if Lambert goes over to Crisis Park, I would like to see it if only to give us money, and if it happens I‘ll applaud Paul rather than the customary boos which accompany an ex-player‘s performances against the Well. Paul has always backed us since leaving, and he deserves appreciation for all he did in a Motherwell jersey. Don‘t get me wrong, upon the unlikely event of him scoring against Motherwell, he will receive the usual barracking!!
League reconstruction has raised it‘s ugly head again and about time too if you ask me. I am sick and tired of the crap we have to put up with from the Old Squirm fans (and their friends in the Media) 8 times a season for one thing. I would much rather see a sixteen-team league, meaning only 30 games a season, leaving room for a winter shut-down and only having to visit Castle Greyskull and Crisis Park but once a year. All this garbage about the Old Firm ”outgrowing• Scottish Football is nonsense, they may have by far the biggest support but go back only a few years and even Aberdeen out-shone both with home crowds. Big fish in a small pond they may be, but do they really want to be mediocre fish in a large sea? I think not. Give them their midweek European League by all means, if they want total humiliation altogether then fine, but don‘t forget where you came from and without the rest of us you would be sod-all.
And, Old Squirm fans, take bigotry out of it and every club in this country would have an equal support. You only have to ask an Old Squirm fan which are the most important fixtures in a season - each will answer the same, ”the remaking of the Battle of the Boyne•, or, ”re-living 1916". Anyway, re-construction - well, there are enough clubs to support this, the First Division is, as United admitted, the toughest league in terms of getting out of, and look how well they are doing now, which would suggest the gulf between the leagues isn‘t that great. And in a 16-team league each side would be stronger. There is too much fear in the 10-team league, as has been often argued a larger league would allow much more freedom for teams to express themselves, and to promote young talent which is used far too sparingly these days.
As for the on-the-field performances, we have gone from bloody brilliant to bloody bad and beyond in recent weeks. I thought we had hit rock bottom after the Ibrox fiasco, but after robbery at Tynecastle we were hammered at Crisis Park. I was more annoyed at that one than the Castle Greyskull defeat due to the nature of it, we were never out of first gear at Crisis Park the whole match. The lads only seem to be able to play for 45 minutes maximum in any one match (over Christmas and New Year 45 minutes period), taking our foot right off the gas when on top of teams in recent matches and hanging on in the end. The defence needs to be sorted and quick-style, at Dunfermline on Saturday there you would have thought they just didn‘t want to know, arguing with each other. Changes are obviously required, at the moment we have another Finnish player called Simo Valakari over from Helsinki who looks fairly good (I managed to catch a view of him in training last week, tidy player), and I know Eck is actively attempting to bring more in. This all brings us back to the Chairman and lack of cash - anyone, with plenty cash, please buy us now!! All the rumours say Ian Skelly this, or Matt Thomson that, long as they‘ve ambition and the money to do it please, do it soon.
The regular bugbear of Refereeing displays against Motherwell has certainly raised it‘s ugly head since the last WFTGLF. I really would love to know why Edinburgh referees hate us so much, every time we get one you know we are up against it. Combine that with a match against the Govan Bigots and you are as well handing over the three points prior to kick-off. Two particular matches stick in the throat - the recent robbery against the Bigots and the baldy balls-up at Tynecastle. I know Rowbotham comes from Kircaldy, but you can see Edinburgh on the extremely odd clear day. The ”penalty•, softer than a Saturday night bed-time attempt after 15 pints, the goal taken from us at a crucial point, and the free corner when it clearly was a throw-in Not only is he bald, but it appears to be affecting his eyesight to an extreme degree. Over on the Eastern side of the great divide the Crisis Park fans claim Refereeing bias towards their great bigoted rivals, listen lads, it aint nothing compared to what we have had to endure this season in particular.
And then we had the more recent display against the Govan bigots. Owen and Shaun have perfectly good goals (miles on-side compared to Fatman‘s effort), the Danish Diver is only booked after trying to remove Shaun‘s undercarriage with his studs, and of course Fatman cruises throughout he match with his mouth on fast forward spouting pure filth only to be ignored by another chicken-shit Referee. And, another thing, why has the only Referee from Motherwell not officiated at a match involving Motherwell since he moved from Wishaw?? He may be a mi
Well, fingers crossed, all the minus points this season will surely be levelled in the remaining three months of the season. Whatever happens, come May 11, we have to be sitting at least 8th., in case the League remains the same!! AND BACK THE BLOODY TEAM, THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT!!!!
4 February 1997
Dear Graham,
Well, Happy NewYear of course!! Not been a great start, has it? I really couldn‘t believe the performance at Dunfermline there, the whole team needs a good boot up the arse otherwise First Division footie here we come. I was wondering if you could tell me whatever happened to my Bacardi Rum T-shirt for the article on Stevie Kirk? Was I due one? Anyway, I‘d prefer a bottle of the stuff if possible!! I have enclosed a couple of pics, both taken in our demolition job of Peterlee Newtown. In the one of myself, you can see the Multi-Million pence matchstick stand behind me. It seated 60, the rest of the ground no better (or worse) than the likes of Robertson Park, the home of that illustrious Junior outfit Thorniewood United.
And in the other, Jani Lehtonen in the match whicb saw two very, very rare occurances. Not only did Joni net, but so did the recently-departed Andy Roddie (where is he now????). Add to that John Hendry bought me a drink and you can see it was certainly quite a day!! I got a wad of statistics on Joni from a Youth Coach of TPV Tampere - the coach, called Juha Mettalala, is hoping to set up a youth programme with Motherwell, and I am acting as the go-between at the moment via the Internet. Joni played 88 matches for Ilves Tampere, scoring 10 times. He made his debut aged 19 in May 1992 versus FC Jazz Pori, having been attached to Ilves since 7 years-old. Joni played 7 times for the Finnish Youth Side, but has yet to feature in the National team. I don‘t know about you but I think that he gets a little caught up in the hurly-burly of our game, instead of standing on the ball a-la-Billy Davies he rushes things. I lilke Joni but he could do with thinking before kicking.
I have enclosed my letter for publication should you think it deserves it!! (please!!!!). Thanks again for sending the copy through the post to me, and keeping me informed of publication dates etc. I will have to buy you that drink eventually
Best wishes,
Ricky
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