Glf 70: Ricky's review of the season so far.
Ricky's Rant
DESPITE what had been mooted as one of the poorest starts to a season since, well, two years ago, we sit with more or less what we had this time last season, and that was after a superb start.And that's despite losing key players to injury and suspension, a thing which barely troubled us last season.With an extra European place up for grabs, it's all to play for as ever really.
Haven't been to anywhere near as many games as I normally get to for one reason or another, but I've seen plenty of the action (including a few live games on the net and TV) and it seems to me we ain't far short of the form which gained so many accolades a year back.And, to be fair, two players in particular have stepped up and answered the call as requested.Never really been a big fan of Bob Malcolm, stems from the Said Chiba incident as well as some rather questionable off the field activities from the big man, but he has played a very important role during the past while now.
Chipping in with a fantastic winner at Inverness, setting up Ports first home to Hamilton, and generally doing a solid job as makeshift centre-half, the man is going some way to winning over a good few doubters.Maybe now he has genuinely grown up in footballing terms and will become an immovable part of the team, that's up to him, but he's certainly doing much in the right direction.The other for me has been Marc Fitzpatrick, most especially against Hamilton, he was solid in the tackle and tracked up and down the park chasing after lost causes.
Unfortunately,Marc has been probably THE whipping boy for the boo brigade we have at Fir Park, a lot of which has been unfair though Marc hasn't always helped his cause.However, always been of the opinion that if you've a claret and amber jersey on, you deserve respect and not the fans wrath unleashed after a particularly nightmarish match of lifeless standards.It was perhaps no wonder Marc reacted at times by almost disappearing in games, however, he now appears to have responded in the best way possible - by showing the potential that he does possess, and that can only be good for the team.Have to say, on team matters, that our lack of activity in the transfer market in the summer almost bit us on the backside severely these past few weeks.This is a thing which simply must be answered fully in the January transfer window as losing just a couple more key players would more or less ruin the entire season.
Get to January in the top six mix, get a depth of squad in there, and let's try and top the end to last season.It's not impossible, as outside of United, we've played probably the best football this season, and we annihilated them when they came to Fir Park yet they somehow escaped with a point.
Much to be positive about on the field of play - to be honest I'd say, off the field matters appear to be less of a thing to be proud of.Never felt comfortable commenting on that simply because you just don't see what goes on behind the scenes, but you'd like to think, for the good of the club and for confidence amongst the fans, that this is a priority to be sorted out positively by the club.Something ain't right, some decisions which have been made have been far from right.
For example, to me, the Cooper experiment has rarely worked.Time to put that one to bed I'd say and get things back the way they were.Can't recall, outwith May 22nd 2005, what a day, where's yer title etc etc etc……sorry, couldn't resist it!But, as I say, can't recall apart from that day when visiting filled that stand.Rangers fans seem to do better, but it's still not full and overall attendance seems no better than before this "experiment".
The Nancy experience was one which many fans will definitely want to see repeated next season.In the end, we were outclassed by a very good team, however, I felt that we got it wrong at home (and even away) and McGhee was good enough to admit it too.Too tentative away, Nancy were there for the taking first leg, but they put out their strongest eleven at Fir Park and it showed.
Didn't make it to Nancy but heard many stories and experiences which made me hugely jealous I have to say!It was fascinating (and also gutting!) watching the party taking place in the town square via a webcam, during the day.You could witness the gradual increase in claret and amber before virtually the whole square became Fir Park for a short spell.The impromptu game of football attracted a fair crowd, but the overriding thing was the sense of pride we Motherwell fans should have thanks to the impeccable behaviour of our supporters.In complete contrast to certain other fans on their travels, the only sour note being the over-reaction by the French Police at one point after full time.I know the local Plod had to deal with the hooligan Dutch fans from a previous Euro tie, but, had they done their homework, they'd have known that Motherwell fans have an untarnished record on their travels.Stories tell of tear gas having been fired amongst children, completely unnecessary and that had been ignored by the press here.Had that happened to a couple of other teams, well, you know the rest.Nancy's class in Europe is being shown by their ravaging of Feyenoord, a very good point away to Poznan (who we, of course, hammered 3-0 in a pre-season friendly in July 2007), and they look set to qualify for the knock-out stages.I watched the away leg up in the Cooper suite, it was jam-packed with a terrific atmosphere though obviously not as good as the one in France!Second-half was best, especially when Buzz saved the penalty.Place went crazy, much dancing up and down, and confidence we'd do it in the second leg.Big, big crowd, great pre-match atmosphere, but in true party-pooper style Nancy took the sting out of things and it was all over all too early.
However, it makes you all the more anxious for more, and I'm sure that's not lost on the players either.As I said earlier, we are now on a par with a year ago despite the "poor" start, and there's a favourable run coming up after we've got the second ties against the bigot brothers out of the road.The fixtures are strange, we played Celtic just six games ago and here we are again, though the up side is league-wise we don't play them again until the end of February, whereas we don't see Rangers again in the league before April!I don't see why we can't make top six, and with an extra European place available, that's most definitely well within our grasp.
So, a vital spell coming up.Christmas and New Year is always such a crucial time.Repeat a year back points-wise, and we will be all right.Needless to say, come December 27th, all of us will take time out that day as it'll be a year to the day we lost Uncle Phil.Make him proud lads, he'll be watching from afar.
Forever 'Well,
Ricky
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