At that time we were all appreciating and enjoying the skills and classy footballing ability of our youngsters who certainly seemed to be coming of age at the right time, keeping our club alive. But while we were enjoying things we forgot that Faddy, Pearo, Stevie (Hammell), to name but three, are still very young and learning their trade.
The weeks that followed saw not just the fans getting on the team’s back, but the media – for our poor disciplinary record. What we have to remember is that the poor results and indiscipline are also part of the steep learning curve our youngsters find themselves in. It is only now that we have had a couple of good results against Hearts and Aberdeen we are beginning to see the benefits of what our players are learning.
Changing slightly to one of my favourite topics – media bashing - the main thing that makes my blood boil is the arrogance and indifference shown to Motherwell FC by the Glasgow media. To quote from the highly knowledgeable Andy McInnes’ column in today’s (Monday December 9th) Scottish Daily Express: “McFadden is one of our best prospects for years and he shouldn’t be allowed to wither on the vine at Motherwell”. Am I alone in thinking that Mr. McInnes is a pompous windbag with very limited vision?
Under the protective wing of Motherwell Football Club is where James McFadden has spent his formative years in football, where he developed and some may say blossomed – not withered – into the superb young footballer he is today. We know he is not the finished article, but he will learn more from first team football with Motherwell than he will in the reserves at Parkhead or Ibrox!
And that, as you have been known to say Mr. McInnes, is a fact!