A decent league campaign and a cup run is all Motherwell fans ask for at the start of a season. Throw in some decent performances and most likely a high percentage of Motherwell fans will be happy with their team’s season.
This was the case last year. A secure seventh place finish in the league, decent football at times, and two cup finals. The 2017/18 campaign can only be considered a success in Stephen Robinson’s first full season in charge.
Perhaps they papered over the cracks with good cup runs, but it was a good campaign by all accounts. That couldn’t be further from the truth this season. A dismal Scottish Cup display against Ross County saw the Steelmen bow out at the first attempt to lower league opposition, and they were easily brushed aside by Hearts in the League Cup.
The league has been a drag for Well fans too. With a horrible long ball style of play, The Fir Park faithful have been subject to high balls being played to their barren strike force all season.
A few more results and they’ll be safe from relegation, but with no cup football to look forward to, Motherwell’s season is effectively over. With that in mind, is it time for change at the Motherwell helm?
The Robinson conundrum
It’s a tough one to call with the Motherwell boss. He splits opinion with the fans, with some wanting him to stay and others wanting him out.
One thing is almost certain. Robinson isn’t going to be sacked by the Fir Park board. He achieved so much in his first season and the club have been doing well off the park in terms of finances. The Steelmen posted record profits last year and that was contributed to massively by Robinson’s shrewd work in the transfer market.
Despite this, it has to be said that the way Motherwell play is nothing short of awful. It is toothless kicks up the park to big target men like Connor Sammon and Curtis Main, who in turn do nothing when they receive the ball. The tempo is slow and dull, it’s no wonder attendances at Fir Park have gradually declined throughout the season.
Robinson clearly wants to play with long balls to target men. Switches from 3-5-2 to 4-2-3-1 have proved this. The formations have the same result, it’s always a high ball to the forwards and it doesn’t work. Despite this, Robinson is stubborn, so changes will be made on a sporadic basis. It makes for dismal viewing.
Motherwell are not a good watch just now, nor will they be for the rest of the season. A dull lower mid table finish awaits the Fir Park club.
The Northern Irishman is losing well-wishers at Fir Park on a weekly basis.