Robert

I hate to say it but if we lose at Raith on Saturday I will be joining the ranks of those calling for a change of Manager. Tonight is irrelevant in terms of importance, nice though cup runs are, but if we fall off the pace any further in the league that is a problem. We are too one dimensional and teams know how to play against us, and it is starting to be our downfall. I still think we’ve a decent squad that can challenge for promotion, but the tactics and formation have to be right. At present we are getting that wrong. I’m keen to hear what those there tonight think of how we’ve performed and about the motivation and body language of the players.

They deserve all the plaudits. Hopefully a few Forum members amongst them who can tell us how bad we’ve been and whether there is any scope for optimism.

An own goal and two penalties. Have we self destructed? Oh sorry, am I giving the Manager reasons to tell us it is not as bad as it clearly is? We’ve had 59% possession so far but only one attempt on goal! Shocking. Motherwell have only had seven attempts but have four goals. Hyde on for Devine.

4-0. Another Van Veen penalty after a handball by Carson. I’m glad I’m on the beers tonight!

Delaney on for MacGregor. Goodness knows what our formation is now! Deas or Delaney at left back and Harper in left midfield?

Copied from BBC Sport app: Motherwell are looking so comfortable in this League Cup tie. They are playing some lovely stuff, getting a lot of joy down either flanks. Debut boy Matt Penney looks like a valuable addition to the side and Kevin Van Veen, who's grabbed two goals, is also having a real influence on this game. Caley Thistle have offered very little so far. They've not been allowed to by a Motherwell side full of intent.

Welcome back No Shin Guards! We’ve missed your wit and sarcasm!!

Who wanted 9-0? Its 3-0 already. Van Veen penalty after foul by Harper.

Shaw replaced by Boyd due to an injury. That’s 8 injured now: Ram, Welsh, Walsh, Doran, Shaw, Oakley (we assume), Samuels and Sutherland. Plus Devine not fully fit. What’s going on? Shaw had our only attempt on goal in the first half hour too.

2-0. Own goal by Devine.

Van Veen has scored in the 9th minute. Oh dear. Here we go again?

One advert is a trailer so easy to tow it away.

I was close with my selection. Shaw preferred to Boyd the only difference. The BBC have it as a 4 2 3 1 formation. Hopefully those who have travelled will be able to let us know.

I share the pessimism of others (and have unusually predicted a defeat on Gringo’s NPL) but maybe, just maybe, the penny will have dropped after the last two games in particular that things need to change. The last time we changed formation was the first half of the home game against St Johnstone, when we went 3 5 2, and that didn’t work and we thankfully changed at half time. Tonight, and until we have steadied the ship, we need three in the middle, with wide players dropping back and pushing up, so a flexible 4 5 1 / 4 3 3 formation. I’m not sure how fit Devine is, but I’d start him if possible, allowing Duffy to be at right back and Carson in the middle. If we can’t get 90 minutes from Devine, we have Delaney who can come in. Without Samuels, it’s a chance for the likes of Shaw, Boyd and Mackay to show what they can do. We also had Doran and Hyde out on Saturday, presumably injured, but I’d like to see us go with: Ridgers Duffy Devine Deas Harper Boyd Carson Allardice MacGregor Mackay Mckay with Boyd, MacGregor and Mackay getting forward when possible to support Mckay.

HT 1-0 FT 2-1 ICT Billy Mckay ’Well Van Veen Crowd 2897

We’ve drawn Brechin at home on 24 or 25 September.

Peat and Diesel seem to be in the ascendancy too.

No idea. Anyone know?

That just about sums the weekend up. Thank goodness we’ve had good weather given the performance yesterday and now this story. The club is trying to build local engagement but this will set things back badly in terms of the club’s reputation and how it is viewed by locals. I know the Board is trying hard, and has kept the club solvent during the pandemic, but to hear of local businesses suffering because of the actions of some of the club’s Directors is not good. If I’m reading it right, the production company they engaged went way over budget. Is there any come back for that if that is the cause of the losses? Hopefully a resolution can be found and some of the damage repaired.

I agree with both points. The players do need our support but it is inevitable that we vent frustration at what we’ve had to endure in the last two games. A lot of us have been saying for weeks that tactically teams know how to play us, that we need a right back and that we need to strengthen central midfield at the expense of a forward player. Other than the first 45 against Cove, of the games I’ve seen (all the home league and cup games and the Partick TV game) we’ve not been that good, in my opinion for the reasons above. It is time for the management team to ensure we have, and can implement, plans B and, if need be, C, as too often the long ball game is our undoing.

Toddy for Dunfermline and Rory McAllister for Montrose yesterday. In the Highland League, Matheus Machado and Shane Harkness scored for Rothes, with Andy MacRae getting another for Brora, as their defeat at Formartine saw them lose top place to Brechin.

Everyone’s taste differs but I’d put Skerryvore and Tide Lines ahead of Skipinnish. That’s not to say they are not worth going to.

I may be being harsh here but I didn’t think Dan Mackay’s body language was right today. Before the game I sensed he was unhappy about being dropped, seeing him in the warm up. He’s got great talent but we are not getting the best from him, and I was not surprised he was not starting. There was a lot of frustration shown by some players. That’s good as it shows they care. We now need to channel that positively into better performances and results. For anyone not there for the torture today, this doesn’t indicate how poor we were: https://ictfc.com/match-report-ictfc-0-1-morton-27-08-2022

That was a painful watch. Morton came for a point but won all three and we can’t really complain. Ridgers had two great saves which stopped us being behind long before the penalty. I need to see the penalty incident again. I think it did hit Duffy but I don’t think he’d any chance of getting out of the way. We hardly troubled their ‘keeper and after Samuels went off we seemed to lose whatever semblance of a plan we had. Distribution from the back was very poor from Carson, Deas and Harper. The midfield malfunctioned badly again. Allardice, for me, is not yet the player he was before his injury. The front players had nothing to work with as a result. I’d only give pass marks to Ridgers, Duffy, Boyd and Samuels. Something is very wrong as we have a decent squad and should be able to match and beat any team in this league, but too often we are predictable, never seem to have a plan B and our passing too often let’s us down. When attacking, too often we try to pass through teams and the attack breaks down. We need to shoot for goal much earlier in moves and work the ‘keeper. The long ball game is not working. We need to keep the ball on the ground much more, pass quickly and move to create space. The teams that do that well will do best in this league. Sadly we are not showing any signs of being promotion contenders and, sitting eighth, the play off we are heading to is the relegation one. Can we sign a right back before the window closes? I doubt it but again the need for one was clear. We need Carson in midfield to make us competitive. However, we are only five games in so there is plenty time to sort this out, but we need to get points on the board soon, starting in Kirkcaldy next week. Whilst it is good to be in the last 16 of the League Cup, for me that is very much secondary to being ready and really up for Raith next week. To sum up, that was as poor as I’ve seen in a while. We can’t keep the ball and until we can, we will not be competitive.

Four changes. Carson, Duffy, Oakley and Boyd starting. Ridgers Carson Duffy Deas Harper Allardice MacGregor Samuels Oakley Mckay Boyd Samuels and Boyd in wide roles?