Latest news with #BerthelAskou
Glasgow Times
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Will Askou bend, or will Motherwell fans bend to him?
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a piece in this newsletter pleading for patience from the support with the new style being implemented by Jens Berthel Askou, and for my own part, pledged that when I was at the games, I would keep my reflex anxieties about a goalkeeper having the temerity to advance from his box to myself. At times during the League Cup group games against Clyde and Peterhead that was easier said than done, admittedly, even for someone like me who is all in on the Berthel Askou project. For others, it was clearly too much to ask. Which got me thinking. Following the game, the comments on social media were pretty much divided into two camps. On the one hand, there were those who were pulling up the moaners and groaners for their lack of faith and patience, and who argued that it was ridiculous to even be hearing boos at this early stage of the season. On the other, were the confirmed sceptics from within the support and from without, who had been far from impressed by what they had seen so far and were even, in some cases, speculating that Motherwell would struggle in the league this season off the back of the draw with Clyde and the late win over Peterhead. (Image: Rob Casey - SNS Group) Quite how such conclusions can be drawn from two matches, in any circumstances, seems a stretch to say the least. But to make such snap judgments when those two matches were played out in entirely different conditions (one in suffocating heat on a bone-dry, worn-out monstrosity of a pitch, the other in a monsoon), with a raft of changes between the starting XIs due to the close proximity of the games and a desire to manage workloads, all while those players are still getting to grips with an entirely new way of playing, seems ludicrous. Read more: Of course, there can be few excuses for failing to beat lower league opposition, and if the Steelmen don't progress into the next round of the tournament, Berthel Askou shouldn't be immune from criticism. But while the results could have been better and the defending absolutely could, it wasn't all bad, was it? In fact, I would argue that on the whole, the new signings have looked promising, and when it has clicked, there has been a tantalising glimpse of what could lie ahead. Take Emmanuel Longelo's equaliser against Peterhead. I will add the standard caveat about the level of opposition, granted, but it was a brilliant team goal, and one that exhibited perfectly what it seems to be that the manager is trying to achieve. The ball was played out short from the keeper (gasp) to Callum Slattery, who threaded a pass through the midfield to Elijah Just on the right, who in turn found Johnny Koutroumbis haring down the outside. When the full back got his head up, there were four or five Motherwell bodies bursting into the box to aim for, including opposite full back Longelo, who eventually provided the emphatic finish following a flick from the impressive Lukas Fadinger. It was a beautiful goal and an example of the sort of well-constructed, exciting football that many within the fanbase have been crying out for. I'm sure that even those with misgivings about some of the passing on the edge of the team's own box would have to concede that the goal wouldn't have happened had Matty Connelly instead simply shelled it out wide for Just to compete against a defender in the air. (Image: Craig Foy - SNS Group) One point I have seen made though and that I would refute is that there is something peculiar in regard to the Motherwell support and the reluctance of many of them to give something new a chance. I saw the same thing with Celtic fans when Ange Postecoglou came here, had Joe Hart playing on the halfway line and lost three of his first six competitive games. It worked out not too badly for the big Aussie in the end, but it is sometimes airbrushed from history that a sizeable rump of the Celtic support were hugely sceptical about his approach before the players settled into it and the results began to follow. So, it's probably something more ingrained into the culture of Scottish football. Berthel Askou clearly recognised this himself, with a stirring address issued to supporters before Tuesday's game calling not only for patience, but promising that would be rewarded with a team that can scale new heights and break barriers. The question is, will the fans bend to his way of thinking, or will he inevitably bend to pressure and to Scottish football if things start off poorly results-wise in the league? When it comes to Motherwell trying something different, my final conclusion is always this – what do we have to lose? Our Premiership status, the doom-mongers may retort. But that is a risk at the start of every season. Is scrapping to survive no matter how it is done the limit of our ambitions? You pass this way but once. Another notable aspect of Berthel Askou's pre-Peterhead rallying cry was that he acknowledged there may be mistakes along the way, but affirmed that he and his players would never waver from the path he has set them on. A couple of new defenders, and 11 pairs of ear defenders, and his team should do just fine. As the man himself signed off…keep the faith.
The Herald Scotland
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Will Askou bend, or will Motherwell fans bend to him?
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a piece in this newsletter pleading for patience from the support with the new style being implemented by Jens Berthel Askou, and for my own part, pledged that when I was at the games, I would keep my reflex anxieties about a goalkeeper having the temerity to advance from his box to myself. At times during the League Cup group games against Clyde and Peterhead that was easier said than done, admittedly, even for someone like me who is all in on the Berthel Askou project. For others, it was clearly too much to ask. Which got me thinking. Following the game, the comments on social media were pretty much divided into two camps. On the one hand, there were those who were pulling up the moaners and groaners for their lack of faith and patience, and who argued that it was ridiculous to even be hearing boos at this early stage of the season. On the other, were the confirmed sceptics from within the support and from without, who had been far from impressed by what they had seen so far and were even, in some cases, speculating that Motherwell would struggle in the league this season off the back of the draw with Clyde and the late win over Peterhead. (Image: Rob Casey - SNS Group) Quite how such conclusions can be drawn from two matches, in any circumstances, seems a stretch to say the least. But to make such snap judgments when those two matches were played out in entirely different conditions (one in suffocating heat on a bone-dry, worn-out monstrosity of a pitch, the other in a monsoon), with a raft of changes between the starting XIs due to the close proximity of the games and a desire to manage workloads, all while those players are still getting to grips with an entirely new way of playing, seems ludicrous. Read more: Of course, there can be few excuses for failing to beat lower league opposition, and if the Steelmen don't progress into the next round of the tournament, Berthel Askou shouldn't be immune from criticism. But while the results could have been better and the defending absolutely could, it wasn't all bad, was it? In fact, I would argue that on the whole, the new signings have looked promising, and when it has clicked, there has been a tantalising glimpse of what could lie ahead. Take Emmanuel Longelo's equaliser against Peterhead. I will add the standard caveat about the level of opposition, granted, but it was a brilliant team goal, and one that exhibited perfectly what it seems to be that the manager is trying to achieve. The ball was played out short from the keeper (gasp) to Callum Slattery, who threaded a pass through the midfield to Elijah Just on the right, who in turn found Johnny Koutroumbis haring down the outside. When the full back got his head up, there were four or five Motherwell bodies bursting into the box to aim for, including opposite full back Longelo, who eventually provided the emphatic finish following a flick from the impressive Lukas Fadinger. It was a beautiful goal and an example of the sort of well-constructed, exciting football that many within the fanbase have been crying out for. I'm sure that even those with misgivings about some of the passing on the edge of the team's own box would have to concede that the goal wouldn't have happened had Matty Connelly instead simply shelled it out wide for Just to compete against a defender in the air. (Image: Craig Foy - SNS Group) One point I have seen made though and that I would refute is that there is something peculiar in regard to the Motherwell support and the reluctance of many of them to give something new a chance. I saw the same thing with Celtic fans when Ange Postecoglou came here, had Joe Hart playing on the halfway line and lost three of his first six competitive games. It worked out not too badly for the big Aussie in the end, but it is sometimes airbrushed from history that a sizeable rump of the Celtic support were hugely sceptical about his approach before the players settled into it and the results began to follow. So, it's probably something more ingrained into the culture of Scottish football. Berthel Askou clearly recognised this himself, with a stirring address issued to supporters before Tuesday's game calling not only for patience, but promising that would be rewarded with a team that can scale new heights and break barriers. The question is, will the fans bend to his way of thinking, or will he inevitably bend to pressure and to Scottish football if things start off poorly results-wise in the league? When it comes to Motherwell trying something different, my final conclusion is always this – what do we have to lose? Our Premiership status, the doom-mongers may retort. But that is a risk at the start of every season. Is scrapping to survive no matter how it is done the limit of our ambitions? You pass this way but once. Another notable aspect of Berthel Askou's pre-Peterhead rallying cry was that he acknowledged there may be mistakes along the way, but affirmed that he and his players would never waver from the path he has set them on. A couple of new defenders, and 11 pairs of ear defenders, and his team should do just fine. As the man himself signed off…keep the faith.
The National
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Will Askou bend, or will Motherwell fans bend to him?
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a piece in this newsletter pleading for patience from the support with the new style being implemented by Jens Berthel Askou, and for my own part, pledged that when I was at the games, I would keep my reflex anxieties about a goalkeeper having the temerity to advance from his box to myself. At times during the League Cup group games against Clyde and Peterhead that was easier said than done, admittedly, even for someone like me who is all in on the Berthel Askou project. For others, it was clearly too much to ask. Which got me thinking. Following the game, the comments on social media were pretty much divided into two camps. On the one hand, there were those who were pulling up the moaners and groaners for their lack of faith and patience, and who argued that it was ridiculous to even be hearing boos at this early stage of the season. On the other, were the confirmed sceptics from within the support and from without, who had been far from impressed by what they had seen so far and were even, in some cases, speculating that Motherwell would struggle in the league this season off the back of the draw with Clyde and the late win over Peterhead. (Image: Rob Casey - SNS Group) Quite how such conclusions can be drawn from two matches, in any circumstances, seems a stretch to say the least. But to make such snap judgments when those two matches were played out in entirely different conditions (one in suffocating heat on a bone-dry, worn-out monstrosity of a pitch, the other in a monsoon), with a raft of changes between the starting XIs due to the close proximity of the games and a desire to manage workloads, all while those players are still getting to grips with an entirely new way of playing, seems ludicrous. Read more: Of course, there can be few excuses for failing to beat lower league opposition, and if the Steelmen don't progress into the next round of the tournament, Berthel Askou shouldn't be immune from criticism. But while the results could have been better and the defending absolutely could, it wasn't all bad, was it? In fact, I would argue that on the whole, the new signings have looked promising, and when it has clicked, there has been a tantalising glimpse of what could lie ahead. Take Emmanuel Longelo's equaliser against Peterhead. I will add the standard caveat about the level of opposition, granted, but it was a brilliant team goal, and one that exhibited perfectly what it seems to be that the manager is trying to achieve. The ball was played out short from the keeper (gasp) to Callum Slattery, who threaded a pass through the midfield to Elijah Just on the right, who in turn found Johnny Koutroumbis haring down the outside. When the full back got his head up, there were four or five Motherwell bodies bursting into the box to aim for, including opposite full back Longelo, who eventually provided the emphatic finish following a flick from the impressive Lukas Fadinger. It was a beautiful goal and an example of the sort of well-constructed, exciting football that many within the fanbase have been crying out for. I'm sure that even those with misgivings about some of the passing on the edge of the team's own box would have to concede that the goal wouldn't have happened had Matty Connelly instead simply shelled it out wide for Just to compete against a defender in the air. (Image: Craig Foy - SNS Group) One point I have seen made though and that I would refute is that there is something peculiar in regard to the Motherwell support and the reluctance of many of them to give something new a chance. I saw the same thing with Celtic fans when Ange Postecoglou came here, had Joe Hart playing on the halfway line and lost three of his first six competitive games. It worked out not too badly for the big Aussie in the end, but it is sometimes airbrushed from history that a sizeable rump of the Celtic support were hugely sceptical about his approach before the players settled into it and the results began to follow. So, it's probably something more ingrained into the culture of Scottish football. Berthel Askou clearly recognised this himself, with a stirring address issued to supporters before Tuesday's game calling not only for patience, but promising that would be rewarded with a team that can scale new heights and break barriers. The question is, will the fans bend to his way of thinking, or will he inevitably bend to pressure and to Scottish football if things start off poorly results-wise in the league? When it comes to Motherwell trying something different, my final conclusion is always this – what do we have to lose? Our Premiership status, the doom-mongers may retort. But that is a risk at the start of every season. Is scrapping to survive no matter how it is done the limit of our ambitions? You pass this way but once. Another notable aspect of Berthel Askou's pre-Peterhead rallying cry was that he acknowledged there may be mistakes along the way, but affirmed that he and his players would never waver from the path he has set them on. A couple of new defenders, and 11 pairs of ear defenders, and his team should do just fine. As the man himself signed off…keep the faith.
The Herald Scotland
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Motherwell fans need to lose 'get rid' urges amid new style
Ok, I admit it. When Calum Ward was dribbling the ball out from the back the other day and trying to thread passes on the edge of his 18-yarder as if he was Franz Beckenbauer in his pomp (he isn't) my heart was in my mouth just a little. I don't know if it's a reflexively Scottish thing to immediately get the heebie jeebies when your team tries something as 'continental' and 'woke' as playing the ball out from the back, but watching the Motherwell players trying to execute the philosophy of Jens Berthel Askou for the first time, even in a pre-season kickabout, seemingly sparked a dose of the vapours among a good chunk of the support. One can only imagine how many of the Fir Park punters would react if the team attempts this on the opening day of the league campaign against Rangers. Though, we don't really need to imagine it at all, because we can simply recall the reaction when Jim Gannon and then Graham Alexander initially tried it during their own tenures as manager. (Image: Craig Foy - SNS Group) With the greatest of respect to the likes of club legend Stephen Craigan and then later on, cult hero Bevis Mugabi, they didn't look altogether comfortable with the notion, to say the least. And as for the fans? Well, the good folk from St John's better be on alert for a sharp increase in medical incidents just above the dugouts. Read more: These managers soon ripped up Plan A, and tailored their style to suit the tools with which they were working. And after the friendly defeat to FC Twente, many speculated online that Berthel Askou would soon come to a similar realisation that his players just weren't good enough to pull this sort of thing off. That a modern, progressive style just isn't for the likes of us. But here's the thing. I'm not sure he will. Granted, he might not have his keeper playing quite so high up the pitch at times, and he clearly doesn't intend him to be on the ball quite as often as he was in the midweek game. Much of that was caused by the players ahead of the defence not quite executing the sort of movement he wants from them, by the by, hence the frequent shouts accusing them of 'hiding' from the dugout. There will be tweaks to what we saw against Twente when the competitive stuff gets underway, for sure, but when Berthel Askou arrived, his pitch was that a more 'dynamic' and 'aggressive' approach with 'more dimensions' was vital to the success of his team. Having met him, he doesn't seem the type to be swayed from that belief by groans from the crowd and people imploring him 'to get the ball up the f****** park'. Let's not forget, this is what a large section of the fanbase (me included) wanted. An end to years of predominantly long hoofs, 50/50s, and scrapping for second balls. Entertaining and enterprising football. Players taking the ball under pressure and being comfortable on it. High pressing, high intensity. And yes, a little higher risk. There were glimpses of it under Michael Wimmer, and now it seems from early impressions that Berthel Askou is going to crank that up another notch. (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) He has time to bring in players more suited to such a game model, but there were signs on Tuesday that even with the current group, this can work. When it came off, and when Motherwell broke the Twente press, they created opportunities. A proper balance will have to be found. There's nothing wrong with going long when the occasion demands it, and as some of the pitches deteriorate towards the winter, those occasions will increase. I can understand the reticence from some to embrace this sort of style. In a division where the margins are razor thin, increasing the risk around your own area seems counter-intuitive. But the rewards could be great. Brendan Rodgers picked up on this theme a couple of years ago. Ok, he has far better players at his disposal than Motherwell do, but when discussing taking his Celtic side into the Champions League, he hit back at those who criticised him for playing out against teams better than his own. "People don't pick up on the balls that get smashed up the pitch that come right back at you and it ends up in a goal,' Rodgers said. 'No-one ever talks about that. But the minute a short build-up leads to a goal? 'I guarantee the stats are greater for mistakes in the long ball build-up. Any top team in the world will build from the back. If you make a mistake, you can't kill your goalkeeper. It's about decision making.' This isn't Berthel Askou reinventing the wheel, here, after all. Teams around Europe have been doing this for years. And the players, no matter what you may think about some of them and their technical limitations, are capable of controlling the ball and passing it 10 or 15 yards. It all boils down to their decision-making, and with more practice and repetition, that will get better. But it will also take patience from the crowd. If we want to move away from the drudgery of the past and towards a more sophisticated and entertaining brand of football, we have to give Berthel Askou a chance to implement it. Therefore, I am hereby banning myself from uttering the words 'get rid!' in the early stages of the season, and I politely suggest you do the same. Even if we all know that little voice inside of us, who wants us to play it safe and to pretend it's still 1987, will be screaming at us to do so. Even if one hand is over my eyes, I'll be keeping the other one over my gub.
The National
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Motherwell fans need to lose 'get rid' urges amid new style
Ok, I admit it. When Calum Ward was dribbling the ball out from the back the other day and trying to thread passes on the edge of his 18-yarder as if he was Franz Beckenbauer in his pomp (he isn't) my heart was in my mouth just a little. I don't know if it's a reflexively Scottish thing to immediately get the heebie jeebies when your team tries something as 'continental' and 'woke' as playing the ball out from the back, but watching the Motherwell players trying to execute the philosophy of Jens Berthel Askou for the first time, even in a pre-season kickabout, seemingly sparked a dose of the vapours among a good chunk of the support. One can only imagine how many of the Fir Park punters would react if the team attempts this on the opening day of the league campaign against Rangers. Though, we don't really need to imagine it at all, because we can simply recall the reaction when Jim Gannon and then Graham Alexander initially tried it during their own tenures as manager. (Image: Craig Foy - SNS Group) With the greatest of respect to the likes of club legend Stephen Craigan and then later on, cult hero Bevis Mugabi, they didn't look altogether comfortable with the notion, to say the least. And as for the fans? Well, the good folk from St John's better be on alert for a sharp increase in medical incidents just above the dugouts. Read more: These managers soon ripped up Plan A, and tailored their style to suit the tools with which they were working. And after the friendly defeat to FC Twente, many speculated online that Berthel Askou would soon come to a similar realisation that his players just weren't good enough to pull this sort of thing off. That a modern, progressive style just isn't for the likes of us. But here's the thing. I'm not sure he will. Granted, he might not have his keeper playing quite so high up the pitch at times, and he clearly doesn't intend him to be on the ball quite as often as he was in the midweek game. Much of that was caused by the players ahead of the defence not quite executing the sort of movement he wants from them, by the by, hence the frequent shouts accusing them of 'hiding' from the dugout. There will be tweaks to what we saw against Twente when the competitive stuff gets underway, for sure, but when Berthel Askou arrived, his pitch was that a more 'dynamic' and 'aggressive' approach with 'more dimensions' was vital to the success of his team. Having met him, he doesn't seem the type to be swayed from that belief by groans from the crowd and people imploring him 'to get the ball up the f****** park'. Let's not forget, this is what a large section of the fanbase (me included) wanted. An end to years of predominantly long hoofs, 50/50s, and scrapping for second balls. Entertaining and enterprising football. Players taking the ball under pressure and being comfortable on it. High pressing, high intensity. And yes, a little higher risk. There were glimpses of it under Michael Wimmer, and now it seems from early impressions that Berthel Askou is going to crank that up another notch. (Image: GordonTerris/Herald&Times) He has time to bring in players more suited to such a game model, but there were signs on Tuesday that even with the current group, this can work. When it came off, and when Motherwell broke the Twente press, they created opportunities. A proper balance will have to be found. There's nothing wrong with going long when the occasion demands it, and as some of the pitches deteriorate towards the winter, those occasions will increase. I can understand the reticence from some to embrace this sort of style. In a division where the margins are razor thin, increasing the risk around your own area seems counter-intuitive. But the rewards could be great. Brendan Rodgers picked up on this theme a couple of years ago. Ok, he has far better players at his disposal than Motherwell do, but when discussing taking his Celtic side into the Champions League, he hit back at those who criticised him for playing out against teams better than his own. "People don't pick up on the balls that get smashed up the pitch that come right back at you and it ends up in a goal,' Rodgers said. 'No-one ever talks about that. But the minute a short build-up leads to a goal? 'I guarantee the stats are greater for mistakes in the long ball build-up. Any top team in the world will build from the back. If you make a mistake, you can't kill your goalkeeper. It's about decision making.' This isn't Berthel Askou reinventing the wheel, here, after all. Teams around Europe have been doing this for years. And the players, no matter what you may think about some of them and their technical limitations, are capable of controlling the ball and passing it 10 or 15 yards. It all boils down to their decision-making, and with more practice and repetition, that will get better. But it will also take patience from the crowd. If we want to move away from the drudgery of the past and towards a more sophisticated and entertaining brand of football, we have to give Berthel Askou a chance to implement it. Therefore, I am hereby banning myself from uttering the words 'get rid!' in the early stages of the season, and I politely suggest you do the same. Even if we all know that little voice inside of us, who wants us to play it safe and to pretend it's still 1987, will be screaming at us to do so. Even if one hand is over my eyes, I'll be keeping the other one over my gub.
