Motherwell set for Europa challenge
Well…they had better be!
It hardly seems like days since the World Cup final and the last game of the 2009/10 campaign but already a Scottish representative is getting set to hit the field for competitive action. Motherwell have a new field at Fir Park and Icelandic opponents Breidablik will be the first foot for the 2010/11 season.
Its a tough task for Motherwell as their opponents are well into their season and after 11 games are top of the Icelandic Premier League. This mixture of confidence and fitness means that a tricky night is definitely in store for the Lanarkshire club but Craig Brown is not taking a lack of action as an excuse for whatever happens on Thursday night.
Last year’s Europa League qualifiers showed that John Ruddy could be trusted between the sticks for Motherwell and new goalkeeper Darren Rudolph will be hoping to start the season off well. A clean sheet will give Motherwell plenty of confidence, and another week of fitness, to take to Iceland in their attempt to progress in the competition.
Motherwell have had just the three pre-season friendlies behind them before this match but the players have known this match was looming since the moment their participation in the tournament was confirmed. This happened when Dundee United triumphed in the Scottish Cup final over Ross County so the Well management team and players can’t say this was a surprise.
Depending on the result at Fir Park tomorrow night, the debate and discussion about summer time football is sure to kick off again and we must admit that we aren’t adverse to it. We like the current situation, its what we’ve always known but if by altering the calendar we give our team a better chance of progressing in Europe, it has to be considered.
Mind you, if anyone advocates the benefit of “summer football”, they should be dragged outside and left to stand in the pouring rain for an hour and tell us all about the high points of summer football!
Can Well get through this round?
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