New players put us on our mettle
Steelman Cadden hails Robinson recruits
ONLY three of the Motherwell players who ran riot against Aberdeen at Hampden know how it feels for the boot to be on the other foot. What a difference a year makes.
In February 2017, the Dons hammered the Fir Park side 7-2 in a game that saw then manager Mark McGhee infamously express his anger to a smartphone-wielding punter after being sent to the stand.
That thrashing probably marks the low point in the careers of Chris Cadden, Richard Tait and Ryan Bowman, but the trio certainly got their revenge in last weekend’s 3-0 Scottish Cup semi-final victory over the Pittodrie outfit.
What’s changed? Well, while Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes criticised poor recruitment for his side’s capitulation, Motherwell’s wheeling and dealing over the past 12 months has been first class.
McGhee’s successor Stephen Robinson has carried out a major overhaul of the squad and the strike rate of his successful signings belies the unfashionable backwaters from which they arrived.
Curtis Main is the most recent example, the combative striker signed from Portsmouth in January delivering a crushing blow to Aberdeen with two goals in the semi-final.
Tom Aldred was another January arrival, signed on loan from League One basement club Bury.
Charles Dunne arrived from Oldham, while his defensive partner Cedric Kipre was snapped up as a free agent following his release from Leicester City last summer.
Goalkeeper Trevor Carson pitched up via the bright lights of Hartlepool. Midfielder Andy Rose did likewise via Coventry.
It speaks of a terrific scouting network, as well as Robinson having a great eye for a player. The success of the Steelmen’s season has been based on transfer dealings.
‘A lot has changed since that game at Pittodrie last season,’ said Cadden, the 21-year-old academy graduate who can now look forward to a second cup final of the season.
‘The personnel has obviously changed a lot and I think the recruitment staff, no disrespect to the guys before, have been brilliant.
‘The people they’ve brought in have been great characters, not just great players. I don’t think you can underestimate that — the character we have in the squad.
‘One of the main reasons we’ve been successful this season is our togetherness. I’ve honestly never been in a changing room like it.
‘There are no cliques, no outcasts or anything like that.
‘Everybody is genuinely just together. Every time you’re at lunch, everybody is just in a big group together. It’s like one big family and it is a family club.
‘Everybody is just so together and we’re mates. Because of that, we all work for each other. We want to work hard for each other and we show it on the park.
‘Big Curtis is a good example. When you lose your top goalscorer, as we did with Louis Moult, then you obviously look to replace him.
‘Curtis arrived at the club and was under pressure because everyone expected him to replace Moulty and start banging in the goals. ‘But the lads have welcomed him with open arms into the group from day one and that’s probably helped him hit the ground running the way he has.
‘He works his socks off. That’s what Motherwell fans want. It’s a working-class town and all they want is people to try their best. If you run about and give your all, they will appreciate that.’
When he takes the field in the Hampden showpiece against Celtic next month, Cadden (pictured) will be bidding for a second national triumph with his hometown club, albeit on a much larger scale.
The winger was captain of the Motherwell side who thumped Hearts 5-2 to lift the Scottish Youth Cup in 2016.
‘It would be brilliant to win a trophy,’ he added. ‘Particularly for me on a personal note to win a trophy with my boyhood club.
‘I’ve been here since I was nine years old, so it would be unbelievable. You don’t get many opportunities like this, so I’m going to try to grab it with both hands.
‘The gaffer has been drilling it into us that we can turn a great season into an unbelievable season.
‘We’ve given ourselves a chance now and we’re desperate to grab it.’