Small changes for big rewards
Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson is searching for the small percentages that will make a big difference this season.
After reaching two cup finals and missing out on a top-six spot by just one point, the Northern Irishman is looking for that missing ingredient to take the club to next level.
They returned to Carton House in Ireland for the second year running for pre-season training, but Robbo played down the club was looking for a repeat of last season as he is wanting more.
“Everybody’s superstitious and we had a relatively successful season,”the Northern Irishman said.
“But first and foremost it’s the facilities here. They’re as good as anywhere else I’ve ever been in football.
“It’s obviously different to last year. We had a lot of comings-and-goings last year. I was speaking to Richard Tait about small percentages that we’re trying to create.
“We only have to get five people to get the understanding now instead of maybe 18 so it’s small tweaks here and there.
“We know we were a point outside the top six so expectations have risen.
“We have to find percentages through our play, our preparation and our signings to try and achieve that.”
While Robinson is delighted he has managed to keep the core of his successful team together so far, he was keen to play down fans expectations of a bigger war chest on the back of runs to two cup finals last season.
He said:“We work within parameters. The board support me as best they can.
“We’re not flush with cash by any stretch of the imagination. We’re still paying debts off from previous regimes.
“But I think we’ve recruited really well. We do our recruitment a lot earlier than other teams because if we get into competition we really struggle. But the boys I set out to get within our budget we’ve got.
“I feel there’s one more out there that if we could get that would make me really happy with the whole recruitment process this summer.”
With reports of club’s circling around star assets Chris Cadden and Cedrik Kipre, Robbo issued a stark warning that his best players will not be allowed out the Fir Park door on the cheap.
He added:“We are a club that sells players - but we’ll do it on our terms and when it’s right for us.
“I’ll never stand in any player’s way. There’s a difference between standing in someone’s way and getting a fair value that the club deserve.”