ROUTE DONE
Long-ball football over at Well as Robbo vows to stay stylish
Stephen Robinson has insisted Motherwell will go in for the skill this season after ditching their long ball game.
Robinson used last season’s winter break to bring in a new playing style after Well were dumped out of the Scottish Cup by Ross County.
Well have snapped up several tricky ball players this summer and have showcased some smooth football in their pre-season run-outs.
Robinson admits his side won’t go back to a route-one approach now.
He said: “If you have big strong boys who are very good at running in behind as well as players who are good at getting crosses in, then you play to those strengths.
“We didn’t have that after Christmas last year so we actively recruited. As you can see this summer, we’ve brought in a lot of very good footballers.
“We’ve got boys like Liam Polworth and Casper Sloth, as well as wide players who can cause problems. Devante Cole is a big coup for us to sign and we have another player coming in. These guys all have real pace and energy and that’s the way we want to play now.”
Robinson is demanding his side get off to a flier in the new campaign as he chases a top-six finish.
He said: “Of course we’d like to make the top six but first and foremost, our aim is to stay in this division.
“We have players that we think can win football matches now and we believe we’re well organised.
“Our main aim for this season is simply to improve on what we’ve done the past two years.”
Around 300 Well fans lapped up the sunshine as they watched their new-look side stroll to a comfortable win. First-half goals from Chris Long and Liam Donnelly, followed by Jamie Semple’s free-kick late on, sealed the win at Blackwell Meadows.
Robinson said: “We’ve had a successful pre- season. The most important thing at this time of year is to avoid picking up any injuries.
“Touch wood, we haven’t got any at this moment in time and we’re looking fit and strong.
“There’s lots of things that we know we have to improve on. I stilltill believe that I need one or twowo more players in the attackingng third of the pitch.
“But the things we’ve beenen working on have gone well.ell. We’re pressing high up thehe pitch which I like andnd everything is going well at the moment.
“It may take a little timee for our new signings to gel but we’re going in the right direction.
“We have a tough group in the Betfred Cup and a difficult start on the astroturf at Queen of the South.
“But that’s why we play these competitive games against the likes of Crusaders, Linfield and Darlington because they have that edge to them.
“We’re expecting some really hard games in our group. There are no easy matches in football now. The surface was good today and it gives the fans a little trip out. They got to follow us to Belfast as well.
“Darlington always give us a test and that’s what we like.
“Our three pre-season games have all been physical.
“They’ve all had a bit of bite about them and at this stage that’s what we’ve needed. “The new signings have all settled in well but some are ahead of others. “Some of them haven’t played footballfoot for a long time and we need to get them up to speed. “You’ll be able to see who hasn’t played just as much footbal l by their performances in these friendlies. “We’ll pick a relevant team for next Saturday forf those who a re a little bit further ahead anda those who we haveh to get ready for the leaguele campaign.”