So much for Motherwell being a team in transition. You wouldn’t have known it given the way they swatted HB aside on Thursday to seal progression in the Europa Conference League.
Against a side unbeaten in their last eight home European ties, the Steelmen put in a near-perfect away display to hit three without reply and set up a clash with HJK Helsinki next week.
Given how much embarrassment Scottish football fans have been forced to endure at this stage of the season over recent years, it was refreshing to see the way in which Motherwell went about their business.
Professional, clinical and never really in any danger, it made for a pleasant change.
Early days, of course, but new manager Alfred Johansson couldn’t have hoped for a better start to life in Scotland.
Even Pep Guardiola would have been considered a step down from Jens Berthel Askou given how the great Dane had the team playing last season. No pressure then, Alfred.
Alfred Johansson has big shoes to fill following the departure of Jens Berthel Askou
His task has been made all the more difficult by being forced to sit back and watch the spine of last season’s swashbuckling side ripped out and shipped elsewhere.
Goalkeeper Calum Ward has made the switch to Queens Park Rangers, while Stephen Welsh has earned himself a move to Swansea after impressing at Fir Park on loan from Celtic, where he will once again link up with New Zealand World Cup star Elijah Just.
Elliot Watt and Callum Slattery are away to Samsunspor and Sheffield Wednesday respectively, while handy squad players like Liam Gordon and Sam Nicholson moved on to pastures new as well.
And although interest in frontman Tawanda Maswanhise cooled off to an extent over the second half of the previous campaign, it would nevertheless be a huge shock if he was still in North Lanarkshire when the transfer window shuts. The same can also probably be said for left-back Emmanuel Longelo.
Motherwell aren’t a club who will stand in anyone’s way should they wish to play at a higher level. That’s just the nature of the beast. But they aren’t under any financial pressure to accept low-ball offers that may come their way.
The days of being held over a barrel are in the past. They have every right to demand top dollar for their prized assets, and to be fair, they’ve done that so far this summer.
As always, recruitment will be key. Johansson has been fairly open about his desire to carry on the good work done by Askou. The 35-year-old may be an unknown on these shores, but the Motherwell board have clearly done their homework.
You would assume, therefore, that the same level of meticulous planning has gone in to identifying the kind of profile the former Rosenborg boss is looking to bring in.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Premiership opener against Hibernian, the Swede said: ‘The players that we want to bring have to be along the same lines of the recruitments the last couple of years, which is players that fit the style of play at the club, that fit the way we want to behave and treat people here at the club.
‘They need to be intense in how they play their football. They need to be able to sprint for the team. They need to be able to work hard for the team.’
New arrival Dylan Williams got off the mark in a 3-0 victory over HB on Thursday evening
Those already in the door seemingly tick every box.
Wide man Willy Vogt looks to have a bit about him. The 24-year-old netted 11 times for an AC Bellinzola side who finished bottom of Switzerland’s second tier last season, and has the ability to conjure up something out of nothing.
Martin Moorman has already slotted in seamlessly to fill the Welsh-shaped hole at the heart of defence.
The Austrian appears to have the physicality to cope with the rough and tumble of the Scottish game, and his stunning strike from 25 yards in the first leg against HB suggests he is more than happy to step forward and get involved at the other end of the park.
Ex-Burton Albion left-back Dylan Williams has been described by Johansson as an ‘attack-minded and exciting defender’, and demonstrated that to full effect by popping up at the edge of the HB box midweek and rifling home to open his account for his new club.
And in Alex Lowry, Motherwell have a player capable of providing a creative spark in the middle if — and admittedly, it’s a big if — he can finally find the consistency to match his talent.
At least one striker is still required, as is another attacking midfielder, but on recent evidence, you would trust the club to successfully address those areas. They may even splash some serious cash to do so, since they have a few bob to spare.
It’s easy to forget that Askou won just one of his first eight league games in charge last season before things clicked.
We may only have a small sample size to go on, but you would suspect that Johansson is unlikely to have such trouble.
