Niche Cache. Do wonder if Just maybe better to stay at Mothwerwell for another season, even if a club at a higher level came with an offer.
Motherwell stay in the top four spots, and they will have European football later this year.
Elijah Just: “The manager instils confidence in us and shows a lot of belief. He is open to wanting us to make mistakes but the most important thing is hard work. When we’re out there making mistakes, as long as you’re working hard, then that’s what he wants – to see you trying to improve. The previous time I worked with him was a lot different. We didn’t play quite the same style. We weren’t as successful. We ended up getting relegated from the Danish Superliga. I was in and out of the team. It didn’t suit me so much.
When he called me to bring me here, I was pleased with the way he wanted to play and that he had me in mind, even though the first time around didn’t work out quite as well as we would have wanted. I think it was more the first time I had him, he hadn’t quite developed the principles that he has now. That first time we didn’t take a lot of risks. The squad we had was also very different. You guys can see it out on the field, it’s coming to life.”
Watching the highlights, at about 3 mins (after his assist) Just also has a curling shot off that left peg bang away off the upright. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4ffkoX6SFY
Then not long after with Motherwell's 2nd goal, he basically has the pre assist, as his attempted pass is blocked to fall into the path of a team mate.
Motherwell obviously one of the better teams in the SPL this season, from the highlights it looks like they totally dominated bottom of the table Livingston away.
Is that him on corners ? Not far away assists there too. Even without Woodsy, the AWs would have Bill, Boxy, maybe Piper, Surman and Stamenic. And Waine, while not Woodsy, is still got a good header on him and has scored headed goals in the cups and top two leagues of the EFL.
Another very involved performance. Dare I say not too dissimilar to Singh at his best?
Just saw his latest assist. That team is playing some really nice passing football. From the 30 secs I watched it was definitely a few rungs above the a-league. I for one had thought below the big 2 it was poor...
Not a big amount of Just but at about 3 mins he plays a nice one-two with a team mate (classic Eli at Motherwell) and gets played in to fire a shot off his right foot. Parried away by the Rangers keeper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyvp1QRFTCA
Seems that Just and Englishman Callum Slattery have quite a partnership going around the opposition team boxes.
Standout star sets the tone for Motherwell against Aberdeen
Elijah Just struck in the 28th minute, his left-footed finish setting Motherwell up for a 2-0 win over Aberdeen.
Early on he created two chances with crisp deliveries that forced saves. He then arrived in the centre to guide home after Stephen Welsh kept a corner alive, breaking the game open with a composed finish.
He drew another save with a controlled effort from a left-side cross (33.). On the stroke of half time he supplied another tempting ball, with Tom Sparrow's header flashing just over.
After the restart, Just tested the goalkeeper from range (50.). He kept attacking central pockets, drew fouls, and carried Motherwell up the pitch as pressure built.
He finished with four attempts, three on target, four key passes and six touches in the box. That blend of threat and service kept the Dons pinned back in their own area.
Highlights. Times his run nicely to just stay onside and finish for his goal. Then should have had an assist also in the first half, but team mate butchers a near open goal chance.
Just is being touted as the best player in the SPL this year by popular Scottish football podcast Open Goal. A sign of how big an impact he has made not only at Motherwell but the league in general. Pretty massive when you consider the level of player at Celtic and Rangers (albeit not as strong as in recent years). Starts from 1.35 but has a specific chapter on Just from 1.40 also.
Highlights. Just with Motherwell's first goal. He also lays on the pass leading to the penalty for their 2nd goal. Pre assist for their 3rd goal. He was everywhere!
Just MOTM against St Mirren. He truly was awesome in this match.
It gets better because Rangers were held 2-2 by ten-man Livingston, scoring twice in the last ten minutes merely to avoid defeat, while Celtic got a red card themselves on the way to a 2-1 loss against Hibernian getting doomed by an 87th minute goal. Hearts did win 1-0 against Falkirk to extend their Premiership lead but Motherwell also just took a lengthy stride forward. If they win their game in hand they’d only be three points behind second place. They’re already in a Conference League qualification spot as it is... but second would mean Champions League. Imagine a season in which both Celtic and Rangers finish outside the top two... hasn’t happened since 1965. Motherwell (and Hearts) have opened the doors of possibility.
"The fans deserve it ultimately... it was big that we bounced back tonight following the result midweek" 🗣️
Elliot Watt and Elijah Just react after @MotherwellFC's 5-0 win over St Mirren 🟠
It is only the SPL but inarguably Just is the most in form AWs attacker at the moment.
With both Wood and Singh out, will be interesting to see how Baze uses Eli in March.
For some reason see Just going better with Barba upfront rather than Waine. Then you have Randall, McCowatt, Garbett and possibly Old (if not at LB).
At Motherwell, Just has star Zimbabwean striker Tawanda Maswanhise (14 goals in the SPL this season). But from what I've seen Maswanhise is mostly scoring from quick ball at feet situations, rather than crosses/route one stuff. He's only 1.8 metres tall. Him and Just love a quick one-two combo, around the box.
So Baze is hopefully looking closely at how Motherwell use their forward line, to make best use of Eli. Just with 6 SPL goals, 2nd top scorer for his club.
Motherwell’s manager Jens Berthel Askou was in the crowd to watch that Old Firm derby, sitting alongside his agent. He’s being heavily linked with the Celtic job next season and his appointment would make a lot of sense.
And from JBA’s perspective, the additional money and resources (not to mention the career prestige) would make it tough to turn down. He might decline it to keep going with this thrilling Motherwell project, especially if he can get them into Champions League. He might not get offered it.
But if he does end up there then it bears repeating that JBA coached Elijah Just at AC Horsens, tried to sign him at IFK Göteborg in Sweden, signed him against at Motherwell... and if he moves to Celtic then you’ve gotta think that EJ would be on his wishlist again.
