Goggles & Flippers

Isn't it just no matter how good you are there is a healthy disregard south of the border for the level of our game and quality of the players in it? The Sheffield United forum digging into us and the standard of the achievements that McCall has attained, Ruddy getting interviewed by some smug prick in a regional English football show after his move to Norwich, etc. are prime examples of this. Isn't it just we see a player, think they could do a job at the Brighton's and Nottingham Forest's of this world, unfortunately they aren't seen the same way down south and carry less of a premium? Case in point being Murphy, there were people on these boards suggesting that he was easily a +£1m player. Law's moved, we'll replace him like we did with Coke, Jennings and a host of all other players that too many predicted impending doom after their loss. I can only imagine playing in front of 45k baying bigots and picking up a healthy bit of cash compared to what he was on here were the draws for him. He's probably been sold into the "help us rebuild into a force again in European football" pish. It's not fair to say anything about what was a good servant to our club when we don't know what other offers were on the table for him. On paper it appears a lack of ambition, however if the only other hat in the ring was Cheltenham Town on £500 more than we were paying him then it makes sense.

If I was him I'd be sitting thinking the following ..... Season 1 - Came in halfway through, got a Scottish Cup Final and top 6 Season 2 - Best of the rest, despite losing some valuable squad members, brought in a couple of decent lads with Law sticking out (had worked with him before and knew he had something) and Higgy especially in the second year of his deal. Season 3 - Best of the rest, lost a couple of key players and due to their performances and a few may also be headed elsewhere. Got the Scotland backroom job and respect from my peers in award nominations and in the press. Season 4 - Looking to do pretty much a partial rebuild as performances over the past year in particular have ensured that a number of players can move on to make an extra cash despite enhanced offers. The club needs to sell one young asset per year to progress and remain financially viable as income from 4,500 core fans, prize money and telly only goes so far. This could involve Ojamaa or Hutch as these are our best hopes. Been out the loop in the English lower leagues for 2.5 years now, knowledge is more in Scottish game. Team at present needs 6-8 resignings/new faces/youth team promotions and stands as: ----------------- Hollis ------------------ ? - Hutch - Ramsden - Hammell ? -- Lasley -- Carswell -- Lawson ---------- Ojamma ---- ? ------------- Bench GK? Cummins ZFA McHugh ? ? ? Ambition - I'd ask myself, how will the rest of the division do next year? Will our competitors lose a number of their key players too? If so, then what are our chances of attaining top 6 again? Will that raise my stock both here and down south further? Will staying in Scotland cement my standing or do I see myself settling in an environment that everyone seems to say is a pleasure to be involved in? Do I harbour ambitions of managing at the very top level, would staying put for another few years help with that or not? Is the grass really greener at Sheffield Utd? I wasn't given a baptism of fire at Motherwell, there was a strong core of players, covering a wide age range with a high morale level. Will I enter a similar situation of have to take two steps back (resulting in criticism from the impatient) to go one forward? I'd probably have a rebuild here too granted with greater resources. Do I want to put my family through another move and upheaval to potentially be cut adrift in 6-12 months time if it doesn't go to plan? If so, would my stock recover (McGhee?), if so, how long will it take and will I get back into a working environment like Motherwell? Will I have burned my bridges?

It's just typical of supporting this team that those in form hit the headlines due to their form as their contracts run out, it woulda been nice if Higgy lit the heather alight the season before last when in mid contract. Only one that surprised me was Randolph not going in the last 2 windows (he made SPL team of the year last year too) and I can't imagine he wasn't on a few radars. Looking back over 20 years the last players we cashed in on in any way were Tom Boyd (1.06m) POD (2.33m), Steve McMillan (704k), Lee McCulloch (880k), Pearo (462k), Faddy (1.45m), Jim Patterson (528k), Skippy (836k) Chris Porter (528k) and Clarky (836k). Of course these are the headline figures that are published not every transfer will be or take into account add ons such as future transfers or appearance money. Think of all the other quality players who left on a free or for buttons. Football finances have changed in that period, as has the general standard south of the border as money has trickled down. The most highly rated Well player back in the day would be expected to sign for a Premiership or Championship club at least. But we also had a national team that went to World Cup's and had 8,500 to 9,000 at FP every fortnight.