Gadgey

I'm well chuffed Mixu has declared himself too important for us....a bullet dodged!!!

Gary McCallister grew up a Motherwell fan. Didn't he get the BT cameraman to show his brother in his Motherwell scarf sat in the POD before the start of second playoff? If I recall, he was in the running around the time McCall got the job and it was around then that he publicly made the comment about selling all talent. His CV says coach first and foremost and manager a comparably poor second. There are very few managers who survive the heart of their team being ripped out and even less allowed time to rebuild or maintain momentum. I really like the guy (maybe cos he's one of us and ain't shy of saying so) but worry about this whole club legend, Motherwell man infatuation. We don't need a love in, we need a brave man willing to kick some arse!!!!

Identifying depression, stress and other mental illnesses are often difficult to identify in yourself and in others. Medical advancement have worked wonders for identifying all sorts of illnesses and diseases but the identification of and treatment for mental illness is still by comparison in the dark ages. Sufferers try really hard to disguise the symptoms of mental illness from others and often manage to hide it from themselves for an extraordinary length of time. O'Leary says himself in that article that upon reflection, he had been suffering from mental health issues since the age of 13 yet hadn't recognised that he was until having sought professional help.....which was after his perceived ill treatment by calderwood. By no means am I defending calderwood as I don't know the full picture, but from experience of working closely with and on behalf of people who are suffering from depression and in particular workplace stress, the accounts of events described by the mental health sufferer are often considerably different to that of others present. So in a nutshell, perhaps what O'Leary describes happened that way, perhaps it didn't, but not at any time did he declare that calderwood purposely targeted him because he had depression. The general consensus on Motherwell forums is that the team are not performing to their capabilities and that in order to reverse the apparent apathetic trend, a strong character is required to come into that dressing room, have the battle with the egos and affirm their status as alpha male. Isn't that what calderwood was doing at killie? At the time, they had a comparable squad to ours and he turned them around. He sought to install a siege mentality and O'Leary would've been a key player as he was one of their more talented. So to have someone of that ilk refuse to step up to the plate and give no reason as to why.....You focus on those who are and leave him behind. So yeh, maybe we don't need someone to come in, have the war and sound the rallying cry cos let's face it, the Motherwell first team squad appear to be showing the classic signs of depression.

As much as Jimmy C (and eddiemunster, the C isnae for Cumberland) is an unfashionable suggestion for Motherwell manager, if you just looked at his managerial record without your judgement being clouded by orange sausages, he should be in the running for the job! The thought of 'Craggs' getting the job gives me the fear....as clever as he is, as loyal a servant he has been, his appointment would be a punt and our club simply cannot afford a punt!!!! Don't get me wrong, calderwood has never been high on my wish list on any of the occasions when we've needed a manager but let's face it, he's never been relegated, won more games than he's lost and has a proven track record. McGhee is arguably in the same category but if you were him, would you want to go back to a club who's fans sang about you being a nonce in response to you leaving that club for a better paid job with better resources?

Roger Hind....even worse than Bobby Watson and Harri Kampman!!!!

Based on his managerial track record, Steve Evans has the potential of being a very positive appointment. Yeah, in his early managerial days he got in a spot of bother with the taxman, but the whole club (Boston Utd) was at it at the time. His managerial track record is likely to be better than pretty much every other candidate and reputationaly, would take no shite from any Charlie big spud has been or wanna be in the dressing room. He's achieved promotion at every club he's managed and has his teams playing at a good tempo with a battling spirit. I expect he will not be short of offers as we enter manager sacking season and would be somewhat of a coup if he chose to come to us.

Personally, I don't think either of the Finns will be considered and would be deeply disappointed if Mixu gets the nod! I really like Simo and had the pleasure of his company on a number of occasions when he played for us. He looks like he's got the makings of being a good manager, but I just don't think that given our present vulnerability, that this is the right time to appoint a 'prospect'. Also, if we did appoint him, it would cost, and most likely he wouldn't take up post until the title race is decided for his present club. That said, Mixu is even more of a punt!!! Despite his experience, he really made a pigs ear of the Finnish national side and in doing so, proved that his coaching ability was limited when trying to get the best from limited resources. Press reporting today that Ian Holloway is a contender. What are people's view on him? He's achieved his best when working with provincial clubs and from past behaviours, has proven that he would fit with the 'community based football club' business plan. Dare I say a talented Kenny Shields????

iplayer here I come

Where did he say that?

Is it 352 or 442?

Is grimshaw at right back? According to BBC stats, we've been heavily under the kosh since the goal. What's it really been like?

I don't know so much about footballers being tender little flowers, but could you imagine what it'd be like in your workplace where the company isn't achieving what it needs to achieve, the gaffer gets sacked and the CEOs golden boy, irrespective of experience or even qualification is stepped up to be your interim gaffer ..... And then starts running around telling everyone that you and your colleagues are a disgrace to their job and that if he had his way, he'd sack the lot of you???? You would just think prrrrrrrrrick and want to do even less!!!!!! I pay no notice to press conferences because the real business is done well out of our site and knowledge.

Isn't it amazing how some people interpret the same information dependent upon their own viewpoint????? For example the Craigan press conference. Some folk already touting big Crags as the man for the job and using the blokes obvious comfort in front of a camera as justification of his managerial abilities. Then on the other hand, some already claiming the guys a fud and should not be allowed near the place cos big Crags disnae know the difference between margins and a mile oot!!!! In all honesty, what the fuck did anyone expect the bloke to say? He was about to take over the running of a football team that was obviously low in confidence, seemingly lacking in motivation, seemingly absent of team cohesion and only one cuffing away from a total collapse. He's never going to go on record as saying "they're all a bunch of pricks and I'm gonny be a wrecking ball" cos that would be just bloody stupid. So maybe for balance, listen again to what he said regarding the number of players playing to their potential on a match day and the numbers who aren't. The players will know who exactly who he's talking about and it'll be his job to get them to respond. Why don't we just do as he himself suggested and let him show his capability for the job on Saturday.

On the face of it, Simo would be an attractive proposition, he has an excellent record for such a young manager. What we don't know is, how much did he have to spend? What was the quality of the squad he inherited and what is the quality of the opposition? I used to have an awesome managerial record for my Sunday league team but I'd be pish Motherwell manager. I love all this patter about Henry and what he'd bring to the club with all of his 'contacts'.....it's very reminiscent of when I tried to convince the pregnant wife that the Subaru Impreza sti that I always wanted would've been the perfect family car.

As much as the glamour appeal of getting a fallen star et al Malky McKay, Nigel Clough or (you're too young to remember if you're seriously considering this bloke) Billy Davies, is really strong, does it actually fit with the long term strategy highlighted by Les H? Whoever is the new appointment, I expect they will be expected to accept that the back room staff in place will be the back room staff that they inherit. That may well be a deterrent to some otherwise credible candidates. As much as Ian Baraclough couldn't pick his own nose, he's assembled the makings of a squad that should in the very least, stear us away from the armageddon scenario of last season. I believe that the new manager will have some reasonably decent talent to choose from and (if he gets them playing to within 80% of their potential) will have no immediate pressure to rush out and buy in the January window.