Malky79

Only if he grows back the mad hair and beard and stops looking like such a wanker as he did when general manager at LA Galaxy. Who'd have thought he could make himself look a bigger tit than what he looked like in playing hey day!

Still hoping Nijholt will arrive and usher in an era of Dutch total football with a bit of his playing style steel resolve at its core. Staunton can get to feck, I'd have taken John Barnes ahead of him! Well I'd have tossed a coin over it anyway.

I just wish we had the choice.

Don't think there a link up, reckon your scouts satnav is stuck on the one postcode maybe.

Jeffries has done no worse than mediocre at Killie. given constraints can probably at least make a case for good job. And McAllister at Leeds record wasn't that bad, just a very sticky patch of form that with Leeds ambitions they didn't have patience to see if he could turn it around. Still not a great entry on the CV but maybe not as bad as first glance suggests.

His wikipaedia entry sounds encouraging as far as it goes. Set backs with injury, not to proud to go down the divisions to get a game. Might be a potential gem he might be rotten but coming even from a succesful Dumbarton team not likely to be a huge risk in terms of wages.

There isn't a player or manager around who won't move on to a bigger club if they do well with us. If say Nijholt comes and has a steady first season, chances are he'll be there for the next but if he then follows it up with a charge at europe or a cup final win then he'll attract attention and given he likely find it hard to keep hold of his best players if we do well he'll realise as if he didn't already know that a club with bigger resourses is what he needs for his career to progress. After being involved with the quality he has been involved in I imagine he is ambitious and I hope by coming to us he achieves that ambition by doing a good job. Goes for whoever gets it. What I'd like to see is Boyle take a more consistent interest in the club and put in place an infrastructure that really encourages our youth development to the point where ideally whoever is the manager is really not much more than a first team coach who gets to pick who comes and goes in the ever lasting merry go round of free transfer we otherwise dabble in. I like to see whoever comes to Fir Park as a manager know that attractive football is demanded, ambition encouraged and keeping us in the top division a minimun requirement. And ultimately not all that irreplaceable as and when they do leave.

I think Clarkson is brilliant for us. But even after all the improvement he made in recent seasons he does look quite raw at times. McCormack looks far more comfortable on the ball but Clarky does share some attiributes in that there is more to him than goals, he has played a vital part in our good football, created a few goals as well as scored some. I think a Cardiff fan expecting a McCormack mark II would be a bit disappointed but he is a good player and does work his socks off top of it.

I'd hope not is all I can say as we weren't all that effective playing like that. If we are to get the best out of Sutton I'd rather we played to his strengths which I believe is mostly just a goalscorer, getting the ball out wide, balls into the box from dangerous positions rather than just hoofed in, getting to byline etc. I wouldn't write Sanchez off, but I think the appeal of a relative glamour name is distorting. He might very well be an excellent manager for us, but if his style is just direct I'd rather we went a different route. I'll still cheer if we Wimbledon/Stoke City style of play into uefa cup contention or cup runs but all the good Motherwell teams I remember watching largely were good to watch also. He surely didn't guide NI to wins over Spain just by a lump it and chase it approach, so I assume there more to him than that but definately concerned by his reputation as such a long ball type.

Certainly wouldn't hurt. But even before we signed Hughes and in games without him we have stuck to the basic footballing principles and did well. We are def weaker without McCormack but we have players in O'Brien and maybe Murphy that suit playing it on the deck better. Clarkson also faired better when we play on the deck also. Right now we to much of a shell of a squad to be confident of success with any style but I know the one I'd prefer we went with and strived for.

No doubt with NI he was doing a good job but at Fulham he appeared to get found out. What was he like with Wycombe, Roy Essandoh inspired cup runs aside? Certainly bit more experienced and that appeals but if he is just a long ball merchant we'll no end up in the top 6, with more or less same squad we tried it with Malpas and we were pish. Even McGhee went direct style last season and we were honking to watch and it didn't get results. Lets keep to a manager that will encourage football in style of McGhee's first season.

I don't wish to defend the clubs inability to maintain a database but people need use a bit of iniative sometimes, especialy if you do have internet access.

I'm waiting on the post from aforesaid ginger prick saying how it was him that had Mitch land on them

I wouldn't read more into that comment than, "I've noticed the squad is a bit thin, there is cash to bring in a few players isn't there? I'm not being landed with the current 14 or 15 under contract players and a bundle of youths and expected to keep the team competative?" Rather than say expecting a few hundred grand to on transfer fees on top. Just how I read it anyway.

Don't see anything daft at all in it per se. There current standing in the game does make either particuarly big fish. Sure Brown is experienced and a former national team coach but his record in club management is nowt special and he been away from the sharp end since he left Preston. McAllister not that long sacked by Leeds and his interupted time at Coventry wasn't setting the heather alight. McAllister in particular has much to prove and if Brown wants day to day involvement in professional fitba then I doubt he innundated with options. How they work as a team is another matter I wouldn't care to speculate on.

It is isn't incorrect to suggest that we get more TV money due to the presence of the old firm, but as pointed out if they weren't playing the rest of us then how much would they get then? An equitable share of the money makes more sense than allowing the rich to get richer. Also if it wasn't for a history of religious bitterness and gloryhunting tacked onto it they wouldn't be the oversized parasites that they are and we might live a country where we had less of a gulf at the top and be a more rounded product that would still attract a healthy TV interest rather than the unhealthy ghoulfest that is Rangers and Celtic. Sadly wishful thinking on my part but if only it were so.

When are we back in pre season? We should be back by about thursday at the latest, think that is a fortnight before first euro tie. Sure players been warned to come back in good condition, rested, relaxed but not 3 weeks on the lash and a good weeks fitness work have them nearly back up to full condition with the second week getting in plenty of ball work and trying to get them sharp as possible without having them to fucked slogging guts out. 10 days build up and fingers crossed we get some fareo island haddies.

I'd say we more or less where we were when he first arrived. In terms of squad we lighter and in worse practical shape arguably but at same time we at less of a low ebb and with only a few new faces and decent new manager at the helm we should be able to put out a competative team. We better looking forward than backward for sure.

Kevin Kyle is 27 or 28. A bit of a laughing stock in the Berti Vogts era but scored 8 goals in 11 games for Killie last season and generally done ok, if it wasn't for injuries setting him back likes of us or Killie wouldn't get near him. Also I think Killie got him on an 18 month deal and are hoping to tie him up for longer but I not 100% sure on that. Also the same names get mentioned because they all did decent jobs for us and seem like realistic targets, by all means if we can get better great but I'd not knock back any of the 3 you mention at this point though I'd have concerns about JP's weight and Foran's lifestyle.

Does this need a new thread?

Fair do's I was forgetting administration, but I was thinking run of the mill years. I already said that if other financial pressures squeeze tight then maybe. That might not be to unlikely if TV situation doesn't resolve itself favourably but I still reckon we won't see that much movement.

When have we ever moved on six first team players in such short a time. Maybe under Kampman? Ones out of contract fair enough. The others will be going no where unless serious money is offered and if for example someone comes in for Reynolds then it makes Clarky or Quinn following less likely unless with Setanta going belly up we really are in dire straits.

Thing is if you want to freshen up you get rid of the deadwood like McGarry, not one of your most effective and important players from the previous two seasons.

butcher not still in the inverness job? Unless he chucking that he hardly gonna come to be our caretaker.

Not seen anything to suggest McLean got a new deal yet. I'd forgot about Klimpl, a definate possibility. If he wants him I reckon he'd go for the few quid more sheep can probably offer. That said Plymouth were linked, so I wouldn't think it set in stone. I not be to upset if we lose Klimpl, wasn't really expecting him to stay and not sure he worth pushing the boat out for though he did provide a bit of steel and dig in the middle of the park.