El Grew

Waited until all the furore died down and I'd regained my composure after last week's debacle before posting. Jim Gannon has obviously been shocked at what he has inherited in terms of so-called experienced first team players and hasn't wasted time in saying so. Its great to have someone come into Scottish football with a fresh perspective and who isn't in the usual Scottish football Mafia Managers clique who continually talk up Scottish football with nothing more than vested self-interest and job-security in mind when it obvious to all and sundry that the exact opposite is the case. Scottish football has never been as low and lacking in quality as it at present and at least Gannon's had the balls to speak his mind about what we have passing for professional footballers at FP. IMO it is highly likely that the following will be exiting FP in the not too distant future as he begins his clear-out and rebuild work - Fraser; Craigan; Lasley; McGarry; O'Brien and Smith. Even though we lost, it was a real breath of fresh air it was to see so many talented youngsters playing last week and boy they did themselves proud. Once Gannon gets rid of the aforementioned dead wood and adds some players of his own choosing then allied with the youngsters, we may end up with not a bad side.

Thanks Andy P. Yes, I posted this with a little bit of tongue in cheek. Sure last season we had a decent team and piss poor pitch but it looks as though it will be vice versa this season. And yes I do think that the bulletins on the pitch were/are mainly for the benefit of the SPL to demonstrate that we did do what we were asked to do. To be honest the only players I'm sorry to see leaving us are Davie Clarkson and Stephen Hughes. The loss of the rest, as many who have read my previous views on here, don't really trouble me. I don't grudge Davie his move one little bit as he has been a terrific servant to the club and I think the move may help improve again him as a player. But there are others I would rather see leave before Davie. I believe that we may be left with only 12 first team regulars after the departure of all concerned and with no prospect of any of the proceeds finding its way into the war chest for the new manager. All this before a ball is kicked in anger and with a Europa Cup tie only a few days away. I wish Jim Gannon all the luck in the world because by God he is going to need it in spades. Another aspect to all of this is, that at a time when the SPL is trying to find somebody (anybody) to give it a TV deal, many clubs are busy selling off their best players and just how this will help sell the SPL to prospective broadcasters is quite beyond me.

Day after day we have had updates on how the pitch refurbishment is coming along - the grass is germinating, the covers are coming off, the grass has grown 0.5mm overnight, it'll soon be getting its first cut, blah, blah, blah, blah, etc. Talk about bleeding ridiculous!!!! Just who is all this shite for? The SPL hierearchy - so as to be able to prove that we really did do the job this time!! Oh and by the way we are flogging every player that we have that anyone with a bob or two is interested in buying - oh and we won't be too hard to deal with as any offer will be considered. Also we don't have a manager yet. But season tickets are flying out the door!! What a comedy turn this club is turning into. Boyle out and pretty damn quickly before he sells the f*ucking grass.

Sandy Clark was quoted in the Express yesterday as saying that he and Jimmy Nichol are prepared to split with Jimmy Calderwood and work together as a pair if a job came up in the SPL. He said it was unlikely that Calderwood would be interested in managing again in the SPL.

Given the Setanta debacle I don't think there will be many SPL clubs going into the transfer market. Players will now need to take a reality check with regard to contracts and wage demands now because there may be quite a number of them who will become unafordable quite shortly. It's likely that at least one SPL club (Kilmarnock?) will fold as a result of all of this and another two are on extremely dodgy ground (Hamilton and Falkirk?).

Paul Sturrock has made noises about wanting to come back to Scotland. I think he'd do a really good job for us. Failing that get Jimmy Calderwood in - ticks all the right boxes.

He should see about getting Darren a part in it fulltime!!!

Well, well, well. Quelle surprise!! I said it a long time ago that the appointment of Mark McGhee would lead to trouble. From the day and hour he first set foot in FP he was hell-bent on getting himself a 'better' job. And also surprise surprise, the silence from FP on the managerial situation is quite deafening given that the manager has been linked with the Celtic and Aberdeen jobs for a few weeks now. I'll say this much about McGhee, if, and he probably will, fail to deliver what Aberdeen want from him, then he'd better get his pipe and slippers out because it will be the end of his managerial days. With his past record and attitude no club will touch him. Enjoy your 2-year contract while it lasts Mark (if you see it out) because it will be your last. Oh and by the way gtf asap.

Reason why I have not renewed season ticket. IMO John Boyle should be looking after Motherwell better and sorry but that means laying it on the line to Mark McGhee - staying or going - decide now and if he can't answer then tell him to gtf.

Yir Elder's right. Why the f*ck take the match outwith Lanarkshire??? I been behind the scenes at Airdrie's stadium and believe me its a cracking stadium and meets UEFA standards in all respects - that's one of the reasons the old Airdrie went bust. Holding it there and setting sensible prices would ensure a better chance of attracting any neutrals who might want to go along. But no lets take it to Livingston and increase supporters' costs with unnecessary travel costs.

Look forward to it mate. You'd better sense check it though - Quirk fought in the Boer War not the Boar War. Oink, oink, grunt.

I think MM will get the Aberdeen job - his may be one of the first applications that Willie Miller was spouting about - but if he does go there he should be aware that: - expectation levels at that club are totally unrealistic; - getting 4th place and qualifying for Europe (again) was enough for them to 'sack' a manager so anything less will mean a public hanging; - there is no money to buy players; - the wage structure is very poor; - they have plenty of dead wood players wise; and - Willie Miller looking over your shoulder. Apart from the latter it could be us!!!!

Celtic A number of Celtic supporters that work beside me have all said that if MM is appointed they would regard it as worse than having Strachan staying on. They all seem to want a foreign manager to progress them in European terms. Aberdeen It seems that Jimmy Calderwood was fed-up losing players due to lack of money (sound familiar) and having to re-build season after season. He wanted the board to increase the wage structure to help hold onto players and give him some transfer money but they refused. Seems they wanted him to bringing in young players and blend them with a few experienced ones that they want to retain. He decided no and so the parting of the ways. Names being mentioned for their post (apart from MM who IMO will end up there) are Eric Black, Darren Ferguson and wait for it...... Paul Sturrock!!! Motherwell Paul Sturrock is apparently desperate to come back up to Scotland so, if MM does exit why not make an approach to him?

I'd take only two - left-back Lionel Djebi-Zadi and centre-forward Eric Odhiambo. Both are big physical and athletic and quite skilled on the ball and wouldn't be bullied around.

I heard that use of the PA system would be discontinued from next season and replaced by a series of Tic Tac men strategically seated around the ground.

I'm so happy for you. Feel quite free to start your own wee happy clappy club. "Unbridled optimism is to be admired, right up until it begins to affect one's judgement". F D Roosevelt

Just viewed the 'highlights' of ICT game and it was interesting to note that both ICT goals again resulted from some classic 'Micky Mouse' defending from Messrs Hammell, Quinn and Reynolds. Apologies to Micky Mouse. Ah, some things just never change!!!

Ah crystal balls!

£5 million!!!????

Totally agree.

Pure pish. The only players he brought in that were of any use were McCormack Porter and Hughes and two have gone and one is about to go. From the others you mention, my views on them are well documented on previous posts but with Fitzpatrick, DL Smith, McGarry x 2 and O'Brien, Quinn and Craigan and no new signings then its the First Division next stop. You can disagree until you are blue in the face mate I don't honestly care.

£22 for a meaningless end of season game with our manager struggling to motivate players, on what is looking likely to be thoroughly wet and miserable day!! Eh, I think I'll pass.

Season Ticket Sales Are Up!!! Aye right! Pay as you go for me and pick and choose my games from now on. Lets face it there won't be any problem getting a seat for ANY game at FP.

From BBS Website Motherwell manager Mark McGhee admits out-of-contract duo Stephen Hughes and Graeme Smith are likely to move on. However, he hopes to secure on-loan Maros Klimpl on a permanent deal. "Maros wants to stay and we're trying to negotiate something," he said. "It's a case of trying to get a financial deal that allows us to get him." McGhee also suggested that he had missed out with offers for Livingston pair Dave MacKay and Murray Davidson who have joined St Johnstone. "Financially, these are really difficult times and we're going to have to look to the boys coming up from the youth system, which I think is going to become more important for everyone," added McGhee, who was recently priced out of a move for Queen of the South striker Stephen Dobbie. "We tried to sign a couple of players yesterday who we weren't able to afford and who look as though they've ended up signing for St Johnstone, so that's our problem and we have to cut our cloth. "The youth system is really where our squad is going to be coming from, because we aren't going to be out there buying and selling lots of players." Former Rangers pair Hughes and Smith have been impressive performers for Motherwell this season and McGhee is planning ahead for next season without them. "I'm anticipating they'll leave, but I haven't heard that they've signed for anyone and there are offers on the table," he said. Slovakian defensive midfielder Klimpl will be free to leave Danish side FC Midtjylland in the summer. And season ticket sales are up? Well I for one will certainly not be renewing my season ticket to watch more of the same shite that has been served up this season. This team needs major surgery and has not been strengthened since Mark McGhee arrived. So now we are going to be reduced to bringing in youths to the SPL!! Well the only place that will lead to, will be relegation. And lets face it if we can't cut it then maybe it would be better to let others in who could. FFS we are supposed to be competing in the top league in Scotland and we have now been outbid twice, twice mind you, for the same two players by First Division Teams. Apparently both were signed for £50K. Not a King's Ransom and it also seems as though the terms offered to the players in question were better than we are able to offer. Remember McGhee has been chasing one of these tow for the best part of a year!!!Mismanagement on a grand scale at FP continues in my view and the sooner Boyle gets out the better. Our club has been made a laughing stock by this man (consider the pitch fiasco this season and all the half-arsed 'initiatives') and now this. Well he'll be getting no more money from me to waste and If I was Mark McGhee I'd be on the high road out of FP toute suite.

Seconded!