David

I think the bolded statement there is perhaps more telling than anything else. A lot of dislike for the young lads today is a result of certain people getting on a bit and not liking that fact, resulting in the old "ach, it was better back in my day" pish. They simply lash out at the kids of today, forgetting that they were once that age. Also, how the fuck can you condemn the lads of today for using flares and running on the pitch, yet yearn for the golden era of casuals who did a lot worse than anything todays boys are capable of?

An interesting question, and one that I think has a few possible answers. It's blatantly obvious that bringing in a young manager with limited experience is a risky move. It hasn't worked thus far, and there's a good chance it won't next time either. I'd rather we didn't just jump into such a set-up. Why not hire an experienced head, and place someone like Craigan or whoever the board see as an "up & comer" with him as an assistant? The assistant can then be primed to take over within a year or so? I also think that the ideas Les has for the club are sound, but unfortunately to make it work he may have to look at paying some decent coin for a director of football, someone who can actually implement these ideas. As much as I respect the job Alan Burrows has done I'm not sure he's got the experience required for that kind of job.

I seriously doubt they'll be trying to stop you doing anything. More like asking you to join them in highlighting an issue. If you really want to ignore them and just go about your usual match routine though I doubt you'll face much objection.

Or even more reason for the clubs to maybe get a handle on the companies they deal with? Why is it that we don't see such behaviour from our own stewards? Do opposing fans face the same kind of nonsense when they visit Fir Park?

When is the right time for the protest? In a few weeks when the issue has been all but forgotten about? What if we're stringing some wins together by then? It won't be ideal then as it may cause disruption just as we're getting it together. The truth is that there's never an ideal time for a protest like this, but they have to act now whilst the issue is still relevant and in the media.

I'd imagine the pre-match press briefing will take place regardless of what's happened, so I don't see why not.

It's obviously not quite that simple though, is it? What would you define as a "responsible and acceptable" manner? We've already seen a post that is critical of the wearing of hoods and fans who "jump about", so are we saying that jackets and other hooded clothing should be worn in a proper & sensible manner and that the act of jumping be frowned upon? "Enjoy when we win" so long as your hood is safely tucked away and both feet are planted on the floor? What about clapping and cheering? Is that acceptable so long as the conditions regarding hoods and jumping are met? After all, there have been circumstances where football fans have drawn the attention of stewards when they were clapping and cheering, hasn't there? Maybe if they'd been wearing no jacket at all and had been seated like nice little boys they'd have not caught the attention of the stewards? Or maybe, just possibly, the club and the authorities need to take a serious look at the recruitment process that these "security" companies employ? You know how it's said that security guards are simply wannabe cops who didn't quite make the grade? A lot of these stewards seem like wannabe security guards who couldn't quite make the grade. Cunts who have yearned for the chance to lord it over someone (that someone is usually a lot younger, smaller and easier to bully most of the time) but haven't been able to find a way to live out their fucked up fantasy. The number of times I've seen young lads pulled up for the exact same behaviour (usually "foul language" or some other nonsense) that older guys get away with is ridiculous. So aye, rather than berating the teenagers who have the audacity to enjoy themselves whilst jumping, wearing hooded clothing and other heinous acts perhaps we should be looking at the grown men who suddenly believe they're allowed to bully kids because they're wearing an ill-fitting reflective jacket?

I completely agree. Pay your money, sit down, wear your clothes in a sensible manner (if it's not raining, pack your hood away and refrain from keeping it up etc), clap and cheer in an acceptable manner and you'll be fine.

Just thought I'd post this in case anyone isn't on Facebook or hasn't "liked" the relevant pages; Posted by the Heavy Hands - Empty Stands Facebook account.

Unless the signing of players actually wasn't down to Baraclough? I know it's open season on bullshit and conspiracies, but the haphazard signing policy of late reeks of someone with a bit too much money and not enough football knowledge. I know Baraclough isn't considered the most capable of football managers by some of our support, but he has been around the managerial game for five years, and played for at a reasonable level for around fifteen more. Whilst he may not have been Mourinho-esque is his tactical ability you'd think he would know how many strikers a club required? As others have said, there's something slightly odd about how our club has been since Les took over.

I'd rather give someone who's new to the managerial game an opportunity than go down the road of hiring someone who's likely been sacked before just because they have experience. If Crags comes in and does a good job then he should be in with a shout of getting the job full-time.

Can I ask why? What do we actually know about his management ability?

Quick, someone give Baraclough a shout! All is forgiven!

I was jesting. I figured the mention of Billy Reid would have given that away.

That may be so, but if and when we appoint a "real" football manager like Billy Reid, Jim Jeffries, Jimmy Calderwood etc that kind of pish will be right out the window! Chips and burgers back on the players lunch menu as well! The players who downed tools will be carrying the new gaffer around on their shoulders!

I'll bet that new Yoga instructor that the club had hired at the behest of Baraclough will be out the door as well!

Am I the only person who would actually prefer that the club give Craggs some time to see how he does before rushing out to appoint someone else? It could be the case that we have our next manager already.

Aye, he's one of those managers who'll now enter into a strange little Hall Of Fame of sorts, alongside Gannon and Kampmann. He'll always be known as the guy who masterminded the destruction of Rangers promotion, and managed to embarrass ex-manager Stuart McCall. My longstanding memory of the guy can be summed up in this gif;

You think so? I think he was fighting a losing battle with a lot of our support from day one for some reason. Not sure if it's because he was chosen over 'Well legend MVG or what, but he certainly wasn't embraced as other managers have been by the support. Wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time. I also wouldn't be surprised if he's more than happy to see the back of us as well to be fair.

There's no point in giving him one more game, is there? When it reaches this stage it very rarely turns around.

Theo Robinson? The guy who's made all of two starts for us so far should never play for us again?

Hopefully. Best for all concerned.

Unless he makes the unprecedented move of actually dropping those who are continually dropping us in the shit. He seems like he has a very strong level of backing from the upper management, so I think he could actually drop the likes of McManus and get away with it. The truth is, he's not got much to lose at this point. May as well go out all guns blazing and all that.

This whole situation is eerily similar to the Gannon scenario. I get that the buck stops with the manager and all that, but the players seem to be getting off lightly in a lot of cases here. They're the ones on the park.

I was more thinking that certain players may actually be prepared to try a bit for Craigan.