MelvinBragg

Even if that's true, don't want to rush into an appointment simply in case Dundee United are after the same person (and have to figure with his history with them, Paataleinen will feature in their thinking). Let's take (some) time and make the right appointment...

Really like the look of big Kennedy at the back and continue to be impressed by Ainsworth and his improved attitude and work rate. Grimshaw was decent if unspectacular at right back. Pearson makes a huge difference. Now the negatives. Defence was all over the place in terms of organisation in the first half. Keeper was very suspect at the goal. Ball retention could have been better. But it's a win and we scored twice in a league game so not going to be too picky...

If we're playing 352 with Johnson and Ainsworth as wing backs, that is insane...

I suspect that it's 442 with Grisham at right back.. Who's on the bench..?

That struck me as well...

Because...?

Had heard Simo's name mentioned by a couple of people. Get the impression that the club see his appointment as too "left field"...

Could be out of a job soon, then...

Even if he were interested (and after being messed around last year, why would he be?), can't see the club going for Van Der Gaag. Be like an admission they got it wrong last time. Of all the names mentioned here or in the media, those that appeal the most are those that we'd be least likely to attract. Billy Davies or Billy McKinlay would be decent appointments but can't see them coming here. The likes of Allan Johnston and Danny Lennon are probably attainable but would leave me unconvinced. With the international break coming up, reckon we'll have Craigan for the next two games anyway. I reckon we'll make a quicker appointment than last season but will take at least a couple of weeks...

Anyone thinking that Hartley, Hughes or any other SPL manager will leave their post to come to Fir Park is deluding themselves...

For me, when both McCall and Baraclough were appointed, I had no idea who I wanted as manager. Not all the names mentioned horrify me, but none leap out and say "Aye, he's the one I want". I don't follow the lower leagues closely enough to know if Fowler, Aitkem or Naysmith would do a good job or play the style of football we're needing right now. I don't think we're in a position where we're appealing enough that another SPL manager will want to leave their club to come to us. So we're looking at someone out of work just now or a lower league candidate. The thing is, despite results so far this season, I think the raw materials are there for any manager coming in. Properly motivated and organised, I believe we have the players to be comfortably mid table. We have strikers that are scoring goals (maybe not enough thus far but the likes of Moult and Fletcher have a good goals per minutes ratio). Ainsworth has 20 goals and 20 assists in his first two seasons with us, he clearly has the ability to be a weapon at this level. The defence as a unit has been unreliable but individually there are qualities in each of them that suggest that there could be a solid defence there with the right organisation. Midfield is more of an issue, but looking at those players as individuals, are they any worse than those at Dundee, Partick Thistle, Hamilton or Kilmarnock? Not noticeably. For me, we're looking for someone who is a motivator and organiser rather than someone with contacts who'll want to bring in his own players. Who that person is, I have no idea...

With Baraclough, it always seemed a matter of when rather than if he'd go. Beating Rangers twice (irrespective of where they were as a team at the time), should have cemented any Motherwell manager's place with the fans. But it felt as if it was like "Ok, now prove yourself..". For whatever reason, it never felt as if he was going to last. Someone posted stats a couple of weeks ago suggesting that his points percentage was comparable with the likes of Killie, Partick and Dundee United since he came in. So it wasn't simply down to results. Perhaps the abject nature of the performances in games we lost? I bear the guy no ill will. As the phrase goes, no one sets out to do a bad job at their work. Like Gannon and Kampman before him, he was just the wrong guy at the wrong time...

To be fair, probably the reason Lasley hasn't been mentioned as much is that on the face of it, he's been giving it his all this season irrespective of what he thinks of the manager...

Tonight Giles Coke is squaring up against Bastian Schweinsteiger. In what world does that make sense..?

Even first time around, it struck me that McDonald was unlikely to be a positive influence in the dressing room. I had hoped, as he had come across as a bit more mature in his interviews, that it might be different this time around. Sadly not...

Anyone got a link to bookies offering odds on the new manager? Just had Rab McKinnon on the phone with a tip for me...

To be fair, Ainsworth is one of the guys that I couldn't fault for effort this season... McManus, on the other hand...

Jock Wallace acknowledging the Rangers fans...

Birds of a feather...

If the last few weeks have taught us anything, it's that we need a backup for Pearson...

19 is plenty old enough. Sick of us only blooding players at 20-21. We wonder why other clubs get higher fees. One of the reasons, not the only one, is the fact they can sell their players younger as they've had a chance to prove themselves earlier...

So you don't want any of the usual suspects but you don't want a left field appointment either? Who does that leave...?

Certainly be interesting to see the team lineup on Saturday. Cadden maybe get a chance? Hoping it might see Taylor benched at least...

Aye, while clearly it wasn't working out with Baraclough, the rumours of senior players undermining him does the club no credit at all. A change of manager may help short term but clearly bigger problems there. To be fair to Lasley, at least he was still putting in 100% every week...

I think it's down to the fact that people know who he is and were surprised when he got the job. Like certain players are targeted by the support when things go wrong, since his appointment to his current role it seems like any problems are evidence that Burrows isn't up to the task. He's the public face of the board, whether he likes it or not and whether that's fair or not. Without knowing his job description, it's difficult to say how well or badly he's doing it. On the face of things, he's given the manager all that he has asked for in terms of tools to do the job. Is it his job to question whether a given player is the player we need? I'd suggest not given people feel that he doesn't have enough of a football background to be involved in recruitment of a new manager. Does he bear some responsibility for the current situation? Of course, he's the general manager. Should he be taking as much blame as the players or the manager? I'd say no...