MelvinBragg

What does that make me?? I came to the realisation last week, that for the first time ever in my life every Motherwell player who pulled on a jersey this season was younger than me. Now I know this applies to a few fans. But it's the first time for me. And it's quite depressing really...

Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'I'd rather watch the grass grow'...

A former Republic of Ireland international assisted by a former Celtic captain? Sales of Kleenex would go through the roof. And not for tears...

Trying to put a positive spin on things, at least that would make most of the Celtic fans I know unhappy. And on a semi-serious note, I can't really see him coming in for any players that he might have targetted for us if he goes to Celtic. Couldn't say the same were he to end up at Aberdeen. Let's just hope that it's not a saga and it's all sorted one way or the other soon...

I'm not suggesting that I believe everything I read. I only have two concerns at the moment. One, that we might get shafted on any deal. And, two, that this drags on and on for weeks, hampering once again our preparation for next season...

I didn't say that we wouldn't be getting any compensation but what the quote suggests to me is that we may get a reduced compensation deal from certain clubs. That's just the sense I'm getting...

Sorry, Flow, but to me that sounds like a man who knows he has a few escape clauses built into a contract...

Glad I'm not the only one who is a bit pissed off at that. Pay rise and an easier escape clause??? At least if he'd gone to Hearts last summer, we'd have got compensation... EDIT I'm not particularly angry at McGhee about this. He's just looking after himself. I'm angry at Motherwell for allowing themselves to be shafted on this one...

Following on from some of the carry on that ensued after Sunday's games, this is possibly the saddest indictment of our society that I have read in some time. One team cannot play a game representing their nation in an international competition in another town in the same county because it wouldn't be "safe". Are we all getting as bad as the worst elements of the Old Firm support...?

Necessity the mother of compromise??

Seems a fair assessment. Any Celtic fan I talk to is totally underwhelmed by talk of McGhee as their next manager and if anything Strachan's alleged recommendation will only cause his stock to fall further among their fans. If Celtic have money to spend, McGhee has no chance. If they are hard up, then someone like him or Levein, used to working within a tight budget might be their choice. Aberdeen are cutting back, true, and this is why Calderwood wanted to leave. But the reason this might not put off McGhee is that Aberdeen on a tight budget will still have more spending power than Motherwell on a tight budget. I think Aberdeen fans (in common with some Celtic fans) are kidding themselves on with some of the names. Ferguson wouldn't touch it, and I don't think Black would either. Sturrock would be a reasonable shout both for Aberdeen and ourselves should McGhee go. My only concern would be Sturrock has a habit of leaving jobs undone...

I'm not as sure as you are that he's off, Jay, but I do agree that if he goes it has to be NOW to give us time to get ourselves prepared for next season. For what it's worth, that would be my opinion even if our season started in mid August rather than early July...

More I think about it, the more this seems likely. While they are both jobs he might want, I reckon for various reasons he might get offered neither...

It's going to be an interesting few days. While I want us to make sure we get the right man, I agree with Moe Green, postiejim and others who say they want this settled as quickly as possible. If any club wants McGhee, Motherwell should make it quite clear upon first contact that the deal must be done quickly. I'd rather we went into June knowing who our manager was going to be for next season...

I probably would as well, Mitch. But we all know it would be an unpopular appointment with a lot of the Motherwell support given the perception that his teams don't play attractive football. Obviously some people don't remember some of Tommy McLean's teams...

Spot on, Tweed. As soon as the rumours started circulating about Calderwood and Strachan yesterday, John Boyle should have been drawing up a list of potential names "just in case". No one's kicking McGhee out, but realistically IF he is wanted by Aberdeen or Celtic, we need a new manager. And given our thin squad, we need one sharpish...

I'm of the opinion that when McGhee goes (I reckon it's a WHEN not IF), it'll depend where he goes whether he takes Leitch or not. For what it's worth, I reckon his stock has fallen enough that the Celtic job is out of his reach. However, should he get the Celtic job, I reckon there would be little chance of Leitch going there as they would want someone with more pedigree behind McGhee. Aberdeen his destination? I reckon Leitch would go with him. As for successors, as Tweed points out, we don't know who'll throw their hat into the ring. I suspect we won't see Joe Miller's name this time . From what I hear this morning though, Billy Stark would be very interested...

Whether he's the right man or not, he's not a first time manager. He had a year at Ross County and now has had two years under a more experienced manager at Motherwell. Other than people who are going to provoke "Aw naw!!" (such as Bobby Williamson), who would we get that would be more experienced...?

Anything to be read into the fact that Reynolds was absent from the squad on Saturday? Anyone heard any more about his potential transfer this summer? I know that right now, the uncertainty over McGhee's future will take precedent but we need to get a few new faces in and I was wondering if Reynolds was being sold to finance this...?

Quote from McGhee in today's Daily Mail.. As someone once said, it's deja vu all over again...

Sorry, Gaag, should have made it clear that I was talking about those criticising Paul Quinn specifically for the needless yellow...

For those criticising Paul Quinn, I say only this. At least he seemed bothered about the result. A bit of professional pride at stake, something others could learn. Was it an avoidable booking? Yes. Did he channel his aggression in the best way? Probably not. Do I wish more players had shown his spirit? Undoubtedly, even if it ended up costing us a European place. The thing most people seem to be forgetting is that, there is every chance today was some supporter's first game. Do they not deserve to see the players trying? Would you come back if that had been your first game today? And the players earned the same for this week's work as they did for the first week of the season. Is it too much to ask the same commitment? It has to be pointed out that we got ourselves into the potential European spot without being a bunch of pussies. Now it's in sight, suddenly it's no tackles allowed?? If we miss out on Europe, why not blame Klimpl (one a game) or Reynolds (I served a suspension I accrued so many cards)? I'll tell you why not, because they don't fit the bill. They're not among the usual scapegoats...

Interesting that so many players who have been deemed not good enough by much of our support played that day. Kinniburgh, Fagan, Kerr and Fitzpatrick all declared not good enough by much of the support. Not tp mention Foran who polarised opinions...

Maybe his season of being unwanted and cast to the frozen north might have knocked some motivation into Brian Kerr. I know the reaction this will get, but with the right fitness regime and man management, it might work. I maintain that one of the reasons kerr was so poor during Malpas' season was that we signed the ideal partner for him, then that player got injured. I would have liked to have seen what a Lasley Kerr partnership could have done. Mihadjuks, I don't know enough about, but I suspect if we pick up the guy Beevers, then a defender will be off the shopping list. Foran, though it won't happen, would be no worse than Sutton and an improvement on Sheridan for my money. What about the boy Rooney? 7 goals in 6 starts I was informed today...

It's well established that I thought we should have played a lot more youngsters in the last few games. But to bring on Bob Malcolm today beggared belief. Then to replace him with McGarry? Baffling. On the subject of Stephen Hughes, I thought he had one of his better games of the season today, to a point. He was involved a lot but all too often would refuse to take responsibility when the ball got into dangerous areas. That said, this comment caught my eye... I think this illustrates the difference between Stephen Hughes and David Clarkson. When Stephen Hughes is off form, he'd be as well not being there. People, myself included, have compared him to Brian Kerr this season. Perhaps, but even when Kerr was poor (all too often, I grant you), he always looked for the ball and you noticed he was there. Maybe that's why he got more stick than Hughes ever has. Simply because people don't notice how poorly Hughes is playing because he disappears. Clarkson was very poor today by the high standards he has set the last couple of seasons. But even in that poor form, he managed to set up our only goal. And criticise Paul Quinn for his performance and a stupid booking all you like, at least he looked like he cared. Channelled wrongly? Possibly, but at least the desire was still there...