MelvinBragg

I'm assuming from Lincoln's official site, Ricky? Nothing definite there but certainly sounds like they think he's coming to Fir Park. Which begs the question, IF this turns out to be true, who is making the decision to sign players at the moment? I mentioned in relation to the Patrick Boyle story as well. It's all very well saying that any manager coming into a club has to work with the players at his disposal, but to bring in new players who will take up a wage whether the new man wants them or not, would seem a very strange decision to me. I'm all for strengthening the squad, we all know it needs it. But I don't want us to find ourselves with a couple of Simon Mensing situations developing...

I know it had been said earlier that Scott Leitch would be remaining in charge until a new man had been found, but I read in an article that Rickoza posted on the Other Football forum that Leitch is currently in Sweden studying for his UEFA pro license. Does this mean that this idea has been binned? Or does it now mean that we expect the new manager to be in place for the start of pre-season training...?

I would argue that McCormack is more skilled with the ball at his feet, a more creative player, but that Clarkson is a better all round player. Clarkson can score (and has scored) goals as good as McCormack has scored (examples volley vs ICT in 07/08, chip in the 5-3 game vs Dundee United) but that McCormack would not score some of the goals that Clarkson has (mainly those with his head). And deciding which player you would have, for me you have to take into account work rate and attitude (Sasa Curcic was very skillful), and DC's is always 100% spot on...

I'll hold my hands up and say I was a strong advocate of a second poll. Just cos the first one had John Hughes and Scott Leitch in it and no Gary McAllister. Don't think we needed a new one for every guy who declares an interest but that's just me. Having said that, it's the close season, we've not got a manager so signing talk is unlikely, what else are we to do...?

Sanchez would have been a big appointment name-wise, but I'm reminded of how excited Rangers's fans got when Paul Le Guen was coming. A big name doesn't always guarantee success. Anyway he seems to have distanced himself from the idea. Maybe he thought his demands would not be outrageous, then spoke to Craigan and realised exactly what constituted outrageous demands at Fir Park... The guy Fenlon. When I had said on here the other day that I thought we might get a manager out of leftfield, this was a guy that I thought of. Given the snippet (that he's trying to refute in the latest article) that was in the paper quoting him as being interested in a move to the SPL, I thought he might have been on our radar. He would be an interesting appointment, although Stephen Kenny's reign at Dunfermline doesn't inspire... Maybe they've both applied and been knocked back hence distancing themselves from it to save the red neck . Whatever the case, it seems no clearer now than before who our next manager is going to be. McAllister and Nijholt are still the only two to publicly declare an interest though I know others will have done so more privately. One thing I would say is that our job does seem to be attracting links with bigger names (and I say that full in the knowledge of the point I made about Paul Le Guen above) than the Falkirk job. At least it seems we're a more attractive proposition than them...

IF we've signed this guy Boyle (not a great beliver in Real Radio), then I hope the new manager is in place just waiting to be confirmed. Or have we learned nothing from the Simon Mensing debacle? Were he an 17 or 18 year old, likely to be under Gordon Young's stewardship, I could see the point. No harm to the guy, just seem to be putting the cart before the horse if we're signing players...

Clarkson. I'm a sucker for workrate and being a team player...

On a serious note, should the club be considering any bid for Clarkson, they might wish to do the following sums. Take what we'd be getting for Clarkson, is it more or less than relegation would cost us? I'm not suggesting Clarkson is a world beater, but as of right now you'd have to say he's the best/only creative outlet we have in the squad. Take into account the cost of replacing him with a player who will pretty much guarantee you ten goals in the SPL, who will run all day, who will defend from the front and who will bust a gut to track back (should such a player even exist on our budget), I think it'd be lunacy to sell him at the moment...

When McGhee left, some were moaning about the quality of candidate we would attract. I said at the time that there's always a queue round the block for a football manager's job. And some of them will be suitable, some not. Is Sanchez a good fit for us? No idea, but he certainly has a bit of pedigree and good experience. Mibbe he'll bring back Essandoh...

Without wishing to commit blasphemy, the 91 team weren't that great. Well, they weren't as good as the 93/94 team in my opinion. They would probably have taken McGhee's team. And McGhee's team was, as you say, particularly in his first year a good team. I remember discussing this with some people last year and the only position where there was doubt that the 93/94 team was better was right back. You say we're no worse off. Which I've agreed with earlier in the thread. Are we better off noticeably...?

Separate thread, pinned at the top, big man...

Notice the BBC is stating that we won't have a manager in for pre-season training. Not surprising given Boyle's earlier statement, but disappointing nonetheless. To me (and to most people I spoke to), it was fairly clear McGhee was going last weekend. Surely the club could have made subtle enquiries between now and then. I don't want a rushed appointment but neither can we afford to drag our feet. There's a middle ground somewhere. When are we expecting to announce the new manager, anyone heard???

I don't know if Craig Brown would be looking for a massive salary (he has his pension after all ). And being a number two means that he doesn't need to worry too much about the resources at his disposal as it's not his name on the line. For what it's worth, if we appoint from outwith Scottish football be it Gannon, McAllister, Nijholt or someone else, I reckon we would be better with an assistant who has at least had one eye on the Scottish game recently. Not saying Craig Brown would be my first choice, but I can see why he'd appeal...

Don't even go there, Lobey. Have we lot learned from the last ginger guy we appointed as manager before he had any management experience...? Not that I wish to seem anti-ginger...

How? Have you got an interview for the job today as well? On the subject of Neil Lennon. Once again, no thanks....

Along with Freddie Dindeleux?

That's how I read it as well, big man. Thing is, I have symnpathy for McAllister. He might have been looking at our squad thinking "Aye, that's no bad..." then heard Sheepy McShovelface say he left because we needed to sell a couple of players. He's entitled to ask the question so he knows what he'll have to work with. Some people will call him all sorts for even mentioning it. He's just doing his research...

Without wishing to break rules, surely you have to make slight exception here and allow people who have selected AN Other to specify the other. Just a two word post. Any extra nonsense can be deleted...

Good man, keep at it...

I read the bit about matching his ambitions written by the journalist but couldn't find a quote to match it. He talks about working with young players and it depending on what the club wants to achieve, that's the only bit that sounds vaguely similar. There's no mention of wanting money to spend that I can find...

Just heard a wee rumour that the front runner is Gary McAllister and that he wants Craig Brown as his number two. Just a rumour, mind you...

Undoubtedly be seen as quite sneaky, but to tell you the truth, he's welcome to Klimpl and Hughes. As light as we are in midfield, we need someone with more workrate than Hughes. And Aberdeen won't win the fair play league next year if they have a whole season of Klimpl...

I'm just wondering what sort of time frame John Boyle is working on. With talk of interim managers, is it going to be weeks? Given the work needing done on the squad, I was hoping it would be sooner. Or is the new guy going to be here but simply have a watching brief for the first couple of games...?

I know that there will be those who groan when they see my name on this thread. But now McGhee's away, I can look a bit more dispassionately at his time with us. It really was an era of two halves (Archie). In his first season, I was really impressed. The attacking football on display at times was fantastic to watch at times (the Hibs league cup game will live with me for a long time). His handling of the media was good both after defeats and when we were winning. No more needs to be said about his handling of the aftermath of the Phil O'Donnell tragedy. He deserves our thanks there. On the pitch, he got the best out of guys like Clarkson and Quinn (this season Fitzpatrick) and made McGarry look like a footballer for four months. Even last season though, some of his decisions were baffling. The dropping of Porter for our league cup game against Rangers springs to mind. Paul Quinn at right midfield against Celtic. Last summer was where I started to lose faith. The Hearts carry on was sorted out quickly (though it clearly looked like he was telling porkies when he claimed there had been no contact from Hearts as late as five days before the end of the season). His signing targets, though ambition should always be applauded, were too rich for our blood and the taking of Kennedy on tour only to see him sign for another club struck me as bizarre (that seat on the plane could have been taken by someone else). His dallying in the transfer market while looking for those "better than what we have" was the main reason our squad was so thin in November and December, his favourite excuse for last season. The bizarre team selections this season (Nancy, St Mirren x2 and others) have ben mentioned by others. He leaves pretty much the same first team as when he arrived. Fringe players like Kinniburgh, Corrigan and Connolly have moved on and haven't really been replaced. When he arrived we had Clarkson and McCormack, now we have Clarkson and Sutton. Players of McCormack's type are rare so I'd say he's left us as well off as could be expected up front. The midfield (with the exception of Jim O'Brien) is where it was when he came in except Fitzpatrick is a vastly improved player. The defence is pretty much as it was, Hammell in-Paterson out) being the only change. My only concern would be, should McLean leave, he has left us with only four recognised first team defenders. And the question will hang over our goalkeeping situation now. Will Fraser come? Will he have the option not to? And will he be the new Simon Mensing? He's left the new guy (whoever he may be) a confident if very thin squad. If we can keep a hold of Quinn, Clarkson, O'Brien and Hammell, there is a decent frame to build a team into. Midfield is light and that's where the new guy will have to direct his attention first. McGhee gave us two years, one fantastic, one decent, and has left us pretty much where we were when he came in (some improvements - confidence of some players, fitness; some areas worse off - lack of reliable back up players). When you look at it like that, he's done all that was asked of him. Just wish he'd been a bit more subtle about his desire to leave while he was here...

While I reckon folk might object, you have a point. There are probably a few Nijholt voters who have switched allegiances to McAllister given he's expressed an interest (how many of the A.N. Other votes are actually Gary Mac votes?). It would also be interesting to see where the Scott Leitch and John Hughes votes would now go. I hve a feeling it might not be quite so cut and dreid for Nijholt now. As I've said to others, I reckon all it will tell us is how the web-enabled Well fans are feeling. I reckon we'll probably find ourselves with a manager whose name hasn't even featured on this thread, a figure right out of leftfield...