MelvinBragg

Beat me by about 2 seconds on that one. I don't reckon Nijholt would come to be assistant but if he were willing the Gary Mac/Nijholt combo touted by Orinoco would be very tempting. Not much recent experience of Scottish football would be my only concern...

Didn't make any pretence that there was logic behind my choices . I just don't trust/like Calderwood, and don't particularly like the way Jefferies' teams play. From what I hear of Gannon and know of the other three, I would imagine their teams would play good football. I think another reason many are pushing Nijholt is his track record with young players. Because that's where a lot of our squad is going to have to come from. And anyway, how can it be nonsense to state a preference? I'm not saying John Boyle has to take on board what I say. It's just an opinion, mind...

Reading that article on Nijholt, he makes a strong case for himself. Although as I said when I read that Feyenoord had apparently been interested in January, I think he may get better offers than Fir Park. With his son playing for Utrecht, one of the two jobs in Holland may appeal more. Like I say a decent pedigree, is fond of the club and wants the job. Goes some way to explain why he's a popular choice...

I wouldn't have objected to Scott Leitch staying as a number two. It's not unheard of for clubs to keep the same assistant manager over the period of several managers at the club. I'm sure Don Howe at Arsenal was one, Steve Clarke at Chelsea and Alex Miller at Liverpool are other examples so I don't think it would have been that detrimental to the search for a manager. But he chose to move on so, so we do the same. If we are to appoint Gannon or another manager with no prior connection to the club, I would like to see someone as number two who has been at Fir Park before. Obviously this person would have to have coaching experience but the knowledge of how things work at Fir Park, the way the fans think, the history of the club would, for me, be an advantage. Anything that helped a new manager adapt to Motherwll and the SPL quicker would surely be a good thing...

Of the names mentioned I could live with Nijholt, Gannon, McAllister or McCart. Don't want Calderwood or Jeffries. There may be other candidates out there who could do a job that we know nothing about. I have a funny feeling it will be an 'unknown' out of leftfield that gets it. Interesting times...

Is it true that one of the papers is running a story this morning that Craigan will be interim manager for the moment...?

Unlike McGhee of course who hadn't worked in Scotland for about 17 years...

I know it's a long thread you could try and make your way through it. D'you really think he'd have got 80-odd votes without someone posting his coaching CV...

As I think Al B said in another thread, people move on but there's two ways of doing it. The McFadden way and the Pearson McDonald McGhee way...

Without wishing to be seen to be over-reacting, should we sell Clarkson to that big shovel-faced prick, I will personally firebomb Fir Park...

Fixed that for you, Malky...

You see, I've heard the arguments that he's still better than what's out there and he'd still be trying to impress for a move so we'd benefit. None of this really flies for me. Part of the manager's job is to motivate players. How on earth could any player playing for Motherwell listen to McGhee asking them to give it their all without bursting out laughing??

Bit early in the morning for sarcasm, is it no'?

I'm actually surprised it's not a more resounding no given some of the posts I've read on here. Although some of the reasons for voting yes betray the fact that he's really not liked. I know we can't afford to sack him, just talking in the hypothetical...

He's had a few injuries as I recall, but I would definitely take him, possibly ahead of Brian McLean...

I suspect you beat him to that response by about a minute...

You throwing your hat into the ring...?

I posted the question because I wasn't entirely sure how he was seen by the support. Have to say, I'm surprised by the split thus far...

Took me a few reads of that to understand what you were getting at there. He's not welcome but you wouldn't be hounding him for fear of giving him an excuse to walk away for nowt...?

A question prompted by some other posts on the forum. Should the Aberdeen talks break down over compensation (very unlikely but it's still a possibility) would you welcome the fact we'd have McGhee as manager next season? Has it soured you against the man? Or do you think we'd reap the benefit of him trying his hardest to get a move?

Nae harm, big man, but I reckon that's a naive point of view. You're right in that there's no sentiment in business but football is like no other business (we'd have seen a few clubs shut their doors otherwise). Boyle has to be aware that although he might welcome him back, McGhee's relationship with a large proportion of the fans has either broken down or soured beyond repair over this. Probably still a minority of fans who wouldn't welcome McGhee as manager now, but a larger number than even a couple of days ago. As Ricky stated, his position is untenable...

Problem being that, we don't really want him and they do. They're using that fact to try and haggle here. What should have happened is that when Aberdeen first made their 'official' approach to Motherwell to ask permission to talk to him, the compensation issue should have been ironed out then...

Sadly, Ricky, I reckon that's what Aberdeen are banking on...

Aye, could Michael Fraser be the new Simon Mensing...?

Given our new manager will arrive 10 minutes before kick off in our first European game (or so it would seem at the minute), if you could have a word in his ear what positions would you be telling him to strengthen. I'm thinking as a minimum 1 defender (hopefully able to play either full back or centre back) 2 midfielders (one goalscoring one, please) 1 striker Obviously I reckon more would be nice, but that to me looks like the bare minimum. Thoughts? Just to get away from the saga that it the management handover...