Tweed

We can argue about Sutton until the cows come home. Playing him up front on his own is te square peg into a round hole problem. He burst his arse for the cause with no support in a role that in the first place just isn't him. Our inability to cross a ball was the problem tonight - even up front himself if we'd got even a quarter of our crosses within hitting distance of him we'd have won (probably comfortably). Sutton is a limited player and we will get nothing from him as a lone striker against Rangers, Llanelli, Hamilton Women's Reserves or a Blackpool Beach donkeys 11. Problem for next week is how we counter that failing in his game?

We had about 20 chances to put a good ball in the box and took about 2 of them, once they defended it well and once Sutton couldn't put himself round it. Saunders, O'Brien, Hammell, Lasley, Forbes and Slane all had chances and all weren't good enough - not close to it (Saunders was the worst of the lot). They had two chances to cross it, once led to a goal and once they got a free header that went over. We had all the ball, territory but no cutting edge. However they are pish with another week's training and sharpness I can see us winning 3-0 or more down by.

DC was a strange one, gangly, no first touch but a total pain in the arse workaholic whose goals ratio under McGhee was superb. He was something that nobody else had which was why so many teams foun him hard to play. I also think his awkwardness made him hard to read. We need another striker of some description there is no doubt. Hughes is a luxury player - we could happily put another digger in there and no like for like replacement is not needed. We need a right back with some experience should PQ go. We need another defender for depth and we need a replacement for Klimpl to break down attacks. Andsome competition for Fraser would be handy too. If after that we can get a luxury player to replace SH then grand.

It held us back because we had something to hold back (ie a decent team). If we don't have a decent team the quality of pitch is an irrelevance.

Maybe subject to the fact we could be anywhere in Europe the Thursday before?

I read that first time and thought huuuuuuuuge can of worms opening. My thoughts on it are - he is fine to have an opinion about minutes silences/applauses - to bring it up relating to one person (whoever they were) days after their passing was stupid and insensitive. And to say Phil O'Donnell's legacy is the demonisation of Colin Calderwood is a lot of bull as well. Phil's legacy is that he was part of a cup winning provincial team, league winners, internationalist, all round good family guy. The demonisation of CC (the term demonisation is an overreaction in the first place) is because CC said something incedibly stupid. He made a daft statement when people were hurting so its natural there is a dislike there and I would be disappointed if he was the next man in charge, but if it came to pass that he was then we all should get on with it. Do you think Phil would want the fans deserting Motherwell because the manager said something daft about minutes silences just after his passiing? However there are many better names in the ring than CC so I doubt its even going to be an issue.

Poor memory then cos it was only McGhee;s first season. December looks a tough month and the last two games are frought with danger if we chasing anything though there is a caveat that the Celtic (a) game at the end may move if someone is in Europe. Also think midweek cup semis are a daft idea. I know the season has been compressed because of the WC and Burley's desire for a free Saturday on 8th but that'll further reduce attendances for what should be biggish games.

I've deleted the last one of these but are these happening during the close season? Thought only entered my head as I received a newsletter from Aberdeen today (feck knows how I got on their list!) and it seems like a while since we had one.

In my view they should be back tomorrow - more than three weeks which is more than they'd get if they were at the business end of a WOrld Cup (even U18s like Reynolds was a couple of years back) and they wouldn't be moaning then.

We'd probably be able to pay as I doubt we'll bring in anyone that would cost more than we earned from McGhee however I don't think we will. We never have under Boyle so far so I don't see why we would now with Setanta and policing uncertainties.

In a way the position we find ourselves in is not of our making at all re McGhee. We could have said, if you have no chance of being here next season then piss off now but then we would have had no compensation at all. I also believe if Aberdeen and Celtic had both gone elsewhere he would have stayed with us and probably done a decent job next year. The way it has ended has been pretty disappointing and could in a way hamstring us for next season but I just don't see what we could have done short of foregoing our compensation to prevent it. As for achievements - we played some real good stuff last season and were fortunate it coincided with really poor Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen teams and United really fell away as well. He brought Paterson, Clarkson, Quinn and Fitzpatrick on and McGarry for a time too. Three of the four that are still with us are much better players than they were when Malpas left. He focused on quality of player and not quantity - I think there is a balance somewhere and he is just a little bit too focused on quality to be honest but if he had an extra couple of players in reserve then we may have been 4th or 5th last season as we didn't have the quality to push for 3rd and again 5th this season because the injuries we had in November/December didn't hit us so hard. A 3rd and a 7th or two 5ths - I know what I'd take. People say he hasn't strengthened the defence. Personnel wise I'd agree but we haven't lost as many stupid goals from set plays this season. He brings everyone back now and that has been reasonably effective. However there is not the same out ball on and as such I think we slowed down a bit as a team. I don't care if he bleats about Celtic or whoever - I hate them as much as the next 'Well fan but its par for the course in this neck of the woods that blethering about the OF gets you noticed and in the paper and thats what he is after. What sticks in the craw is that nobody is looking after our pre season, signing players, looking for players and getting the few we have fit. And whoever sanctioned a ten day preseason before our first game must have been on crack. I bet Aberdeen are back before 6th July. Overall glad we had him, just a shame its ended on a sour note. I just hope that Quinn, Fitzpatrick and Clarkson remember what he told them and keep doing it - with another manager to learn from them it may enhance them further and we could push on next season.

It frightens me that Gianluca is 19. Luc lived just down the road from me when he was here - Gianluca was knee high to a grasshopper when he left. Cor its unbelievable how much has happened since then. THe man is a total gent. I did a project on him at school just after we won the cup and he wrote something for it. Would love to see him back but it has to be because he is the right man not on a sentimental card and being honest I haven't really paid a lot of attention to him in recent years so hoping Boyle will do his homework before doing anything (but do it quickly!)

It concerns me more of whats in it for Leitch to stay just now when everyone knows he is going to assist at one of our rivals - we need someone looking after things who is going to be here or at worst not going to Aberdeen the moment someone walks in the door.

Calderwood I think was finding the squad trimming coupled with the rising expectations hard to deal with - here the expectations would be lower.

THat is consistent though - consistently shite but still consistent. Think he'd do all right. But I think we should take a look at the lower leagues in England, there will be some uncovered gems there. Or offer it to Steve Coppell though he'd never take it.

C'est la vie. If its decided thats the best venue we should pay them and not consider anything else. We win a couple of the games and we'll get more benefit than them anyway.

Best - Beating Hibs 4-2 last season Worst - Losing 3-0 to Partick Th game after cup semi when we had played really well and we were back to abject pish.

Christ that can't be eight years ago! Jaysus I am old.

I am just gutted we can't play Dinamo Bender!

Daresay Coppell is out of our range.

Are you going to go to FP and put a blockade in place? Being realistic if Aberdeen or Celtic ask the question we all know the answer is yes. I hope he stays but there are too many teams that he has an interest in and have more resources than us knocking on the door. Boyle has to be assuming he has an appointment to make so we are not joining this manager merry go round late and with no plans in place.

I would be astonished if McGhee goes to Aberdeen and doesn't take Leitch with him. We have no idea who will apply, would anyone have thought McGhee would? I can't think of any but I am sure there will be managers out there who have been out the game for about a year who would jump at the chance of coming to the SPL and doing something different and get noticed again. And we may have the carrot of Europe which maybe just maybe might attract some who may not have been interested, of course it may put some off due to lack of time to prepare.

Would agree with that, Nicholl and Clark have left Aberdeen too so whoever goes there I would imagine take their favoured assistant with them.

Hand bitten off.

Again? I watched it at 8pm. I think seeing it twice was enough!