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Hello there, big chap. Somebody will spill the beans

I Haven't managed to catch up with the board regulars in ages, having been so busy lately. Last time I was on here was just before Christmas- so happy new year - and 'Well were really struggling near the foot of the table. Indeed, 'McGhee Out' threads had started to appear, though, thankfully, something of a revival has since taken place. What's the current mood; optimistic of another top six finish ? Who's playing at peak form, and who's letting the side down ? I trust you're all in fine fettle and enjoying the rollercoaster

What's this all about , guys ?

Lovely tribute to a lovely man. Can't have been a dry eye in the house. Well done to all !!

What happened, mate? Did the game stop ?

Mon yeeeeeeeee 'Weeeeeeeeeeeell. Threee points are crucial here.

Quotes can take on a new meaning when printed out of context, but from that snippet, isn't McGhee asking for loyalty to himself personally during this bad spell, rather than having a dig at 'Well fans' loyalty to their club ? I think he's wanting the fans to believe in his ability. That's my interpretation of his remark.

Merry Christmas to you , mate, all on this forum and all the 'Well support. Here's hoping the team can turn around their current bad form for you.

That's a moving piece. Well done to the guy for being there for Phil's family for the long term. He should be proud of himself.

Exellent post from Glenmorangie, articulating well the concerns many on this board seem to have about McGhee's enthusiasm ( or lack of ) just now. Perhaps privately he regrets staying at Fir Park after his soul searching regarding the Hearts job, who knows? But the fact is the guy has a job to do in the here and now. I said yesterday McGhee hasn't become a bad manager in the space of a few months, nor has a team which finished third last season. And if last season was overachievement, this, so far is a story of underachievement. I think/hope McGhee is good enough to put it right ( and the club can't afford to sack him, even if they wanted to ) but he urgently needs to earn his corn by reversing this spell of form. What's more, he must display he has stomach for the fight. It's the very least 'Well fans should expect, and should he lack that, he should walk away. Assuming he still wants to be Motherwell manager, he must demonstrate he can, firstly, identify the causes of the slide down the table and, secondly, put them right. He has the ability, he must show the desire. Best of luck.

A story of overachievement followed by underachievement. Comfortable mid-table should probably be Well's true position. There are some good players at the club, and bottom of the league isn't acceptable. Amazing difference for sure; no middle ground at all.

Never mind McGhee, today is your fault, Elder. This thread was bound to scupper everything

And your opinion has more validity than mine, I have to admit. You've seen the team play much more and you pay your money at the gate to have an opinion, I don't. You have every right to demand the manager's head when you think he isn't good enough. I can only go by the general principle that any club needs to be sure it can replace its current manager with someone better, and I think McGhee is a good manager capable of putting this right. I think/hope he's good enough, but the pressure is on. Bottom of the league halfway through the season is a big worry, but there's time. It's tight down there, so a couple of wins can change the outlook. It's the lack of goals that McGhee has to put right immediately.

I used that one myself . But panicking at the first sign of trouble isn't the answer. I think McGhee is good enough to put this right. I certainly hope so.

And replace him with who? And pay up his contract how ? I think he can turn this around. I may be very wrong, but that's my opinion just now.

You don't become a bad manager in the space of a few months. McGhee proved last season he can get the best out of a limited squad, and whilst it's true you're only as good as your last result, I think he will turn this bad patch around. The difference between this season and last is stark, and it's true to say that, whilst the team overachieved last season, they are underachieving this. From the UEFA cup to bottom of the league in three months isn't good enough. Now McGhee has to show his mettle during the bad times and prove he can reverse a freefall. I personally think he has the ability; indeed the consensus has been he will eventually leave Motherwell for a bigger club. Well, he needs to prove himself in the here and now before he gets that chance. He must address why the team's fortunes have nosedived so dramatically, and do it fast.

I came upstairs after the second goal. You can't buy a goal just now, and that's always the most worrying thing in any bad run. It doesn't look like the team which finished third last season, yet it's virtually the same set of players. Very strange.

Not a thread title you want to see, but the league table isn't pleasant viewing just now. I only saw the first half last night, and it was pretty desparate. On the bright side, it's only Mid-December and there's an awful long way to go. A couple of wins and you're back chasing the top six. There's hard work ahead, but the current squad is capable of much better. The Lanarkshire derby ticks all the boxes of the "six pointer" cliche. It's a big game.

It really doesn't seem almost year ago since the tragedy of that day. I'll never forget the shock of reading the text message from a friend which told me the news. How hard Christmas will always be for his family.

Well done to gaag and any others who helped him. I'm sure it will be every bit as good, if not better, than before, and will be very popular.