star sail

Went for Yes because of all the replacement names mentioned he is still best of the bunch. I understand the point about the relationship breaking down with the fan's but this season there has not been much of a relationship anyway.

I think Boyle would want to keep him. He said so at the start of the week. Ok you have a manager who does not want to be at Well but he still has to work hard to keep his profile up. Boyle's a business man, I don't think he will worry too much about sentiment. After all McGhee has played the whole thing as a business man openly using Motherwell as a stepping stone. So it's a win, win for Boyle. Get 200k comp or keep the manager. It's Aberdeen that can loose out here.

So why should it take so long? That's a 1 min conversation. Boyle- ' Will you pay the 200K comp?' Milne/Miller- 'No' Boyle- ' Ok see ya'

Why has Derek McInnes not been mentioned for any of the jobs (Well, Falkirk, Hibs)? He has done a fantastic job with St Johnstone, arguably better than Coyle before him.

I think there is a difference between what will get the fans excited and what is best for the club. For me the names I think are exciting are Gary McAllister, Luc Niljolt or Paul Lambert because of the link with the club and the possibility that this could go really well and we are top 3 again next season. The downside to these names are, it is a risk On the other hand there is Jimmy Calderwood, Gordon Chisholm, Jim Jeffries who will head us towards mid to lower table respectability without the fear of relegation but without setting the heather on fire either. Personally I would rather take the chance and head for Europe or the First Division next year. 11th place safety makes me think one thing, Maurice Malpas. Why not. It looks like the SPL is going down the toilet anyway.

Don't know why I think this, but I think that sounds like a genuine offer. For all I don't like the way McGhee deals with things in the Press, I hope that he leaves Motherwell on good terms and with some kind of lasting affinity with the club. Lets see if he can tap into those European contacts now!

Just a guess but I think that both AFC and MFC would have been shaking their respective heads when they saw that article in the Sunday Herald. It possibly forced Aberdeen into some form of announcement today when thy would rather have remained quiet and done things properly. Would be funny to think that McGhee's very first act as Aberdeen manager to be, is to be in the papers bumping his gums inappropriately. Start as you mean to go on I suppose.

Sad to see McGhee go. I was a big fan of his but there was some negatives too. Here is a few of the positives and negatives of McGhee's qualities Positives 1) The first season. At times Motherwell played some of the best football I have seen a Well side play. 2) The impact was obvious immediately. Jim Paterson and Steven McGarry came back from pre-season actually looking like athletes. Does that say more about the shit regime that was in place before? 2) His handling of the Uncle Phil tragedy. Despite everything else, this is something no Well fan should forget. 3) Qualification for Europe. 4) Articulate with the Press. Negatives 1) Often his words did not transfer to action (Nancy tie, St Mirren cup, St Mirren last game before the split, getting a Central defender, contacts in Europe etc) 2) There was never a sense of stability while he was around 3) He has left us with a thread bare squad. It is very apparent now that he was not building a Well team for the future, it was for the here and now. 4) The constant flirtation with Celtic, Scotland, Hearts and ultimately Aberdeen. 5) A general contempt for the fans that culminated in him disappearing down the tunnel on the last day of the season. I think McGhee has been fairly confident that he was leaving Motherwell this summer. He probably thought he was getting the Celtic job. The problems we have been having in the transfer market could be because McGhee could not give assurances to potential signings that he would be around.

Went for A.N Other. Paul Lambert for me.

Cheers.

Was wondering if someone with more know how than me could set up a poll with some of the likely names. Just for fun to cheer us up!

What about Alan Pardew? He was on Radio 5 last week saying he was looking for a club and was welcome to offers. Don't think he would be as expensive as he would have been a few years back.

If this article is correct then it is very disappointing. Not because McGhee is going, although personally I think that is disappointing because he is an excellent manager, but because of the way he is doing it. To be in a Sunday paper talking in that way and already talking about taking players from Motherwell while still the Motherwell manager is shocking. I know that there are no quotes attributed to McGhee regarding the players so it may be sheer speculation on the journo's part but I don't think so. If McGhee is prepared to say what he has been quoted as saying then it shows a lack of respect for Well so it would be in character to go the extra step and mention the players he would take as well. I don't understand the criticism of John Boyle on here. It is only right that he stay silent untill there is something to say. We should not hear anything from Boyle untill McGhee puts pen to paper with Aberdeen. The mighty Mark could learn a few lessons in that respect. McGhee has been brilliant for Motherwell but his use of the press to further his own ambitions has been poor.

Was having a little look at one of the Celtic boards to gauge opinion and they have a poll running asking who would back McGhee if he was appointed. One third (33%) have voted that they would not back him. Best fans in the world! The funniest bit about it, is that those who have voted yes are blaming the no vote on lurking Gers fans trying to sabbotage the figures. AAAhhh made me chuckle on a Friday eve.

I don't think there is much doubt that he was a talanted player but the other aspects of his game were not there (workrate, pace etc). His passing ability was a joy to watch at times. It's strange because after the Said Cheba incident I was less than happy to see him arrive at Firpark but I did warm to the big guy and wish him well down under.

I am not liking the look of this. I think that article does strongly suggest McGhee for Aberdeen. After all I don't think Aberdeen are lining up Coyle, Mowbray, Bilic or Martinez. Also Aberdeen would not be waiting around unless they had been given the nod by McGhee. They must be waiting because they are fairly confident that McGhee will go if he does not get the Celtic job. Unfortunately as always it means Celtic get their man, Aberdeen get theirs and we are left scrambling around days before a Euro tie trying to find a manager. Let's hope JB has anticipated what may happen and is on the case. Love or loathe our Chairman you have to admit that he did ok last time round. He may have to do it all over again.

Unfortunately journalism tends to be more about opinion than fact. There is a priority with Football Writers to 1) Sell newspapers 2) Make a name for themselves 3) court the people who will provide them with future scoops. None of the above have the interests of Scottish Football at heart. Sensationalism, wild speculation and Old Firm bias all add up to meeting these objectives. What annoys me is that these same journalists bemoan a system that they have been heavily influencial in creating. I have not read one single article that promotes a case for Mark McGhee staying at Motherwell and yet for the interests of Scottish Football and in the interests of a competitive league this would be a good outcome. I know that Rangers and Celtic have historically had a bigger support however the gulf between the Old Firm and the rest could have been addressed somewhat over the years if the coverage of Scottish Football had been more even handed. Daryl Broadfoot is a perfect example for me of everything that is wrong with sports journalism in Scotland. How refreshing was it to see Graham Speirs stick up for Paul Le Guen during his time at Rangers. Yet looked what happened to him. His future in Scottish journalism ended there.

You might be right. I seem to remember that now. I always remember it as a goal. As I say my memory is a bit vague. Was the final score 2-1 and McCabes goal would have made it 3-1.

Dave McCabe was always a bit of a folk hero with me and my mates. He was a striker/winger playing about the same time as Dougie, Paul Kinnaird etc (late 80's/early 90's?). He floated in and out of the team and I don't remember him scoring much but we were always willing him to be on the team sheet. My best memory was when he scored in a 3-1 victory over Rangers at Fir Park. Seem to remember he had a moustache. All a bit vague in my memory but will never forget the name.

Enjoyed reading that. McGhee comes across as having a good sense of humour. He sounds like a nice guy. I remember seeing him at Glasgow Airport the Friday before the last Aberdeen game at FP and was going to go over and wish him luck but did not know how he would react. Based on that he seems very approachable. He is still talking positively about Motherwell so here's hoping he will still be with us going into Europe. Did not get the Hearts reference? What did he mean by that? Did he mean he would have been heavily constrained by Romanov?

I hope Mark McGhee is still our manager come the new season but incase something were to happen I would like to see Paul Lambert at FP. He was the kind of player you would want in your team hard working, team player, honest and he has excellent experience as a player. As a manager I don't think his record is that bad. Livingston was always going to be a difficult job and he got the players there fighting for every point. He had inherited a bad situation there. At Wycombe he only resigned because they lost out on promotion. No huge failure there. He may not set the heather on fire but I think he would be a safe pair of hands.

The Aberdeen fans seem to want Darren Ferguson or Eric Black based on what they are saying on their boards.

and your username is Easy Target. Brilliant friend!!

Totally agree. Mark McGhee has been excellent for us and I don't think there is anyone out there (given our lack of pulling power) that could do better. I think he is the best manager in the SPL, hence the speculation about Aberdeen/Celtic. If he goes it's bad news. As far as the Hearts thing is concerned I can't believe Well fans are still bitter about that. He was offered a job at a bigger club with more money and he turned it down to stay with us. His only crime was that he thought about it. I am a Well fan but in my view if he does get offered the Dons job he would be making a mistake not to take it (he should have taken the Hearts). He would leave with my best wishes. As far as who would take over, I have no idea. My only hope would be that JB pulls a rabbit out the hat again. We may need it.

I am all for conspiracy theories so what about this as an idea? Maybe the Scottish Fair Play rules are purposefully difficult to understand so that they can just pick who they like. After all if it was just based on red/yellow it would be totally transparent and when have the football authorities ever thought that was a good idea. Hibs are being mentioned as contenders yet nobody knows why. Maybe it is simply because Hibs are currently the highest placed team most likely to miss out on Europe. As it stands Aberdeen, D Utd and Hearts still have a good chance at third and fourth place so no need to mention them,for now, as contenders for Fair Play. Lets say Aberdeen are the one's who miss out and finish 5th. Could it be that suddenly on the last day of the season one of their fan's performs an act of Noble Peace Prize Winning proportions and they rocket to the top of the Fair Play league. The point is that nobody can question it because nobody knows what is going on. Far fetched, but you just never know.