El Grew

Very good summary from Melvin on the newcomers. But comeone guys please give them time to settle in. You cannot seriously judge any of the newcomers on their performance against the Romanians - they come for the lower reaches of the English leagues and are asked to play against a side that probably could hold its own in the Champions League so lets get real. They are not only moving job but moving country and they are still quite young so we must give them time to get up to speed with things. The manager thinks they will do and given his record that should be good enough. The time to judge will be when they have got a number of games under they belt in the SPL.

Unbelievably sad news. Couldn't believe it when I saw it on teletext last night. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Beginning to wonder if the cup winning squad is jinxed - that's four of them away and all under 40 when they died.

Undoubtedly the Romanians were a cut well above us and fully deserved to win. Like all top sides they have very good technical skills and terrific movement off the ball. They'd go through the SPL like a dose of cascara! No disgrace to lose to teams of this quality. That said, there was a lot of talk last season after Nancy did the same to us at FP about lessons to be learned, blah, blah, blah. And no doubt the same stuff will be trotted out again. IMO this is just spurious lip service. If our players in particular and and Scottish players in general want to improve then they need to start putting the work in and improve their technical skills and managers need to start drumming it into them about the importance of the players who don't have the ball in terms of their running and movement. Not singling anyone out but what improvement has Hammell, Reynolds or O'Brien made since then? Sorry, but none. Gannon has quickly sussed a number of our players out already and it will take time for the new guys to settle in. He's sorted the GK position out. Next he needs to sort out the rest of the defence. For the past couple of seasons this has been the weakest part of the team and was scandalously neglected by the previous management team. We concede goals far too easily - sure we let in 3 tonight but at least against a high quality side but look at the 3 we let in against Llannelli and Flamurtari. Craigan needs to be shipped out, Reynolds is not a centre-back, Hammell is good going forward but a train wreck as a defender and the young lad Saunders is far too lightweight (seen more fat on a butchers pencil). Stick with yong Hutchison, move Reynolds to left back and look for a centre-back and a right back. If we don't sort the defence out then we will continue to leak stupid and easy goals regardless the quality of the opposition.

This game against Celtic (we lost 0-5) was played at FP on the Saturday before we played and beat Spurs in the Texaco Cup the following Wednesday. Even though Celtic humped us Jock Stein predicted that we would beat Spurs as we played this game with one eye on Spurs.

Well players in picture are John Goldthorp (on ground) Willie McCallum (No.5) Tom Forsyth (No.4) Celtic Players are Willie Wallace (No.9) and Bertie Auld (No.. Was at this one - somewhere behind the goals at Taggarts end.

Great picture!! The two 'Well players in picture are Ian St John (scoring) and Pat Quinn. The Hearts goalie is Gordon Marshall - yes the daddy of our Gordon Marshall.

We might not get relegated but I think it's extremely likely that we will be involved in the shake-up at that end of the table this season. Given everything that's gone on I think if Jim Gannon manages to stablise things and keep us in the SPL then that would be more than sufficient for his first year in charge. After that he can begin to put his own stamp on things and take it on from there.

My comment upon Fraser was based solely on comments attributed to Gannon two weeks ago when he stated he would be seeking to sign (amongst others) a goalkeeper. So I am surmising that he wants to have his own man between the sticks. Anyway on Fraser's handling or rather failure to handle, of a routine cross against Llannelli - which by his own admission he f*cked-up) he looks no better at the aeriel stuff than Smith. As for the others I mentioned, I stand by my remarks. Oh and prepare to be shocked.

Don't know about the worst team but as for worst manager, pick from the undernoted, given in no particular order: Jock Wallace Maurice Malpas Ally McLeod Roger Hynd Bobby Watson

Waited until all the furore died down and I'd regained my composure after last week's debacle before posting. Jim Gannon has obviously been shocked at what he has inherited in terms of so-called experienced first team players and hasn't wasted time in saying so. Its great to have someone come into Scottish football with a fresh perspective and who isn't in the usual Scottish football Mafia Managers clique who continually talk up Scottish football with nothing more than vested self-interest and job-security in mind when it obvious to all and sundry that the exact opposite is the case. Scottish football has never been as low and lacking in quality as it at present and at least Gannon's had the balls to speak his mind about what we have passing for professional footballers at FP. IMO it is highly likely that the following will be exiting FP in the not too distant future as he begins his clear-out and rebuild work - Fraser; Craigan; Lasley; McGarry; O'Brien and Smith. Even though we lost, it was a real breath of fresh air it was to see so many talented youngsters playing last week and boy they did themselves proud. Once Gannon gets rid of the aforementioned dead wood and adds some players of his own choosing then allied with the youngsters, we may end up with not a bad side.

Thanks Andy P. Yes, I posted this with a little bit of tongue in cheek. Sure last season we had a decent team and piss poor pitch but it looks as though it will be vice versa this season. And yes I do think that the bulletins on the pitch were/are mainly for the benefit of the SPL to demonstrate that we did do what we were asked to do. To be honest the only players I'm sorry to see leaving us are Davie Clarkson and Stephen Hughes. The loss of the rest, as many who have read my previous views on here, don't really trouble me. I don't grudge Davie his move one little bit as he has been a terrific servant to the club and I think the move may help improve again him as a player. But there are others I would rather see leave before Davie. I believe that we may be left with only 12 first team regulars after the departure of all concerned and with no prospect of any of the proceeds finding its way into the war chest for the new manager. All this before a ball is kicked in anger and with a Europa Cup tie only a few days away. I wish Jim Gannon all the luck in the world because by God he is going to need it in spades. Another aspect to all of this is, that at a time when the SPL is trying to find somebody (anybody) to give it a TV deal, many clubs are busy selling off their best players and just how this will help sell the SPL to prospective broadcasters is quite beyond me.

Day after day we have had updates on how the pitch refurbishment is coming along - the grass is germinating, the covers are coming off, the grass has grown 0.5mm overnight, it'll soon be getting its first cut, blah, blah, blah, blah, etc. Talk about bleeding ridiculous!!!! Just who is all this shite for? The SPL hierearchy - so as to be able to prove that we really did do the job this time!! Oh and by the way we are flogging every player that we have that anyone with a bob or two is interested in buying - oh and we won't be too hard to deal with as any offer will be considered. Also we don't have a manager yet. But season tickets are flying out the door!! What a comedy turn this club is turning into. Boyle out and pretty damn quickly before he sells the f*ucking grass.

Sandy Clark was quoted in the Express yesterday as saying that he and Jimmy Nichol are prepared to split with Jimmy Calderwood and work together as a pair if a job came up in the SPL. He said it was unlikely that Calderwood would be interested in managing again in the SPL.

Given the Setanta debacle I don't think there will be many SPL clubs going into the transfer market. Players will now need to take a reality check with regard to contracts and wage demands now because there may be quite a number of them who will become unafordable quite shortly. It's likely that at least one SPL club (Kilmarnock?) will fold as a result of all of this and another two are on extremely dodgy ground (Hamilton and Falkirk?).

Paul Sturrock has made noises about wanting to come back to Scotland. I think he'd do a really good job for us. Failing that get Jimmy Calderwood in - ticks all the right boxes.

He should see about getting Darren a part in it fulltime!!!

Well, well, well. Quelle surprise!! I said it a long time ago that the appointment of Mark McGhee would lead to trouble. From the day and hour he first set foot in FP he was hell-bent on getting himself a 'better' job. And also surprise surprise, the silence from FP on the managerial situation is quite deafening given that the manager has been linked with the Celtic and Aberdeen jobs for a few weeks now. I'll say this much about McGhee, if, and he probably will, fail to deliver what Aberdeen want from him, then he'd better get his pipe and slippers out because it will be the end of his managerial days. With his past record and attitude no club will touch him. Enjoy your 2-year contract while it lasts Mark (if you see it out) because it will be your last. Oh and by the way gtf asap.

Reason why I have not renewed season ticket. IMO John Boyle should be looking after Motherwell better and sorry but that means laying it on the line to Mark McGhee - staying or going - decide now and if he can't answer then tell him to gtf.

Yir Elder's right. Why the f*ck take the match outwith Lanarkshire??? I been behind the scenes at Airdrie's stadium and believe me its a cracking stadium and meets UEFA standards in all respects - that's one of the reasons the old Airdrie went bust. Holding it there and setting sensible prices would ensure a better chance of attracting any neutrals who might want to go along. But no lets take it to Livingston and increase supporters' costs with unnecessary travel costs.

Look forward to it mate. You'd better sense check it though - Quirk fought in the Boer War not the Boar War. Oink, oink, grunt.

I think MM will get the Aberdeen job - his may be one of the first applications that Willie Miller was spouting about - but if he does go there he should be aware that: - expectation levels at that club are totally unrealistic; - getting 4th place and qualifying for Europe (again) was enough for them to 'sack' a manager so anything less will mean a public hanging; - there is no money to buy players; - the wage structure is very poor; - they have plenty of dead wood players wise; and - Willie Miller looking over your shoulder. Apart from the latter it could be us!!!!

Celtic A number of Celtic supporters that work beside me have all said that if MM is appointed they would regard it as worse than having Strachan staying on. They all seem to want a foreign manager to progress them in European terms. Aberdeen It seems that Jimmy Calderwood was fed-up losing players due to lack of money (sound familiar) and having to re-build season after season. He wanted the board to increase the wage structure to help hold onto players and give him some transfer money but they refused. Seems they wanted him to bringing in young players and blend them with a few experienced ones that they want to retain. He decided no and so the parting of the ways. Names being mentioned for their post (apart from MM who IMO will end up there) are Eric Black, Darren Ferguson and wait for it...... Paul Sturrock!!! Motherwell Paul Sturrock is apparently desperate to come back up to Scotland so, if MM does exit why not make an approach to him?

I'd take only two - left-back Lionel Djebi-Zadi and centre-forward Eric Odhiambo. Both are big physical and athletic and quite skilled on the ball and wouldn't be bullied around.

I heard that use of the PA system would be discontinued from next season and replaced by a series of Tic Tac men strategically seated around the ground.

I'm so happy for you. Feel quite free to start your own wee happy clappy club. "Unbridled optimism is to be admired, right up until it begins to affect one's judgement". F D Roosevelt