David

Then why was he brought in? He's not some youngster that needs to learn the game, he's 22 years old in a few months time.

I clicked onto the forum and saw that this thread had 29 posts and over 2,000 views and thought it was a serious story!

Has anyone heard anything about Gavin Gunning? I see he's 20 years old, and has been loaned out to clubs such as Rotherham, Bury and Tranmere.

It may seem strange after being knocked out of the cup at the semi-final stage on Sunday, but I'm far more optimistic than I was before the game. I know Killie are doing quite well at the moment, but I fancy us to take at least a point from this game, with three being a good bet. Anyone want to see changes to the team that started the game against Rangers? I guess there's the possibility of Jones coming in from the start on Wednesday, but I'd rather see the same team start the game as did on Sunday.

Excellent

Certainly a much better performance than I expected, but we did seem to take the foot off the pedal after getting the goal for some reason. Rangers were there for the taking then. I think that game highlights that we desperately need an old fashioned centre forward, and possibly another centre half. Still, encouraging stuff. Bring on Kilmarnock!

Seriously?!?

You think so? I reckon we're only down to a goal that can be described as pretty special, and have done not too badly. I think we may regret not converting our possession into something more concrete though.

I've spent the better part of two weeks telling myself that were nowhere near good enough to win this game today, and I thought I'd made peace with the idea. Until this morning. When I awoke with a real belief that we can actually win this fucking game!

Will those t-shirts be available to buy after today?

Glad to hear it.

The topic isn't asking if McCall is the right man for job though, is it? There's no poll option asking if McCall is the right man for the job. We don't know that because he's not been here long. It's asking how you would have dealt with the situation that Archie & Craig left us in.

Although I'm personally doubting the appointment, this thread isn't. It's asking if you would have done the same as Boyle, or went for an interim coach until the end of the season.

Don't get me wrong, I'd really love it if someone ends up bumping this thread in a year or so's time and I look foolish.

Wasn't Craigan playing most games when we were doing well under Brown & Knox? The defence isn't the problem in my opinion.

I'll still be of the same opinion if we win a few games. I just don't fancy the guy as our manager. I think we need someone who knows the Scottish game, and who has a bit more experience.

Isn't he still a regular pick for Northern Ireland, the club captain and only 34 years old?

I'll be watching the game on Sunday hoping that we can get somewhere close to half-time still in the game. If we can do that, we may have a chance.

Yeah, well, if anyone thinks it's too early for a few fans to discuss how they would have handled the management situation on an internet forum they can easily just move along to another thread, can't they? Or, if they wish to participate they can vote for McCall and post their support for him.

I'm guessing that the departure of Reynolds will see Craigan get even more stick then?

If you were John Boyle, and it was mid December 2010, how would you have handled the Motherwell manager situation? Craig Brown & Archie Knox have just left, and you need to find a replacement. Would you have appointed Stuart McCall? Or went for an interim coach until the end of the season? Or would you have tried to appoint some other (realistic) target? Personally, I can't quite get excited about the appointment of McCall. I feel it would have been better to wait until the summer when a far wider choice of candidate would have been available. I'd have went with a steadying influence in the dressing room until the summer. My number one choice for such a job would have been Tommy McLean. He knows the club, knows Scottish football, and has bags of experience. I think we are making a mistake employing someone who has relatively little experience as a manager at the level of a club like Motherwell. We need an experienced head who can follow in the footsteps of Craig & Archie, getting the best out of the players we have, and managing to spot talent we can bring in on loan or for virtually nothing. I hate to say it, and I've not felt this way since the days of Maurice Malpas, but I just don't see McCall being the man for the job.

Bang on the money. The departure of Brown & Knox has signalled the start of a decline at the club.

This sounds dire. I'm not looking forward to Sunday with much confidence based on what I'm hearing.

So, if the comments were aimed at a Motherwell player instead of the official that makes it okay, aye?

Good post HappySlappy. Anyone who's willing to put a bit of thought into the situation deserves to be heard.