MelvinBragg

Paddy Boyle...??

Had a quick glance at the Daily Record in the barbers this morning (aye, like I'd buy it), the mention of McGhee in the gossip column is misleading. Weir was asked about McGhee and said something like he hadn't seen his name among the applications but he was sure that most people left Motherwell on good terms with John Boyle... Oh, aye. John Hartson, naw...

For me, it's not about where Motherwell are right now, it's about Scottish football as a whole. As I said earlier, if it was about the level of performance or the situation at Motherwell, I'd have walked away during Malpas's season in charge. I, and apparently others feel the same way, am just fed up with the whole shooting match. And I feel guilty for not "rallying round the club". Which is kind of ridiculous in itself and probably explains a great deal how football has got itself in this mess. People feel obliged to part with their hard earned cash for what is a hobby. People believe "the club needs the money". So does any singer you like but if they start producing crap all the time, you stop buying it (and again here, not talking specifically about Motherwell, more the Scottish Football product in general). As others have said, it's a spectator sport but it relies too heavily on people's loyalty and inability to desert the club they love...

Just as an aside to your comments on Gordon Young, does anyone think we'd have got a better deal from the referee had Craig Brown still been in charge? Or had a manager in who wasn't simply a head of youth development, someone whose interview might have been listened to a bit more? Just that you suggested Gordon Young could have "let rip". Even if he had, would it have registered? He's only Gordon Young. I don't mean any disrespect by that, just how it would have been seen by the media... I said this to a few people on the way out of the game last night but forgot to mention it on here...

I was going to counter there that we're probably at rock bottom in those terms when you look at recent attendances. Those that are left are those who will always go. But previosuly I would have said I probably come into that category and I've had enough so I s'ppose everyone has their breaking point...

I think you're missing the point that Bop made in his original post and a couple of others, myself included, have echoed. I don't think that the occupant of the Motherwell manager's job is going to be the problem. The appeal of Scottish football is getting less and less for a lot of people. I've spoken to Rangers, Celtic and Dundee United fans who feel the same way. I didn't really get it until tonight... EDIT Not that I disagree that a poor appointment would possibly harm crowds even more. But there is something bigger at work here. A general disenfranchisement of all Scottish football fans...

See, none of that even features even in my thinking (haven't given a damn about the Scotland team for years). Actually Brown leaving kind of gave me a wee boost. A wee change, something new is always exciting. To go from that to how I feel tonight, I don't know how that happens. It wasn't the defeat (seen enough of them). I just don't know. Just had enough...

Say what you like about him, but if he hadn't been such a clown we'd struggle to remember this game. The referee should never be the star of any football match but what does it say about the standard of skill on show that the referee was the strongest influence on the game followed by Kevin Kyle...

I have my season ticket for this season but I'll be putting it in the bin. I'll not be back... Hard to put into words exactly why I suddenly feel like this. I was really looking forward to tonight's game, probably down to not having been at a game for a while. But as we went into injury time, I found myself having a wee look round and thinking "Thanks for the memories but I can do without this.". The referee certainly didn't help. Two teams with players with very little or no skill trying to beat each other into submission. At one point in the first half, I turned to my mates and said "You know who I feel sorry for? The ball...". Standing in the freezing cold watching this unfold in front of me probably didn't help. But I've seen games like this before (too many to mention). I don't know if it's simply after the lay off, my excitement going to the game raised my expectations too high and what I saw depressed me. We've lost games and played terribly before and it's never bothered me. Even after that final game of the Malpas season, I never doubted I'd be back. I think maybe because it seemed obvious to me something could be changed to improve my enjoyment of going to Fir Park. If it was announced tomorrow that Guus Hiddink was taking over and making Lionel Messi his first signing, I don't even think that would see me rushing back. Just don't see any point in watching Scottish football anymore. All I know is that as I walked along the road tonight, I tried to envisage when I'd go back. Even thinking about the semi final doesn't interest or excite me. Maybe I'll feel different in the morning. Put simply. I've had enough. I'll always be a Motherwell fan. But I think I'm going to become one of those who simply checks the result on a Saturday at five o'clock...

Harri Kampman? I s'ppose we had a fair bit of exposure in Scandinavia this season...

No, I thought he came across reasonably well. Did well to control a clear anger...

Just out of curiosity, is the re-scheduled Hearts game on Sky as the original was planned to be...?

Can't remember the quote but sounded very much like he thought McGhee or Leitch was a possibility. Something about "Someone who's been here before or someone out of the blue". Mind you, I s'ppose that could apply to Butcher as well. Just caught my attention...

I wouldn't have him back, but then again is anyone surprised that's my answer...?

It's a possibility that Stark has a clause inserted allowing him to leave for an SPL post, maybe not for zero compensation but for reduced compensation. He hasn't been in club management for a wee while now but neither had Brown or McGhee so Boyle obviously doesn't see that as an obstacle...

All of that I agree with, Lobey, sensible post as always. But if it's a choice between Butcher and Malpas or Chisholm and Dodds, I'd take the risk of Butcher damaging the affection he's held in by many Motherwell supporters. As it is, I'm hoping that it doesn't simply come down to that. Boyle has shown a fair bit of imagination in his recent appointments. I hope that continues...

Or alternatively Malpas could stay and take the ICT job...

Aye, doesn't every other club. I'd take a guy with good contacts and decent tacticla knowledge. No matter who our manager has been the young guys seem to come through at Fir Park. A good style of play would be nice as well but that can come from having the right contacts to bring in the right players to lead to attractive football...

Could live with the ones in bold. Alex Miller is a name that popped into my head last night. And I thought "Fuck, naw...". But interesting, I didn't expect to see him even quoted. Maybe something in it... EDIT Ian McCall, aye, very good...

Tempting but I reckon he was right man at the right time and maybe that time has come and gone. Would take him ahead of a few others though. Chisholm, McGhee and McPherson for three. My only concern would be that he sullies what are good memories of his times at Fir Park...

Nae quotes, so I'll try and not panic too much...

No, I take your point on that one. But our next game is not til Tuesday at the earliest. Why appoint a management team less than twelve hours after the previous one departed unless they are outstanding candidates? Surely even those who think that Chisholm and Dodds fall into that category (speak up now) would advocate waiting a couple of days to see who else is interested...?

I think most people's concerns is their inability to get a Dundee team with a budget that would choke a horse into the SPL. Doesn't bode well for managing with one of the smallest budgets in the SPL...

Very short term thinking. I'd rather get 0 points in the next 3 games and have the right managemment team for the next couple of seasons than just appointing someone who is available simply to get a couple of points on the board... Most people seem to think that Chisholm and Dodds would not be the answer...

Just to calm things down a bit, could it be that former BBC man Dodds is just getting his name bandied about by his former colleagues as they attempt to give him a leg up? Let's hope so, anyway...