MelvinBragg

Were you at the game? I ask only because you single out players that always get singled out, but who actually played pretty well yesterday...

I actually thought Clay did alright. Not going to win you many games but did reasonably well in the unfussy defensive midfield role and rarely gave the ball away.

442 then. Or 352 with Cadden at wing back. Just need to wait and see. Injury and suspension means that options were limited anyway...

You said that, not me...

As long as I think a player is giving 100% then I wouldn't be giving them abuse. If a player simply isn't good enough but the manager keeps picking him, surely the manager has to have his judgment questioned? Individual errors, it's a similar situation. If a player continues to make the same errors and shows an inability to learn from it, the manager should see this and no longer select him. Only time I feel players should take the blame is when they don't apply themselves. Nothing frustrates me more than a player with ability who doesn't give it his all...

I agree with this 100%. Particularly regarding the length of contract and questioning how a gup with Robinson's CV becomes the outstanding candidate...

I think any perceived lack of attractiveness of the Motherwell job is not necessarily entirely down to fan ownership or finances. Anyone coming in was going to be tasked with 10 games to keep us in the division with no scope to bring in any new players. Given it's a team that had just shipped a horrendous number of goals in a handful of games, I'd hazard a guess that some managers thought "Do I really want a relegation on my CV?". When McCall and Baraclough left, those coming in had a lot more time and a transfer window to try and turn things around. Dare I say, if McGhee had left two months earlier, would the job have been slightly more attractive? I may be wide of the mark here, but I definitely see the timing of the vacancy as a factor...

Hammell not out of contract this summer. So the left side of our defence will still be old and slowing down next season...

Indeed, just picked Valakari as an example...

It just smacks of the cheap option. That may or may not be the case but that's how it looks. If Valakari with a track record of winning trophies as a manager was a poorer candidate than Robinson then Robinson must have given one hell of an interview. Or is Robinson the only candidate willing to work for what we were offering both in terms of salary and resources? Obviously, we all hope he does well but one word has been used several times already about the appointment and it sums it up for me. Uninspiring...

Close of business..

If interviews were done today, hard to imagine decision was already made unless the board were really wanting to waste people's time...

From Freddy Dindeleux??

Robinson until the summer wouldn't exactly get the pulses racing (did someone say underwhelming?) but club have perhaps made the decision to sacrifice excitement of a fresh face with a some might say dull appointment that might be able to keep us up. Assuming, of course, that he was their first choice... If Robinson only wants it til the summer as he has other things he wants to pursue then that's fine for him but it doesn't bode well for the summer that we can't find a candidate we'd rather have than him...

I've kind of always been of the same opinion as you in that having these guys who knew the club was a "good thing". So much so that I had concerns about how we replace Hammell and Lasley in terms of keeping new players right ("don't say you're looking forward to playing at Ibrox/Parkhead in your first interview"). That being said, some of these players have now been responsible for several managers losing their jobs (on some occasions appearing to down tools). The goodwill they hold at the club means that they could be perceived to have too much influence at the club. Fact is, most of these guys have to be replaced anyway so it kind of becomes a moot point. Do we have the players to build a new team around is maybe more the question...

I wouldn't go with Lucas, feel more industry is required. Had forgotten about Campbell. Might be a good shout. Would probably learn a lot playing alongside Pearson...

In the past you seem to have been right about stuff regards the club so I'll not be astounded if it proves to be the case again. I just get the feeling (as I said the other day) that the club may feel that the person they want to rebuild the team in the summer isn't the same person to come in and get the best out of the current squad in the particular challenge of a relegation battle. I feel as if they think the guy for that is someone who knows the squad and already has a rapport with them. Like I say, just my gut feeling and my gut told me we wouldn't sack McGhee so what do I know...

For me, it'd be.. Samson Tait Heneghan McHugh Jules Cadden Clay Pearson Frear McDonald Bowman

That'll be Robinson til the end of the season then...

While you are right on that, probably also find that most bookies don't even open a market on it to begin with for the reasons you stated. Obviously they don't remember the killing they can make through a Van Der Gaag situation...

This was my thinking. Kind of leads me to think Robinson will get the job til the end of the season. Unless they think pairing him with the candidate that they have in mind for next season will get the best of both worlds also allowing a new manager a first hand look at the squad to assess it looking towards next season...

Have been thinking about this and discussing it with a few people. None of the names that have been mentioned seem to fit the bill, but I reckon there may be a reason for this. For me, we are almost looking for two different types of manager. In the short term, we're looking for someone who can make an immediate impact, hit the ground running, organise us and keep us up. Leads you to consider mainly Scottish based candidates. Looking more long term, you're looking for someone who this summer can refresh and rebuild the squad when you're looking at replacing or phasing out some key players while also bringing through some of the U20s squad. Leads me to think we'd need someone with fresh eyes not tied to senior players' reputations. Problem for me is I've not seen a name that ticks both boxes...

I'd be surprised if we went for Ferguson as well. Just when two separate people mentioned his name, I started to think "Wait a minute now..". We are known for our leftfield appointments but this would seem particularly strange...

Same person that told me last time he thought we'd go for McGhee. Not to suggest he's in the know, more that he seems to be able to work out how Motherwell think...

Hearing a lot of worrying (in my opinion) Barry Ferguson chat this morning. Surely not..?