daver

I'd be quite happy to see Jim Paterson back as long as it's the slimline McGhee era version and not the slower and fatter than me, Malpas era liability.

I take it they had to spend a good deal of the £9.2m on building the new ground or does anyone know if they got the ground on top of the money? Anyway, I had a bet on Killie to go down last year (mainly because the odds were much better than the other likely candidates) and with a few games to go it looked a distinct possibility. This year I'll tip Accies but probably not put money on it as the odds will mean it won't be worth my while.

Maybe somebody with local knowledge could advise, but Google Maps suggests the road direct from Wrexham to Llanelli is quicker than the M5 but that depends on what the average speed possible on that road is. Best of luck - you'll still be closer to it than me.

I know it's also in Wales but Wrexham's the other end of the country and something like a 3 and a half hour drive away. Unfortunately I've got a trapped nerve in my back and can hardly move so won't make it to Airdrie never mind Llanelli. The most accessible European game we've ever had and I can't make it! None of my usual crowd are going and I can't help wonder that initial estimates of travelling fans might have been a bit optimistic.

Surely the wages of the two of them combined would make McGhee's salary look like pocket money and it was generally accepted we had pushed the boat out with him.

The transfer market was in a completely different state when we sold McFadden and most supporters accepted we had to sell him for that amount. Some wanted us to hold out for £1.5m so that shows the difference between then and now.

If I was at a Scotland game (only realistic time this question could come up) and we needed a goal and they were the two attacking players on the bench, it would have to be Rossco as the one who might come up with something a bit special. And before anyone says it, I know they both played against the Czechs and Clarky was the one who scored.

What is noticeable is not just who Hibs and Falkirk got, but the names they were linked with compared to some of the names we are being linked with. Is it possible that having McGhee as manager has raised our profile? Boyle also surprised us all with McGhee's appointment so maybe he's looking to do it again with a well known name like Staunton (or someone not even mentioned). Bookies not taking bets on Staunton just means there's been a bit of money put on him and they're covering themselves.

Yeah, one of Clarky's goals was a lovely little lob over the goalie from the edge of the box. He had just got a hat-trick against Dundee Utd. and nearly made it 2 in a row at Perth. I'm not sure but I seem to remember he was subbed and didn't look pleased.

Good to see the return of the New Year derby game. And a little away day to Hearts just before it for those who want to give their liver a pre-New Year warm up.

In his interview on Sky Sports News (available on their website if anyone can put up a link) he did indeed thank motherwell and everyone at the club (and fans) and said he had a great time. He always has been very good with the media so it was highly unlikely he wasn't going to say some nice things abou the club. He also pointed to losing some players but, to be honest, he's absolutely correct - we would have preferred them to stay as well. What it comes down to is Aberdeen will have a bigger budget for him to work with.

The one problem with that is the real winner would be Mark McGhee as he would get his full new contract paid up (if he'd actually signed it by then)!

Pretty much agree with you there Stuart but there's one thing regarding your last comment. If McGhee feels we are, on our day, the best team outwith the Old Firm then I would imagine he sees that as justifying his decision to move. It would suggest he can't take us any higher, particularly with budget restraints, but there is room for improvement at Aberdeen. Having seen Aberdeen last season and not been impressed, I would certainly agree on that and I will not be surprised if he does have an immediate impact. I'm not sure I agree with his comment though, as a few sides could make the claim they are 3rd best "on their day".

In that case, it sounds as though Miller is just doing his job and looking after Aberdeen's interests.

In that case, I hope he's moved out of the in-laws by now.

I'm surprised the shop doesn't constantly stock those to take advantage of the Harry Potter fans - there always seems to be a new film coming out.

If you're talking about his article in the Sunday Herald that was almost 2 weeks ago and could have been written several days beforehand. He didn't have an article in last week's paper and would be surprised if he has one in tomorrow. Radio Scotland seemed very sure of him going to Aberdeen on their early afternoon sports programme and certainly when so many journalists seem to have sources telling them the same thing, it normally happens (unless the chairman talks him round). I could certainly understand him taking the Aberdeen job much more than I could with the Hearts job last year. Let's face it, they don't have a bampot dictator as owner, he must have a soft spot for them and, if he gets things right, they do have a great potential (probably bigger than Hearts). I know people can point out the various cons as well but I can't see him taking us any further and, with the budget costs, he may even struggle to match the 7th place of last year. I'd like him to stay but won't be heartbroken if he goes as I think we need a manager who can spot a bargain and I'm not convinced he is that man. The one thing we will miss is the media profile - we'll hear a lot less about our club in the media if he goes.

I suppose it is the same thing now. I can't see Aberdeen being put off paying compensation the way some people think they will. They paid a fortune to get rid of Calderwood and must have taken the likelihood of paying for a new manager into account when making that decision. If he does go to Aberdeen and does a reasonable job up there, their fans will have to go through the same crap we have every time there's a suitable vacancy.

Would agree with you on the first two (although the SPL reference doesn't say it includes managers) but who did McGhee win the UEFA Cup with? There's a whole load of people who could be included on that list, including McGhee.

The Record appears to have put 2 and 2 together and then stated it as fact rather than a probability. McGhee is quoted as saying he has not applied for any jobs and Aberdeen have said they have a long list of applicants which they are going through. By the Daily Record's reckoning they prefer to go for McGhee ahead of any applicants and therefore be willing to pay compensation. I don't see the amount of compensation we would require to be much of an issue though as they reported they paid a 7 figure settlement to get rid of the 2 Jimmy's (no wonder they left by mutual consent). Does McGhee then find he has no money to spend at Aberdeen because it's all been spent on managers?

Why not just park at the shops like everyone else? Never had a problem.

Is it just me, or does Craigan look like he's just been dragged out his bed after a night on the lash?

I'm afraid I could never take to him. I assumed McGhee saw something in him he liked and thought that a good pre-season could get him fit enough to play a lot better, like it had with several players the previous year. Unfortunately he came back as unfit as ever and , other than for free-kicks, we were as good as a man short in many of his apperances as opposition players just ran round him.

I fully expect him to go to Aberdeen and wouldn't blame him if he did but would prefer if he stayed. When he joined us there was a general feeling we had done well to get him and we would be unlikely to have him more than a couple of years if he did reasonably well. He must be getting fed up with the budget restrictions and while they aren't particularly flush, I would imagine Aberdeen will be able to attract and pay a better standard of player (and McGhee will surely get a rise as well). He appears to have an understanding following the Hearts episode that he can speak to interested clubs so I can't see we're going to block him too much if he wants to go. We all thought him moving to Hearts was the wrong thing to do at the time as he had more to do but I'm not so sure that's the case now. I'm also not convinced he has the capability to do the wheeling and dealing that we need a manager to do with our reducing budget. He hasn't shown a great deal when it comes down to bringing in a bargain. Maybe looking elsewhere wouldn't be the worst thing for us at the moment.

It might have helped if a home support had turned up but yeah, it was all pretty subdued. I can't see past using Hamilton as the venue as it is by far the easiest to get to - only two stops on the train ground to ground. Let's face it, you could even walk there at a push. I know there's a possibility it might be too small but I would be very surprised if we have more than 6500 if we take it to Airdrie or Livingston. Would it not be better to have folk miss out because they can't get a ticket than lots more missing out because they can't make it to a less accessible ground?