Well Up For It!

I genuinely think Kenny Shields is a very good manager that gets the best out of players, rallies the support, brings through and encourages youth and is tactically astute to get results in big games. I like his passion for the game also. However, he is argumentative, over opinionated and generally a complete and utter gobshite who will alienate fans/club officials/players in time. And for me, the later has alarm bells ringing that he should be nowhere near our thoughts for next manager. As for Henry - why would he leave his multi million pound a year deal with Sky and coaching role with Arsenal U21's to join us?? Think its more a case of his agent leaking his name out their to suggest he is contemplating going into management when the right job comes along (ie not us!)

Was wondering if Baraclough suffered from not being "well known" in football? Mark McGhee, Stuart McCall and Craig Brown all had pedigree be on the international stage and would have commanded respect with their name alone. Baraclough, like Gannon before him, was a somewhat unknown quantity in football with many in our team having arguably achieved more than him in the game and maybe there was a "who are you" mentality from the players? Just a thought...

Yeah, feel sorry it never worked out for him but absolutely correct decision from the club. He will always be remembered for the manner in which we demolished Rangers in the play-off. For me, him going now allows us to reflect on him more positively than we would have if he had hung on longer as he's gone before he can dig a hole deep enough for himself that he couldn't get out. Talked the talk brilliantly. Couldn't walk the walk. Out his depth, but from the outside, a really genuinely nice bloke. Hope he gets another crack in the game as believe he does have some very positive ideas. Glad he has gone though - onwards and upwards. COYW

Really hope Craggs gets a few games to see what he could do before we rush into an appointment. If he proves decent enough, would be delighted to see him given until the end of the season. If it doesn't go to plan, then I think we have to be looking at experience. In that case would love a Coyle or Lambert type, but probably outwith our reach. Mixu Paatelainen is an interesting shout is we want to go more exotic. Young up and comers would be Fowler at Queens of McIntyre at Ross County who I think is one of the best managers in the league. Either way, the directors have to get this right. As a side note, given some reports that it was Steve Robinson involved in altercations with a player in dressing room, is his position guaranteed?

Would actually love Craggs to have a half dozen games to see how he goes and give him the job. If not, Jim McIntyre would be my pick of names touted.

Would much prefer to see him on the first train back to London!

Excellent from the board. Only decision they could have taken, and glad they have done so swiftly. Now just get the next appointment right FFS.

Post match comments from Baraclough in Evening Times: “There was anger and frustration on the players’ part, we now wait to Saturday to see if there’s a response." “I hope there are players who realise they’re running out of chances. There comes a stage where you have to say enough’s enough, and I hope one or two are maybe thinking they won’t get too many more chances." “I can turn this around, for sure. I’m still sure we’re still doing the right things. They say they’re more than happy with the way they’re being treated. They have to be confident they can affect a game, not just drift through it." “Motherwell’s a place where people have to work hard for everything, and we have to typify that as a football club. I can understand they feel let down and I’m fine with them getting on at me. If they back the players great, but no-one works harder to get success for them than me." “They let themselves and their families down. I’m up here away from my family to provide for my wife and children. I made sacrifices and they should be too." Sack this clown!

No post match comments at all, no tweets to say highlights are up, pictures are up, etc. Did notice they replied to someone on Twitter re post match interviews that the camera was playing up.

Anyone else quite surprised by the silence coming from the club just now? With the exception of the "highlights" posted to youtube, has been nothing.

I've thought about this a lot recently... Think Les could potential back himself into a corner. Loans more and more, speculating to accumulate, and the society struggle to get the numbers to pay him back so he decides to sell the club. But with him owed £3m, no one wants to pay it and he is stuck with limited options: 1. Sell Fir Park under the noses of the club to Tesco, etc to get his money back and gift the club to the fans. 2. Stay owner, start cutting cloth accordingly. 3. Sell the club for a significant loss to a third party. 4. Gift it to 'Well Society anyway. Only the 1st option is a disaster for the club - and think he'd be a very brave man to do that.

Agreed that the transfer targets have been questionable - but surely that would lie at Baraclough's door? Think the board are guilty of trusting him to much, showing too much faith in him and giving him too much of a leash. Would argue we are wasting more money on playing budget than on any capital investment. From my understanding, Les has invested money in the club he does not expect to get back - where that has went I'm not exactly sure. But these capital investments will all prove great investments given time - we aren't going to see results in 6 months! Upgrading our scouting, youth and physio/conditioning/diet of our players can only be positive. Building the profile in the community (which I think is where Les has put his money without expecting a return) is also a real positive.

To answer your question, yes I think we are moving in a generally positive direction - albeit off the park. Where the problem lies, is all that good work is being dragged down by Baraclough and our on field problems. The board/GM have backed him, it's back-fired and now they need to act. The squad size with numerous player in positions and seemingly wasting wages, the playing style, the lack of trust in youth as per the philosophy of the new board and the tactical approach can all be laid at Baraclough's door. Yes, the board should have rained him in a bit, but I put that down to inexperience of running a football club.

So you think the capital investments in scouting, physiotherapy, youth, catering, community work, etc and supporting the manager in the transfer market with money to spend is all lack of evidence?? All new to our club, and all could have a majorly positive effect on us moving forward - hence the term "new dawn". Their handling of Baraclough has the potential to undermine this work. You've just proved my point, as it already lost on you.

Would say that's a touch harsh and definitely knee jerk. By all accounts, a lot of the off field stuff is very positive of late, with investment in scouting, physio and youth departments. I do think that Les and co have taken a gamble with Barraclough that has backfired. They need to gauge the thoughts of the majority of fans and act by getting rid of the manager. If they continue to show stubbornness that they have the "right man" they will be doing a lot more damage to the club by alienating the support, which will damage the goals and ambitions of the 'Well society - probably even end any hope of it achieving its targets. So far, our new owner, board and GM have done very well in bringing a new dawn to the club - but all their positive work is being completely undermined by the on field situation. They have to act for the future of the club. ...And if they don't, then you maybe have a case to call for their heads.

This. A positive result on Saturday (even a draw) and he will remain with us for sometime to come I think for the simple fact that Les and co seem desperate to be proved right in their appointment. It's that stubbornness that will do us so much harm.

Have to echo the overwhelming chat on here....no way he can stay now. It's getting worse and worse each week and he should be issued with his P45 the minute he gets to Fir Park tomorrow. However, not for a second do I believe that the Les and the board will act on the wishes of the fans - far too stubborn for that given what I've picked up. Will end up driving so many fans away and will be stuck in another relegation scrap. For me, he's worse than Malpas.

That goal doesn't change my opinion one bit. Guy is out his depth. If he is getting his P45 first thing tomorrow it is still too late.

While I agree we know nothing, we were told under previous regime that we were regularly loosing money with a much smaller squad and it was not sustainable. The society had to make numerous loans to the club. This was with a much smaller squad, performing much better in the league, while not paying transfer fees and without the changes behind the scenes that will have involved a great deal of capital outlay. I doubt sponsorship money has dramatically changed either way and attendances are declining. Yes we don't know exact financial details, but drawing conclusions from what we do know, there is no way we are not spending much more than what we were in McCall's last full season. That leads many to question the signing of players, who are very unlikely to feature, and are seen as a wasted wage. Wether they are on £200 per week or £2000 per week - from the outside looking in - it's money we simply do not need to spend.

Spot on. Bizarre goings on behind the scenes and it seems abundantly clear to everyone out with the running of the club that these signings are literally pissing money against the wall. ...and adding even more to the dept the society/club owe Les!

Can't fault a word of it and exactly how I'm feeling on the matter. Still find a lot of the activity this summer utterly bizarre given the messages coming from Les and the board.

Seems to be a problem with podcast. Cuts off prematurely at 34mins mid question. This is the case with online version and downloaded version.

Utterly bizarre decision and I'm really starting to worry about the direction we are going in as a club. All this talk about bringing through youth, selling them on, etc and then just completely going against it. We have Ripley as No.1, Dan as a decent enough back-up if/when required and young Long and Morrison should we end up with a goalkeeping crisis - and even then we would be allowed an emergency loan. So I can only conclude that this is nothing more than a complete waste of a wage and adding to the "debt" we will owe Les should the Well Society be successful in raising the money. Totally ridiculous business decision as well signing a totally un-required player. Nothing against Samson, probably a better keep than Dan... ...but totally baffled.

That's some team, although I'd have Owen Coyle before McDonald and maybe Randolph over Dyskstra. Also, if we came up against Henrik Larson, big Kemble would have to play. Maybe an argument for having Deloumeaux in the line up some where. Obviously Ferrere would be the sub!

Williamson did. Met him in Hong Kong a few years back - not knowing who he was - and he told me he had played for 'Well, coming off as a sub in one game.