Well Up For It!

Unlikely Reading would approach him again with him having started his managerial career there. As Malky says, he did leave in the lurch a bit by agreeinbg a long term contract with Reading a month or so before he left for Premiership side Leicester. However, I think there will be a few managerial casualities at the end of the season and I fear a few clubs who will part with their managers will have McGhee on theri radar.

So this is all just a glorified add for new players then??? Why do you need new players if the current crop have just one a trophy??

I heard it was acheived with a depleted squad as well, many "key" players missing!! Congrats all round!!

That was my intial thought as well fringes, but who knows for sure. I can't imagine that there was a que for Big Boab, so he probably took what he could get and as I posted earlier I was led to believe when Coach and Clarko signed there new deals they became the top earners, outwith Shug and Ports who had wages "topped up" out of Boyle's pockets. That said I have to hold my hands up and say I'm actually a fan of Big Boab's - quality passer, great from set pieces, strong in the air and the tackle - just a real shame he is slow and a tad lazy.

Well I've heard it from good athority that our highest paid players at the club (stephen hughes not included who has wages paid direct by Boyle) are Coach and Clarko - and both of them are short of the 2k weekly mark. Maybe with bonueses, etc then he could approach somewhere near 2k, but would be amazed if he was more than that! No infact, bewildered!! We run a tight ship at The 'Ark mind, and 2k is a lot of mulla!

It wasn't a back door when Hibs went into the Intertoto last year was it??

No chance he will be on anything near that with us!!

Really dissappointed with all this and this is no doubt bound to have a snowball effect on shirt sponsorship and other sponsorship for next season. The new date that has been set is a poor attempt to smooth things over, and like other posters have said there will be a few players missing for this presentation. Also, holding it in Fir PArk doesn't really work for me. First and foremost, it is too small and secondly, it lacks the glitz and glam of the Shawlands from last year. It is just a poor showing off the club with no excuses what so ever. I've very much supported this new regime, but this is a major step backwards. While a few decisions under the previous admin were indeed questionable, it was them who put the building bricks in place for the POTY dance and all the hard work from last year has been undone. Once again Motherwell prove to be the amateur club of the SPL. As a side note, what do the club intend to do regarding these signed agreement? I'm no lawyer, but I'm sure the shirt sponsors will have some sort of legal say! I think all sponsors should be offered a half price sponsorship for next season at least for this farce! And the standard price of sponsorship has to come down as there is no reality to the prices that were set on the back of last years very successful night.

Said that since he returned - he'd certainly be more effective there. And let Reynolds move to left back, then Coach (if he doesn't go to Russia ) Craggs and Strech as the other three.

Nah...I NEVER moan on holiday cause its better than being at work no matter what. And its a villa i'm going to, not a hotel!

Estonia is the boggys dollocks!!

Not me. I'm looking forward to my summer holidays!!

Really bored of this now.... And why isn't this on the other thread with 25pages of nonsense on it?? Why start a new one?! I'm sure the top will be good, but just can't be caught up in the whole hype! And lets be honest, it's gonna do nothing for shirt sales as though who want it will buy it and those who don't won't - same way its always been with Motherwell. In fact there is a chance it could effect sales with a credit crunch on a new strips every year for the past three (or is it four) despite promises that they will last 2years!!! And this one ain't gonna last 2years either - as I'm sure or Jaxx deal is up next season which will give us yet another strip!! So the whole "sneek peak" idea is simple put, completely and utterly pointless!! EDIT: Just saw the countdown on the fishal!! Unbelievable!! Talk about ripping the arse out it!! It's actually getting to cringing stage!

Was just gonna post the exact same thing Jaggy. It's a great tribute to Phil when he is compared with some of these other sporting greates who were all taken from us too soon.

A poor decision from the club here. Sponsorship was flogged big time this year on the back of A) us qualifying for Europe and B) the huge success of last years do at Shawlands. Do you think training tops will be off the agenda next year??

My intial reaction at first too mate, but I'm not so sure when I think on it. He is a decent player and is young enough to be moulded into a top class player. While I don't see him as an immediate starter for any of these teams, he will surely provide competiton/backup. And he is versatile. He's no better or worse a player than what Naismith and Weir were when they left Scotland for Everton, so maybe.... Aparantly, according to the same source, Celtic were poised to sign him in Jan '08, but after the Uncle Phil tragedy he scuppered the deal and stayed with the club. Last season he was a great assest to the club, and on that form I don't see why he can't have a crack at the Premiership. The problem is his off the field problems, but he defiantly has "potential" to be a top player (I know I hate that phrase as well!) As he is still under contract, we would command a fee for him and I'd imagine it to be pretty decent (500k +) and that is money I would certainly take to reinvest in the squad. Sure he'd be a loss, but rather sell him now than lose him for nothing when his contracts up! Just remember, you heard it here first....

Is Maman not at Birmingham?? Great piece by the gaffer and I'm sure his comments will go a long way in restoring faith in some of the more sceptical fans. Onward and upwards next season, bring it on!

Slightly away from the current topic, I heard a very interesting rumour yesterday that Quinn will be off in the summer. Anyone else heard anything regarding this? While my source is usually quite reliable, I was stunned when he mentioned that the clubs looking at hime were Birmingham, Celtic and Everton.....??!!! Surely not?!

Doubt it will happen now as time is very short. If it does will probably be in Centenary suite. Last years was a brilliant year, but that was partly helped by us clinching 3rd spot on the actual day of the event.

Great comments from the gaffer. I have said before, but I fully expect him to have another season with us. He is a man of pride and I'm sure he wants to leave a lasting mark with the Well fans (ie Cup win, etc). HE will have one more go before leaving. As for the link with Celtic, on the back of this season he doesn't have the momentum or reputation to land him the Celtic job, although no doubt if Strachan departs he will recommend his big mate as a possible replacement. And while I think McGhee could do a great job at Celtic, he is not a big enough name yet. As for the constant link with Aberdeen, its just not gonna happen. If he knocked back Hearts last year, he will not go to Aberdeen this year. Plus I think Calderwood will still be Aberdeen gaffer come the start of the 09/10 season.

I think the only positives that can be taken from our position - ie bottom 6 well clear of relegation - is to blood the youngsters although I agree that securing 7th is priority first. From what I've heard, Bob McHugh is a huge talent and would love see him make an appearance or two. Same goes for Dario Quinn, Page and Meechan. However, the three I'd most like to see are Murphy, Saunders and Slane. These three guys have been blooded already, and I think it would be a huge benefit to both them and the club to give them the last five games. McGhee hailed Slane as the most exciting porspect he'd seen since Robbie Keane at Wolves. Saunders came in an looked every bit the part. And Murphy is the great hope at the club. That said, in our last home game i'd like all the players who are leaving us (Buzz, Shug, McGarry, etc) to play so we can give them a decent send of - unless ofcourse they are goping to another SPL club!!

Totally agree complete Busta, and well said!! I'm sick fed up of these here boards being dominated with negatiove pish over our failure to make the top 6, yet if you had offered anyone a 7th place finish last season when McGhee was unknown to us we all would have bit your hand off!! Yes I am gutted, completely and utterly, and not making the top six but some of the comments on the forums the last few days have been pathetic and makes me slightly embarrassed to call myself a 'Well fan when we have idiots like we do causing a hate campaign against McGhee and boycotting Fir Park! Get a grip!

This whole situation just makes my blood boil.... After what he done last season, there is far to many on here calling for McGhee's head after a likely safe mid table finish with a small squad. Yes it wasn't as good as last year, but the anti McGhee comments are really starting to sicken me! He is the best manager we have had since McLean, and that is evident from the fact that we have largerly the same squad that Malpas nearly got relegated! The whole ripping of McGhee's character is well wide of the mark also, as I 've always found him to be honest and forthright. As for what Frazzle says, I agree to an extent that if McGhee walks into the Joker in 20yaers time he won't get the same reaction as Tommy McLean....yet. But I think he will have one more year with us and make a permenent mark with the club. A manager doesn't have to care about the club he manages as such, as long as he cares about the job he does and I think McGhee is completely committed to the job at hand. He will have my full support heading into the new season, and I just hope we can keep him for as long as possible. Because you know now that his replacement will be of a poorer standard! And what he said is 100% spot on! While it is by no means the best team I've ever seen at the 'Ark player by player, we without doubt played the best football I'd ever seen as a Well fan last season.

I it just me or does anyone else find this whole wee teaser campaign totally pathetic?! We are talking about a new shirt here, nothing more! Either show us it...or don't. We will see it soon anyway. It was just a weak ploy to boost programme sales - and I doubt that works cause the teasers have been posted on here. Not as if it's gonna boost actual shirt sales. Those who want to buy it will, no matter how much suspense you add to it. End of the day I think it's all false distraction anyway as the designs may not be even finalised. The teaser pics will probably be from a sample rough sample top.