The African

The way McGhee handled this terrible situation for the club was, unfortunately, very quickly forgotten when he left for Aberdeen. It was also a factor in why I was happy enough to have him back. As long as Phil O'Donnell's family are happy with it, I would be happy for those fans who wish to, to celebrate his involvement with our club at the nearest home game to the anniversary of his tragic passing. It was undoubtedly a defining moment in the history of our club and worthy of being respected.

Any kind of win would be excellent news, and there is no real reason why we cannot hope for one. Unfortunately, United need a result like never before and you can always count on the fact that, in such circumstances, we are the team you want to play. As such, right now I would take a point.

Too many teams discount laying Celtic at he mo ent. They are certainly not world beaters at the moment. Just look at how they did in Europe. Okay, we haven't been great but we have nothing to lose so let's go and give them a run for their money. The correct attitude and a decent performance and we can take something from this game.

2:1 to us. We are due a result and performance against this mob.

£2million a year, or on average around £50k per club. Not really ground breaking money, but if it is an increase then always welcome. The group stage is a reasonable idea, though the concept of the the second place in only half of the groups qualifying could be a little unfair as it favours those with a weaker draw. They use this system with European rugby and, in the past, it has always favoured sides who have drawn an Italian side in their group. The bonus point for a penalty shoot out win after a draw is interesting. At least they are trying something a little different. I can vaguely remember them trying playing without offside in a competition, perhaps the League Cup, or maybe the Drybourgh Cup, in the early seventies. For me, the last League Cup that really worked was the Skol Cup format of ties played midweek with a guaranteed finish on the night, with an Autumn final and a European place for the winner. May have been of its time though, and not likely to happen again soon. A winter break is not a bad idea though you never know when the bad weather is going to hit in Scotland.

Still more about performance for me at the moment. Hopefully we get more like the Hearts performance than the Ross County one. They seem to have hit some form and are scoring a few goals so, combined with our suspect defence, we may do well to get anything from this game. Having said that, we can definately get something so I will predict another draw, maybe even another 2-2.

Pretty cool efforts, both of them. I particularly like the away shirt, both stylish and retro, though maybe it brings back unhappy memories of a Scottish Cup semi final in 1976. One day I will get over it, though moving to New Zealand hasn't helped.

A draw, one all. Ever hopeful that the return of a couple of our more experienced players will see an improved performance. If we play like we did against Inverness, and avoid daft penalties and deflected goals, we can take something from this game.

Sorry, Samson has not played so, you are correct, cannot doors. I included him in this group because of my perception of his abilities, rather than any comment on performances I have imagined. If Ripley does goin January, we probably do not need an immediate replacement because weave anSPL standard goalie on our books already.

Whatever he does, January is the time to do it. The current squad aren't cutting the mustard so some change is required and that should involve new personnel within the squad. Taylor Grimshaw and Ripley, being on loan, are easy to get shot of. Are any of them worth keeping? If McGhee can get more out of McManus, Lasley, Hammell, Pearson and McDonald then we well on the way, but it would be optimistic in the extreme that he will be able to rejuvenate all five of them. Whether it be age or attitude, there is currently something lacking in all of them. I also think that in the likes of Ainsworth, Johnson, Moult, Kennedy, Laing and even Samson, there are players of SPL quality who should be doing more, so there is material to work with. Unfortunately, the chances of them all coming good at this stage seem remote, so changes in terms of bringing in better quality and freshening up the squad are a necessity.

McGhee has had very little time so needs to be cut some slack. He has also proved to be a decent manager in the past so no reason to think that, given some resources, he won't be able to improve matters. We are in a bit of a mess at present, because of the failings of our two previous managers. No point blaming McGhee over that. If he can't fix it, then the mess will be even worse than it is now, and harder to address, whoever inherits it, so probably best to give the guy some time and support rather than turning on him after less than half a dozen games. He is stuck with what he has until January at least, so I have no problems with him experimenting with what he has in the squad before then. He has to find out for himself what they can and cannot do. Blooding youngsters now, given the state of the team, could do more harm than good, so no point in throwing them in, to sink or swim, at this stage. I have a damn sight more confidence that McGhee will be able to turn things around than Baraclough who has turned out to be a woeful appointment, so we are not in as bad a position as we might have been. Les will have to invest in the squad in January, so let's just hope that the three or four players we need are available and willing to join us. We could also do with getting rid of some of the dead wood.

Would probably take a point right now. Too early to be a must win so a decent performance will be of greater importance. Having said that, not getting something from a decent ninety minutes may begin to affect confidence, so hoping we do get a result. County are a decent side, but it should not be beyond us.

Glad I don't have to put up with it anymore. Sounds like it has gotten even worse in the year or so since I left Scotland. It was better when we had both BBC and STV covering football and each with just highlights of one game. Montford and Crampsey were giants compared to the nobodies they have covering the game today. Live games midweek were few and far between. European finals and big internationals only. The current situation where you can watch a game every evening is true lily a case of more being less.

Could turn out to be a very useful three points. Great result and hopefully the proper start of a decent run to get us away from the bottom of the table.

Great pics. Feeling homesick now.

I think we might be better not to mention grooming, what with all the previous paedophile banter, might get taken out of context.

Does this mean that he wasn't actually a kiddie fiddler?

Much as I liked Simo Valakari as a player, it will be a huge change for all parties and we are in the middle of a season with a rebuilding job to do and a relegation battle to win. Might be too big an ask? Not saying no, but our previous Finnish manager was a bit of a car crash. Of course, it could be fantastic. Half of me says lets just appoint Paolo Di Canio and sit back and enjoy the ride!

Old folks young folks everybody come,Join our happy Sunday School and have a lot of fun. You can bring a stick of chewing gum and sit upon the floor, And we'll tell you bible stories that you've never heard before. Samson was a strong man, he lived on fish and chips. You'd see him on the Gallowgate, pickin' up the nips. Samson had a brother, he was strong as well. Samson went to heaven but his brother went to h...

Very sad news. A great player and a true legend at our club. They just don't seem to make them like Joe Wark anymore. Rest in peace and my thoughts are with his family and friends as they come to terms with their loss.

Personally I had a fair amount of sympathy for Bobby Watson and don't recall too much antipathy towards himfrom the Fir Park faithful, though I may just have missed that as I was not a season ticket holder at the time. It probably helped that he was a well liked former player. Also, he inherited a serious cluster fuck of a squad from Jock Wallace who was happy to jump ship for his dream return to the h**s.I certainly chanted "Hind must go!" After a loss to St Mirren, I think, which must have been one of his final games in charge. Nothing personal against the guy, who had the most brilliant "new manager bounce" I have ever experienced with Motherwell which was only halted by a dastardly pitch invasion by the same said h**s. As if there weren't enough reasons to despise and hate that vile bunch of tossers? Kampman was just a complete car crash but didn't last too long, Butcher after administration was acceptable as we were just happy still to be there and the youngsters gave us hope and the last season or so has been pretty push, but the worst has probably been the Malpas season. A slow torture of ever increasing ineptitude and depression.

Read the stuff on the PNE website and it sounds like a couple of our supporters managed to get up the noses of the locals. Strong drink had been taken, apparently. While I wish that our entire support were the fine upstanding gentlemen and ladies that I am sure we all are, I am unfortunately aware that this is probably not the case. But to put it another way, wouldn't it be boring if we were all the same and the diversity of humanity is one of it's few saving graces. It certainly isn't my place to be telling people what standards of behaviour are a requirement for our support. Everyone is different and will have different ideas and levels. What we ave in common is a football team that we support. How we o about it is our own business.

Can we realistically see McGhee wanting the job? He left in such circumstances last time, with continued acriinomy during his tenure at Aberdeen, that he would surely not consider a return? Also, he would scarcely be in a better place to land his dream job from Fir Park. If and when they punt the current incumnant, Celtic will look further up the food chain than Motherwell for a replacement. Loving all the speculation though. Personally I'd love to see Thierry Henry or Paolo Di Canio given the job. Don't know if they would be any good, but it would be fascinating. No chance though, just complete madness. The come down when we eventually appoint Pressley or Shiels or someone of that ilk will be a pain though.

It certainly cannot be considered disloyal to want what is best for the club? It is not pleasant to be in the position of asking that someone be removed from their job and lose their livelihood, but the guy is simply not up to the task and the consequences of him remaining would be fairly dire.

Just to put things into perspective, we have just been out fought, out thought and well beaten by a team managed by Jim Duffy. If anyone thinks that that is good enough then good luck to them.