Our manager stayeth(for now)

Very satisfying to get it right up the jambos who were dancing about thinking they had pinched our manager only for him to say "roon ye, I'm staying where I am!" You'd have to be mental to work over in Little Lithuania with the chairman interfering and calling all the shots. Just hope we keep playing the way we have been and we reap the reward of improving his contract before he moves onto bigger things at a less bonkers club!

Backwaters of europe here we come!

Been rather quiet here on all fronts, but not had a great deal to say all season about Motherwell FC and here we've only went and qualified for europe for something like the 4th time in our history. If anything there has been to much going on to write about, from the dramatic turnaround in fortunes on the pitch, to tragic loss of a player also on the pitch, the dreadful state of the pitch itself and a bundle of call offs it seems quite appropriate that after our vital 2-1 win over Aberdeen at the weekend our Main stand and the pitch itself was struck by lightning cause both to be flooded. Fortunately only some carpets are needing replaced, our improved drainage making the pitch flooding a not to considerable problem for a change.

There isn't a rollercoaster yet built that could give you the same upss, downs, thrills and spills it has been that dramatic a season. Finishing 3rd is a well deserved reward at the end of it all, would like to think we can build on that but I understand all to well how Scottish football works and our own stature within it.

Woken up into a twisted nightmare of a world!

Well I knew yesterday really but point holds not my idea of a great signing, the guy seems to be a complete fud and not sure he even that much of a player to even think about putting up with the baggage. If he does well most people will at least bite there tongue but a pretty unpopular signing nonetheless.

Phil O'Donnell

Where to start, a true Motherwell legend and more importantly husband to his wife Eileen and a father to four young children has left us. It was the worst I have ever felt at a football game in all my life as he collapsed comepletely out of the blue, the horrible errie quiet as everyone feared the worst but hoped for the best.

It should have been a match to remember for all the right reasons but will now only be remembered for the horrific consequences. I was in the pub after with friends and initial reports suggested he was conscious so still worried we alll had our fingers crossed and briefly enjoyed what had been a fabulous win. But we all were still trying to find out news via texts and so on from people listening to radios and what not at home and others in Centenery suite at Fir Park itself. Finally the news was heard that Phil had died, it wasn't official it came from someone we knew inside Fir Park, just a fan but in the hospitality section. He had said someone came in and told them, it was impossible to believe but almost as impossible that someone would make something like this up, a cloud really descended on the place as eventually other sources backed up the inital source. By the time it was reported on sky sports news we all knew, but there was no more hiding from the truth.

A dozen times I've felt tears well up at memories of Uncle Phil, how strange a nickname that still seems when I think of the fresh faced youngster I watched come through the ranks, but I've always managed to just about hold them back usually because I've been trying to talk to someone about it at the time. What his family must be feeling is incomparable, Phil O'Donnell the footballer holds a special place in my heart but I never knew the man personally and for that I'm glad because by all acocunts he was a thoroughly great guy and his loss is hard enough.

I could go on and on, but I've written about him elsewhere on messageboards, I laid a jersey outside Fir Park and left a few words in the books of condolence. Life goes on, and for us fans who will also never forget him it will be a far easier thing to get over than for his family. We don't have the right to wallow if grief, we pay our respects and remember him for that is all we can do.

Racism rears it's ugly head

Although from talking to people and perusing messageboards about the only bugger who heard it was the steward who reported it. It's the second time this calender year as well we've had these sort of allegations and it's a total red neck.

The first time was a bit more clearcut, in a cup game against St. Johnstone a section in the Main stand were quite clearly heard, this section of fans were of the sort that don't wear any colours and prefer Burberry and Stone Island attire. They were so obvious and yet the stewards and police chose to do fuck all about it.

This time it's emanated from the Main stand again, although the source seems to be one of the more regular patrons. I don't know if anyone was singled out, but if the steward heard it he must have a fair idea of where it came from as it certainly wasn't from a large body of people.

We all now get tarred with the same brush whilst any muppet in a crowd of well several would be pushing it but a few thousands can make the rest look like complete fucking dicks.

On a lighter note though, I did hear what sounded like a potential racial slur last night, however it was either proof that the racist mindset truly is thick or a rather off the wall attempt at humour. A Hearts player lying prostrate and timewasting as we are chasing the game is targeted with the following abuse, "Away back to the country you came from," rather shocked look about at this seemingly racist outburst only to see that it's being aimed at Scottish internationalist Robbie Neilson. He does look a bit like Greystokes Lord of the Jungle but even so the shout seemed beyond surreal.

In answer to my last post...

...two goals in the last 5 minutes says it can, superb!!

So it wasn't a demolition job but more positives than negatives so far. We'll do better this season than last that is for sure, just a matter of by how much. Top 6 or better be hard work and require a good dose of good fortune. 7th is my current prediction, could still use a couple of new faces.

So far so good...

...can it continue?

With largely the same bunch of haddies as last season we won first game of the season with an organsied display that was night and day compared to the performances at the same ground the previous season. Looked significantly fitter, more organised and willing to play football through the midfield passing the ball about and not treating it like a hot tattie and hoofing it into corners.

Long way to go to proof of having turned the corner but initial signs are good. Tomorrows game at home to ICT will be another good measure of how we are doing. They have traditionaly been awkward opponets for us at Fir Park, something like 1 win in 6 visits for ourselves. They tend to be big, pyhysical, in your face, sit back and try and hit you on the break. If we can dictate the game and come away with 3 points tomorrow and I'll be more than willing to believe we can be top 6 material this season, with a bit of luck and certainly not likely to be in any sort of relegation mire.

I suspect unless some more new recruits can be brought in 7 or 8th will be more likely but we should a least be contesting it until the death. A couple of good cup runs would also more than make for a good season.

Football tonight

First game in three weeks tonight. Had a really good time on holiday but it's not exactly a good time to run around chasing a ball when a cool day is still 35 degree heat. So rather than get the holiday blues I look towards the positive and biggest one is being able to play football of an evening. 7 aside game tonight outdoors, it's a warm evening by Scottish standards but a bit overcast the now with chance of rain**, nigh on perfect conditions. Had a wee work out at the gym yesterday and felt quite good, so hopefully I'll not be blowing out my arse after ten minutes :-)

Also I renewed my season ticket today, am cautiously optimistic about the new season ahead. It's a strange thing I find loyalty to a football club, theres not a lot of sense in it at times. So I tried to think about why I do it and why it should matter so. Reasons I could think of are as follows.

1. I like football.
2. I am not good enough to play it at a professional level(loooooooow end of the amateur game)
3. I like to watch people that are good at it playing football (there is something of a contradiction there given team I support)
4. I was taken to watch Motherwell as a young lad.
5. I went with and still go with friends(albeit different ones now), so there is a social aspect.
6. Tribal affiliation. Whilst not madly proud of my wee part of the world where I live, I very much define myself by what I'm not(a glory hunting follower of the bigot brothers)
7. A small part mental illness. Shared I might add with majority of football fans.
8. It's more than just something to do. Sure it can fill a saturday but so could a good lunch and a visit to the pictures for about the same price. But it beats sitting about house all day when the weather is pish. Probably the best argument for winter football as lets face it our rare nice days in summer be somewhat wasted watching the SPL or lower leagues.
9. Probably related to the mental illess point but a good result/performance does strangely make you feel better.*

* There is a Bill Hicks comment about how people liked the Gulf War back in the early 90's as it made them feel better about themselves. He suggested a bit of exercise and a better diet. I can't hep think that the mental effect of seeing you football team of choice win is no more admirable than a sense of wellbeing as your armed forces routing a foreign enemy. My diets not bad and I do exercise already, I don't think he had any more suggestions either.
** As I write this eh it has started dumping down with rain. heavens opened style! It has slowed to just torrential now. I don't mind playing in it but I do hope it stops long enough to at least get there dry.

Mark McGhee

I had almost forgotten to comment on our new manager.

Well as you know I wasn't to pleased we sacked our old manager, albeit he was close to the last chance saloon even for me. Whats done is done and we move on. So what do I think of the new man?

Basicaly I'm about as happy with this appointment as I have been with any manager, in fact definately more so. I liked big Terry Butcher but he had to win me and the rest of hte support over. Every other manager we've appointed I have had reservations with. Alex McLiesh, Billy Davies and Eric Black were inexperienced, first jobs as manager and the first two hadn't even coached and well it showed. I still don't rate Eck but both of them have went onto bigger things but they either didn't make enough of what they had(Davies) or they ruined the best Motherwell team I've ever seen(McLiesh). Of the rest Kampman was an unknown quantity and Malpas as former assistant manager followed in the tradition of 90% of former assistants and didn't seme to manage to put his own stamp on the job.

Of the names linked with the job most none had the experience of McGhee, Owen Coyle seems to be doing ok with St. Johnstone but his first job and not really done anything. Gary McAllister an ex Well player again little management experience, Luc Nijholt also not got that much experience though as a former hero at Fir Park had the most emotional pull. Outside names were a return after 9 years out of club management for Tommy McLean and Joe Miller. The latter gave me nightmares at the prospect.

Early bullish talk andsigning targets linked with McGhee is all encouraging, the general support seems lifted and there is a small buzz about the place. Which if some decent signings(on paper at least) fall into place soon will soon turn into almost electric atmosphere given the sense of relief most people feel towards the change.

But I know better than to get carried away. So far we have one concrete new face in and while on paper Simon Mensing as a big physical centre mid isn't a bad idea as we have been notroiously lightweight in that area, he's not going to suddenly make us a force to be reckoned. We still need a good 4 or 5 new faces in to give the squad a boost. Although it does seem like with a new man in charge a lot of seemingly jaded players might have some impressing to do.

So on the whole, optimism is in the air I hope it lasts beyond the first couple of games of the new season.