RicoS321

No, but is Scales?

Why has he shaped his face and hairline like a hearts badge? Bit of an insult to the 'well fans.

Milne went and got Brown, that's correct. I'm struggling to see an equivalent. I've no idea how Cormack recruits for his own business, but everything he's done so far suggests that he's not looking for the type of manager you suggest. The requirements he would put on a manager means that the likes of Robinson or someone would automatically struggle. McInnes is a better manager than most in the SPFL and he couldn't perform adequately under Cormack. The likes of Goodwin and Glass were happy to attempt to play to Cormack's tune as they were up and coming young managers. The club strategy would have to completely change if we're going for the boring reliable candidate and nothing suggests Cormack has reached that point yet. In other words, I'm not over complicating things, the club is. There are simply no candidates in Scotland (or Scottish managers) that fit the bill as far as I can see. The bill being something prescribed by Cormack of course.

In fairness, when he used his heart for previous appointments, it's clear that there was an underlying issue. Once he's had his bypass surgery he should be fine to use his heart over head again for the next appointment. I sort of know what you mean, but I think that limits the pool significantly. There is zero outstanding candidates in the available category. Any manager is going to come with a level of uncertainty, where track record and interview is what we're going on. There simply isn't the available scouting on managers. Given that over half our team has zero experience of the game up here, I'm not convinced that the manager needs to either. Certainly not to the extent that it will make a difference. We should have enough knowledge at the club to bridge that gap. That's the thing, you absolutely wouldn't and neither would the fans. The problem, of course, is that success can't be measured until much later. It's the reason why guys like Lennon should be a non starter and, to an extent, Strachan too.

Fuck it, just get the Japanese Spaniard in for the Livi game.

I thought he took on Hibs?

And the answer to that question is: c) who gives a fuck.

I didn't watch the game, but just looked back at the highlights, and I don't think it was a handball (as per the rules). It definitely wasn't a red card either way, as the ball hits off his body and then onto his hand, so if it hadn't hit his hand it would have dropped fairly harmlessly to one of their covering players as the sting had already been taken out of the (exceptionally pish) shot. For me, it would have been a clear and obvious error if a red had been given, but not the other way around. I could understand a ref giving a foul in real time, and possibly even a red depending on how he'd interpreted it in real time. But the fact it hits his body first, for me, looks the right call.

Are most of our players more familiar with a back four? Shinnie is, the rest I've no idea about. I could cope with Scales left back if so. I don't imagine Pollock or MacDonald will be dropped (although I didn't see the Tims game), and that doesn't leave many options if he wants to fit Scales back in.

We can get a manager with Strachan's pedigree - Lennon. I wouldn't want either near pittodrie, but I'd choose Lennon at gun point. I gave up watching Scotland after the Lithuania game cause of that arrogant little prick and his pathetic schtick in his interview. I cut managers a great degree of slack in their post match conferences, but Strachan was calculated with the attitude of a total arsehole. His recent appointment of McGhee at Dundee showed complete disrespect to that club and again showed his arrogance. Happy for him to still exist as a club legend, but his reputation would be in tatters if he ever joined the club. He's simply not a good enough manager to carry his twattishness.

Sturgeon now 4-1 at mcbookie

It'd never work in football. Rugby is a lot more sporting in nature. They can probably set their own limits to avoid a team of foreigners. International fitba would turn into a mercenary activity (like club) overnight, with players becoming citizens for the highest fee.

Aye, as long as it doesn't go beyond rugby into yer proper sports.

But how do you do that in practice? It's not like signing a player, where you can collect data and scout them. You'd likely be limited to doing the type of work required in your own league, a limited pool of managers. It's very difficult to eliminate previous good fortune from a manager's record, leaving just good management. Especially in the market we're in where proven managers are probably too expensive. It basically all comes down to the interview, and whilst you're right about identifying a manager by how they talk (thon Darvel walloper with his clichéd pish can go and fuck himself), I'm not sure how applicable that would be in an interview situation. In essence, fitba management is no different to office work, in that someone can give a great interview but be fucking honking when they start. I have little doubt that Goodwin would have given a very good interview.

Maybe, maybe not. I'm beginning to think that there is no such thing as choosing the right manager at our level, it's all down to luck and perseverance. There's definitely such a thing as choosing the wrong manager, and I think that's what happened with Goodwin, McGhee and Alex Miller. Other than Miller, those were largely bad luck. I'd say that we're already looking at three windows to fix the current issues, regardless of the manager. If we keep things ticking over, we'll continue to pick up a certain percentage of decent players and we won't necessarily require big changes when the manager after the next manager comes in. Clubs like ours go through periods of underperforming, it's totally natural. It'll come good when it comes good.

Establishment connections.

They played fullback as a route in, with diamond the exception, who's development wasn't particularly well handled. A back three could allow a youngster to come in, but a four would be better. I thought it was a shame that Milne didn't get any minutes, but the brief moments I saw of him didn't fill me with confidence yet. In order to breed youngsters, it helps to have a confident and strong group round you too. In fairness, Hancock got injured too, and he might have been someone we could recall and add to the squad and give some minutes. Pollock happened to be first team ready, and that was something we absolutely needed. Our youngsters, unless exceptional, need to be brought in, in a structured manner, getting twenty minutes here and there and gradually brought up to first team level. That's the bit I think we're missing. We're only really seeing the exceptional ones at the moment, with the rest being on the bench until they move on. It's been a while since we've had a player like Considine who is good enough for the first team, and gives us a player for a good while. Guys like Duncan and Barron should be getting 100-200 games for us, and we should have one or two more too.

He was on the bench last week, so assume so.

It's important to differentiate between fullback and wing back though, because there's a good argument to say that neither Kennedy or Hayes are out of position when playing the latter. They are both capable of getting up and down and bring with it the diligence to do so. There's a big difference between someone being out of position and a position not being their best. It's the job of the manager to get that balance right, and he feels that the back three gives us a solid foundation, which I understand. That almost always requires wing backs, so it's then a question of who our best wing backs are, and there's a very strong argument that Hayes and Kennedy are best currently (I'd have Coulson in that role despite the risk). In terms of youngsters, Robson would certainly know if any are coming through, but Duncan would be the one that springs to mind and I don't think he has the diligence or strength to play wing back. In fact, it's a very difficult position to ask any youngster to go in and play because of the requirement to get up and down so much. In a back four, it'd be easier with McRorie assisting Duncan or whoever. We seem to be getting better results with those youngsters that have been out on loan and returning to take a place, so it's unlikely we'll see anyone new (Duncan and Barron aside) before summer.

I think he'll go with your first suggestion, with three at the back. I think we might see Coulson in for Hayes too. What are the rules regarding head knocks anyway? Motherwell made six subs, which means that Hayes must have been taken off as a concussion sub (I don't remember anyone else with a head knock). Does that result in an automatic X no of days out? Or is it just an internal club decision? Either way, I think Coulson probably offered more than Hayes at wing back. Kennedy probably justifies his place despite being a weak link. Clarkson did well in the deep role, so I expect to see that continue, and it'll be interesting to see how Ramadani copes with being asked to do more of the leg work against a decent team.

He always came across really well on RedTV. There was only so long that the Dons could continue to offer him a contract though. The biggest problem for me was that when he returned from injury on several occasions, he wasn't actually very good. There was one game against Hearts he was absolutely honking, missing simple headers by getting caught under the ball and just looked like he'd forgotten how to play. That could have been down to nerves and lack of practice of course, but you'd think Hibs would need a confident, settled player immediately. A decent defender on his day though, a poorer version of Mark Reynolds (at his best), with limited ability on the ball. I look forward to him not celebrating when scoring a consolation goal against us.

Which game were you most impressed with his tactical changes?

Out for the rest of the season after being injured in training. Shame for the lad. Hope for both parties that it doesn't leave him stuck here next season (or even for this one, hopefully he can do his rehabilitation with mk Dons if he's happier there).

Was Duncan Fraser not CEO? I was sure he had moved from finance director at one point. Always thought Burrows came across as intelligent and had a good understanding of the game and the fans at Motherwell. Seems a decent appointment.

Alan Burrows? Not for manager of course.