Terry's All Gold 2
More Terry's All Gold
(well, it is nearly Christmas!?!?!?)
As all 'Well fans watch our favourites stutter along, what does the future hold in the crazy and uneven SPL. If it remains thus, nothing will change. From season to season we will never know who will turn out in the Claret and Amber as money (or lack of it) rears its ugly head at every turn. The only way some form of stability could be established is for Fir Park to be filled. John Boyle tried it but the locals don't want to know - so much for the Scots passion for football. Lanarkshire is where all the great Scots players have come from, but its people don't want to know about their local clubs. Where do the 100,000 come from who fill up the bigots grounds? We all know that, and it isn't all from Glasgow.
They have already said they are not going to share their riches with anyone, although their wealth comes from all over Scotland. Their aim is England and more money. The managers of the diabolical duo have a cheek when they talk of outing from the Scottish set-up, they have only been in Scotland five minutes and are already far too good for everybody else. The history of Scotland's football hold nothing for them. If it had not been for the rest of Scotland's teams there would be no Ibrox or Parkhead - who do they think they would have played? Where would their players have come from?
They have drained other clubs resources of players and support. They have been at it through the history of the game and now along come these two managers from other parts and want out pronto. Personally speaking, I would love to see the back of them but knowing the average human being they are either glory hunters or apathetic to anything else. Eric Black and his ilk will just have to get on finding young boys and coaching them and hoping some will come through the system, and scout for players elsewhere as he is doing. We supporters have to show that we live in the real world and not moan about lack of success.
As I see it, just to be alive and able to go to the likes of Fir Park and watch the Steelmen (whoever they may be) is the ultimate in football watching. It is just a shame that youngsters today have their favourites for just a short time - it's a here today gone tomorrow scenario now. My first twenty years of supporting the Fir Parkers was another world. I knew my favourite players, such as Willie Kilmarnock, Willie Redpath and Wilson Humphries were always going to be sporting the Claret and Amber. How different is it now though. Of those running out onto the famous Fir Park turf today, how many really want to play for OUR team? A sobering thought.
How often do we pick up the papers today and read of a statue being unveiled in honour of a local sporting hero - this is something that is real catching on. When reading this, my thoughts turned to one of my sporting heroes, 'Well's John 'Sailor' Hunter, the man who made Motherwell. Without him and his directors backing Motherwell would be no different to Lanarkshire's other clubs. In the early Twenties Airdrie had a much better team than Motherwell but sold their best players. John Hunter could have done the same but refused and went and built our great championship team. SO WHY IS THERE NO RECOGNITION AT FIR PARK TO JOHN HUNTER? He not only gave us the championship but great players, giving not only Motherwell but all Scotland a wonderful, entertaining team. A man truly deserving a statue or surely a stand in his name, a plaque even - there is nothing to a gentleman who gave nigh on fifty years service.
Billy Davies has gone. That makes me sad and to me seems like a panic measure. Never in the history of Motherwell F.C. has a manager watched helplessly as over half his side were sold off. The only way Davies could overcome such a devastating blow was to be give time to recuperate. But we all know he did not have that, making his task impossible. Luckily 'Well had two good men to take over, Softy and Mio, and what a good job they made of it. But again to my disgust out they have gone. They would have been my choice to take over. To me there is nothing worse than changing management - nothing is stable and a conveyor belt of players in and out is the usual pattern - I just hope I am wrong. Why Terry Butcher? I cannot work that one out. Coventry fans were glad to see the back of him. Pat Nevin knows the inner workings of the club so I just hope he has that appointment right. What does delight me is to see Chris McCart back, and what seems an impressive signing in George Adams as this is where 'Well's future lies. I hope y misgivings prove false and our excellent young players are given every chance of first team football.
All the best Eric Black - I am sure the fans will give you their backing.
TERRY WILLOUGHBY