1. Is Malpas unlucky or just pathetic?
2. Are Dunfermline paying us to play Colin Meldrum?
3. How has David Clarkson gone from a very promising forward to a washed-up has been?
4. How many times is Paul Quinn going to cost us goals this season?
5. Is Brian Kerr the Tin-Man from the Wizard of Oz?
6. Can Jim Paterson cross the halfway line except when he is taking corners?
7. Why is the management team not installing confidence in Fitz?
8. Are we doing the correct training to try and prevent knee injuries?
9. Can we only sign Irish players?
10. Is Skippy going to leave us high and dry in January?
11. Are we going to be relegated?
Answers on the back of a postcard to Mr J. Boyle, Fir Park Street, Motherwell… eh in second thoughts he is never there so you better send them to the MFC PR Department… eh oh that's right we don't have one!
I have just about supported Malpas throughout the season, apart from a little rant here or there. He has had his hands tied in many ways as we have had horrendous injury problems, but whether he is getting the best out of the fit players is up for debate. I am now starting to come down on the side of ‘no he is not'.
He can't organise our defence, he can't organise our midfield and if we didn't have Skippy he couldn't organise our forward line. I really feel it's almost time to cut our loses. He was a good coach under Butcher but since he has taken over it seems he has made one bad decision after another. He should never have appointed Paul Hegarty as assistant manager, he should never have got rid of Jim Hamilton, he should never play Clarkson or McBride and he should never, ever, play calamity Colin in goals again. His man-management skills seem to be non-existent, and I'm not convinced he is motivated, never mind the players.
My solution? I think I would appoint Leitchy. He has deep feelings for the club, he was a model professional and the best captain in the league according to Butcher's autobiography and he is hard. You know he would get the most out of the players. Leitch has also done a great job at Ross County in a short period of time. He has moved all the big earners on and brought through the kids, signed a good number of quality players on loan and has won them the Challenge Cup.
So I am starting the BBSL campaign. (even if Derek Adams is the assistant manager)
Team for next two games:
(3-5-2)
SMITH
Craigan (needs to improve)
Kinniburgh (ok in a three)
Reynolds (thank god he has come thru)
Quinn (can do less harm slightly further forward, plus three centre backs should be able to cover his mistakes)
Paterson (we could use his lightening pace going forward)
Corrigan (no alternative midfield is completely powder puff without him there)
Kerr (try!!!)
Fitz (needs to build confidence)
Skippy (please stay till the summer)
Foran (SPL penalty king)
MM