GLF 67: A fine contribution from Ricky which looks back to the shock we all 
Ricky's Rant
We've all been through the wringer over the past few weeks, and not one of us, whether we were there on not on 29 December, will ever forget that day - or the legend that is Phil O'Donnell.
My memories of Uncle Phil are of the best box-to-box player we've ever seen at Fir Park, but that obviously is based on what I've seen in 26 years or thereabouts.Some of the goals he scored were superb, like the volley for a 2-1 win against Celtic at Fir Park after they had the audacity to equalise.
Up at Dens, he ran through the Dundee defence to rattle home a fantastic strike as we won 3-1.Of course, the most memorable of all - the goal at Hampden in the Cup Final.To score your first goal for your club on such an occasion, at such a young age, said a whole lot for the man that was Uncle Phil.When he left Fir Park, he never once against us showed any disrespect and it was a two-way street as the Motherwell support appreciated him even more I thought.
His nightmare at Sheffield must have severely tested his resolve, but his recovery afterwards to return to Fir Park and perform so well underlined the never-give-up attitude that shone so clearly.Who can forget that brilliant goal against Hearts, or, after knowing it was his error which allowed Inverness to take the lead with just minutes left, he ran up the park to bring us level by clinically nodding home a very difficult chance.And he left us whilst doing what he did best, leading the team to a brilliant performance.
As good a performance as we've witnessed in years at Fir Park, we swept a Dundee United side off the park with some sublime play and a magnificent David Clarkson goal, topped off with another terrific tireless performance from our Uncle Phil.79 minutes in, and I'll never forget the hush that went over the entire stadium when Phil went down.
You just knew that something seriously had gone wrong, and the last fifteen minutes of play were just a blur and no-one cared what happened then.It was just waiting for the news that Phil was okay - sadly, as we all know, he had not made it and it was with stunned disbelief that I made my way back up to Fir Park along with Kunta and his good lady to gather with other Well fans outside the main entrance.We were amongst the first to arrive, but in no time at all there were dozens of football fans from many teams laying down their tributes.Each night I made my way up to see the tributes, and it was astounding the sheer volume of strips, flags and all sorts of different ways people paid their respects.The most touching, and most heart-wrenching thing, was the strip put there by Phil's young family.That really would have moved even the hardest heart in this world.
New Year came, and few could celebrate it with the usual mood of celebration. It felt right to go to Fir Park and see in the Bells, and we saw the New Year in with a toast to Uncle Phil outside the soon to be renamed Phil O'Donnell stand.The Funeral on the Friday was attended by quite literally thousands of people, and it showed how well-thought of Phil was.
We've returned to action, the club's very thoughtful touch of having Phil's name on the strips is to be completely commended.As supporters, we all contributed to the massive strip which is now at all the games - it was such a brilliant sight at Tynecastle.Throughout it all, I can't imagine what his family has gone through, especially his children.I hope that they have been able to gain strength from every quarter, and be assured that everyone of us has been thinking of you all through this time.
Things all seem so unimportant when the events of the last week-end of 2007 are taken into consideration.However, we go on and have a lot to look forward to now.The players I am sure have Phil in their minds every time they take the field, and with the determination to succeed not only for themselves, but for him too.The team as a whole are a completely different proposition for opposing teams than for quite some time.No longer do we struggle to break teams down and just give up, as was so well shown by the win over Kilmarnock at Fir Park in February 2008.Rarely has a team came to Fir Park and only been interested in sneaking a point so obviously.
Kilmarnock are a shadow of the team they used to be, but twice in succession they have came and stole three points.Not this time though, as we battled away to the very end and got our rewards with Clarky scoring the winner with just a minute of injury time to go.It typifies the belief amongst them all that they will not give up, they don't know when they are beaten, and are determined to do something this season.
By the time this goes to print, we'll know the result of the Cup tie at home to Dundee.At the moment, we have the potential to reach a Cup Semi-Final and finish third.Given how things went last season, this is dreamland, but very much a reality and it's all in our hands exactly how we can get on.Keep believing lads, and if we do our bit off the park, this could very well be the season to remember in a footballing sense.
We've taken a battering over the state of the pitch the past few weeks but what few have given the club credit for is the way they have communicated everything so well to the fans.We know that in the close season the entire pitch will be relayed, the drainage problems sorted, and the pitch will be superb next season.The efforts which went into trying to get matches on these past few weeks have been phenomenal, staff in to 3am sometimes, and now the club has shelled out £40K to at least temporarily sort the issue.Some are just took quick to slate the club when things go wrong, and slow to praise it when it does right.Let's give the club credit; it's deserved in my view.
Whilst I've said we've a lot to look forward to, there's a lot to be concerned about and come the end of the season that could well become a reality.
Football is all about change these days; continuity is rare, especially in the SPL outwith the big-money two.It'd be great to have Mark McGhee as Manager come August, Ross McCormack leading the line, and a place in Europe to start the new season.I can't imagine the powers that be at the club are not going to do whatever is possible to ensure at least one of the two remain.I think it'll all depend on what happens between now and the season's end, reach the Cup Final and finish third and perhaps the promise of more to come might well tempt both to remain, and the club to ensure that they stay.
McGhee has started a transformation which could take this club some really exciting places; I sincerely hope he stays to at the very least achieve something big with us.It's the same with any walk of life I guess, if something bigger and better paid comes along then how many would refuse to accept it?However, that old saying of the grass ain't always greener, even with the promise of a lot of money, is always worth bearing in mind.And another year at Fir Park to hone your talents, Roscoe, could be the year which gets you that big, big move to somewhere even we'd be happy for you to accept!
Whatever the remainder of the season brings, this will have been a season never to forget for the right and, sadly, wrong reasons.Keep believing.
Forever 'Well, Ricky
Visit the GLF archive. Hundreds of articles.