Source: FOOTYMAD
July at last!
Now that July is here the action can't be far behind. Preparations for 2011/12 are well underway but it's certain that there will be some arrivals and departures(? ) before the season kicks off. Remember what was going at this time in recent year A year ago Motherwell fans were lining up to wish Craig Brown all the best as he celebrated his 70th birthday. It is remarkable how things have changes. Twelve months later and his relationship with ‘Well fans has soured and he plies his trade in Aberdeen. Who would have thought that he and John Boyle would have grabbed the headlines with their touchline spat and that there would be a threat of court action? There was the prospect of friendly encounters with Brechin, Forfar and Ayr before the Europa League opener with Breidablik. Coke had gone but Hateley had signed a longer term contract. The team v Briedablik July 2010 At the start of season 2009/10 Jim Gannon was hardly in the door before he had to take us, almost unseen, to Llanelli. Quinn moved to Cardiff and Gannon signed Jennings from Tranmere on a free. The new manager brought with him an insistence that the game should be played in the Barcelona style- short passes, keep possession and don’t concede free kicks. He didn’t take long to decide that Craigan, Lasley and Hammell were not in his long term plans and suddenly the average age of the team dropped. Who knows where his experiment might have taken us had the personal relationship between him and almost everyone at Fir Park not broken down. The parting of the ways was to come after a few months. We took part in the last run of the UEFA Cup in 2008/9 and at the start of July there was plenty of speculation about our possible opponents. The draw for the first round was of some interest but we would have to wait a few weeks to discover a pairing with Nancy in the 3rd preliminary round. McCormack had packed his bags and was on his way to Cardiff City. He’s at Leeds now and should be on show when the Whites come to town for the final friendly on July 16. What will be the notable happenings as we prepare for 2011/12?
