DOC OUT

[Parcbara]

13 minutes ago, Taipei said:

Do we really have a better footballing side than United?

Last season we won 10 games and scrapped 6th place, then had 4 very one sided defeats and one draw if my memory serves me right, could possibly be wrong though. United have 11 wins this season, look to be safely in the top six with 4 games to go, then another 5 games after that.

We do play nicer, more attractive football than Utd at times but we also get destroyed a fair few games. Football is about winning games, everything else is just irrelevant really.

Yes,  you are right. They are far better equipped to survive than we are.

[Parcbara]

31 minutes ago, eyeothedug said:

Amazes me how DU can always seem to get a result. Currently beating Aberdeen away. Ended a draw. Goodwin has them set up to be a 100 times more resilient than us. We have more skill but TD has been absolutely negligent in not giving us some balance. Utd seem to be fitter and be much stronger mentally. They have experience as well. 

After our successful first season TD should have been much more shrewd and balanced our side. Toughen us up, instill a mentality, get us fitter. A blend of experience, youth and skill. 

Even when McCowan, Shaughnessy played last year when we were competitive, we were always a bit powder puff and lacking resilience. 

That's been his big mistake this season especially with some of the injuries too. 

Also I watched View from the Terrace the other day. Sad to see that playing Dundee has become a bit of a joke. 

We needed  a stronger midfielder when McCowan was here. Giving the Fraser signing the benefit of the doubt, we were still one major player short. It's biting our are big time now. Was it the club  cost cutting, or was it the manager not seeing it? Whichever, it has  left us in a very bad position

[eyeothedug]

12 minutes ago, Parcbara said:

We needed  a stronger midfielder when McCowan was here. Giving the Fraser signing the benefit of the doubt, we were still one major player short. It's biting our are big time now. Was it the club  cost cutting, or was it the manager not seeing it? Whichever, it has  left us in a very bad position

Yes agree, Boateng wasn't a strong midfielder either. Technically good but I felt a bit lightweight and didn't impose himself, have heart and drive. Whilst excellent technically, creatively, him, Cameron and McCowan were lightweight in a midfield three. I am not a fan of three central mids in 5 3 2 anyway. It's totally unbalanced. 

We needed at least one strong, tall, committed, resilient, defensively minded midfielder in there too. Maybe two...and withdraw Boateng whom Hearts didn't in the end fancy. 

And then Sylla couldn't seem to play with Boateng but did a few times, once v Rangers at Dens where we were much stronger. 

But also thoughout the whole side we aren't mentally strong enough or streetwise enough, fit enough?...that all lies at the manager's door. 

[Sebastiano Nela]

1 hour ago, eyeothedug said:

Yes agree, Boateng wasn't a strong midfielder either. Technically good but I felt a bit lightweight and didn't impose himself, have heart and drive. Whilst excellent technically, creatively, him, Cameron and McCowan were lightweight in a midfield three. I am not a fan of three central mids in 5 3 2 anyway. It's totally unbalanced. 

We needed at least one strong, tall, committed, resilient, defensively minded midfielder in there too. Maybe two...and withdraw Boateng whom Hearts didn't in the end fancy. 

And then Sylla couldn't seem to play with Boateng but did a few times, once v Rangers at Dens where we were much stronger. 

But also thoughout the whole side we aren't mentally strong enough or streetwise enough, fit enough?...that all lies at the manager's door. 

It's a sh*t state of affairs that we are still a soft touch in midfield and physically weak across the whole team.

Like a broken down record player here but Bowyer identified this quite early on in his time. Have we learnt nothing since? 

[Dondeh]

4 hours ago, Taipei said:

Do we really have a better footballing side than United?

Last season we won 10 games and scrapped 6th place, then had 4 very one sided defeats and one draw if my memory serves me right, could possibly be wrong though. United have 11 wins this season, look to be safely in the top six with 4 games to go, then another 5 games after that.

We do play nicer, more attractive football than Utd at times but we also get destroyed a fair few games. Football is about winning games, everything else is just irrelevant really.

And in a league which is much more competitive this year compared to last. 

[Dondeh]

4 hours ago, deelight1893 said:

Shaun maloney got sacked from wigan today.....oh no!

Strachan's choice before Bowyer?

[Parcbara]

2 hours ago, Sebastiano Nela said:

It's a sh*t state of affairs that we are still a soft touch in midfield and physically weak across the whole team.

Like a broken down record player here but Bowyer identified this quite early on in his time. Have we learnt nothing since? 

We certainly  haven' t done anything about our midfield. 

[Daniel Watson]

17 minutes ago, Parcbara said:

We certainly  haven' t done anything about our midfield. 

After watching our last three games, imo we are delusional to think this team can beat the drop. It’s true that there are some decent players in the squad but some key positions are very weak and there is a lack of coaching, guts and determination.  I honestly think Doc knows the game is up and he’s just hoping for a miracle, he’s beginning to sound desperate post match with talk of treating fixtures like cup finals. We have just gone through three finals and yielded a single point.

[darkbluecheshire]

Since January we have completely collapsed, I’m trying to think of the positives but there is not many. The fans deserve some answers re signing and funding a ‘chespi’ yet we never signed a striker! 
 

Hibs went through a really bad 3 months and look at them, time isn’t on our side, but hopefully we can start to pull together as a side, the game plan and some of the players have been poor.

Players who have stood out in December & Jan : have disappeared, however you wonder is this to do with bringing Larkeche and McGhee back in! 

 

[darkbluecheshire]

1 hour ago, Dondeh said:

Strachan's choice before Bowyer?

Let’s face it there is no way TD will be sacked. WGS mate, and he is intertwined into the development of the players and the club

some very good and balanced reading in here today, but agree we are playing pretty poor, how we the performances have been slightly better than RC game. Let’s hope we can build on it. 

[Dondeh]

11 minutes ago, darkbluecheshire said:

Let’s face it there is no way TD will be sacked.

I agree and as I said yesterday I'm not for 'DOC out' right now. 

I was asking a question about a post regarding Maloney. Nothing more. 

[Mr Gandosaur]

I can't see where a win comes from before the split now. I genuinely believed we would win at least one of the last 4 games. Ross County have pulled away, Motherwell, who I thought were the best bet to be dragged in have a new manager bounce and the team directly above us is Killie - they have a better squad and experienced manager and will no doubt win a few games at home to keep them above water. St Mirren are a decent side on their day and capable of beating almost anyone in the league. 

Us and St Johnstone now look considerably worse than the rest. I thought we were marginally better than St Johnstone on Saturday while still being poor but that's splitting hairs. The key difference is they are the ones who were dead and buried. They now have a bit of belief, and their fans are getting right behind them, and everyone seems to be pulling for their manager. 

Our contract situation has come back to bite us. On Saturday 6 of our starting 11 are almost certain to leave this summer. Not saying they have downed tools but how can we expect all of these guys to put everything on the line and pull together to get out of it when the outcome doesn't really impact them? It's human nature. Anyone who has ever worked a notice for an employer will know that while you may still give your best and have personal pride in your work, sub-consciously you have already checked out. 

Even if we do pip St Johnstone to 11th, I wouldn't fancy coming up against any of Martindale's Livi, McGlynn's Falkirk or Scott Brown's Ayr. There is definitely a gulf between the Premiership and Championship as past playoffs have shown, but all of they teams will by physical, aggressive and in your face and I really don't think we have the stomach in our squad to match it right now.