Where Do We Go From Here?

[DFC1974]

A good cup run has been an aspiration of Hartley's from day one. We are all but out of this one before the season has started, having taken 4 points from 9 against part-time lower league teams. Even if we beat Forfar we need to rely on a swing of results in order to only finish second place. To be honest I'd rather just go out fair and square on the basis of horrific results than somehow squeeze through undeservedly. 

My concern now is not the league cup, it's the manner in which we have been effectively knocked out and the unrest behind the scenes that may or may not be contributing. 

 Has Hartley taken Dundee as far has he can? We seem to be moving backwards.

We had the Kevin Thompson situation at new year, dropping out the top six race, a summer of inability to address the glaring defensive shortfalls, the Gary Harkins exclusion and now a possible indiscipline issue with Gowser confronting justifiably aggrieved supporters.

I am a Paul Hartley fan, I don't hide this fact; however, I concede that ive seen previous managers lose their job or come under fierce scrutiny for much less than this. 

Is it time for Hartley's peg to become a little bit shoogly? I'm still behind the manager, but I've got to hold my hands up and admit that I'm not as confident in his ability as I was. I just can't put my finger on what he has done/doing different now than he was on day 1 in the SPFL after promotion.

 

[JoeCovenant]

Our Support: Tonight...

[CammiesTash]

5 minutes ago, JoeCovenant said:

Our Support: Tonight...

some folks are jist no that happy just the now tho joe, can yea blame them though ?

[DFC1974]

10 minutes ago, JoeCovenant said:

Our Support: Tonight...

No meaning to be a doom and gloom merchant, Joe (although the result does make it difficult) or tryining to promote a knee-jerk Hartley Oot campaign. The point I'm trying to make is at what point do we start looking at the manager? As I said, I'm a big Hartley fan and believe he's the best manager we've had in probably a generation at least, but there has to be point in which is judgement or managerial savvy comes under the microscope.

[JoeCovenant]

Not at all, CT... I'm one of them!

 

[JoeCovenant]

2 minutes ago, DFC1974 said:

No meaning to be a doom and gloom merchant, Joe (although the result does make it difficult) or tryining to promote a knee-jerk Hartley Oot campaign. The point I'm trying to make is at what point do we start looking at the manager? As I said, I'm a big Hartley fan and believe he's the best manager we've had in probably a generation at least, but there has to be point in which is judgement or managerial savvy comes under the microscope.

 

Heya...

I'm only trying to hold off the utter despair I am feeling right now.
I agree with every word of your post... I don;t WANT to be sitting here questioning our future, but I am...

[TC86]

That result is not good enough !

Hartley needs to get around a table with Harkins and sort out whatever happened for the benefit of the club .

I couldn't give a toss what has went on or what Harkins has done , this isn't about Hartley or Harkins its about the best interests of DFC and they need to put ego and pride aside and do what is in the best interest of the club and it needs sorted NOW !

There was clearly a lack of creativity in the middle of the park against east Fife and in the 1st half against Dumbarton before their players tired  and while we are toiling to beat east Fife and Peterhead at the same time we are allowing not only one of our best players but one of the most creative players in Scotland walk out the door .

If we do not address this we better be prepared for a very hard season because the guys we have brought in are NOT going to replace Harkins im afraid,  they are decent additions to our squad but are not the creative spark needed playing in the hole behind the striker, these guys are hard to come by and we are letting one walk away its bloody madness ..

NELMS & PH GET IT SORTED ! 

Edited 26 July 2016 by DBDU

[Cobra]

Will be interesting to see if we have the same league season as the last two seasons. Starting off with mixed results, having a miserable run before Christmas, doing really well after New Year and then finishing poorly.

[WestFerryDee]

None of that will happen unless and until we sort out our defence.

It has been shambolic all throughout PH's tenure.

Is he capable of fixing it??

[Rocky Boy]

5 hours ago, WestFerryDee said:

None of that will happen unless and until we sort out our defence.

It has been shambolic all throughout PH's tenure.

Is he capable of fixing it??

He has the time to sort it, but sadly, not got the skills to achieve it, how many games, in the last 2 and a bit seasons have we been a SHAMBLES at the back and nothing has changed.

[Abdul Latif]

Genuinely think we have to be considering a new management direction.

 

[CW 90+3 02/05/16]

13 minutes ago, Abdul Latif said:

Genuinely think we have to be considering a new management direction.

 

Since 10pm last night, I've read more fans question if Hartley can take us any further forward than I did after 6-2 United, 4-1 United, 3-1 Dunfermline, 4-0 Rangers, 5-0 Celtic, 6-1 Celtic and 5-2 Ross County combined. 

That says it all.

The subject is the elephant in the room for Dundee fans as you get some abuse if you question the manager who had a great first season and has signed a terrific goalie and forwards, but hasn't tightened up the defence in 2 and a half years and is clocking up some embarrassing results and isn't making any real progress it would seem add on to that the Harkins situation and not being ready for a cup competition in a group containing East Fife, Forfar, Dumbarton and Peterhead, all who have had the same time to prepare for it as us with much lesser resources.

I fully expect the "who would you replace him with posts" to appear shortly followed by "remember how sh*t we were between 2005 and 2014."

All I want is one fkn cup run for the first time in a decade and a defence that gives us a chance in games if we haven't scored 3 or more goals.