Asghar interview

[GUNBOAT]

No mention of who was culpable for the Lewis Neilson schitshow either funnily enough. The 300-350k we would have been automatically due had things been done correctly, could have been used to get a couple of players in in January. Who knows - it may ultimately prove to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and sends us doon……………..

Also no question asked about the the ONE loan deal we did manage,ie FN WHY?.

[Arabdownsouth]

Also no question asked about the the ONE loan deal we did manage,ie FN WHY?.

We failed to sign the players we couldn't afford so here's one no **** wants!

Think that would be the likely answer mate

[Arabs4ever]

If we were skint and had no intention of signing anyone why have we not looked at the free agent market before January and say to the players available come and train with us for a mini pre-season and we will run the rule over you? Players that do this will be the ones who are going to go that extra mile. Surely some gems to be found, as it is we've just done the square root of phuck all and found ourselves back at the foot of the table.

Now if we are missing Harkes just turn the lights out before we go under. Our midfield for years has created nothing. The make-up of it is one Raphael Celtic style. How anyone can say we have a midfield is clearly hallucinating. You could say the same about the right back position as well. Freeman has been awful. People say Smith is decent, I'm sorry but if we accept that kind of player you don't have the right to complain as you are asking for it given what has been witnessed over the years.

Fox has to get back to saying to his players hit the bye-line and cut the ball back now and again. Hit it in low and hard, none of this high ball stuff which is easy for the keeper. Niskanen did well on Saturday and got an assist.

Get the reserves back playing at Tannadice, it is where we actually play games and I'd rather have them get accustomed to the pitch with a crowd in giving them support. The kickabout at St Andews does no one any favours. The pathway is phucked and get the s-form signings back where they are allowed to play for their clubs instead of the bs that they cannot play for any other team.

Finally get these Transfer Windows away tae phuck.

[GUNBOAT]

Although his supporters will say you wanted to hear from the SD so there you go he answered the call.My take on it is the timing is very convenient for him.Although there is no official protest ticket sales for the cup game have been poor and he is trying to make a few bob for the owner by playing the martyr and saying the banners asking him to leave he will take on the chin as long as we all pull together and support the team.

It was laughable when he said the Asghar OUT banners may affect our players and hand the opposition an advantage.There was an occasion last season when the owner got in touch with the club from the USA asking why ticket sales were low for a certain game and it must be playing on the SD's mind that more awkward questions are heading over the pond this week.

[TerryTheTerror]

If we were skint and had no intention of signing anyone why have we not looked at the free agent market before January and say to the players available come and train with us for a mini pre-season and we will run the rule over you? Players that do this will be the ones who are going to go that extra mile. Surely some gems to be found, as it is we've just done the square root of phuck all and found ourselves back at the foot of the table.

Now if we are missing Harkes just turn the lights out before we go under. Our midfield for years has created nothing. The make-up of it is one Raphael Celtic style. How anyone can say we have a midfield is clearly hallucinating. You could say the same about the right back position as well. Freeman has been awful. People say Smith is decent, I'm sorry but if we accept that kind of player you don't have the right to complain as you are asking for it given what has been witnessed over the years.

Fox has to get back to saying to his players hit the bye-line and cut the ball back now and again. Hit it in low and hard, none of this high ball stuff which is easy for the keeper. Niskanen did well on Saturday and got an assist.

Get the reserves back playing at Tannadice, it is where we actually play games and I'd rather have them get accustomed to the pitch with a crowd in giving them support. The kickabout at St Andews does no one any favours. The pathway is phucked and get the s-form signings back where they are allowed to play for their clubs instead of the bs that they cannot play for any other team.

Finally get these Transfer Windows away tae phuck.

Signing free agents means money needs spent. I may be wrong but I don't think this was a possibility in the transfer window. Why TA is giving if the impression it was, I'm not sure. The only thing I can think of is to protect the clubs future negotiating position.

Reserves playing at Tannadice to get used to the pitch? That's a fair point as if it were to happen the pitch would be utter ****e with almost no grass on it. It's not possible for this to happen in this country without a major and ongoing investment. Highly unlikely for no real benefit.

[TerryTheTerror]

Although his supporters will say you wanted to hear from the SD so there you go he answered the call.My take on it is the timing is very convenient for him.Although there is no official protest ticket sales for the cup game have been poor and he is trying to make a few bob for the owner by playing the martyr and saying the banners asking him to leave he will take on the chin as long as we all pull together and support the team.

It was laughable when he said the Asghar OUT banners may affect our players and hand the opposition an advantage.There was an occasion last season when the owner got in touch with the club from the USA asking why ticket sales were low for a certain game and it must be playing on the SD's mind that more awkward questions are heading over the pond this week.

Are ticket sales the sporting director's responsibility? I'm not so sure but maybe you are right given he mentioned this in the interview.

[Arabiatta]

Seems to be real concerns about cash, clearly the idea that there was incoming cash from Souttar has made negotiations complicated and likely made the agents play hardball.

Players wouldn't have been keen to fight a relegation battle.Our top scorer gets loaned to a top six bound team takes the pressure off him.

And of course Motherwell bring in 11 we ship out 11. Then the injuries start.

Hopefully he can't play against us, and he does damage to our immediate opposition.

On a more positive note we asides from the VAR backed Glasgow young team have a run of winnable games whilst others need to play 1st 2nd 3rd. We have a chance before the split to scramble out of this.

But please tae feck, get Levitt in an AM role rather than a CDM role. I don't care where he wants to play. He needs to be scoring and assisting.

[tHeArAb]

Get the reserves back playing at Tannadice, it is where we actually play games and I'd rather have them get accustomed to the pitch with a crowd in giving them support. The kickabout at St Andews does no one any favours. The pathway is phucked and get the s-form signings back where they are allowed to play for their clubs instead of the bs that they cannot play for any other team.
.

I'm not sure how many reserve games you've been to this season, but they are being played at Gussie with the reserve team being based at Tannadice Mon-Fri. The games are attended to by about 10 fans, with the rest being Utd staff, scouts etc etc, so opening Tannadice for fan support hardly makes sense. Not only that, as TT has alluded to, a game a week on the Tannadice pitch would destroy it. It needs to be kept in the best possible condition for the first team, surely?

[tHeArAb]

Although his supporters will say you wanted to hear from the SD so there you go he answered the call.My take on it is the timing is very convenient for him.Although there is no official protest ticket sales for the cup game have been poor and he is trying to make a few bob for the owner by playing the martyr and saying the banners asking him to leave he will take on the chin as long as we all pull together and support the team.

It was laughable when he said the Asghar OUT banners may affect our players and hand the opposition an advantage.There was an occasion last season when the owner got in touch with the club from the USA asking why ticket sales were low for a certain game and it must be playing on the SD's mind that more awkward questions are heading over the pond this week.

Really not sure I can agree with this tbh. The window closed Tue. We had a game Wed & Sat. Surely waiting until that is out of the way, and gauging fan opinion in the days that followed the window is just common sense?
As for putting out a statement to help ticket sales. Going by the reaction, that's been one big backfire, so again, I doubt that's been at the forefront of the clubs mind when deciding when to put a statement out. Ticket sales look like where I'd expect them to be for a cup tie like this if I'm being honest.
I also don't think it's laughable that he's concerned banners and protests might affect the players. I said as much last week and a few other posters said the same. I'd rather any protests were done at a time when the players aren't bottom of the league and fighting for their lives. They need our full, 100% backing at games right now.
Do you think the owner only saves his difficult questions for when he visits? I'd imagine there is communication between the owner and the club regularly and questions will get asked on the daily/weekly.

[A. J]

Back for a few days due to a funeral of a close one.
Hard times just now and great debates on here as always.

I'm starting this rant by saying in my opinion where the club went wrong. Folk say look where we were and point out the 4th place finish as where Ogren has taken us.
I say every business bouncing back from hard times have to consolidate their position, especially when they achieve unexpected success. They also need to have contingencies in case something detrimental happens.
The 4th place possibly indicated to Ogren achieving success was easier than thought, however most of us knew that the 4th place was a false finish because of how bad other teams were.
We also knew that the turnover of managers/coaches was too high and certain areas on the pitch were weak.
Did Ogren turn into Billy Big Baws and now want to take a place in Europe and challenge for cups as a given ? Possibly, but trusting an ex agent to recruit to do that was a gamble. Given the turnover of managers/coaches, did they even consider a contingency if Ross did not work out and budget for that?
Did they recruit and strengthen properly in the needed key areas? We all knew the central and right side of defence, the midfield and the strikers needed improvement.
I think Ogren simply either got complacent or was given false reassurance.

Most fans understood that Jack Ross not working out cost the club big time and was sacked because of 'a string of poor results'. Most knew it would be Fox next despite the press reporting that Ogren's search for the next coach would be lengthy and thorough.
Ogren was quoted in the Courier that 'he was confident that the players, board and executive team CURRENTLY IN PLACE were the ones to take us forward alongside the new coach'

This worried me at the time because these same players were accused of downing tools, what actions were taken? Bring in Fox and if it doesnt improve, get the press releasing statements that when the January window opened the club would strengthen the squad.
The fans kept belief and were patient because of this. But we did not strengthen, it turned out we ended up weaker. Fox got rid of Watt, brought back Niskannen and injury prone Pawlett.
We've got rid of loads and 'lost' others for various reasons, some temporary some permanent, be it Neilson, Harkes, Eriksson, Mulgrew, Watt, Sporle, Behich and now possibly our captain, I could go on.
We were stretched at times as it was, playing full backs in central defence, a weak midfield and limited striker options.
We looked at the bench and saw nothing that could change the game. We now rely on an aging striker with no back up plan, god forbid anything happens to him.

So are we are right to ask questions of the recruitment, training methods and tactics because what we bought into and the belief shown has been thrown in our faces?
I say yes because we've been lied to. BUT there's a time and a way to do it

If Tony had took accountability and was honest then fair dues, he didn't, he came out with nonsense 'belief will get us to where we are' what does that actually mean?
All he achieved in that interview was to split the support further and give reasons as to why the chants and protests should get louder.
I'm totally on the side of ensuring a positive vibe resonates from the stands from 1st minute to last. These players need supported more than ever. Save the hard questions for places where the right people are present to answer

I hope we stay up but regardless Asghar needs to go, we have no future with him being here, I would argue Fox needs to leave also.
If that means Ogren as well then so be it. He can either act now, attempt to right the ship and instill confidence or he can move on to his next experiment with best wishes.
It may take a while but ultimately we would bounce back from the Fundesliga.