Asghar interview

[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.

[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.