The personal abuse is completely unacceptable. Some people need to have a look at themselves.

As I've said many times, whether you like the guy or not, the club has been on an upwards trajectory since he came in. Obviously largely down to Ogren's money but Tony has overseen the improvements in our fortunes whether folk like it or not. The years in the championship were fucking painful and yet folk are still complaining about quality of football despite us being back in Europe next season. We had some fucking woeful players on our books before the new regime came in, and I mean fucking horrendously bad. I've got no issues with Tony whatsoever and he's admitted that he's made mistakes, which of us hasn't?

Although if AlwaysUnited does actually turn out to be Tony Asghar I'd definitely have issue with him posting on a fans message board.

Edit to say, Finn this wasn't a direct response to yourself mate just a general viewpoint.

Last edited by Arabdownsouth (25/5/2022 8:31 pm)

Arabdownsouth wrote:

As I've said many times, whether you like the guy or not, the club has been on an upwards trajectory since he came in. Obviously largely down to Ogren's money but Tony has overseen the improvements in our fortunes whether folk like it or not. The years in the championship were fucking painful and yet folk are still complaining about quality of football despite us being back in Europe next season. We had some fucking woeful players on our books before the new regime came in, and I mean fucking horrendously bad. I've got no issues with Tony whatsoever and he's admitted that he's made mistakes, which of us hasn't?

Although if AlwaysUnited does actually turn out to be Tony Asghar I'd definitely have issue with him posting on a fans message board.

Edit to say, Finn this wasn't a direct response to yourself mate just a general viewpoint.

Fair enough - my views have been well aired on this topic.  To be fair my concerns are more on the financial and commercial side than the footballing side (although they are obviously a bit hand and glove).  As a fan I am delighted with results (albeit not so re performances) but fear that our debt is way out of hand and big Tones has to take some of the blame there.  I can't help but feel that the vision he sold Ogren will never come to pass and that he'll ditch us at some point - that is down to Tony.  On the other hand you might argue that we needed a snake oil salesman to secure the investment, any investment.  Basically i don't like the cut of his jib - as they say...  

Last edited by Finn Seemann (26/5/2022 12:06 am)

Just watched it. An unbelievably thin skinned individual.

Not once in a 45 minute interview does he praise or even mention the unbelievable crowds Utd have taken away from home this season or acknowledge the fantastic home backing the supporters have given the players (sometimes whilst watching very frustratingly negative football).

He does however constantly reference a 'small section of supporters' who he definitely seems to have a beef with (myself probably being one).

The man seemingly has a massive chip on his shoulder and like Finn, i just can't take to him.

He seems to make a lot regarding the club about him and takes a lot of things very personally indeed. A man in his position would do well to try and be magnanimous, once in a while.

For example if he had said something like 'There was a lot of criticism of the appointments of both Tam Courts and Adam Asghar when they were announced, and whilst i can understand why, due to their inexperience at this level of football, i hope they have slowly won the fans round and will continue doing so moving forward'.

I would have no problem with such comments.

But everything smacks of 'You're arseholes and i told you so', which for a man in his position of power and privilege at the club is not a good look. In fact it strikes me as 'small time'. 

We have definitely progressed in the 3 and a bit seasons Asghar has been the Sporting Director, but we are North of 10 million pounds in debt to the owner of the club. So, the progress given that financial outlay is to be expected to be quite honest with you.

Despite my misgivings about the man, i wish him to succeed, because that will mean the club succeeds.

The one bit of his interview i actually liked was him confessing we need to be 'robust' in our recruitment drive this Summer. We certainly do.

Over to you Tony.

were the 6th biggest club in Scotland, financially some way behind Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen every time we finish above 6th its a bonus

From where we were to where we are now is night and day, but some people just cant get over him im afraid

He’s clearly a prick.
But, if he’s a prick that’s good at his job and getting results on & off the park, I’m ok with it.

Acknowledging the phenomenal support that the fans have provided this season would go a long way. And that’s what he doesn’t do.

Ego.

LarsErikKjell wrote:

Got no issues with his interview. Plenty have a bee in their bonnet about the man and it seems as if those opinions wont change no matter what happens on or off the park. Not liking the cut of someones jib is a gut feeling and those are hard to shake, so it is understandable.

I'm not sure I have a set opinion on him. Everyone can agree/accept that in the grand scheme of things he's done a good job for Utd since he joined, my fear is that as soon as it starts to go badly (I mean really badly, like if our losing run around Xmas had continued into Feb/March) then the pitchforks will be out for the guy, and he doesnt seem like the type that will be able to handle it well.

Bottom line is, he'll not be here forever. If he is still here in 5 years I'd be surprised. That is not to say he'll get punted, he might just decide to leave or move onto something different. As long as the club continues to slowly progress whilst he is here, I wont be giving too many complaints.

Short term, all I care about is that he does his job over the summer and gets the players into the squad that we need. I think we can all agree that we'd need at least 5 or 6 players to come in that 100% improve on what we have now and almost end up being guaranteed starters next season. Thats a very difficult task but he did it in the 2019 winter window with Harkes, Butcher, Pawlett, Connolly, Reynolds. All became starters for the rest of that season and beyond. Granted he made 11 signings so had a better chance of filling 4 or 5 starting slots, but you get my point.

 
I think that’s about correct. United could win the league and it would not change some peoples’ opinion on him.

I was rather surprised that he took the role in the first place. It requires, scrutiny and accountability. Why would you subject yourself to that when you can earn a decent crust as an agent? “the secret of good business is to be a good middleman”. I think he honestly believes he can create something.

What he did reveal in the interview is that:

* The last two years have been exhausting

* Dundee is a small place where everyone knows everyone else

* He no longer looks at social media

* His family are having to pay a price for his decision to change career.

One other thing which he did not mention, is that, he is still Glasgow based. That means a 162 mile round trip

I thought that he displayed candour in the interview and more than a little humility. That said, I agree that if things go pear shaped he may well resign.

For someone who has be highly critical of him, I think, he deserves a little respect for what he has achieved thus far.

I would put it down to being from west coast with leanings to Rangers earlier in his life....pretty pathetic from us i think....Our greatest ever had similar connections.

AlonsMosely wrote:

I would put it down to being from west coast with leanings to Rangers earlier in his life....pretty pathetic from us i think....Our greatest ever had similar connections.

It has nothing to do with that.

For me anyway.
 

Tam with a interview.


 

SuperMario wrote:

Tam with a interview.


 

That was a good watch and tbf to Tam he came across a lot better than he normally does in front of the cameras.

Not sure i completely buy into his ethos of 'always be neutral' in interviews and be neither up nor down, in case you offend or upset a player though.

Tam, you're the Dundee United Manager. I'm still coming to terms with it myself tbqh, but you're the man in the hot seat. 

I understand not throwing players 'under the Bus' as you put it. But if the players put in a collective shocker you need to be able to state that (frankly) this coming season. The players and support will both respect you for it. 

Btw, i normally don't like Ally Heather as an interviewer (due to his teuchter, all over the place, weird accent), but he reigned it in a bit here, and actually asked some very good questions.

He also cut off Courts on the one or two occasions he started to ramble a bit (regarding McNulty for example) and gave pretty cutting remarks, which were on point ('You can't really blame Utd supporters for not loving a Striker who never scores').

Correct.