Potential conspiracy theory here, but thinking back, is it a coincidence that the year we really saw a lot of our younger players improve more than they have of late and we romped the Championship (when we previously had more of a struggle in that league) was during the COVID season - when there were no crowds to get on the players backs - or is there something in that?

David_Blunkett wrote:

Supportive.

Not number of supporters in attendance. The numbers isn't an issue.

The point you've highlighted above was mostly about Tannadice. Unless folk are cutting about with ear defenders on, you can't help but notice the difference in noise/atmosphere etc compared to an away day.

At home it's like far too many can't wait to spout their shite.


 

Totally agree with this. There’s a young lad next to me at Tannadice who does nothing but scream at players, effing and blinding, at the least bit thing. Totally does my head in.

Canadian Arab wrote:

I look at these things from a coaching perspective.

At a club like ours, a number of the first team squad are always going to be lads in the age range 17-23. They are young, impressionable, still learning the game. Outfield players generally don't peak until around 27. They are also human beings, and they're going to make mistakes. And they haven't developed a thick enough skin to take the negative with the positive, despite what some fans think they should be able to tolerate.

Imagine being a young lad, going into work every day and having a bunch of people constantly criticising what you're doing and how you're doing it. It's not going to encourage you to try to do better. It's just going to weigh on you, and chances are your performance level will drop and mistakes will become more frequent.

Kieran Freeman is a good example. Not the best right back we've ever had, but when he had confidence, he put in a good shift and was involved in setting up goals pretty regularly. A couple of errors, people start to get on his back, his head goes down, the rest is history. And as a club, I think we've had a good number of younger players who have moved on - or got out, if you prefer - a lot sooner than I'd have liked. I agree that quite a few in our support are quicker than most to turn on a player and give them a barrage of criticism every week. More so than at most other clubs.

Any player who downs tools and isn't putting the work in deserves all the criticism directed at them. But players who have been selected by the manager and who are out there giving everything they've got, despite not being particularly good, don't deserve abuse.

Are you entitled to give a player abuse? Sure. You've paid your money. Will it help? Make him play better? Get the team to shift up a gear? Nope. It's counter-productive.

Like DB said, if the performance hasn't been good enough, give them some stick at half time and let them know what you think at full time if things haven't improved. But the only way we can do our bit to help lift the players and the team during the 90 minutes is to encourage players. Berating people does nothing positive and will often make things worse. It's human nature.

Berating players worked for McLean.

Saying that I don't disagree with you.  Freeman wasn't a defender but as a right back in a 5, a perfectly good player.  We aren't playing that formation so he's off.  I remember the 3-0 win at Easter Road and I thought he was excellent and destined for great things.  He may still be.

I do think number of fans is important.  We are seeing an increased proportion of the Arab fanbase turn up week in week out.  Disillusioned fans stay away.  The ones that turn up can't be that miffed with the team and players need to remember that.  Also, the football is a pressure valve release for a lot of people.  It takes their mind off their own shit for an afternoon.  Some boys get carried away and like a good moan.  I'd say if you can't handle that you aren't going to make it.

We get exactly what it says on the tim with him, effort, holds the shape well, organises and in general decent when we dont have the ball.

He can be very wasteful with possession but I think he will add a bit of balance to the team and allow Sibbald to do what he does best.

Hopefully Moult is starting as I think he is our best striker and can't be arsed what Watt telling everyone behind to settle down and take it easy.

Would mind seeing Mochrie start just behind him with Wootherspoon on the right and Cudjoe on the left. Something a bit different,  we are very predictable down the line and get some crosses into the box, maybe someone cutting inside will work at breaking down this back 10.

Any word if Gallagher is back 2019?

If he is fit then he should start, we are a better side with Gallagher.

It will be interesting to see how we respond tomorrow,  need to see a reaction and a bit more clinical in front of the goal would help.

Attitude especially at home needs to be better, I say it almost every home game but the tempo needs to be quicker and especially at set pieces or throw ins. It's something I think that that Melman does really well for us, he drives us on as opposed to when Watt has the armband when I just think of rum and coke with Bob Marley music playing.

SuperMario wrote:

Big changes tomorrow apparently

will be interesting, maybe something different from get it down the left hit the byeline and cross no matter what.

Tek wrote:

dufc2019 wrote:

Heard Tilson starting

😂
 

 
I will explode

Miller Thompson is at right back.

Hopefully he does not put Graham next to the young lad , surely got to put Gallagher beside young MT.

Tillson is like xavi huh jeeezy peeps canna believe he’s a professional footballer, seen better playing at drummy on a sat.

Thomson at right back was really positive and cudjoe was excellent, apart from that pretty pish, how Tony watt plays full 90 every week I’ll never know

Wasn’t at the game, did Fotheringham play on the left wing when he came on?

Had to win today with Raith getting a good result at Ayr.  Don’t think we’ll see many great performances at Tannadice for the rest of the season, which I’ll grudgingly accept so long as we pick up the points that get us out this shitey league.

SuperMario wrote:

Tillson is like xavi huh jeeezy peeps canna believe he’s a professional footballer, seen better playing at drummy on a sat.

Thomson at right back was really positive and cudjoe was excellent, apart from that pretty pish, how Tony watt plays full 90 every week I’ll never know

He didn’t,he was subbed off.

Frustrating, disjointed at times yes, but that's the nature of the beast in this diddy division.
Finally looked threatening at dead balls.
Moult's free kick a peach, long time since we've seen one.
Corners - hitting good areas, great to get result - about time and thought Watt did the simple instinctive strikers thing well - hitting ball into deck.
Third, fast breaking with width team goal, cut inside, precision finish.- wee while since we've seen one of them.
Oor Wullie MOTM (as usual.)
The young Thomson a wee way from finished article but nonetheless excellent.
Cudjoe - still don't know what to make of him, offers something different at times but can be predictable cutting inside into blind alleys.
Tillson gtf, absolute liability.

Any word on Wotherspoon ?
 

Last edited by Shakey Isles Arab (24/2/2024 9:34 pm)

Thats the way to do it.

Apart from the Ponderosa time wasting for periods of the match at the back, that was a good performance.

QP were no bad on the times they had a break, thats how they scored. There was a period in the 2nd half when they had us stuck in oor ain half, Eh couldna work oot how that was happening TBH, but it thankfully never came to phuck-all.

Goals. Moults - a belter.
Tilsons - gled fir the lad, just wish his passing was better, gave the ga awa a number too many times.
Middleton - Ehv never had 100% complete confidence in him, but he took it well. Full credit to him coz he played well the day.

Twa boys in near me moaning when Moult and Cudjoe were ta'en aff, and they were shouting aboot Goodwin putting on "twa dummies" instead. But Eh was plaesed just a wee while later to point oot that the "twa dummies" had just got a goal and an assist. ( TBH Eh didna want Cudjoe ta'en aff either )

Nae surprehz Scott the Balloon never did us any favours.

MOTM for me, Cudjoe and Thomson.