Is he a man under pressure?
It might sound a daft question given that we're currently sitting third in the league and still in the League Cup, but this is very much the most difficult period of Jackie's reign as United manager and most likely the most difficult period of his career as a whole. He's got a number of challenges in front of him that he simply has to overcome if he is to progress as a manager and the club is to progress as a whole.
The team is struggling. Outwith Aberdeen away and Dundee away, we've been pretty much stinking all season. The football has been turgid and we've relied on a fair bit of luck. Our best players have been under-performing and there are questions starting to be asked if Jackie can get the best out of them.
I'm not convinced he has it in him to turn things around.
I was working up in Inverness today and talking to my security boy who also does the stewarding at Caley's ground. He was saying how surprised at firstly how bad we were, but more importantly how utterly impassive Jackie was throughout the game. He apparently only left his seat in the dugout to go up the tunnel at the end of the game. I expect more from a United manager when we're playing so badly.
His tactical inflexibility is a deep, deep concern for me. He needs to accept his preferred formation isn't always going to work.
I'm worried that Jackie is starting to struggle and I haven't seen anything that suggests he can immediately turn things around.
Jackie Mac
posted on 27/10/14
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 27/10/14
Ginger one ? Strachan? , I don't understand
posted on 27/10/14
Ivan, totally agree with what you're saying.
It was evident towards the end of last season and the cup final that Jackie only has one way of playing and when it isn't working doesn't seem to know how to change things.
If the team he picks aren't playing then his substitutions are very much in the Peter Houston mould of hoping for the best.
And to go back to a familiar theme, the reason we aren't scoring is because we don't have any strikers other than the temperamental Ciftci who can't be dropped because we don't have a replacement.
Playing with one striker might be OK for the big clubs with midfielders who score as well but not a team like United.
Jackie's after match interviews now all sound the same and I suspect many supporters are losing patience.
For me there's no doubt that 2 wins over Dundee plus a few lucky wins in the league have kept the supporters reasonably happy.
There's nothing to suggest he has either the inclination nor the ability to turn things round.
I'd love to be proved wrong but I don't see it.
posted on 27/10/14
Deila,McCoist, McInnes, JMac, all inconsistent. I could go on.
posted on 27/10/14
jascotcelt - Wilson being out makes no difference. He hasn't played all season. Paton was a miss but then we've been pash even with him playing.
Even with the enforced change we played the same way. I believe Dow, a forward, played in the holding rolewwhich I find bizarre. Surely you try one of the young lads.
Old shed boy, I do like Ciftci but he really, really needs competition. It's getting harder to defend him. He does need those around him to help him though. Armstrong and GMS need to up their games and take more responsibility.
posted on 27/10/14
Ah well nopthing lost then Thought Wilson would have been a loss as he was great at Celtic and was sad to see him go. The media for a spell there were praising Paton to the hilt so thought he must have been a miss. So actually it seems you got done cause your crap then
Well what will be will be but seems you have a ceiling and you are there right now , it cant always be the managers fault ya know , especialy ones that have got your team performing above their grade .
Wish not to receive what you don't want more than what you do and you will do ok
Or don't rock the boat when your making headway
posted on 27/10/14
Ciftci can be infuriating when things aren't going well but can be a match winner when on song.
As well as competition for him we need somebody who can play up front with him.
We should be looking to bring in two strikers in January but there's little indication that Jackie has any plans in that direction.
I've said before that the wee team can play 2 strikers and have another 2 on the bench.
Jackie's interviews suggest to me that he's not for changing.
Agree that we need the midfielders to start scoring. Who would have thought Erskine would be the guy who looks most likely.
Obviously teams have dips in form but ours has gone on too long.
posted on 27/10/14
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 27/10/14
Stand Free 😚
posted on 28/10/14
I've been far less scathing of McNamara than Houston, as he is at least trying to get the team to play decent attacking football, rather than playing for a narrow loss which is what Houston so often did.
However, it's becoming too rare that we do play decent attacking football. Many players are underperforming, and as much as I like the 4-2-3-1 system, there are times when the team can't get it to work properly. I don't think that's a lack of ability from the players, so it seems that the coaching staff aren't doing their jobs well enough. Unfortunately the current problem is far less obvious than Houston's obvious failings, yet could be just as serious if we don't get it sorted.
McNamara is a young manager and has plenty of time to learn. But he has to show that he is willing to learn, otherwise he'll just be another manager who has wasted his potential. Perhaps more than a few parallels with Çiftçi's footballing career.