Sometimes in football you get a stark reality check that takes the wind out of you. Friday night was one of them.
I'll be honest, I went to the game hoping for a win. I'd have settled for a draw. To then get hammered 5-0 - and let's be frank, it could have been worse - was not part of the plan at all.
We all knew there was work to be done on the team and some problem positions have been obvious, but this was one hell of a reality check. I've been advocating a new midfielder for some time and Friday night intensified that for me. We need a competitive ball winner and they steamrolled through us.
The focus was on our two central defenders - both of whom were beyond horrendous, particularly Edge who reverted to his bad old ways and looked worse than an amateur - but there were problems everywhere. There wasn't a positive.
We basically lost the match in the second minute when they opened the scoring, and it showed a massive problem with the spirit of our team. We couldn't find a way back and we gave up.
They had some terrific performers too who really showed up for a big game. Shankland obviously gets the headlines but his strike partner and the left winger were excellent.
If I'm honest I'm still reeling from it and my hopes of a title challenge/win have been blown out the water. Against the top two teams we have conceded 10 goals in our last two home games against them. That's catastrophic. There's still a long way to go but my optimism has faded. January is essential and we need two or three - but we've got a bloated squad and that isn't going to help.
I did have a chuckle though when Neilson and Aird were awarded Manager and Player of the Month for November yesterday though. I'm sure that felt hollow after Friday.
American take-over talk has resurfaced and a deal is apparently close to being completed. As ever, we await with baited breath...
DUFC 0 AUFC 5
posted on 4/12/18
The last time an away player ran that rampant at Tannadice he was a short floppy-haired Argentinian.
Bet Dundee wish they'd paid up now. Might have been the difference in finishing bottom and losing in the play-off final to Dundee United.
posted on 4/12/18
Mental health something
posted on 4/12/18
Secretary?
posted on 5/12/18
comment by lauders - It's Coming Home *sometime in t... (U9757)
posted 16 hours, 26 minutes ago
Mental health something
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I used to be involved in mental health more actively than I am now. Although I still have links to that.
Secretary - Unfortunately not.
posted on 5/12/18
We really need a RB. That’s about as much as I have to offer.
posted on 5/12/18
comment by border_arab (U5560)
posted 5 minutes ago
We really need a RB. That’s about as much as I have to offer.
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Whatever happened to the lad Wardrup we signed? Is he just pash?
posted on 5/12/18
I’m not sure if he’s pash or injured. Murdoch looks better at RB, Watson looks like a fish out of water there. McCall has clearly done his homework because everything they threw at us came down that side, exacerbated by the fact that Aird is a bit lazy and wasn’t tracking back to give Watson any cover whatsoever. Fifth goal came down that side too, I know because I stayed <wink>
posted on 5/12/18
I just had enough after the fourth
I had a look - Wardrup was playing in our 4-1 reverse from a young looking Celtic reserve team yesterday so he's obviously fit or at least coming back to fitness if he has been injured. It just looks like he's not fancied.
posted on 5/12/18
Must be bad then if the manager would rather play a central defender out of position than a player who is supposed to be a RB! Anyway - Morton this weekend, they’re properly blowing hot and cold this season. Hopefully we get back to winning ways...
posted on 5/12/18
Fingers crossed we get a good reaction. As you say, never sure what we'll get from Morton.
The worry is that we don't really have many options to mix things up with the first XI, so we're going to have to rely on them to sort it out.