bdu98196

Signing of a player this season who has proven goal scoring history at a decent level, even Championship would have done - there are guys down there like Dobbie, Clark (who were free in the summer), Loy, Andreu (both on loan) or at least a player that would come in and show fight and determination to help drag us up the table - sadly I don't see any of our forward players having these attributes. Perhaps there may be further additions before the window closes but even if not and we stay up then I will still question the signing policy and level of recruitment recently especially in forward and creative areas. Its almost laughable how we sit at the bottom of the league making mediocre signings yet the majority seem happy and RF or the management can do no wrong, yet in previous windows or seasons much lesser actions would get slated. Too many blinded and naively sitting thinking we are too good to go down - we're not and there's little happening around the club that suggests otherwise.

Couldnt hold down a regular starting place at a relegation bound DUtd last season and other than a short run of games for Motherwell some few years ago has somewhat faltered. Not overwhelmed, think we have missed out on better options who have gone elsewhere.

Rory Loy off to St Midden

One factor that might count against us turning it around outwith the manager and tactics is the player mentality. For years we have been top 6, safe and good cup runs where as those around us like Hamilton, killie, Partick, Dundee and motherwell have all fitted with play offs and that end of the table - their players and clubs know what it is to scrap to survive - do we and can our players step up into that mindset?

I've wondered this too, when our style of play changed last year to be more defensive Storey increasing cut a lone figure upfront which although he has some pace couldnt win and hold up the ball or create chances himself from our poor build up play - if I can recall much of his success was when Christie was still on loan making things happen. This season we are probably even worse in terms of creativity, I question whether his attributes would actually yield much at all, perhaps played off a stronger player likey Doumb it may work but thats not how Foran likes to line up with 1 up front. What we need is a Higdon/Ofere type player who can bully and create his own changes and provide an outlet from the defence, maybe even Sammon might have worked. This is unless we start to change our style of play and get more from King, Doran & Mulraney to create chances for a striker.

Tansey & Ofere - both players who scored important goals on our run, but he picked the team and tactics regardless of the players to get us to a final and win it - however its still evident from some on here he will never be given any credit for anything achieved.

Without knowing the clubs signing or wage budget and whether therew is actually anything left to imporve the squad with real quality, I do wonder regarding these types of signings. Players coming from such a level should be brought in with the premise that they are part of the development squad on short 6 month or 12 month deals with the aim that if they step up they become part of the first team and are rewarded approriately. However what we have seen recently are players like Wedderburn, Horner, R.Williams, Boden etc come in on decent deals when we would be just as good letting some youngsters try step up. What we need to be doing is investing what we little we have on established and proven quality to fix our dire situation not a quantity of gambles unless we are conceeding that top flight status is no longer our focus and we are looking to build a lower cost squad for the Championship.

Glad to see someone else finally asking the same question. Since his arrival or latapy leaving we are no longer an attacking team, last season I put that down to injuries and less quality but now even with wingers and more potential creativity it's still the same. Ironically we play defensive yet can't defend so perhaps our solid backing was down to butcher and Hughes as ex defenders being able to coach that skill effectively.

After Partick is too late by then we could getting cut adrift and heads down being knocked out of the cup by a lower league team. We have a window with no games and transfer opportunity coming up, it needs to be used. Back him or sack him. Bring in a decent and experienced assistant or advisor to sort the tactics and formation including the defence and provide cash for players if not prepare for relegation. We need more than just a striker, the way we play wouldn't help if we had even Griffiths as we just don't create enough and that's due to the position players are used or the tactics. Some on here seem to be happy to accept the levels of signing but I disagree players like Cole, Boden, horner, vigurs just aren't good enough - that's before we consider those just not stepping up or off form. There are none who have come in that have come close to Williams, storey or Vincent and fall way below Watkins or Christie etc. While I accept we had lost quality players and would be a weaker team you'd expect that at least one incoming player might be near the exiting quality plus none seem to have improved whether that's because they aren't good enough, don't care of are just coached poorly it's hard to tell.

I don't get this attitude on here that Foran can do no wrong, his lack of experience is showing as is his stubborn nature not to change things even when the team struggling - 1 up front isn't working and hasn't been for weeks and we aren't creative enough in front of the back 6. The 3 behind the striker aren't doing enough - we have pace in mulraney and most creativity from king, Doran or polly yet these guys are either benched or played out of position. Questions have to be asked about the support Foran gets from those in the rest of the management team and whether Rice is the right man to help Foran develop. Some on here want to blame the board, blame Hughes or blame the fans for not being supportive enough but after this many games we aren't seeing an improvement or anything that suggests a formula for success. Many on here wanted foran to get the job, but his lack of experience is telling. If we don't recruit in Jan which given our lack of fans or budget is unlikely then we won't stay up. Come back after the break and loose to Elgin which is feasible and it's going to be a long hard negative slog til the end of the season. Add to that the impending loss of tansey and meekings it's weaker we will become. The board need to act but it's in either replacing foran or improving the network around him by bringing in an experienced coach to help him with tactics and most importantly organising the defence. Sacking the board is a ludicrous call.

Calum Morris joined dunfermline

We lost to Motherwell because we were poor and created little much like so many games this season, possession and tepid play in the middle or the park or hoofing long balls from back to front when chasing the game dont provide winning positions. Those that reside in the camp where its just bad luck need to look at last season and the DUtd situation where they lost games by the odd goal, were deemed to play well and were unlucky - they went down and we will too. As a critic of Vigurs, I can say its nothing to do with his former club or even his attitude when at the club first time, its his attitude now - there appears a lack of fight or creativity from him, often loosing possession and failing to track back or even attempt tackles. His set piece delivery is not to the required level of quality or consistency like at times against Motherwell - we can make excuses about the weather or anything else but if Foran persevers with him we need more. Thats not removing blame from elsewhere either. Criticism of players, tactics or managment seem to be unacceptable on here now, however last season it was all fair game so long as it was directed at Hughes or Dani Lopez (who), although I see Hughes still blamed in this thread for leaving and the club having to appoint Richie. Perhaps some are not willing yet to accept that we have moved to a weaker position as a club through the changes made and there maybe isnt the capability to turn this around crowds are still not improving and we certainly dont have the cash to buy our way out of trouble.

As the most experienced member of the coaching staff we have every right to question his input or if enough support is given to the rookie manager.

Cup winning team and most successful ever season Warren, Meekings, Tremarco, raven, draper, tansey, polly, doran Last years team, as above plus Vigurs, ofw, fisher so based on the nucleus of the team being still here and what we have achieved did the last manager over achieve with crap players or is the new manager under achieving with good players. We have recruited poorly with players and other than King & mckay I really don't think the rest are near good enough. We persist with the same formation, line up and tactics it's predictable for the fans so no wonder other teams and managers are sussing us out. When Rice came in last season we became a tepid, toothless team who focused on possession and lack creativity, this season we are the same, is the job too big for Richie and his lack of experience or is he being let down by those and round him especially Rice?

You make a point but fail to consider the home team is OF, therefore as 50k of them will be local then nobody really cares about travelling fans, if it was the other way round then I'm sure it would be considered, additionally none of the organisations listed are known for being able to forward plan so would much rather leave it til 2 hours before kick off and act surprised about the conditions.

The budget might be limited to bring in additional cover, we have McNaughton injured for the remainder of the season on probably a salary towards the higher end of our scale and many of the established guys have signed new deals so will probably have had increases over previous deals. Defensively we look ok, although LB cover would be good, however we can play Raven there when fit. If Meekings leaves though someone will have to be brought in. Midfield - we need to decide where we are playing Draper. If he is an offensive option we need solid central midfield ball winner, otherwise if he is going to go back into the defensive role we need a bit of creativity behind the striker. Whether Tansey will leave in this window I think depends on if the Dons keep Maddison on loan. Tansey's not had the best season and although I do think he will sign a PCA with the Dons I cant see them paying out any money - even £50k Forward / Strikers - Both Doumb & Fisher are very similar, we need something different and someone with pace and a record for goals - Loy could be a decent shout. But we need to improve the service which comes back to the midfield creativity issues. Could bring in a prolific goal scorer but based on our play they wont have good enough service.

No idea why there is such feeling towards tansey on here, one of our most gifted players. His form may have dropped off but name a player who hasn't this season, we know his qualities and based on our limited resource and options he's better than most. There may be factors from last season affecting him only he knows that, but perhaps the new management or tactics don't use him effectively enough? There and over worse performers this season but seems he is being made a scapegoat by some and they want him out, much like Hughes last year - if Greg goes who next to vent at?

Big game, probably the definition of a 6 pointer. So lets try lift the gloom around here and see what make shift side we can put out, I'm expecting this game not to be pleasant on the eye whatever the results. OFW Horner Meekings Draper Tremarco Tansey Vigurs Doran King Sutherland Doumbaye Assuming Raven & Mckay are still out? Otherwise one of them into RB. May as well give Sutherland a start, neither Mulraney or Cole have done much so maybe time to give the lad a go - cant be any worse. Another chance for Vigurs but only due to there being no other options IMO, needs to step up and put in a solid shift for once if not he'll be out muscled by the Hamilton players, then loose his cool and be off before the end.

Don't think that will solve, probably make us weaker? We move a player from his natural position where he is performing well (rare shining light this season) then put someone weaker in his place leaving us horribly exposed on the left side. We already look suspect down the right as we saw with Mckay/Raven out and Meekings having a horror of Horner proportions.

Not really, there are players out there who aren't giving 100%, look disinterested and not stepping up to fill their roles in the team. Over recent weeks only Draper, Tremarco, Doumbaya, Mckay and OFW have played well, with maybe Doran & King passable. Sadly the rest are not performing how they are capable and in the way we are used to seeing in the past. So yes criticism may seem harsh but we pay our money and have rights to an opinion, inexperienced manager or not, he and his backroom team aren't learning from the mistakes and seem to be happy to persevere week on week making the same errors. Dropping down the table, we are on current form real relegation fodder - time to step up and stop the excuses before its too late. Its beginning to sound like Mixu last year who's DUtd team were in free fall and couldn't win yet he praised the way they played. Interesting from the poll though that on Sat goal 1 was a consequence of the highest selected response and goal 2 from the 2nd highest. Clearly on here the majority can see the issues

The Werthers Original Stadium

So if we don't have defensive players then why not play those who are like draper in that position - holding midfield instead of further forward where he's been all season ? Why put Vigurs in a defensive role when he doesn't run, track back or tackle in fact he doesn't go forwards or shoot either? We have players played out of position like draper and Polwarth? there's a clear lack of confidence throughout as seen by today's lack of shooting even the likes of tansey won't try a 25 yarder.

Well that was worth a trip. Looks like we are in the festive mood early gifting St J the game. Meekings was exposed at RB with a lack of cover from Warren and general lack of pace, was obvious that we'd loose goals from the first St J attack. Vigurs fir much of the game was his usual self wanting to play the quick release pass and avoid responsibility with Draper in defence he needed to step up and take control more, Cole has energy but lacks the vision and ideas at this level. yet again panicked clearances and high balls to Doumbaye which was easy for the defence to deal with - all in very predictable as said. Overall tactically poor and below par player display which allowed a St J team who created little to score 3 goals and have and comfortable win without much challenge. Very poor.

^ meekings can play RB with Draper at CB if necessary

Few weeks ago, it was Doumbaye who was getting slated and people calling for him to be dropped he wasn't god enough, last week it was Tansey, this week Warren. Its the manager who picks the formation and 11 starting players - given the nucleus of the team being OFW, Tremarco, Warren, Meekings, Raven, Tansey, Draper, Vigurs, Polly are all the same guys from last year and even going back our most successful period. Perhaps its an indication that the last manager either did better with what he had than he ever should and we are now at our 'real' level or that the new manager is playing tactics and formations that aren't best for our group. But as the last guy is disliked by so many on here it has to be all the players fault this time.