However, what is wrong at United is not entirely his fault is it? To me it’s more of an ethic that runs through the entire club, or at least it seems to be.
Let’s look at the evidence. How many players, who prospered elsewhere, have come to United and failed? How many players who’ve failed at United have gone elsewhere and prospered? How many managers have we had in the last six seasons who’ve not made any difference? How many players have we had in the last six seasons who’ve not made any difference? How many owners have we had that have not made any difference? (Sorry ET, I know you love the club and work damn hard, not to mention put your own cash in, but we are still 10th right this minute!!!)
This is not a go at the current board or chairman, who are doing sterling work behind the scenes I’m sure, nor is it a dig at any of the recent (or current) managers, or players, or indeed anyone. It’s as if United are cursed. Even Lee Miller and Fernandez are starting to show signs that they are catching the Tannadice bug, and their games are suffering. Just what is it at Tannadice? Confidence? A winning mentality? Team spirit? What is it? Two things are certain: 1) Chiz isn’t actually to blame for it being there (or not being there if we are talking about team spirit etc) it was there before he started 2) Chiz hasn’t solved the problem, as our league position clearly demonstrates.
So what are we to do? Change managers again? Jim Jefferies is being strongly touted on the messageboard here. Many are saying we wouldn’t want the grumpy old so-and-so, others saying that a sourpuss is exactly what we need. One thing we all agree on though, is that we all want United to do well, to win games, and to climb the league. Will changing the manager do it? I’m not convinced it will myself, but if our current form continues (zero wins in four) then I fear we’ll be finding out sooner rather than later.
What really needs to happen is an overhaul in attitude at Tannadice – an injection of positivity. A winning mentality. A good team spirit. A strong work ethic – call it what you will. We have had dozens of quality players through the door who’ve had the life sucked out of them at Tannadice, and it’s time that stopped, and it’s time we, as a club, stopped under-achieving. We are not a big club, but we are as big as, say, Killie and Motherwell, who constantly out-perform us season after season. It’s time that ended. It’s time we got out act together as a unit, and it’s time we started playing football, because that’s all it is.