Support at Rangers and QOS
The noise level of the support over the last two matches has been absolutely amazing. Right throughout the Rangers game, and all day yesterday at Palmerston - non-stop singing and encouragement, which has been ackowledged at every level by every commentator. This display was absolutely what the team needed from the fans. Top quality noise.
Media Talk About McCall's Job
Some of the media talk about McCall's job has been scandalous. In the event of the club not making any official statements the press have just made up and said anything they liked.
I'm beginning to see a bi-polar pattern develop too, of 'sack McCall' after bad result, and 'let's give him time' after a good one. I think a lot of clubs would have sacked their manager by now, but it's also true that sticking by yer manager can pay off too. Therefore it's a tricky one to call, though personally I'm in favour of 'not changing' myself, at least till the season's end. I think a change would do us more harm than good, no matter who we brought in.
Some have also said that we have given McCall a hard time on the messageboard here. The United Mad forum should, and does, reflect the opinions of a genuine, and broad, Arab fraternity. We don't exist to direct opinion, but to allow discussion and opinion to be expressed . If that genuinely held Arab opinion happens to be negative, then so be it, it's not necessarily the opinion of those here at this website, as I've said in this paragraph.
Is The Manager The Problem?
Judging by the amount of managers we've had recently you could argue that changing the manager just isn't curing the problem. You immediately look to the board after that, but there's been a regime change there too, who seem to be doing the right things, and if they have made errors they have been genuine ones. We've also changed the players wholesale too!
Weight of expectation is a factor, and I think we do have to remember who we are - bigger than Dundee of course ;-) but still a provincial club. Not that we should ever forget our often glorious past, but we shouldn't always expect Euro glory at every turn either. We need to be steady, and progress from solid foundations.
I'm almost glad Sturrock has chosen not to come. It would have been expensive, and there's no guarantee that the outcome of this season would have been any different. I actually see Sturrock as a possible future owner/director if he doesn't become manager, or even if he does. He can make a lot of money for himself working in England, and I'm sure he would get another shot at a Premiership club one day, or even take Wednesday back there. Sturrock knows the fans of United love him, and would love him to come back, but not at the detriment to all concerned, as it would possibly be now. I also feel a wee bit sorry for McCall in all this too. His life has been publicly discussed by all and sundry - never knowing he was in a job when he woke up the next morning.
There's a story just come out on the BBC Sports website about the players getting behind McCall 100%. This in part rubbishes the speculation that McCall has 'lost the dressing room'. It doesn't mean there haven't been disputes amongst the playing and coaching staff, nor does it mean that every player at United, or who has left under McCall, is 100% happy, but it does help. A show of unity.
Two very very big games coming up, away at Livi then home to ICT. We need to take 2, 3, 4 or 6 points from these two games. Nil or one point simply won't be enough, either to improve our league position or concerning McCall's future. He came very close to losing his job (or being the scapegoat you could say?) this week.