wellfan

I did make it clear at the time. It’s not my fault you’re so determined to read something into two words that I literally didn’t say, particularly when I’d already explained my position in the same thread, on the same day. There’s a certain irony in accusing me of being snidey while persistently twisting my words and attributing things to me that simply aren’t there. If that’s too wordy for you, I suggest you read it again.

McGlynn, like Robinson, would be an idiot to go there.

I’ll happily hold my hands up if he turns things around and gives us a good season, but I’m not going to pretend to be his biggest fan in the meantime. That doesn’t mean I don’t get behind the team and support them every week.

Hearts being humiliated by Falkirk today. McGlynn would be a massive upgrade on Alfred.

Johnny K has been an excellent player for us when fully fit and firing, which makes it all the more frustrating that he seems to be made of paper. Stama, on the other hand, was both shite and injury-prone.

I’ve not deflected anything. I’ve defended myself and called out the wilful twisting of my words. There was no glee in my comment. It was a simple expression of my view on a bloody football forum. I also made it clear in the same thread that a manager losing their job is preferable to sticking by them at the cost of the club being relegated, with all the multiple job losses that could bring. But let’s not let logic get in the way of a good drama and pile-on. People would do well to give it a rest with the faux outrage and climb down from their ivory towers.

“Tick tock” can reek of whatever you want it to reek of, and you can choose to derive whatever meaning you like from it. That doesn’t make you right. The number of people reading so much into and twisting two simple words is getting quite hilarious now.

I hear you, and I did say that. But I also think we’ve allowed the bar to drop so far below where it was set last season that we’re now treating mediocrity as success simply because we’ve been so poor. There’s a world of difference between not matching last season’s levels and appearing to have fallen off a cliff altogether. I expected more this season. Instead, it looks like we’ve recruited poorly, both in terms of players and the manager, and we’re now seeing the consequences. We’re nowhere near JBA’s levels, but we’re also considerably further away than we should reasonably expect to be.

I think we’ve allowed the bar to drop so far below where we’d previously set it that even a draw now feels like progress. Again, I’m looking at the bigger picture here rather than judging games in isolation.

Here we go again. I didn’t suggest his position was a ticking time bomb. I wrote “Tick tock”. Stop putting words in my mouth. I’m not going to be lectured by someone who’s making an arse of themselves over a two-word comment they’ve wilfully chosen to misinterpret.

I wrote “Tick tock” in a thread about the manager, simply expressing my view that his time is running out. Nothing to do with gleefully celebrating anything, or supporting or otherwise the team or club. You’re perfectly entitled to think it was in bad taste, but repeatedly reading things into two words and attributing intentions to me is ridiculous.

Gleeful is your interpretation of my post. I simply wrote “Tick tock”. But by all means, carry on twisting things to suit your own narrative.

There’s still time yet. We’re still generally pish. Four points from the last two games is fair enough, but both goals came from penalties and we struggle to score from open play. We’re still defensively weak, powderpuff up front and all too often resort to this passive, ceding-possession crap. The in-game management is questionable too, with some continually bonkers subs. And Vogt starting the Celtic game will forever remain one of Alfred’s most ridiculous decisions. Thirteen league games, three wins, four draws and six defeats. Pumped out of the League Cup at the first hurdle too. The European football was the one positive, but that was before Alfred got his way with the squad on the training pitch. For comparison, at the same stage of JBA’s tenure, we had four wins, seven draws and just two defeats from 13 league games. He didn’t have European football, but he did take us on a six-game League Cup run before St Mirren eventually pumped us out in the semi-final. I know comparisons with JBA will inevitably be dismissed as unfair, but that’s precisely why I’ve chosen their respective starts. This was before JBA had really got us up and running, so I’m not comparing Alfred’s current form with JBA once he’d established himself and got the team playing. I’m looking at how the two managers started. Objectively, it’s been a poor start domestically, and I remain unconvinced he’s the right man for the job. Some see progress, but looking at the bigger picture I don’t.

If that little dig was aimed at me, which I can only assume it was given I’m one of the manager’s biggest critics and recently used the ‘tick tock’ wording, at least have the decency to get your facts right before trying to be a smartarse. I did post in the thread. Perhaps read it before talking shite.

A much better overall performance and a deserved win. However, let’s not pretend that was anything other than two shite teams, and we only won by a penalty. St Mirren were awful and offered absolutely nothing except cheating and thuggery. And the referee was even worse. Another concern is that MM and JGR don’t appear to communicate with each other at all. It’s a recurring feature across this team. The only time they actually spoke was when they appeared to be arguing as they walked down the tunnel at HT. What is the manager coaching them?!

Careful what they wish for? Come on. Is it really too much to ask for a decent manager who can win a game every so often?

I don’t disagree. Our defence is a shambles.

Yeah, of course they can look the same, but a good manager should be able to address these issues, within reason. The international break would be the perfect time to part company.

The consequences of relegation would likely be the loss of many more full-time jobs. As for who could replace him, I don’t know, and it’s not my job to know. I despise this question being thrown at fans whenever they want a failing manager removed. A competent Board should always be succession planning and have potential replacements identified.

You defend as a team, and that starts with an effective press or block and a functioning system from the middle to the front. Of course the defenders then have their part to play, but so does the rest of the team. We should also be capable of retaining possession rather than passing it around the back before launching it aimlessly over the top, only to surrender possession. The defence is rightly taking criticism, but our defensive problems are evident all over the park. Ultimately, we’re a poorly coached team.

I get that you disagree with my views on Alfred, but have some perspective. If we persist with him and things continue to regress, the consequences will extend well beyond him losing his job.

You’re clutching at straws here. Nobody is asking for or expecting JBA mk2, but that doesn’t mean we should accept this level of regression. We’ve gone from being one of the best teams in the league to scrabbling around for the tiniest iotas of improvement amid the general shite just to justify keeping calm and carrying on. I’m sure we’d all be happy with a middle ground, but we’re so far away from that it’s unreal. It’s killing the increased attendances and souring the fan base. It’s shite.

Anything less than a win is unacceptable. My concern, though, is that a win will paper over the cracks and buy Alfred more time, only for it to come back to bite us in the medium term. He’s absolutely shite, and delaying the inevitable will only make things worse.

Tick tock.

How anyone can take positives from that overall performance is beyond me. The regression from last season is staggering. The fact we resorted to the hoofball tactic even while winning should be the final nail in the coffin for Alfred.