As he works to turn Dundee’s season round, boss Jim McIntyre has told his players to speak up – when things go right as well as wrong.
Jim himself has never been slow to let players from the technical area know if they’ve not been pulling their weight.
He also believes praise, when praise is due, must be dished out.
And he wants that attitude to spill over onto the pitch during games and even in training.
“We need to be demanding of each other. It can’t just come from the manager, it’s got to come from the players who are on the park,” he said.
“That’s what we’ve been encouraging since we came in the door.
“If somebody needs a rocket, then they get it, but encourage after that.
“If they need told ‘you need to do better’, then tell them. That’s a big part of the game, but then it’s got to be equal measure of praise as well and that’s important.”
It’s something Jim wants from his squad as a whole because he knows most will be called into action during a December programme that will bring seven games in just three-and-a-half weeks.
A run of games that starts with Hamilton on Wednesday and ends with the pre-winter break Tayside derby against St Johnstone on December 29, will stretch resources but the gaffer is viewing it as a chance to pick up vital points.
“It’s the same for everyone. It’s just about making sure you are recovering well between games and getting ready to go. There’s not a lot of turn around between games.
“It’s an opportunity for us to maximise as many points as we can and get back into the pack.
“But we’re going to need every one of the squad.
“It’s a tough, tough period and there will be times when we just make changes simply because we need to freshen it, not just based on the performance.”
Between now and the winter break, Jim will pay particular attention to his “over 30s” like Darren O’Dea, Martin Woods, Paul McGowan and Kenny Miller.
At 38, striker Miller is comfortably the old man of the Dens Park squad.
Jim, though, knows ultimately their experience will help tell them how their bodies are and whether or not they need a break from games or even training.
“As a manager, I’ve always made sure that I look after the older players in the group.
“I think when you are that age it’s your mentality, you know what it takes to get yourself through a game.
“You know what you need to do to recover, you know how your body is.
“Equally, you know when to say ‘here we go again’, it’s game time and let’s get ourselves going.”
Dundee’s U/18s are in action this evening when they travel to take on Hearts at the Oriam (KO 7pm).
And their Youth Cup cash with Clachnacuddin takes place at Station Park on Sunday week.
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