Dundee United fans find themselves in a five-week limbo. Premiership purgatory.
The table doesn’t lie and, following a tumultuous first half of the season, the Tangerines are three points adrift at the bottom of the Scottish top-flight.
Clearly a lamentable state of affairs.
Anxious Arabs seem torn somewhere between hope and helplessness, depending on what Tayside tavern or corner of the internet you frequent.
Some are convinced the club are sleep-walking towards the Championship. Others have seen enough to nurse tentative optimism.
Recent displays would seem to veer towards the latter — as would a reflection on the example set by Ross County.
The Highlanders had 14 points on the board after 16 games last season — only two more than United currently. They were 11 points adrift of fifth spot. United are currently nine.
The Staggies finished sixth and were in the European hunt until the final weeks of the season.
It is a maddening, hoary old cliche, but there is a long way to go.
What is for certain? The United faithful have just lived through one of the most eventful opening five months of a campaign in recent memory.
A different level
“No disrespect to what we’ve had before — the guys have done their specific roles — but Jack’s on a different level for Dundee United.”
Those were the words of United sporting director Tony Asghar as he unveiled Jack Ross as the club’s new head coach.
Rocked by the departure of Tam Courts, Asghar was steadfast in his belief that the Tannadice club had upgraded.
Ross would be charged with building upon the success of the previous campaign, while adding attacking verve; some joie de vivre to compliment the stoic soccer.
The appointment — and few were deriding it at the time — looked inspired when AZ Alkmaar visited Tannadice in the Europa Conference League.
The Tangerines turned in a breathless, gutsy and entertaining display against the classy Eredivisie outfit on August 4; an unforgettable, electric night under the lights as Glenn Middleton sealed a 1-0 win.
What followed should not be allowed to scrub out that evening.
It was a magnificent performance, and a credit to the players and the way they were marshalled and motivated by Ross.
For reference, AZ are currently four points off the top of the Dutch league. They just concluded their pre-World Cup schedule with an away win at PSV Eindhoven.
“Maybe I should call it quits now — I know from experience, this job doesn’t always continue to go well,” said Ross, in perhaps the most inadvertently prescient quip in Scottish football history.
Record breakers
Followed by a colourful, boisterous band of excitable Arabs to the Netherlands, the team failed to live up to their supporters’ expectations as they succumbed to a 7-0 defeat.
AZ turning around a one-goal deficit was no surprise.
But the manner of United’s capitulation was miserable and, having waited a decade for the chance to watch their heroes strut their stuff on the continent, many left early — the pubs and clubs of Alkmaar and Amsterdam eminently more inviting.
The reverse equalled the heaviest ever defeat for a Scottish club in Europe, matching Hibs’ collapse against Malmo and Celtic’s loss in Barcelona.
To match one record may be regarded as a misfortune; to break another looks like carelessness…
Seventeen days on from their horror-show in Cheesetown, United lost 9-0 at home to Celtic; their heaviest ever home defeat. The hosts were utterly bereft of shape, belief and gumption. The writing was on the wall.
With comprehensive losses against St Mirren and Hearts also in the books, Ross was dismissed on the way to take training on August 30, mere days after a vote of confidence from Asghar.
Questions to be answered
Ross’ failings did not occur in a vacuum.
Whether through a drop in form, a lack of confidence or dwindling belief in the manager’s methods, a swathe of very capable Premiership footballers underperformed in the extreme.
Recruitment has been a persistent talking point, albeit most new arrivals get pass marks.
Signing Dylan Levitt permanently was a coup. Jamie McGrath has been an unqualified success. Steven Fletcher is effective when given support. Aziz Behich has come onto a game. Craig Sibbald is a combative midfield presence.
Big Road Runner energy from Aziz Behich last night…
Meep meep 👋
🎥 @dundeeunitedfc pic.twitter.com/aaLzCLspc1
— Alan Temple (@alanftemple) November 10, 2022
Middleton has shown moments of inspiration, while time will tell on Arnaud Djoum and Sadat Anaku.
However, the club had a year to plan for the departure of Benjamin Siegrist, and both Carljohan Eriksson and Mark Birighitti — by Fox’s own admission — have failed to hit the heights that their respective CVs would suggest they can.
A defensive midfielder would have made life easier and Fox should be commended for finding tactical solutions to a personnel oversight. A right-sided centre-half is needed to give depth and compete with Liam Smith.
On the topic of central defenders, the news that United lost their SPFL compensation case over Lewis Neilson’s move to Hearts did little to lighten the mood.
Asghar, often maligned by a portion of United fans, has always been able to point to inarguable progress; a rise from the doldrums of the Championship to European football.
This is the first season in which that journey has jolted into reverse. Allied with the Neilson oversight, this may go down as the most challenging five months in the big chair for Mark Ogren’s most trusted lieutenant.
Fox in the box seat
Following a steadying spell as interim boss, Fox was handed a two-year deal as head coach. he is understood to have beat Kevin Thomson, Carl Robinson and Dean Holden to the post.
The former Cowdenbeath manager has done plenty right.
He has toughened up the midfield, largely stemmed the tide of simple goals and has the team scoring from opening play.
Celtic and Rangers are the only other teams in Scotland to win two league matches by a four-goal margin, as United did against Aberdeen and Kilmarnock.
Fox and his assistant Stevie Crawford have also lifted spirits and rebuilt confidence. That achievement should not be overstated, given the vibe around the club following that Celtic game.
It hasn’t been perfect. Five defeats in their last six games is not the stuff of open-top bus parades.
However, there has been palpable progress in performance.
What next?
United players will have around 10 days off, albeit they have been packed off with thorough fitness plans.
Upon their return, Fox will have three weeks of solid work with the squad.
Double sessions are planned. The staff are keen to treat the period as a second pre-season — a chance for Fox and Crawford to put their stamp on a gradually improving United side.
January will then be upon us.
A wild signing spree should not be expected. There is no war-chest.
United’s summer recruitment was ambitious, Ross’ severance was unforeseen, and budgets at every club are finite.
There could be room to wheel and deal. However, the confidence in this squad and coaching staff from the boardroom remains unshaken.
The second half of the season will tell whether that faith is well placed.
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