Greg Shields Post Dundee United
Sunday, 19th Nov 2006I felt all game that somebody was watching your every step. That is a good thing and keeps everyone on their toes and make people fight even h
"Dundee United were on a two game run under their new Manager. All credit to them they outplayed us in the first half, possibly the first 60 minutes. Just after half time they had a few chances and the goal maybe came at the right time. It gave us boot up the a*** or whatever.
"The Manager came in at half time and went 4-3-3. When they scored he went 4-4-2 by bringing the two wingers on. In the end it worked out."
Greg was not surprised to see Steve Kenny at half time:-
"We expected that, even before the game, everybody was in early waiting in anticipation of what he was going to say. What he said came across great; everybody listened to him which was great to see and he was calm.
"He made the two changes later on and the goal that won it is all credit to the Manager. At half time he said 'it wasn't working for us. We all looked quite nervous and looked like a team that did not have confidence'. Everybody could see that in the way we were playing and the crowd were getting on our back a little.
"We have to be professional and take that since we are playing at the bottom of the league. We can get out of it. He just said that he wanted to change a few things. He wanted Stephen Simmons to push further forward and try to take the game to them more.
"They scored at probably the right time and he changed it again. Every game that Freddie Daquin comes on we win (well it happened v Kilmarnock as well).
"The Manager was delighted after the game. He said it was a small step in the right direction and he is right in what he is saying. Everybody is buzzing because that is the first win in seven games. It is a small step but if we had lost today the place we have been dead.
"He persevered a bit with the formation that he has changed at half time whereas a lot of Managers might have packed the midfield. We got runover in there in the first half. It was a bit tight but in the second half he had a go. He put the wingers on and that is when it started to open up and made the last half hour much more exciting to watch."
Greg's 75th minute equaliser was his first goal was only his third for the Pars:-
"When I was at Kilmarnock the only club I scored against was Dunfermline, now I am at Dunfermline the only club I score against is Dundee United, albeit I scored against Hibs last season. Hammy tried to go for goal, it hit the boy's back and it fell to me so I just put my foot on it and that was maybe the start of the revival! It was relief, before that we never looked like scoring."
Greg may well have turned the tide in this match but he was in little doubt that he already has recognised why Steve Kenny was chosen to be the next Manager of the club:-
"The Chairman probably knew straight away that Stephen Kenny was the man for the job. He does not have a clue about the place, he hardly knows anybody's names. He has come in with his own views on who is going to play. If I am not doing my job I will be out of the team, not that might not have happened before but this man has come in and if you are not doing it, he will drop you.
"It is like that with Paul Le Guen at Rangers. They have had someone come in that does not have a clue about the place, Dunfernmline have done that, we will have to wait and see. From a players point of view it is more daunting going into a game knowing that somebody is watching every step you make. Knowing that you cannot get away with anything at all. You shouldn't get away with anything anyway but you are more cautious. I felt all game that somebody was watching your every step. That is a good thing and keeps everyone on their toes and make people fight even harder for places at Dunfermline.
"Two weeks ago I was saying that I would like a new Manager in now but the Chairman and Board have been patient and have decided that is what they want to do. He has done in before with Jimmy Calderwood and it worked so hopefully this time it will work again."
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