Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
It’s up to players solutions insists
“THIS isn’t what I signed up for” – Charlie Adam has opened up on concerns over his start to life as a Dundee player.
The former Scotland, Rangers and Liverpool man admits he himself hasn’t been good enough so far in dark blue and says it’s up to the struggling Dens Park players to “find a solution” to their poor form.
The Dark Blues sit in seventh position in the Championship table after just one win in their opening five league games.
As well as the 6-2 thumping suffered on the opening day of the campaign at Hearts, Dundee lost 4-1 to Hibs in the Betfred Cup and saved themselves from defeat late on in a 3-3 draw at part-time Alloa.
In a stellar career, Adam has played 26 times for Scotland as well as over 200 appearances in the English Premier League and he has warned the club’s underperforming players that they need to handle the pressure of playing for a club like Dundee.
In their latest disappointment, the Dark Blues lost 2-0 at Ayr after conceding two soft goals early on.
“We are a football club going through a bad time at the moment on the pitch,” said Adam, who played 90 minutes at Somerset Park despite a hamstring injury.
“It’s not acceptable, it’s as simple as that.
“There were a few home truths told after the game. Sometimes you need to be told.
“This is a big football club and if you can’t handle the pressure of playing for Dundee in the Championship then going to the next level isn’t going to happen.
“Saturday was a tough afternoon for everybody and there were harsh words said in the dressing-room but they needed to be said because it’s been going on for weeks now.
“It’s a combination of errors we are making, not just one player but it’s different areas of the pitch.
“Are we a soft touch? It’s hard to say but we need to react against Hibs on Saturday and then against Arbroath after that.
“The manager could leave 11 players out this weekend, he’s made it that clear that’s how bad we were at Ayr.
“It’s a harsh lesson, a reality check for us – again. We need to look at ourselves because this is a big football club in this division.
“This isn’t what I signed up for, I came here to be successful in this team.”
Fans have certainly made their displeasure known, though they are unable to do so in the stands due to coronavirus restrictions.
Many lay the blame for the team’s struggles at the feet of manager James McPake.
Adam, though, says it’s up to the players to get things right.