We keep looking back at a string of near-misses and short-term decisions that feel like they knocked us off course. Three moments stand out where backing the manager might have changed everything.
Summer decisions that mattered
Not backing Gerard properly in the summer of 2021 is the first one. We were champions, riding a high, and there was a real chance to build on that momentum. Instead, the manager left and whatever continuity we might have had was lost. That kind of flip from stability to uncertainty has consequences beyond a transfer window. It affects recruitment, dressing-room belief and the trajectories of players who were making steady progress. You can see why supporters still wince about that one.
Finals that should have pushed us on
Losing the European final was another pivotal moment. Winning there would have offered a unique platform to attract players, boost confidence and change the club's trajectory. Again, after that disappointment the next summer felt like a missed opportunity to properly back the manager who had taken us there. Then there were the domestic cup near-misses, the Scottish Cup and the League Cup games where fortunes went against us. Those last-gasp moments, tiny margins, can pivot a season. A single penalty, a late goal, and a manager's fate can be very different.
How it all stacks up
Taken together these moments hint at a pattern, promising on-field performances undermined by off-field instability and cautious decisions. We went from one setback to the next. Beale, Martin, Rohl and McInnes have all had their spells, but in my view they haven't matched the men we replaced. It's not just the names, it's the idea that patience and proper backing at critical moments might have kept us moving forward. We need to learn that if we're to stop repeating the same mistakes.
Off the pitch instability compounded the problem. While we had notable European nights and some cup runs, the constant churn in decision-making meant no one could properly plan for the medium term. Recruitment became reactive, not proactive. Youth pathways and player development suffered when managers did not get a full season or a clear transfer strategy. That's why those missed opportunities hurt so much.
Supporters shouldn't be asking for miracles. What we need is a clear plan, patience and the willingness to back the right man at the right time. Short-term thinking has cost us seasons. If the club want to build properly, decisions at board and sporting director level need to reflect long-term aims, not knee-jerk reactions.
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