Morning folks and a happy new year to one and all. I hope you had a terrific break and, if you're like me and back to work today, then you have my deepest sympathies for what is one of the most depressing days of the year.
Speaking of depressing, the United festive period quickly changed from one of cheer and goodwill to one of deepest pessimism. On 23 December United were looking like favourites for the title, we were in form, playing good stuff and had a settled side. Then Fraser Fyvie got injured for the season, we got pumped at St Mirren and then Scott Fraser was ruled out for the season. We lost two of our most important players and were beaten by our title rivals. Depressing stuff.
On the St Mirren game, we were actually not bad in the first half and for me were the better team. Obviously the penalty miss was crucial - and we'll come back to McMullan later - but the second half was absolutely dire. We never laid a glove on St Mirren. The Buddies should have been down to 10 men in that first half and once more we've had to suffer referee's poor performances. I've no complaints though and I'll be pleased when Celtic sign up Morgan and hopefully they don't loan him back.
There was some good news though as we kicked off the new year with a convincing and comfortable win against Brechin, defeating our, ahem, derby rivals 4-1. It was a whirlwind start by United, McDonald opening the scoring after 44 seconds and then Stanton doubling the lead shortly afterwards. The game was actually a bit boring to be honest but we eventually increased our lead after the break through McDonald again before a Keatings penalty completed our scoring.
Stupidly though we went down to 10 men and it left me raging. McMullan, already on a yellow after a pointless trip on a player, decided to take a dive. At 4-0 up. Mental. For the second time this season he has received a second yellow for simulation.
I was pleased with Laszlo's remarks afterwards (and his overall remarks about being unhappy with the fact we took our foot off the gas). Hopefully he hammers him for his stupidity. We're already down to the bare bones - our bench is horribly thin - and we can't be doing without players at this point. We need every fit player. It's frustrating because McMullan looked like he was going to be a great player for us when he signed but he's just shown himself to be a stupid fud and he's a liability. That second yellow card yesterday was in the post from when he got his first yellow. He needs to wise up and show a bit of maturity.
Speaking of fitness, we really are suffering with knocks though and that's due to the way that players in this league constantly leave the boot in. Both St Mirren and Brechin were terrible for it over the last couple of games and it's a theme of this league. Sadly the referee's aren't up to the task of protecting the players.
So where does this leave us? Well, we're now 3 points behind St Mirren with a game in hand so it's not a bad position, although of course we have to win our game in hand. As said though, we are down to the bare bones and it's now hugely important that we get a few bodies in to improve the squad. I still expect a striker and I would hope we'd bring in a midfield player too, possibly even a second midfielder. It's going to be a crucial month and hopefully Csaba has the contacts to get the right players in.
Mon the Terrors
DUFC News
posted on 3/1/18
It's grim Del. My office is more than half empty and it's like we're all attending a funeral.
I just want to be back in my bed
posted on 3/1/18
I don’t really follow lower league football but I remember the bird fae Braveheart was called Mirren and she was pretty decent. Great result for you guys yesterday in the derby against your closest rivals. We had a similar result last weekend in Perth, but we don’t really acknowledge St Johnstone as rivals, such is the gap in ability between the two teams. Would love a local rivalry like the Utd/Brechin one but there’s just no teams near us that are on our level. I am undecided who I want to get promoted this season. On the one hand you want the biggest teams to be in the top league, but on the other hand you want someone rubbish to come up so they’re a certainty to fill the relegation spot, so I’m edging towards United coming up for that reason.
posted on 3/1/18
She was quite pretty. Although she became less pretty when she was horribly murdered in a historically accurate portrayal of William Wallace's life story.
posted on 3/1/18
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic 🐍 (U5291)
posted 9 minutes ago
It's grim Del. My office is more than half empty and it's like we're all attending a funeral.
I just want to be back in my bed
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motd was on a bit later last night also so didnt get to bed til after 1am. Heid like a burst couch, cant handle not getting my 7 hours anymore !
posted on 3/1/18
Poor Dundee Utd playing teams that "leave the boot in"
Maybe Dundee Utd players are just too soft. No amount of whinging on Twitter will change that
posted on 3/1/18
comment by Call Sign: 🏴 Armstr... (U3627)
posted 1 minute ago
Poor Dundee Utd playing teams that "leave the boot in"
Maybe Dundee Utd players are just too soft. No amount of whinging on Twitter will change that
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Sadly it won't change the thuggery from tinpot teams like St Mirren who want to cheat their way to the title.
Sadly in Scotland footballing teams like Dundee United are punished for not kicking players.
Seriously though, that challenge on McMullan was a dreadful tackle and deserved a red.
posted on 3/1/18
Thank God you wrote an article - it had been so long I was getting worried that I would actually have to get my backside in gear and write one myself! Important win yesterday but a strange sensation finding a 4-1 win a bit boring... Found Csaba’s comments after the match quite refreshing to be honest. McMullan’s suspension really gives us problems for the match against Falkirk, and it’s not like we didn’t already have them in the first place. I was disappointed when they took their number 8 off - he looked a dead cert for a red card...!! How good was Ballantyne’s ball for the third goal though?! Actually the moves for all our goals were good. Anyway. No luck being back at work, I’m not back until Monday!
posted on 3/1/18
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Yeah they were all good goals, the first and third being the pick of them. Csaba has actually got us playing some good stuff at times and I'm so pleased we've moved away from the hoofball that we played under Ray.
I'm really hopeful we can get one or two in quickly this month. They're desperately needed. If not, I wouldn't be surprised to see Keatings wide (not that I like him there due to his poor workrate) and Matty Smith up front when we play Falkirk next week.
posted on 3/1/18
Aww, you guys are already back to work? That sucks, I didn't realise as it's still the school holidays.
Was an odd game. 5 goals, 2 penalties, and a red card. Yet it was pretty dull for large parts of it. Brief flashes of activity and then turgid stuff.
Annoyed about the red card and the team coasting. A few more goals and we could have overtaken St. Mirren's goal difference. Win our game in hand and we could still be behind on GD.
posted on 3/1/18
We’ve signed a player!!!!!!!!!!