It may come as no surprise to read this, but last nights game was once again not one for the purists. It wasn't a very good game, the first half in particular was all endeavour and no quality, but in many ways I'm still fairly positive about what we're building at Tannadice.
Last night really showcased where we are at the moment. We're organised, we give away few chances and we're willing to put our bodies on the line to protect our goal. But we have very little quality going forward and to be honest we never looked like scoring.
A few folk mentioned how important it is to get Shankland in but he can't do it himself, and the reality is we don't create enough. We played a 352 last night and it didn't really give us enough width. This obviously wasn't helped by Robson going off after a sickening clash of heads and hopefully he's ok. Bolton did look good though and I was surprised he went off.
The real problem for me is the midfield three, who aren't giving us enough. And it may be an unpopular opinion, but Butcher is a big part of that problem. Too often he drops between the centre halves to pick up the ball when there's no need to do so. It makes life so much easier for opposition teams when he does it. There were a couple of times last night where we had possession but for reasons I can't explain we had five players (the back three, Butcher and Pawlett) between our goal and their most advanced player. They need to squeeze the game up and give us options higher up the park. It's far too safe.
Pawlett is Pawlett. He divides opinion and for me he doesn't offer enough in that number 8 role. I don't think he's been as bad as some might suggest, but we need to upgrade on him if we're going to be more creative. Harkes is a player I like, I think he finds space very well and always looks lively. Is he good enough on the ball? That's the big question but he isn't helped by the fact that his midfield partners rarely seem to find him with passes because of their overly cautious approach.
I was disappointed with Appere last night though. I was really hoping he would stake a claim as a regular front man but it never really happened for him. Again his touch let him down too often. Granted he wasn't given a great deal of good service, but I felt he could have done more when he had the ball.
I don't want to be overly negative though as I don't think they deserve that. We matched Hibs last night, as we matched St Johnstone and Motherwell, and we've proven already we are competitive at this level. A couple of signings and we have the makings of a good Premiership team.
Mon the Terrors
DUFC 0 HFC 1
posted on 12/8/20
4 points from the first 9 Ivan.
Would you have been happy with that start prior to the season starting?
Just need to keep ticking along mate. With Celtic imploding and soon to be deducted 20 points and Rangers due to have their post Christmas slump the title is their for the might Arabs
posted on 12/8/20
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 13 seconds ago
4 points from the first 9 Ivan.
Would you have been happy with that start prior to the season starting?
Just need to keep ticking along mate. With Celtic imploding and soon to be deducted 20 points and Rangers due to have their post Christmas slump the title is their for the might Arabs
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Morning fellow Champion.
I probably would have to be honest looking at the fixtures we had.
I think the most important thing is that we are competitive and have a foundation to build on.
The other thing I'm happy with is the way we're looking to the youths too - I thought Neilson looked very assured when he came on which is great to see form a 17 year old.
The title this year might be a big ask but it's inevitable we'll win it the year after.
posted on 12/8/20
Fellow champion
In all seriousness what would constitute a good season?
Survival/ midtable?
posted on 12/8/20
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 56 seconds ago
Fellow champion
In all seriousness what would constitute a good season?
Survival/ midtable?
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I'd be very happy with a top half finish.
A reasonable season would be bottom half and not really threatened with relegation.
A bad season would be in the relegation fight.
Maybe my expectations aren't aligned with others but that's the way I see it. The whole Covid thing has made things very challenging to predict as signings have been thin on the ground and the window is open longer.
posted on 12/8/20
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 2 minutes ago
Fellow champion
In all seriousness what would constitute a good season?
Survival/ midtable?
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Keep the faith FFS.
I'm still convinced liverpool will get a europa league slot.
posted on 12/8/20
comment by Magnum. No more Mr Nice Guy. (U22391)
posted 14 seconds ago
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 2 minutes ago
Fellow champion
In all seriousness what would constitute a good season?
Survival/ midtable?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Keep the faith FFS.
I'm still convinced liverpool will get a europa league slot.
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Next year is our year mate
posted on 12/8/20
I watched a bit of the game, i think Dundee United will do well this season. The manager seems like a good appointment.
Hibs are best of the rest by a mile and you should have taken a point.
posted on 12/8/20
Well compared to the meetings last season United have made great inroads. We weren't continually opened up as we were under Neilson in the Scottish Cup games.
Butcher I agree has been stinking. Not helped much by the boy Pawlett. If you sit that far back you are giving yourself more work to do to get through the banks in front of you.
It's all very well having Shankland but he is no miracle worker. We are absolutely rank rotten on the creative side from midfield to the forward area. I hope we get the Finnish winger as that would be both the wide areas sorted with Bolton on the other flank.
Central midfield we need a Badger, Jonsson, Telesnikov, Miller type player. Hopefully our manager will know a English playmaker who can be picked up asap. Appere needs a partner in Shankland and proper service. Would Chalmers be a better option as he is quicker?
Thought Edwards was good until he felt his hamstring go. At that point he should have sat down and got substituted. Him carrying that injury led us to being one down.
Four points from nine is okay for now. Get the winger in on the left hand side, playmaking midfielder and a targetman and let Micky drill his instructions into them and we'll do better than bottom 6.
posted on 12/8/20
Totally agree with that. There's no point having a player like Shankland if you can't get the service to him, and that means pace out wide and balls into the box. Another winger is a necessity.
What I'd give for a Charlie Miller in the team by the way. That would be such a massive upgrade on Pawlett.
posted on 12/8/20
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