After Saturday's win at Hamilton, United are now mathematically safe from relegation with four games to spare which, if we're being honest, satisfies the primary objective of the season.
Once again it was eye bleeding stuff but we somehow managed to hold on for the three points after taking an early lead, the keeper making a poor kick and Fuchs knocking it forward to McNulty who finished well. It's been a disappointing loan spell for McNulty who really hasn't contributed as much as I would have hoped, but then he hasn't been helped by being played wide frequently and perhaps more pertinently being supported by a midfield who are, in the main, incapable of fashioning opportunities for the forwards.
Perhaps the bigger news from the weekend is the reported interest in Micky Mellon from Doncaster Rovers, with the English outfit looking to appoint a new manager and Mellon apparently ticks a lot of their boxes.
I'm not sure how I feel about this to be honest. While I wouldn't be keen on changing managers once again - and any list of potential replacements doesn't get me excited - I'd also be fairly non-plussed if he was to go. He has ultimately kept us up and that was the main objective, and we are clearly are as organised a team as we have been for many years (I believe we've not had as many clean sheets since Peter Houston was in charge). However we are also horrendous to watch and the football has been as bad as I've seen from an entertainment perspective. Maybe it's me, but football should be entertaining. I don't think that's too much to ask.
As I say, I think I'd rather he remained in charge but there NEEDS to be an improvement in the playing style for next season. He's got the benefit of the doubt because of the challenges of the pandemic and he's got a dreadful midfield, but we need to recruit in the summer and bring in players who can pass the ball forward with quality. If we don't do that then we're in for another season of turgid football where all we're trying to do is survive. I don't believe that should be what Dundee United are striving for.
In other news, Ivan Golac (the real one) is on the Dode Fox Podcast this week so I'll be having a listen to that.
Mon the Terrors
HAFC 0 DUFC 1
posted on 12/4/21
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 55 minutes ago
Now Ivan time to build on this success and have a real go at the title next season
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A good title challenge is the least we can expect!
posted on 12/4/21
Aside from staying up and annoying the cream buns your team has done everyone a service by rooting Hamilton to the bottom. If everyone else did the same then it would be an accomplishment. Apart from Killie - a draw between them is what's needed to keep them in playoff place and hopefully achieve a dream scenario of goodbye to two plastic pitches.
posted on 12/4/21
I would be very pleased to see the back of both plastic pitches.
Although I'll reserve the right to support whoever ends up in the play off places depending on who they meet in the final. A grass pitch may not be enough to allow me to back the Dees in any potential play-off final.
posted on 12/4/21
As you said, job done.
I feel a bit sorry for Mellon, he’s had to work with virtually the same squad that was playing in the Championship last season, as well as being a new manager coming in when there are no fans allowed in etc. It must have been tough. That said, it has been absolute torture to watch...
posted on 12/4/21
My view on it is that he tried to play a wee bit of football earlier in the season and we got hammered. He assessed the squad, realised they weren't very good and went for safety first even if it wasn't pleasing on the eye.
I can forgive that while not being happy about it. What I won't forgive is a second season of it, especially since we're looking at a wee bit of a turnover in our squad.
I want to enjoy watching Dundee United games, and I've certainly not enjoyed many (any) games this season.
posted on 12/4/21
Decent enough first season back.
Certainly by points if not entertainment levels you allude.
Its possible to have been more entertaining and dropped more points.
Key was staying up and getting something to build on.
Youve done that, so while maybe not pretty the chance to go again and improve is there.
with Hearts back up and if Dundee make it with them that would be a good outcome.
Having Dundee Edinburgh and Glasgow derbies back would be good to see.
And as Silver says get 2 of those plastic pitches out the top league.
posted on 12/4/21
comment by The Duke (U10059)
posted 18 minutes ago
Decent enough first season back.
Certainly by points if not entertainment levels you allude.
Its possible to have been more entertaining and dropped more points.
Key was staying up and getting something to build on.
Youve done that, so while maybe not pretty the chance to go again and improve is there.
with Hearts back up and if Dundee make it with them that would be a good outcome.
Having Dundee Edinburgh and Glasgow derbies back would be good to see.
And as Silver says get 2 of those plastic pitches out the top league.
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Yeah, whilst there are obvious personal animosities involved, these derby games attract bigger crowds and money that everyone needs. Helps TV attract audiences and cough up next time the contract is up and hopefully more money.
posted on 12/4/21
Hard to judge Mellon so far as Ivan and others have stated. In reality he has had half of a transfer window to work with. Watching United when I have done this year was akin to the German bloke in Raiders of the lost Arc who's face melts off .
Hopefully like others have said with a full summers window and promoting some of the youth players we might see a bit more entertainment. as pointed out on the Dode Fox podcast during the 8 game winless streak we would have been better off winning 2 games and losing 6 than the glut of boring draws.
posted on 12/4/21
My biggest problem with Mellon is that he was given credit for some of the draws this season. If we had played 'anti football' and bored teams into submission I could get that in our position. But we didn't. In many games we could easily have been 2 or 3 down at half time - Hibs and Motherwell - and only sneaked draws. And when he said that it didn't matter that Celtic had 29 chances because they didn't score and then said we deserved to win. I also think that no crowds was a benefit to him. Doubt if a paying crowd would have accepted the performances he was happy with,
posted on 12/4/21
A lot of those draws and clean sheets were down to the Siegrist effect. I don't want to think about where we'd be without objectively the best goalkeeper in the league.
If Mellon does end up leaving then there's a strong possibility that Neilson would be available again soon...