Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]

    Search       Member List      Official United Site     ArabZone      ArabTRUST       BBC Sport     Twitter
Welcome to The Arab League, one of the longest established Dundee United Football forums, with many members from the old ArabFC forum.

New members are always welcomed, so to join the debate, just sign up - registration is simple, fast, and completely free.

Join The Arab League!


If you're already a member please log in:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 5
St Johnstone, Away; Saturday 17th May, 3pm
Topic Started: May 11 2014, 10:53 PM (3,011 Views)
Setenza
Member Avatar
Knitting with only one needle
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Naebody
May 19 2014, 09:16 AM
vvhatsthatonyourback
May 19 2014, 07:54 AM
Ah weel, that was a bit of a let down. Never really got going, much as many predicted would happen when St Johnstone set out to stop us playing and we do nothing to change things.
Perhaps I'm being dim, but I thought we did change things. The formation looked to me like a very conventional four-four-two, with Armstrong (in theory) a winger. The consequence was that GMS and Stretch spent much of the match pootering about 20 yards behind where the usually play, the full backs seemed more hesitant to go on the overlap, and the only out ball was to punt it long for Ciftci to control (which he did admirably).

Was that formation a mistake? Possibly. But it's also worth remembering that, had Dow's deft little flick been half an inch closer to Camlachie Burn, we'd not have lost our deposit on the open-top bus. Those are the margins of success and failure.

Football, eh? f*ck it.
Maybe part of our problem was we didn't really have much of a formation. I thought Armstrong was mostly in the middle, with Dow supporting Ciftci from the right. I did have a fairly poor view low down though, so hard to tell.

The lack of full back attack was noticeable though.


I think a lot of teams know our style of play, so we do need to work hard to adapt, but that's football.

You'd almost think that St Johnstone were better than us, until you look at the league table.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
reekie
Member Avatar
lum raker
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
A thoughtful take on United from Richard Wilson.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
IainArab72
Craig Brewster
[ *  *  * ]
St Johnstone wanted to win the Cup more than we did, in my opinion. We have better players than them but some of our attackers (Armstrong - who was very, very poor - and GMS) just didn't turn up. Ciftci was good as was Robertson but I can't think of anyone who played to their absolute potential. Cierzniak has been poor this calendar year and was all at sea for the first and could/should?? have been stronger for the 2nd. We need a new keeper.

We were unlucky when we hit the post and bar as well as Ciftci's shot which was close. Graham? Well........

Great support let down.

Also, the pillars in the North Stand obstruct our view of the pitch Why, when this stand is only 20 years old and needs pillars? Great view from the top tier but view hindered by pillars.

Hopefully we will learn from the mistakes - management and players.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Naebody
Member Avatar
Twat
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
reekie
May 19 2014, 10:38 AM
Hm.

Quote:
 
McNamara, though, would have been more concerned by fundamental failings. There was, for instance, little impact from the trio of attacking players who lined up behind Nadir Ciftci.


Firstly, it wasn't the usual trio behind Ciftci. Dow was playing second striker ahead of a flat four, and had plenty of impact -- including with the post. Oh wait ...

Quote:
 
One cross from Robertson allowed Ryan Dow to flick a shot off the upright. They were probably United's two most effective players ...


So Dow was both effective and ineffective.

As Cob noted earlier, a lot of hacks want to write a dramatic narrative rather than a match report. That's certainly the case with Richard Wilson's analysis but unfortunately ... well .... I don't believe it.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Setenza
Member Avatar
Knitting with only one needle
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
IainArab72
May 19 2014, 12:08 PM
Cierzniak has been poor this calendar year and was all at sea for the first and could/should?? have been stronger for the 2nd. We need a new keeper.

I'm not sure we'll get a better keeper really. He is a good shot stopper and showed that during the game.

His kicking and distribution can be a bit poor, and crossed are hit and miss. But I'm not sure outside celtic, there's a keeper who's a big upgrade.

Like any keeper, I think a good defence in front of him would help greatly.

And while we have him, and McCallum, and McGovern who just extended his contract, I can't see us bringing in another one.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
vvhatsthatonyourback
Member Avatar
wild eyed
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Saturday aside, I'm happy with Cheezy and the younthful backup. No goalkeeper changes required fro me.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Micky
Gordon Chisholm
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
The Jambo keeper was just released, wasn't he? He's alright.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
reekie
Member Avatar
lum raker
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Naebody
May 19 2014, 01:26 PM
reekie
May 19 2014, 10:38 AM
Hm.

Quote:
 
McNamara, though, would have been more concerned by fundamental failings. There was, for instance, little impact from the trio of attacking players who lined up behind Nadir Ciftci.


Firstly, it wasn't the usual trio behind Ciftci. Dow was playing second striker ahead of a flat four, and had plenty of impact -- including with the post. Oh wait ...

Quote:
 
One cross from Robertson allowed Ryan Dow to flick a shot off the upright. They were probably United's two most effective players ...


So Dow was both effective and ineffective.

As Cob noted earlier, a lot of hacks want to write a dramatic narrative rather than a match report. That's certainly the case with Richard Wilson's analysis but unfortunately ... well .... I don't believe it.
Um, it wasn't a match report, it was an opinion piece, I guess.
And I see no massive contradiction in saying that, although one of our relatively more effective players, Dow was part of an attack that had little impact.
I liked his piece.
So there.

ETA - props for the Meldrew reference.
Edited by reekie, May 19 2014, 08:55 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
TheDean
ALLEGEDLY CALICO
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
The trouble is that Rado will now be targeted at corner and free kicks and his confidence is threadbare, albeit self inflicted. come back Nicky weaver
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Naebody
Member Avatar
Twat
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Wasn't Weaver in goal when we lost 7-1 at Ibrox? Seem to remember him flogging one against Aberdeen too. Anyway. Perhaps, if Saturday encourages Rado to stay on his line a bit more, the problem solves itself.

reekie
May 19 2014, 08:54 PM
Um, it wasn't a match report, it was an opinion piece, I guess.
And I see no massive contradiction in saying that, although one of our relatively more effective players, Dow was part of an attack that had little impact.
Guess so. Was just a bit weary to see the criticism of Dow, who couldn't really have played much better in the first 45. But, as they say, opinions are like arseholes: UKIP is full of them.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Skeletor
Member Avatar
Most likely to be Ann Widdecombe
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
This was the first game I can remember since the AEK match where I've given Sean Dillon pass marks. Infact, more than that, I was happy with his performance.

I thought you all should know that.

As you were.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
vvhatsthatonyourback
Member Avatar
wild eyed
[ *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Skeletor
May 21 2014, 01:41 AM
This was the first game I can remember since the AEK match where I've given Sean Dillon pass marks. Infact, more than that, I was happy with his performance.

I thought you all should know that.

As you were.
This is by far the most delighted I have been to see you had updated a thread, Skel.

I thought you were dead. Like, real life dead.


Glad to see I was wrong.

I thought you should know that.

As you were.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · Any Football · Next Topic »
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 5

Find this theme on Forum2Forum.net & ZNR exclusively.