JerryDungle wrote:

RogerTheAlien wrote:

Fergivicious wrote:

Why would anyone want to release our U-Scotland internationals? 0 sense in that. 

 
Why would anyone want to keep Kai Fotheringham or Miller?

Makes 0 sense that.

 
Miller Thomson I’d be keeping, he’s still young and has shown he has something. I thought he was excellent in the derby on first day of the season, even a few Funsters I know picked him out as the one that caught their eye for us that day. Then he makes a howling arse of that chance up in Dingwall and never really got another run in the team.

Kai I agree isn’t up to it at this level. He’s just not got the quick burst of acceleration needed to play as a winger here, a shame cause he’s not a terrible player at all, and his goal and assist record last season was impressive, but even then, he never fully passed the eye test for me. I’d have liked to have seen what he could do as a striker in a pairing, but we don’t really the luxury of being able to experiment at this stage, so I’d probably think it’s best he moves on. He’s a Falkirk boy I believe, I wonder if that’s maybe his next move.

I agree on Thomson - he needs to bulk up a bit for me and make himself a regular in the Falkirk team until the end of the season.  On Kai, Falkirk have better players as we'll see next season.  They picked up the boy Barney Stewart from the lower leagues (apparently we were offered him - he seems to be a potential Dalby in the making) and McGlynn is already a big fan and he's in the starting line up way ahead of expectation.  Granted Stirton might be a better prospect, but do we miss out on those sorts of players due to looking first to our Academy?

Stillliving wrote:

After a few days to reflect and talk over the game with a few of my compatriots who all have over 50 years of watching the Terrors the general consensus is that was the worst 45mins in a derby anyone can remember.
I think it's beyond a few messages from the players like we have to move on and get it out of our system.
Players who can't get up for a Derby or be arsed in chasing back and following runners have no place at Tannadice.

There is a lot of truth in this, but I'd also say that is the best 45 minutes I have ever seen for the Fun against us in 50 years of watching United.  Pretty much everything they did came off and they deserved to be more than 3-1 up at half time.  We were very poor, but we were made to be very poor.  First game of the season Murray bullied our centre halfs and the same thing happened again.  This time they figured out that running at our full backs (used to the support of an extra centre half) was going to mean chaos in our defence.  That coupled with Walton having a stinker meant, and I don't say this lightly, that Dundee (for my first time as an Arab) dominated us.  All of that is down to Goodwin.  If his centre halfs weren't fit or capable of handling the running and pressing of Murray why did he decide we could get by with less of them.  Sure some say we shouldn't need a back 5 against Dundee and I'd hope that was right, but it wasn't.

Fergivicious wrote:

Why would anyone want to release our U-Scotland internationals? 0 sense in that. 

For the week after a derby loss we all lose the plot (to varying degrees) and start to think like Dark Blues.  Whilst the Dark Blues are currently somewhere between Geordie and Euromillions winner level of positivity.  The world will get back on its axis shortly.

Conway11 wrote:

Finn Seemann wrote:

Think this one was on Goodwin, but the clamour from the terraces for a back 4 no doubt pushed him there.  If ever there was a game that could have done with keeping it tight at the back this was the one.  Ferry looked way off it - not fit I suspect.  Graham and Gallagher just can't handle Murray!  Strain had a shocking first half.

Boys having a go at Adeboyega need to take a look at themselves.  Not his fault we lost three goals.  Not his fault he's put on to hold the defence on his own.  Not his fault that Murray gets put clean through.  Not his fault that Murray is looking for the touch and falls over like a ton of bricks.

Goodwin went for it with that formation and Dundee absolutely crucified him.  To be fair to them they were well worth their lead first half and the game should have been over at the HT whistle.

Second half we were much better, but when none of the subbies are up to much what can we do! Moult is finished.  Gets up well for the header though and puts it straight into the keepers hands.  Paton isn't up to much.  Kai is not improving - probably the opposite.  vDS ineffective.  

I think there is a player in Campbell, but in Sevelj, Stephenson and Sibbald we've already got better options.  

They dealt with Dalby very well, but he was about the only player in Tangerine with pass marks.

And there it is. Fans fault that Goodwin selected that formation and players.

We should have absolutely not kept it tight, they have been getting battered for weeks, under no circumstances should we have kept it tight at the back and played with caution at home in a Dundee derby.

100% goodwins fault. Sibbald had an absolute stinker costing two goals near enough. The 4th definitely and his closing down on McGhee was utterly pathetic

Agreed on Campbell, he is now doubt being played out of position like every single player the
fraud has signed.

 

As I said right at the start of my post - this one

I think 'It's United...." was the attempt to do this, but clearly it isn't that good a song and the lyrics are a bit naff.  We also don't really have a 'Dundee' song which the Fun haven't taken as theirs.  Beyond that, everything else is a little contrived and there are very few cultural references to our club.  Personally I think we just leave it - I'm sure the players feel that the support from the terraces is there (especially away) so not sure its a problem.

Sunshine on Leith is perfect for Hibs, written by Hibbees about the area the club comes from.  We don't really have that.  Both the streets we are on, Tannadice Street and Sandeman Street, the Fun are on too.  That said maybe a Tannadice song could work.  I know we have sung Tannadice to Paradise by Coldplay, but adapting that would be cringe.  So unless we can get a Tannadice song that isn't cringe I wouldn't bother.

redford_must_score wrote:

Finn Seemann wrote:

To be fair to Goodwin he found a winning formula that didn't include Babunski.  It's only now that that formula seems to be failing that we are looking around to see what can improve us.  I'm certainly not against Babunski getting a run at 10, but I think he has a lot to prove.

 
I agree. He looked half a yard short recently. And I don't think Goodwin will change the system for him.
I do think Goodwin will set up an attacking side in this coming derby but I'm not expecting to see Babunski in it.
My defence of him has been based simply on being played out of his favoured position when he has had a rare start.

He has been played out of position and has probably has good reason to be far from the happiest camper, but I do think if he was 'at it' to use football parlance he would have been given more chances.  FWIW I think he's probably had his last start for United and will be limited to the odd appearance from the bench.  A pity as I think he's clearly a good influence.  Wonder if he lost the backing of the dressing room too?

Shakey Isles Arab wrote:

Should have kept the foot on the gas and gone for 3 v 0 instead of which we were fortunate to scrape a point. - On you Jim.
Kai looked out his depth, Campbell anonymous.
Suffered the want of Ferry & Gallagher, but it's no like this is a great Sheep side.

I thought Campbell was good on Sunday.  Fell apart when he was left with vdS alongside him instead of Sibbald and looked out on his feet by the end, but he led the press (when it worked) and was a key part of us getting to 2-0 in the first place.  Problem is that we have four competent defensive center-mids (Campbell, Sibblad, Sevelj and Stephenson) but our attacking centre-mids (Babunski and maybe Fiorini) aren't working.  That is on Goodwin, but I don't think he should necessarily change it now. Play as we did at Pittodrie and we win 3 out of  4 of our remaining games.  Outside Hearts maybe, none of the other teams can pressure us like Aberdeen did in the last 20 minutes.

BMT wrote:

I still can’t understand how professional sports players can be gubbed after playing 3 games in a week and can only manage 60 minutes.
What am I missing here ?

Sibbs coming back from injury
Trapa (same I think) but less playing opportunities
Campbell not match fit (running out of that excuse though)
Dalby knocked his pan in with no support.

Everybody else seemed to last the 90 OK

Morphman wrote:

Finn Seemann wrote:

I'm with CCX and Redford here.  Difference was the strength off the bench.  Aberdeen changed it and just started to run at us.  With Gallagher off and a right back/mid at left back we were there for the taking.  When Sibbald went off (gubbed), Campbell also looked like he had run his race and Sevelj had also put in a power of work.  Babunski for me wasn't the right option.  There was no time to put your foot on the ball.  Haven't seen enough of Fiorini, but I'd have thought he was the better option than vdS.  vdS is fine if we are chasing a game, not when we are trying to get one across the line.  We really missed Ferry.  Not because Luca didn't play well - he did, but because if we get to bring Luca on for Sibbald at 68 minutes we don't lose that game.  Difference was a momentary lapse of concentration where we didn't close down in midfield and Jensen gets to play in Nisbet in a great position.  Close that down, they don't score and we'd have seen it out.  So we lost that because of squad depth.  Some of that is on Goodwin, but we've had a go at him for being cautious before - he was away from home against a team above us and we took the game to them first half.  We just ran out of steam - on to the Fun and picking up 3 points.  This 2 week gap is great for us.

I partly agree with you here Finn but at the same time, I think Goodwin's decision making has to be questioned. Bringing on VdS for Sibbald was mental, and I can't be convinced that Babunski would've done worse for us. Putting on a centre forward, aware that some may disagree with calling VdS that btw, to play centre mid was a crazy decision.

If VdS was going to come on then it should have been for Dalby, who played well but looked knackered the last 20 mins. VdS one positive is he links play up well, and if anything we needed that up top with a midfielder such as Babunski or Fiorini taking the ball from the striker and picking the passes to the wi

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