Tekel Towers » DUFC v Dunfermline

Tek · 06/11/2016 6:57 pm

Yet another big game.

Can go joint top IF we win (who would have envisaged that after the Cappielow disaster?) and really ramp up the pressure on Hibs.

Looks like there may be a few players out.

Hopefully we can hit a bit of form now though and defeat the Pars for the 3rd time this season (hopefully 4th time on Saturday).

My team would be ....

Zwick

VDS
Durnan
Edjenguele
Robson

Telfer
Flood

Fraser
Andreu
Obadeyi

Murray

Subs- Long,Dillon,Donaldson,Cammy SmithToshney,VDV,Coote

PatReilly · 06/11/2016 7:19 pm

Looking forward to seeing the movement of Fraser and Andreu again,they were exceptional yesterday and playing the ball through the Championship defences is far more effective that long balls or crosses given our present forwards. Telfer and Flood too played their part.

Wondering if we might have some other injuries after yesterday's plastic experience again.

TheShed · 06/11/2016 8:06 pm

Not sure what the injury situ will be, but I'd be amazed if Dixon isn't out for a while, he went down in a bad way.

Only change I'd consider would've been Murray dropping out, but he came into it more as the game went on and got a goal so deserves another start.

Hopefully Cammy Bell and Durnan can make it.

RogerTheAlien · 06/11/2016 9:25 pm

will give my say once I know who's fit.

annanarab · 07/11/2016 4:14 am

PatReilly wrote:
Looking forward to seeing the movement of Fraser and Andreu again,they were exceptional yesterday and playing the ball through the Championship defences is far more effective that long balls or crosses given our present forwards. Telfer and Flood too played their part.

Wondering if we might have some other injuries after yesterday's plastic experience again.

Good long balls or crosses are very effective - United's first goal against Queens came from a cross to the far post taking out the Queens defence. The second goal came from a cross to the near post which Andreu got to before the defenders. From then on we were in easier street when playing the ball through works better.

In the previous 6 games against Morton, Hibs, Stranraer, St Mirren, Dumbarton and Falkirk, 8 of the 9 goals scored have come from punts or crosses, the other a shot from outside the box. We dont score many playing the ball through - in fact trying to score this way is why we're in this division now. I'm happy if we'e scoring and winning and its seems that punts and crosses is by far the most effective way of doing so

PatReilly · 07/11/2016 9:36 am

annanarab wrote:
PatReilly wrote:
Looking forward to seeing the movement of Fraser and Andreu again,they were exceptional yesterday and playing the ball through the Championship defences is far more effective that long balls or crosses given our present forwards. Telfer and Flood too played their part.

Wondering if we might have some other injuries after yesterday's plastic experience again.
Good long balls or crosses are very effective - United's first goal against Queens came from a cross to the far post taking out the Queens defence. The second goal came from a cross to the near post which Andreu got to before the defenders. From then on we were in easier street when playing the ball through works better.

In the previous 6 games against Morton, Hibs, Stranraer, St Mirren, Dumbarton and Falkirk, 8 of the 9 goals scored have come from punts or crosses, the other a shot from outside the box. We dont score many playing the ball through - in fact trying to score this way is why we're in this division now. I'm happy if we'e scoring and winning and its seems that punts and crosses is by far the most effective way of doing so

Good statistical information, AA: you've put my gas at a peep! Although I'd maybe argue that free kicks and corners are not really in the categories of 'punts' or 'long balls'.

Mind you, I don't think trying to score by 'playing the ball through' is why we're in this division. Our defence was the worst in the league last season, while we outscored three other teams over the course.

However, you can't argue with the facts behind recent goals scored: I'll have to pay more attention.

Ex Houston Arab · 07/11/2016 11:56 am

PatReilly wrote:
annanarab wrote:
PatReilly wrote:
Looking forward to seeing the movement of Fraser and Andreu again,they were exceptional yesterday and playing the ball through the Championship defences is far more effective that long balls or crosses given our present forwards. Telfer and Flood too played their part.

Wondering if we might have some other injuries after yesterday's plastic experience again.
Good long balls or crosses are very effective - United's first goal against Queens came from a cross to the far post taking out the Queens defence. The second goal came from a cross to the near post which Andreu got to before the defenders. From then on we were in easier street when playing the ball through works better.

In the previous 6 games against Morton, Hibs, Stranraer, St Mirren, Dumbarton and Falkirk, 8 of the 9 goals scored have come from punts or crosses, the other a shot from outside the box. We dont score many playing the ball through - in fact trying to score this way is why we're in this division now. I'm happy if we'e scoring and winning and its seems that punts and crosses is by far the most effective way of doing so

Good statistical information, AA: you've put my gas at a peep! Although I'd maybe argue that free kicks and corners are not really in the categories of 'punts' or 'long balls'.

Mind you, I don't think trying to score by 'playing the ball through' is why we're in this division. Our defence was the worst in the league last season, while we outscored three other teams over the course.

However, you can't argue with the facts behind recent goals scored: I'll have to pay more attention.

I would take exception to the statement 8out of 9 goals in those games came from good long crosses.
Corners are set pieces where we have our big men in the box causing havoc - this doesn't occur from build up play. From those 9 goals, 3 were corners 2 scored by edgengule who otherwise wouldn't have been in the box. The other was an own goal. These were against Dumbarton and hibs.
Falkirk - was a drive through the middle from durnan, he then scored off a pass
St Mirren - beautiful through ball from Andreu to Fraser, second was chipped in from the edge of the box after it was saved
Morton - first one I can only remember it breaking to Andreu in the box and him tucking it in the top corner. Second came from a defensive lapse and he drove in then finished
Stranraer - cross into the box and score

That would give one goal scored directly from a cross, against lower league opposition, the only other one was the 2nd goal against qos.

From the last 13 goals, that would give, 4 from set pieces, 2 from crosses and 7 from direct play.

TheShed · 07/11/2016 12:43 pm

There's a difference between good long balls and crosses and hopeful punts forward.

There's no doubt a team who can play through teams with real quality will win far more than they lose in this league. Having said that there's absolutely nothing wrong with a good long ball over the top for someone like Murray with his pace or good crosses into the box. It's got to be mixed up a bit or you become predictable and easier to defend against. Hopeful punts which is what was happening early season are almost pointless.

Ex Houston Arab · 07/11/2016 3:31 pm

TheShed wrote:
There's a difference between good long balls and crosses and hopeful punts forward.

There's no doubt a team who can play through teams with real quality will win far more than they lose in this league. Having said that there's absolutely nothing wrong with a good long ball over the top for someone like Murray with his pace or good crosses into the box. It's got to be mixed up a bit or you become predictable and easier to defend against. Hopeful punts which is what was happening early season are almost pointless.

I'd agree with that, but with our diminutive front line against the general championship behemoths - it has to be better than a good cross - it has to be pinpoint.
This emphasises the need for a physical no.9. If we have that the ability to mix it up will be the difference between 1st and 2nd.
Falkirk stuffed the middle and invited the crosses - with a short frontline and erratic crosses from obadeyi, it is an effective way of pushing for the draw.
If Murray plays - I would say it has to be the long ball. His positional play isn't good enough for crosses or interplay as it standa

PatReilly · 08/11/2016 3:10 pm

From being seven points behind Hibs less than two months ago, and eight behind QoS, it's great form and some opportunity to have the chance to go equal on points with the top team tonight, albeit with one more game played.

It shows you how quickly things can turn around in this league, and I'm sure we'll falter too at some juncture. However, I couldn't have seen us being where we are right now, after the poor start with only two wins out of six, after the away game at Falkirk.

Long way to go though, and only two more home games in 2016 with four away, so tonight it's quite vital we make the best of our home advantage.

08/11/2016 3:49 pm

I'm not expecting us to win every game from now or even go unbeaten, but I do think we have a premier-level first 13-14 players which will see us finish 2nd at worst.

Hopefully just Robson in for Dixon tonight. I fancy another win. 2 or 3 nil

TheShed · 08/11/2016 8:02 pm

Just Robson in for Dixon it is then.

Tek · 08/11/2016 10:28 pm

That could be a HUGE (said in Donny Trump voice) goal from Murray.

Arabnophobia · 08/11/2016 10:36 pm

Tek wrote:
That could be a HUGE (said in Donny Trump voice) goal from Murray.

Hope yer no daen his hand signs while yer saying it bud.

4th booking of the season for oor Cammy Bell there. What's the limit afore suspension?

TheShed · 08/11/2016 10:50 pm

Winnings all that really matters, any wins a good win.

As much as I don't rate Murray, it's great to see him getting goals now he's back in team.

Tek · 09/11/2016 12:00 am

TheShed wrote:
Winnings all that really matters, any wins a good win.

As much as I don't rate Murray, it's great to see him getting goals now he's back in team.

Much maligned.

But that's 8 goals and we're only 1/3rd of the season in.

Same amount of goals as the much lauded Tony Andreu.

Now I'm not comparing them ability wise,but if Murray continues to score i'll be happy to have him in our team/bench.

Mass Debates · 09/11/2016 12:28 am

Not great viewing but they came with a plan to sit in and frustrate which they did. Shocker of a tackle for the red card. Should have scored more than one goal, but a wins a win. Thought we passed the ball well in the second half and kept trying to do the right things and didn't just turn to pumping aimless long balls as happened all too much last season.

Tope for me had another shocker, don't get what he brings to the team tbh. Apart from that the team played reasonably well. VDS is looking the part now, Big Willie has been solid as fuck tae. Andreu is a cut above at times and flood bossed the midfield battle.

At out best tonight, no. We will need wins like tonight to do well in this league.

Last edited by Mass Debates (09/11/2016 12:30 am)

Arabnophobia · 09/11/2016 12:36 am

Tek wrote:
TheShed wrote:
Winnings all that really matters, any wins a good win.

As much as I don't rate Murray, it's great to see him getting goals now he's back in team.

Much maligned.

But that's 8 goals and we're only 1/3rd of the season in.

Same amount of goals as the much lauded Tony Andreu.

Now I'm not comparing them ability wise,but if Murray continues to score i'll be happy to have him in our team/bench.

He is very hard to define in a plenitude of ways from ability through to potential.

Raw as FK all round. Like him and hope he is a success.

Hard to know his upper limits and easy to pick faults with but as you say is developing a decent record.

PatReilly · 09/11/2016 12:42 am

Any sort of a win is what we need in this league, over performances.

Only an opinion, but the scoreline would have been far more positive with a different refereeing performance. It's hard to believe that Don Robertson was actually on a contract with Partick and St Mirren at one point, you'd think he'd understand football better.

Sandy Clark's old school influence on Dunfermline was only too clear tonight, they were a bit physical, yet Robertson wasn't able to see the disruptive and often foul tactics as being an issue. Even the Pars bench decided Higginbotham had pushed his luck too far and removed him for the last five, while El(bows) Alagui got away with fouling big William all game. I don't blame him: if you realise you are able to escape punishment and get an advantage, you'll keep on going.

Nonetheless, another three points, pressure applied on the other sides.

Arabnophobia · 09/11/2016 1:00 am

Fair & honest opinion Pat.

Starting to expect poor refereeing more these days with new interpretations of the rules but been wondering if the decisions recently are more down to being just shite at their role in this division and learning their trade or a mix of that and trying not to be influenced by the bigger crowd their not used to week in week out.

Due some poor decisions in our favour overall.

Foo Kin Twat · 09/11/2016 1:04 am

I thought we displayed a lot of maturity in our passes and probing and I was surprisingly not biting my fingernails. Our problems were poor final decisions and key passes and rank awful shooting. The subbies were the key again, but I just don't get why Cammy Smith is not a starter? But I'll take ugly Juan Neil's all season long!

annanarab · 09/11/2016 1:25 am

Another game where the team has tried to play the ball through the middle to score and failed miserably - lots of passes made, lots of possession lost, hardly any time spent in the opponents 18 yard box and little to show except for a number of ballooned efforts into the Eddie Thompson (and a host of bored fans). I dont know why we play attacking full backs and 4 or midfielders to create so few chances. Murray may not be everybody's cup of tea as a striker but its hard to judge him when the 7 creatives give him (and Obadeyi) so little service. I lost count of the number of times we were in good wide positions only for players to cut inside to the congested middle and to squander away possession. Far too many unnecessary passes and too many made away from goal. Thankfully late on when the 10 men were getting weary we got a corner and crossed the ball into the box where defenders were put under pressure and Murray scrambled a goal. Ex-Houstie Arab may well not agree but I'll add another goal to my tally from punts and crosses and add another 90 minutes to another list of pointless midfield drivel with no goals. I'm just so glad United didn't play this possession/passing/through the middle game in '83

Tek · 09/11/2016 1:39 am

Annan.

Winning the physical battles in this league is becoming massive.

That is becoming more and more apparent by the week.

I don't just mean offensively, Edjenguele has been a tremendous signing and has been just as pivotal to our resurgence as Tony Andreu has been.

P. S. I still think Eddie Ofere would be very successful in this division.

bowers · 09/11/2016 7:46 am

Frustrating game like but another win
Felt we Could have scored more struggled to hit the target.
Tope can do one asap brought fuck all to us imo a total waste.

PatReilly · 09/11/2016 10:17 am

I think the disagreement between annanarab and Ex-Houston is more whether you call corners 'good long balls, punts or crosses' as Annan would state, or the EHA position that corners are 'set pieces'.

I'd tend to side with Ex-Houston Arab on this.

I'm also more than happy that we appear to have become a threat from set pieces this season.