Tekel Towers » Hearts v Utd

Tek · 07/7/2019 3:39 pm

So our season starts in 5 days time in Edinburgh.

Pretty hard to pick what the starting XI will be as during the three pre-season friendlies we've witnessed the good (Brechin), the bad (East Fife) and the ugly (Dumbarton).

From what i have heard and read the main stand-outs have actually been 2 or 3 of the young boys (Banks, Chalmers, Appere).

Would anyone like to hazard a guess at the team?

TheShed · 07/7/2019 3:53 pm

Siegriest
Smith. Connolly. Reynolds. Sporle.
Bouhenna
McMullan. Harkes Smith
Shankland. Sow

Mehmet, Robson, Watson, Stanton, Banks, Clark, Pawlett

Is about as good as I can come up with.

Still feel we’re short of a GK, CH, at least 1 winger and depending on how Sow does a striker.

In terms of the Hearts game, think Stanton will start instead of Shankland and we’ll be 4231.

ArabChris · 07/7/2019 4:29 pm

TheShed wrote:
Siegriest
Smith. Connolly. Reynolds. Sporle.
Bouhenna
McMullan. Harkes Smith
Shankland. Sow

Mehmet, Robson, Watson, Stanton, Banks, Clark, Pawlett

Is about as good as I can come up with.

I would pretty much agree with that as a formation and line up for Friday.

I am not sure on the injury/fitness front of the entire squad but if I changed thingsince it would probably be Butcher in for Bouhenna and maybe Clark for Sow.

I was not sure about left midfield/wing as I could think of options offhand maybe Robson originally until a more permanent solution can be found, I had forgotten about Matty Smith although I had for some reason thought he was more a right sided player.

I assume that is Matty Smith rather than Cammy you have listed for that position.

TheShed · 07/7/2019 4:37 pm

ArabChris wrote:
TheShed wrote:
Siegriest
Smith. Connolly. Reynolds. Sporle.
Bouhenna
McMullan. Harkes Smith
Shankland. Sow

Mehmet, Robson, Watson, Stanton, Banks, Clark, Pawlett

Is about as good as I can come up with.
I would pretty much agree with that as a formation and line up for Friday.

I am not sure on the injury/fitness front of the entire squad but if I changed thingsince it would probably be Butcher in for Bouhenna and maybe Clark for Sow.

I was not sure about left midfield/wing as I could think of options offhand maybe Robson originally until a more permanent solution can be found, I had forgotten about Matty Smith although I had for some reason thought he was more a right sided player.

I assume that is Matty Smith rather than Cammy you have listed for that position.

It’s Cammy Smith I’d play, although he is better centrally.. Matty unfortunately just isn’t good enough.

ArabChris · 07/7/2019 4:47 pm

Matty has not impressed me particularly when I have seen him either. I am surprised that wide left problem has not been addressed so far this summer, unless someone still comes in who can play there and on the right if required.

LarsErikKjell · 07/7/2019 5:11 pm

ArabChris wrote:
Matty has not impressed me particularly when I have seen him either. I am surprised that wide left problem has not been addressed so far this summer, unless someone still comes in who can play there and on the right if required.

Can see M Smith playing very little part this season maybe going out on loan or even released. Had a good game here and there but never looked like he could be a big player for us. Banks, Glass and Appere coming in and impressing more than he ever has does not bode well for Matty.

As for Friday, I'd say the only certain starters are (assuming no injuries): Benji, L Smith, Connolly, Reynolds, Bouhenna, McMullan, C Smith.

Not sure who will start up front, hopefully Shankland but he's not had much of a pre-season, I guess this week of training will help Neilson make his mind up. If we start with Sow or Clark (or both) instead of Shankland I wouldnt be surprised.

No idea how this one is going to go.

ArabChris · 07/7/2019 5:28 pm

I have heard plenty of very good things said about Banks, Glass and Appere and I wonder if they will feature in the first team at any point this season.

Even if not involved against Hearts I do not see the harm in giving them time even off the bench against Stenhousemuir, East Fife or Cowdenbeath and also game time in the Challenge Cup if not loaned out.

SuperMario · 07/7/2019 7:51 pm

Benji
Smith Connolly Reynolds sporle
Bouhenna
Mcmullan harkes appere
Sow shankland

JerryDungle · 07/7/2019 8:18 pm

Friday would be a good time to throw Appere in and see if he’s ready for the first team, it’s not an absolute must-win, but playing against a strong side like Hearts would be a good opportunity to see if he’s ready now or needs a season out on loan in League One like we did with Goodie and Russell.

Whether he’s ready now, or whether he needs a bit more first team action, this kid has all the attributes needed to be a star for us. Strong, quick, built like an ox, hard working and knows where the goal is.

Quite excited by a few of the youngsters at the club just now, something we’ve lacked for 4-5 years. That for me’s always been the United Way, not the stuff they used to sell season tickets last year.

Tek · 07/7/2019 11:55 pm

Think i'd go (assuming Butcher's injured).

.........................Siegrest..................
Smith.....Connolly....Reynolds...Sporle
McMullan...Bouhenna...Stanton..Robson
.................Shankland...Sow.....

Subs - Mehmet, Watson, C.Smith
Frans, Clark, Harkes, Booth

We need to start Sow and play him in these Betfred games. If he still shows nothing we should cut loose before the window closes

Tek · 09/7/2019 8:53 am

The Jambos ain't a happy support btw.

They haven't won a friendly match in pre-season and now Djoum has left the club.

Don't think they've made a lot of signings either.

kingdomarab · 09/7/2019 9:18 am

Tek wrote:
Think i'd go (assuming Butcher's injured).

.........................Siegrest..................
Smith.....Connolly....Reynolds...Sporle
McMullan...Bouhenna...Stanton..Robson
.................Shankland...Sow.....

Subs - Mehmet, Watson, C.Smith
Frans, Clark, Harkes, Booth

We need to start Sow and play him in these Betfred games. If he still shows nothing we should cut loose before the window closes

Regardless of how he’s played during pre-season, Sam Stanton being anywhere near the first team gives me the fear again. Looks a good player when the goes good against the likes of Brechin but as soon as there’s a bit of fight required he shits it.

kdyteejay · 09/7/2019 10:07 am

kingdomarab wrote:
Tek wrote:
Think i'd go (assuming Butcher's injured).

.........................Siegrest..................
Smith.....Connolly....Reynolds...Sporle
McMullan...Bouhenna...Stanton..Robson
.................Shankland...Sow.....

Subs - Mehmet, Watson, C.Smith
Frans, Clark, Harkes, Booth

We need to start Sow and play him in these Betfred games. If he still shows nothing we should cut loose before the window closes

Regardless of how he’s played during pre-season, Sam Stanton being anywhere near the first team gives me the fear again. Looks a good player when the goes good against the likes of Brechin but as soon as there’s a bit of fight required he shits it.

Do you think there’s much difference between Stanton and Harkes?

LarsErikKjell · 09/7/2019 10:19 am

kdyteejay wrote:
kingdomarab wrote:
Tek wrote:
Think i'd go (assuming Butcher's injured).

.........................Siegrest..................
Smith.....Connolly....Reynolds...Sporle
McMullan...Bouhenna...Stanton..Robson
.................Shankland...Sow.....

Subs - Mehmet, Watson, C.Smith
Frans, Clark, Harkes, Booth

We need to start Sow and play him in these Betfred games. If he still shows nothing we should cut loose before the window closes

Regardless of how he’s played during pre-season, Sam Stanton being anywhere near the first team gives me the fear again. Looks a good player when the goes good against the likes of Brechin but as soon as there’s a bit of fight required he shits it.

Do you think there’s much difference between Stanton and Harkes?

Two very different players I reckon. Harkes hopefully steps it up a bit this year as he started really well but faded towards end of season. On his day I'd have him over Stanton

One thing I've been thinking about is Bouhenna and Butcher being a centre-mid pairing in some games this year. I feel like our Full-backs are going to play a big part in our tactics this season with Neilson expecting them to be the main supply into the box for Shankland. If we have those two sitting in midfield then we wouldnt be as vulnerable to counters attacks as Harkes/Stanton will want to get involved in those attacks too.

This might be more suited to bigger away games like Dees/ICT/Partick.

kingdomarab · 09/7/2019 10:54 am

kdyteejay wrote:
kingdomarab wrote:
Tek wrote:
Think i'd go (assuming Butcher's injured).

.........................Siegrest..................
Smith.....Connolly....Reynolds...Sporle
McMullan...Bouhenna...Stanton..Robson
.................Shankland...Sow.....

Subs - Mehmet, Watson, C.Smith
Frans, Clark, Harkes, Booth

We need to start Sow and play him in these Betfred games. If he still shows nothing we should cut loose before the window closes

Regardless of how he’s played during pre-season, Sam Stanton being anywhere near the first team gives me the fear again. Looks a good player when the goes good against the likes of Brechin but as soon as there’s a bit of fight required he shits it.

Do you think there’s much difference between Stanton and Harkes?

Yeah, Harkes over Stanton everyday of the week for me mate. Harkes lacks Stanton’s ability to shoot from range but beats him just about everywhere else imo. Stanton seemed to regress last season when we signed better players and really seemed to lack the bottle from my point of view.

kingdomarab · 09/7/2019 11:05 am

LarsErikKjell wrote:
kdyteejay wrote:
kingdomarab wrote:

Regardless of how he’s played during pre-season, Sam Stanton being anywhere near the first team gives me the fear again. Looks a good player when the goes good against the likes of Brechin but as soon as there’s a bit of fight required he shits it.

Do you think there’s much difference between Stanton and Harkes?
Two very different players I reckon. Harkes hopefully steps it up a bit this year as he started really well but faded towards end of season. On his day I'd have him over Stanton

One thing I've been thinking about is Bouhenna and Butcher being a centre-mid pairing in some games this year. I feel like our Full-backs are going to play a big part in our tactics this season with Neilson expecting them to be the main supply into the box for Shankland. If we have those two sitting in midfield then we wouldnt be as vulnerable to counters attacks as Harkes/Stanton will want to get involved in those attacks too.

This might be more suited to bigger away games like Dees/ICT/Partick.

Bang on with everything here if you ask me. Don’t think Harkes was brought in to play every week last season but due to Fyvies fitness (or lack there of) and Jimmy Gomis being done at this level he had to play more than was expected.

While I think we should be feeling like we should be exerting our dominance in every match and having nothing to fear in any game, Bouhenna/Butcher combo could work well against The Fun as they seem to have signed a few hammer throwers in the middle which is the only real concern I have about playing them (and maybe that Nelson boy who is 10x the player of Shankland they claim.)

Inverness were a team of hammer throwers last season and I thought Harkes stood up well them though, something Stanton didn’t really do.

blackandtangerine · 09/7/2019 11:05 am

JerryDungle wrote:
Friday would be a good time to throw Appere in and see if he’s ready for the first team, it’s not an absolute must-win, but playing against a strong side like Hearts would be a good opportunity to see if he’s ready now or needs a season out on loan in League One like we did with Goodie and Russell.

Whether he’s ready now, or whether he needs a bit more first team action, this kid has all the attributes needed to be a star for us. Strong, quick, built like an ox, hard working and knows where the goal is.

Quite excited by a few of the youngsters at the club just now, something we’ve lacked for 4-5 years. That for me’s always been the United Way, not the stuff they used to sell season tickets last year.

I'd have him on the bench on Friday and start him in a couple of the other betfred games.

Badger1972 · 09/7/2019 8:58 pm

Tek wrote:
The Jambos ain't a happy support btw.

They haven't won a friendly match in pre-season and now Djoum has left the club.

Don't think they've made a lot of signings either.

I'm sure they beat Shelbourne 7-0 last week.

Tek · 09/7/2019 9:43 pm

Badger1972 wrote:
Tek wrote:
The Jambos ain't a happy support btw.

They haven't won a friendly match in pre-season and now Djoum has left the club.

Don't think they've made a lot of signings either.
I'm sure they beat Shelbourne 7-0 last week.

Just checked. You're right.

That scoreline passed me by.

The Boy McNicoll · 11/7/2019 8:17 am

A draw would be acceptable for me tomorrow.

Fingers crossed we catch them on the hop and sneak a win but they are the team that just competed in the Scottish Cup Final last season, albeit helped by a favourable route to the final, so if they are at their best it could be a very tough evening.

Tek · 11/7/2019 7:17 pm

The Boy McNicoll wrote:
A draw would be acceptable for me tomorrow.

Fingers crossed we catch them on the hop and sneak a win but they are the team that just competed in the Scottish Cup Final last season, albeit helped by a favourable route to the final, so if they are at their best it could be a very tough evening.

Be happy with a draw too. Hopefully an entertaining one with goals.

And maybe nick the bonus point on penalties (our luck has to change on them at some point, right? 🤔).

blackandtangerine · 11/7/2019 8:29 pm

Looking forward to this tomorrow. Early train through for a wee pub crawl before and after the match.

PatReilly · 12/7/2019 2:09 pm

Will Sow or Pawlett be available?

Was hoping we'd see them fit and fully contributing as the competitive season gets underway, but have big doubts about their value to the side, not in terms of reputation, but in simple physical readiness.

lifesanocean · 12/7/2019 2:16 pm

Sow took a knock at Brechin and is doubtful I think. Pawlett and Butcher have not kicked a ball yet.

The make up of the team will probably not be that different from the one which couldn't break St Mirren down in May which I find a bit disappointing especially if Robson is still getting played at left midfield. Hopefully the two full backs will be an upgrade on Watson and Booth who started that day and Shankland will hopefully offer more goal threat that Safranko did but we will lose out a bit on work rate I'd imagine. If we resort to just lumping balls up to him we've got no chance. They are a huge team.

I also worry that Uche Ikpeazu will absolutely rag-doll our defence. He's about 5 inches bigger (and wider) than Connolly and Reynolds.

leodis · 12/7/2019 6:59 pm

GOAL Shankland in 9 minutes!