Marklandsvelvettouch wrote:

LarsErikKjell wrote:

Marklandsvelvettouch wrote:

 
Mcmullan rarely ever beats a man. He is not a winger. Id much rather see Sporle given a run in the team as a winger than the hapless Mcmullan. PM should've been shown the door under Laslo. Running about like a headless chicken  doesn't make him a good player, We shouldn't be confusing effort with ability.

 
One of McMullan's strongest traits is beating a man. Not sure what games you've been watching. Its his final ball thats the problem 😂

 I'd disagree. He can't dribble and is not a jinky wee winger. He tries hard but he's not good enough. He has struggled to be of Championship quality over his years with us. I've no idea what games you've been watching if you believe mcmullan's strongest trait is beating a man. Possibly the same games the wee tartan suit modeller at Gorgie watched when he proclaimed that Billy King was a goalscorer. We clearly see games differently. I see PM as a very poor player.

 
Every game home and away mate and I think you'll find he has been one of our most important players in the 18 months Neilson was in charge. Disagree if you like but I believe you'd be in the minority of fans if you really believe that McMullan is a poor player. He is not a world beater, but we miss him when he is out of the team. He got around 10/11 assists for us last season.

I guess we'll see how he does this season and the proof will be in the pudding.

Not sure whether Connolly's clearance was rash or just instinctive.

What I will say is Benji should have given him a shout. If he did its a straightforward take for the keeper.

The two players mentioned recently the most being Connolly and McMullan, my simple views of both: Connolly has made a few more mistakes than some have mentioned, and in the exact same area of the park last week he tried to shepherd a ball out only to cost the goal. Of course he's not the only one to blame for the loss of a goal, as it's a team game, but his errors can prove more costly at times, and therefore appear more noticeable. 

McMullan isn't really a winger, to me, and throughout his career has possibly had his best performances when central. 

These two and many others are contracted to us, however, and they'll be part of the club efforts this season unless some other club/manager fancies them for their squad.

One more thing about yesterday: I thought the idea of Smith and Robson having more freedom to go forward worked reasonably well in the first half, and might like to see that more often to see if it brings success.

LarsErikKjell wrote:

Marklandsvelvettouch wrote:

LarsErikKjell wrote:

 
One of McMullan's strongest traits is beating a man. Not sure what games you've been watching. Its his final ball thats the problem 😂

 I'd disagree. He can't dribble and is not a jinky wee winger. He tries hard but he's not good enough. He has struggled to be of Championship quality over his years with us. I've no idea what games you've been watching if you believe mcmullan's strongest trait is beating a man. Possibly the same games the wee tartan suit modeller at Gorgie watched when he proclaimed that Billy King was a goalscorer. We clearly see games differently. I see PM as a very poor player.

 
Every game home and away mate and I think you'll find he has been one of our most important players in the 18 months Neilson was in charge. Disagree if you like but I believe you'd be in the minority of fans if you really believe that McMullan is a poor player. He is not a world beater, but we miss him when he is out of the team. He got around 10/11 assists for us last season.

I guess we'll see how he does this season and the proof will be in the pudding.

 
I disagree that I'd be in the minority regarding Mcmullan but even if I was that wouldn't invalidate my point of view. I suspect I might be in the minority regarding Connolly being a Bombscare but all that suggests is that people see players very differently. Some fans, as club loyalists, often defend the most hopeless of cases - dumplings if you prefer. Effort is often applauded even if the player has little or no product. John Rankin would be another case of a headless chicken being applauded for effort rather than his ability in the team.

Last edited by Marklandsvelvettouch (02/8/2020 10:03 pm)

LarsErikKjell wrote:

Marklandsvelvettouch wrote:

On a depressing day I've got to say I enjoyed hearing Mellon and Davidson barking their instructions to players on TV. I'm sure I heard Mellon utter a ffs we're playing against ten men and his utterances about whether it was Ohalloran or MM that was trying to get ohalloran sent off were comedy gold.

 
Come on mate it was hardly 'depressing'??

Our first game back in the top league in 4 years after the shambles that was the Jackie/Mixu/Ray/Csaba era.

Football FINALLY back after the lockdown.

Avoided the potential Null and Void outcome and then the whole Court case nightmare.

I was absolutely delighted to see my team back. Delighted to be sitting watching our Premiership team mixing it well with a team consistently in the top 6 numerous seasons on the bounce.

If yesterday was depressing for you then you are in for a fucking nightmare of a season bud.

 
The result against 10 men was depressing for many people. I have no expectations of united doing well this season unless we add faces to our Championship squad. Had I been one of the people predicting a top 6 finish then I think I would be in for a nightmare of a season.

Last edited by Marklandsvelvettouch (02/8/2020 10:30 pm)

PatReilly wrote:

The two players mentioned recently the most being Connolly and McMullan, my simple views of both: Connolly has made a few more mistakes than some have mentioned, and in the exact same area of the park last week he tried to shepherd a ball out only to cost the goal. Of course he's not the only one to blame for the loss of a goal, as it's a team game, but his errors can prove more costly at times, and therefore appear more noticeable. 

McMullan isn't really a winger, to me, and throughout his career has possibly had his best performances when central. 

These two and many others are contracted to us, however, and they'll be part of the club efforts this season unless some other club/manager fancies them for their squad.

One more thing about yesterday: I thought the idea of Smith and Robson having more freedom to go forward worked reasonably well in the first half, and might like to see that more often to see if it brings success.

 
The players you mention will be part of our squad this season although they may not be regular starters. I expect Mellon to bring in several players before October as he begins to build his kind of squad. At present I am not aware of much interest in our squad players from other clubs. I believe Killie may have expressed an interest in Robson and Dunfermline may have made an enquiry about Mcmullan. From what I've read about Mellon he seems to be a manager who might deploy different tactics, systems and personnel against various opponents. If this is true then I suspect the days of having the same starting eleven every week may be over.

Finn Seemann wrote:

It's tough as a defender when such an obvious error leads to a goal.  Connolly does tend to have a few of these a season though.  Overall however I thought the defence played reasonably well against players that are definitely a grade up on opposition last year.  So I'm happy to be less hard on him that others are - that's not saying I think he is a great player and needs to be in the starting XI every week, but I think he probably will be even if we do bring in someone else.

Ever since I have supported United the crowd have had it in for players like Kirkwood, Rankin, Paton and others who they think are not gifted football players.  Not at quite the same level, but look at Henderson as player of the year in the EPL.  He's certainly not as gifted as others in the Liverpool team but doing the hard yards to let other people show their talent is key to the Klopp way.  I guess that's where any comparison with us has to end, but I am happy to see boys who effectively do the unglamorous stuff for the greater good and was always a fan of Kirkwood.  

Re. Connoly, I doubt 'we'll' not manage a season without trying to ruin one of our players careers at the keyboard, but can we not start 90 minutes into the season?  Expectation levels are about survival this season for me so the fact that we can compete with a St Johnstone and should have won (ignoring the 10 men) is good enough for me.  Something to build confidence on.  Something to support, not to pull apart every week...

 
Some very good points here Finn. Its funny how we see things though. I thought supporters were far too kind to Rankin and Paton who I thought were poor journeymen in a side that was bristling with promise. I too rated Kirkwood and Jordan Henderson is excellent. As I write we have a centre half supposedly coming up imminently, Edwards, and we are looking to bring in another. So, I'm not sure, if these additions happen, that Connolly or Reynolds will play many games this season.

Finn Seemann wrote:

Marklandsvelvettouch wrote:

Finn Seemann wrote:

It's tough as a defender when such an obvious error leads to a goal.  Connolly does tend to have a few of these a season though.  Overall however I thought the defence played reasonably well against players that are definitely a grade up on opposition last year.  So I'm happy to be less hard on him that others are - that's not saying I think he is a great player and needs to be in the starting XI every week, but I think he probably will be even if we do bring in someone else.

Ever since I have supported United the crowd have had it in for players like Kirkwood, Rankin, Paton and others who they think are not gifted football players.  Not at quite the same level, but look at Henderson as player of the year in the EPL.  He's certainly not as gifted as others in the Liverpool team but doing the hard yards to let other people show their talent is key to the Klopp way.  I guess that's where any comparison with us has to end, but I am happy to see boys who effectively do the unglamorous stuff for the greater good and was always a fan of Kirkwood.  

Re. Connoly, I doubt 'we'll' not manage a season without trying to ruin one of our players careers at the keyboard, but can we not start 90 minutes into the season?  Expectation levels are about survival this season for me so the fact that we can compete with a St Johnstone and should have won (ignoring the 10 men) is good enough for me.  Something to build confidence on.  Something to support, not to pull apart every week...

 
Some very good points here Finn. Its funny how we see things though. I thought supporters were far too kind to Rankin and Paton who I thought were poor journeymen in a side that was bristling with promise. I too rated Kirkwood and Jordan Henderson is excellent. As I write we have a centre half supposedly coming up imminently, Edwards, and we are looking to bring in another. So, I'm not sure, if these additions happen, that Connolly or Reynolds will play many games this season.

You just have to hear Andy Robertson speak on John Rankin to know that players like the latter are essential to create players like the former.  Ultimately what did for Rankin and Paton was the legs, that bit of pace to make the important tackle, not their footballing ability or brain.  For me take Henderson and Milner out of that Liverpool team and there is no way they beat City to that league.  From Micky's first start I think we are going to lose a bit of creativity in the middle for a bit more urgency down the flanks.  I think that plays to our strengths and already shows that Mellon is streets ahead of Neilson.  Yes, I'd like to see a creative central midfielder, but McLean, Ferguson and now Klopp didn't bother with one for a number of seasons and did just fine.  Therefore I think I am OK with Butcher and Powers filling the midfield and seeing if Harkes (slated on here by some but highlighted on Sportscene) can continue to improve.  He has some engine on him.

 I agree Mellon is streets ahead of Neilson and although its early days I'm very encouraged by the noises the new manager's making. He may not take a wrecking ball to the squad but I suspect he will make big changes.

Nommi57 wrote:

Lars that list of c halves really is a horror story but u need to put connolly near the top , saw a bit in the papers last week about the guy loving living in dundee and moving his family etc he seems like a great guy but heh ho , and as beens said shankland didnt score cos of saints solid back three yesterday its not difficult.i hope by next game we have at least one new ch.

Your wish has been granted.

Shakey Isles Arab wrote:

Last thing re Connolly 's stuff up. ..

Q/ Why did Siegrist no shoot Keeper's ba' ?
Q/ Why did Siegrist / somebidy no shout Time ?

Fucked if I know

Ah Shakey, you contradict yourself.
You're asking about two contrasting messages.
In effect neither was it 'keeper's ba' nor did MC have 'time'.
Hence the 'stuff up'.
Just one of these things.
Would big Ryan have sliced it in at Benji's near post?!
 

Lilley01 wrote:

Nod to Tele for this analysis (never thought i'd say that) but the goal comes from Shankland not tracking back, Robson not getting tight to stop the cross and then Connolly putting it anywhere. So a collection of errors. To the "life of a centre half" comment earlier, spot on. at least 3 players made a mistake, the one closest to the goal takes the full blame.

We'll be successful tis year if we're a team greater than the sum of our parts. Creating a mentality where all of these types of errors are reduced wil help with that,. 

Very insightful post Lilley.

Can I just make refce to another issue, along similar performance/quality lines.
A recent post on this thread mentioned Harkes 'getting slated on here' whilst being picked out/highlighted on Sportscene. As long as there are people on here saying he had a stinker we are always going to benefit more from insightful opinion.
 

smedDUm wrote:

Shakey Isles Arab wrote:

Last thing re Connolly 's stuff up. ..

Q/ Why did Siegrist no shoot Keeper's ba' ?
Q/ Why did Siegrist / somebidy no shout Time ?

Fucked if I know

Ah Shakey, you contradict yourself.
You're asking about two contrasting messages.
In effect neither was it 'keeper's ba' nor did MC have 'time'.
Hence the 'stuff up'.
Just one of these things.
Would big Ryan have sliced it in at Benji's near post?!
 

Christ Smeds semantics.  Or I'm no making myself clear.
Put - or - between the two.

Just one of these things ?
These guys are paid good money to avoid schoolboy errors.
Every goal counts.
 

That Brentford goalie must be on more than Connolly 🤣