Walton

Rawlins
Bert
Forbes
Ciabotaru

Sevelj
Eskesen
Agyei

Randall
Rose
Sapsford

Stand to the firestick brigade. Its just like E F.

Our new defenders looking like lost boys here.
0-2

Don’t know why their second wasn’t chalked off for clear handball. And now blatant penalty off sapsford’s cross not given. Joke.

Was at tannadice when we beat THEM league cup 1988 2-0 packed out tannadice
Wednesday night over capacity if I remember correctly how the mighty have fallen.

Actually terrifying that there's 30 minutes of this left.

nicolalove wrote:

Actually terrifying that there's 30 minutes of this left.

 
Was my thoughts exactly. A horror show.

Yoro looks a player though.

The only stat that really matters is 0-4
But to hit the woodwork 5x. And twice before they scored would suggest we were well in the game.
We had more shots, more corners but we lost 4-0.
As an attacking team we look dangerous going forward, something that JGs Utd teams have not been in the past. The but and it’s a but bigger than Kim Kardashians the level of defending by Rawlings and Sapsford can’t continue.
JG has to make a big decision on Rawlings, he is not good enough. We need a new RB ( or put Sevelj there) before the window shuts.

Still don't understand why we just don't push three men upfront when defending a corner or free kick. 

The opposition will automatically go man for man, the kicker and keeper aren't in our box, giving us an 8 on 6 advantage.


The everyone back just means there's congestion and too many thing that can go wrong.

 

Fucking livid about aspects of that game today. Not the performance from United itself btw (some of it was good, some not so good). More...well i'll get to that. Big RANT incoming, so apologies in advance to those who can be bothered to read it all.

Let's start off with the horrific officiating from both Steven McLean and his VAR team.

Celtic's 2nd goal. Kasper Hogh has basically assisted Duran by using his hand. What are we doing in this country? How can that in anyway be deemed acceptable and legal even after watching it again via VAR?

Willie Collum coming out with bullshit excuses won't cut it this time. Regardless of whether Hogh accidentally handles the ball isn't the point. Him then assisting the goal by the ball changing trajectory is why it shouldn't stand. As Jim Goodwin says post-match. If he doesn't handle it then the ball falls behind him. Him using his hand has aided Celtic. We must go to town with Collum and the SFA over this.

United denied penalty. In what World is a player raising his arm to the ball to direct it's trajectory in the box not a penalty? Oh, that's right. When it's against Celtic. I don't just blame the VAR fannies for this one either. Steven McLean should have noticed it at the time. It was clear and obvious.

On Steven McLean. He as per usual gave us nothing all day. Gave Celtic a dubious advantage at one point. They lose the ball in attack and he then blows the whistle and gives them a free kick. So they win both ways.

Books Yoro with his first challenge after being on the field about three minutes, but lets numerous other challenges go from Celtic players (one foul on Agyei right in front of him in the first half he absolutely dismisses and it was in a very good attacking area for us).

He obviously holds a grudge against United because his brother was a bit of a boo boy target for us years ago (not even that big a target btw, more a player fans said wasn't good enough). It's high time United strongly asked the question of the SFA as to why he continues to give bad decision after bad decision against us. It's been going back 15 years now. Enough!

To the game itself. It was a huge blow to see Will Ferry out of the team completely and i felt we really missed him today down the left flank. Felt we played well in patches today and if we only score one of those early chances that hit the post and had gotten our noses in front it might have been a different game entirely. As Celtic might have then been more wary of being hit on the counter.

There are promising signs from a few players, that they can come good. My huge concern is -

1) We look toothless in attack, particularly in the opposition box and badly lack an end product
2) We look like conceding a lot, particularly still from set-pieces
3) Two or three of the players look poor quality and either not good enough or simply not suited to the pace and physicality of Scottish football

I will get into the latter more when i give my individual player ratings.

Here is a question. Does anyone actually think the four at the back is working? Because i don't. Goodwin has hung his jacket on it this season, but we can't persist with it if we keep conceding at this rate. That's 9 goals conceded without return since Lachlan Rose's fortuitous goal vs Rangers. That is alarming. Goodwin stood at Easter Road a few months back and said he knew exactly what he had to do to improve the defence this season. We are seeing zero evidence of improvement.

Lastly, it really sticks in my craw to see the Green Brigade allowed to waltz into Tannadice and basically do what they want once again. They've disrupted games against us with tangerines, tennis balls and today was the usual banners, flags, massive Palestine flag and non-stop sectarian songbook. Bear in mind we banned other teams from bringing flags and banners last season. The hypocrisy and cowardice regarding them and their unequal favouritism shown by the Dundee Police, Safe Tay and the club itself is sickening and something the clubs SLO should be demanding answers of from the United hierarchy. 

Talking of United's SLO, i noticed he posted a picture on X of a parking fine he received today, even though he parked his car where it was fine to park last season. It's no wonder United's fans are staying away. Are Dundee City Council and Police Scotland teaming up to make it as unpalatable and down right infuriating to attend a game as possible? It's time United started pushing back on this and started sticking up for our supporters. We are the one's who help the economy in the city and there has to be some sort of compromise and middle ground reached on several of these issues relating to supporters match day experience.

My plater ratings on a day of anger and frustration -

Walton 6 - Has done nothing wrong in any of his games so far in his second spell. 

Rawlins 4 - I wanted him dropped for this game and he reminded me why. Got roasted last week and again today. Looks a poor signing based on what we've seen so far.

Esselink 6 - Strangely for the second week running wasn't bad, given he again was part of a back line that shipped four goals. Very unlucky with his header that hit the underside of the bar. Might have gotten us back into the game, but our luck was absolutely wretched all day long.

Forbes 4 - Promising start to his United career in the Premier Sports matches and against Rangers at home. Last week and today are a massive worry though. His long passing is absolutely woeful btw. 

Ciubotaro 5 - Don't want to be too quick to judge Kevin as that was a hard debut to make and to fill Will Ferry's massive boots. Didn't think he was terrible, but didn't impress either.

Sevelj 5 - Just miles off the standard he can play at (for me). I would have started him RB/RWB today and i would definitely do this next week.

Agyei 7 - Probably my United MotM today. Always seems to step his game up against the Old Firm. Lots of good interventions today. He has to play like this and set these standards consistently. Mega unlucky with his shot that hit the inside of the post. An inch more to the right and it's a lovely finish.

Eskesen 6 - Was a shock to see him start. Thought he done 'ok'. Should have scored his big chance that hit the post though.

Randall 4 - Zero end product. Worried that he looks like a dud.

Rose 4 - For the 2nd week running a game completely passed him by. Seen him touch the ball only once or twice. Nowhere near good enough.

Sapsford 5 - Unlucky with his shot that hit the bar, but other than that pretty anonymous once again. Might not be the worst thing in the World if we do sell him, IF it gets us a proper Striker (we have plenty of players who can play either wing after all). Although currently, he may also be our best Striker (even though i don't think he is a Striker). 

Subs - 

Metsoko 5 - Doesn't look promising. Offering nothing in his cameos. Watched him closely today. His off the ball movement was poor. Constantly glued to a defender and never finding pockets of space to receive a pass. Reminded me of Moller/VDS.

Bennie 6 - Much like his cameo in the Rangers game, some promising runs with the ball at his feet, but his finishing badly let him down.

Merghem 5 - Fairly quiet. Unlucky with his shot that hit the bar at the death. Summed up our day.

Camara 5 - Quiet once again.

Yoro 7 - The only real bright spot on the day was the cameo of Abdoulaye Yoro. Thought he looked levels above anyone else we have. We must build the team around him.