Tekel Towers » Dundee Utd v Hibs 11/08/20

bowers · 10/8/2020 10:42 am

Tough game tomorrow but hopefully we can take something from in.
I can see another change or 2. Shankland back in the starting line up?

Arabdownsouth · 10/8/2020 11:31 am

bowers wrote:
Tough game tomorrow but hopefully we can take something from in.
I can see another change or 2. Shankland back in the starting line up?

If Liam Smith is injured we may go 3 at the back again. I think Micky will have studied Hibs to death and have us well prepared. I'd take a draw right now but hoping we really take the game to them and pull off a victory.

Finn Seemann · 10/8/2020 12:10 pm

It's all about pace. We are not blessed with that through the middle of our team. It's an issue. If Smith is out I'd go three at the back and bring Bolton back to wing back. I'd like to see someone speedier in central midfield alongside Butcher - Sporle? Or go a flat 4 at the back with a sweeper with pace.
However, we're at home and need to take the game to them. Powers will have impressed Mellon - thought he did very well when he came on at killing the Well midfield which is supposedly talented but i think he looked a bit slow last season.

Lilley01 · 10/8/2020 1:20 pm

Hard to tell if Mellon is picking very specific players (and subs) for the opposition or he's just giving everyone a wee chance of being involved. Either way, makes team selection guessing very difficult.

If Smith is injured it allows Bolton to stay in the team, Edwards to come in and Connolly and Reynolds to remain if he did go with 3-5-2

Tough game, they have Horgan on the left, Boyle on the right, Allan through the middle and 2 goal scorers up top. We'll have our hands full. Maybe similar tactics to Saturday which got us a foothold then grew into things.

nomad · 10/8/2020 1:21 pm

So much happier with Mellon in charge than last years lemon. I'd guess 3 changes
Smith => Sporle
Pawlett => Powers
Chalmers => Shankland

But I am looking forward to seeing what team we put out. Last season I would have been dreading it... which is ridiculous given the start to the season we had, but there you go.

SuperMario · 10/8/2020 2:46 pm

Benji
Smith Connolly Reynolds robson
Bolton harkes butcher pawlett sporle
Shankland if fit, if not I’d stick appere up top again

Would be team I’d play

LarsErikKjell · 10/8/2020 3:19 pm

Hibs went with 352 in their last game but also played 442 in their first game. I think we need to match them up if I'm honest. So I'd play a team that can do both:

We start with Siegrist, Smith, Connolly, Reynolds, Robson, Bolton, Butcher, Harkes, Powers, Appere, Shankland.

If they are playing 4 we go with:

---------------Siegrist
Smith Connolly Reynolds Robson
Bolton Butcher Powers Appere
---------------Harkes
-------------Shankland

If they are playing 3 we go with:

-------------Siegrist
--Connolly Butcher Reynolds
Smith Harkes Powers Robson
----Bolton Shanks Appere

Same team, 2 different formations

Last edited by LarsErikKjell (10/8/2020 3:20 pm)

Tek · 10/8/2020 3:44 pm

Tough game. We need to just get right in about them and nullify the threats of Boyle, Allan and Nesbit by not giving them any space (we employed this tactic brilliantly against Motherwell) and constantly press them.

In truth i think Hibs have an impressive XI and i would take a draw but the win would take us top (albeit for 24 hours), so we should be aiming for that.

And the good thing is i believe we now have a Manager who believes the target should be to win every home game.

p.s. if Liam Smith is out then maybe give Freeman a chance. I liked Bolton at RW.

Shedtastic · 10/8/2020 3:47 pm

Allan wasn't used on Saturday.

Tek · 10/8/2020 4:13 pm

Shedtastic wrote:
Allan wasn't used on Saturday.

Just shows how good their starting XI is.

He'd walk into most Scottish Premiership sides.

TheShed · 10/8/2020 4:51 pm

I’d go

. Siegriest
Connolly. Reynolds. Edwards
Bolton. Robson
Butcher. Powers
Harkes
Clark. Shankland/Appere

Liam Smith's a big miss and it’s a pity to change a back 4 that was excellent at the wkend, but maybe having 3 CB’s can compensate a little for the lack of pace back there (or is Edwards quick?).

bowers · 10/8/2020 5:06 pm

I've obviously missed something about Liam Smith being out?

TheShed · 10/8/2020 5:09 pm

bowers wrote:
I've obviously missed something about Liam Smith being out?

Could be out for a couple of weeks apparently, result of that bad tackle late on.

PatReilly · 10/8/2020 5:18 pm

TheShed wrote:
bowers wrote:
I've obviously missed something about Liam Smith being out?

Could be out for a couple of weeks apparently, result of that bad tackle late on.

Think we're well covered on the right side, with Luke Bolton and Ryan Edwards recently signed having experience on the right at the back, while Keiran Freeman is a specialist in that position.

If it's four at the back, maybe Freeman will get the nod, with Edwards there if a three. Would expect Bolton to play further forward, he showed a bit of a spark on Saturday which we've lacked for ages out wide.

AlonsMosely · 11/8/2020 9:10 am

Have to say really looking forward to this, should be open attacking game, the kind of fixture we have missed so much when stuck in the lower league.....

Arabdownsouth · 11/8/2020 9:49 am

PatReilly wrote:
TheShed wrote:
bowers wrote:
I've obviously missed something about Liam Smith being out?

Could be out for a couple of weeks apparently, result of that bad tackle late on.
Think we're well covered on the right side, with Luke Bolton and Ryan Edwards recently signed having experience on the right at the back, while Keiran Freeman is a specialist in that position.

If it's four at the back, maybe Freeman will get the nod, with Edwards there if a three. Would expect Bolton to play further forward, he showed a bit of a spark on Saturday which we've lacked for ages out wide.

Guy on EF that is usually spot on and appears to have inside info has said Shankland is in the squad for tonight and Smith is definitely out. Also says Edwards is starting in a back 3.

Arabdownsouth · 11/8/2020 12:11 pm

Sky sports news saying Shankland had an injection on Sunday and we are waiting to see how he responds.

ArabChris · 11/8/2020 4:18 pm

Tonight's team news
https://twitter.com/dundeeunitedfc/status/1293217281963589633?s=19

Tek · 11/8/2020 5:24 pm

That looked a right sore one for Robson.

Arabdownsouth · 11/8/2020 5:54 pm

Tek wrote:
That looked a right sore one for Robson.

Yeah, at least he was back on his feet though. Sporle has done well in his place.

bowers · 11/8/2020 5:59 pm

Tek wrote:
That looked a right sore one for Robson.

Was surprised he got up and walked away being honest looked really bad. Hopefully ok.

Last edited by bowers (11/8/2020 5:59 pm)

bowers · 11/8/2020 6:00 pm

Fairly happy with that first half.

Arabdownsouth · 11/8/2020 6:06 pm

bowers wrote:
Fairly happy with that first half.

We've looked like a team. I see commitment all over the park and I'm happy with that. Not created anything of note but neither have they.

Even if ultimately we don't get anything from tonight's game, I feel confident this team will pick up enough wins this season once we get a couple of bodies in.

Tek · 11/8/2020 6:30 pm

Sounds like that goal has been coming.

Too many of our top players missing (Shankland, Smith, McMullan and Robson) and too many others not 100% fit (Bolton, Edwards etc).

Arabdownsouth · 11/8/2020 6:57 pm

Disappointed to get nothing from the game except a couple of injuries. Fought hard enough to deserve a point but lacking firepower.