Benji
Freeman Edwards mulgrew Duffy
Butcher fuchs
Chalmers mochrie fotheringham 
Shankland

LarsErikKjell wrote:

SuperMario wrote:

Benji
Freeman Edwards mulgrew Duffy
Butcher fuchs
Chalmers mochrie fotheringham 
Shankland

 
Would love to see that too

 
I'd say it's too many youngsters all at once personally. I think we will see Clark and Harkes in for Mochrie and Fotheringham

Arabdownsouth wrote:

LarsErikKjell wrote:

SuperMario wrote:

Benji
Freeman Edwards mulgrew Duffy
Butcher fuchs
Chalmers mochrie fotheringham 
Shankland

 
Would love to see that too

 
I'd say it's too many youngsters all at once personally. I think we will see Clark and Harkes in for Mochrie and Fotheringham

 
Tbf I wouldn’t be against Clark coming in for mochrie and making it a 442 or 4231, but would like to see fotheringham and chalmers on the wing

Tek wrote:

kdyteejay wrote:

I’ve got a ticket for Wednesday and can’t wait to get back.

Enjoy mate.


 

The only worrying thing is the level of COVID. However I’ve been double vaccinated.

Or visiting your local supermarket.....enjoy

four one up while not playing the best 

FT 6-1

Firstly, just how bloody great was it to see some Utd fans back in the ground tonight?

To the game. Well, that was quite a strange game. First 20 minutes of the game were shambolic. Elgin were ripping our back 3 apart every time they came forward and i worried that if they had gotten the 2nd, then we were in real trouble. Thankfully they never and we got the next goal (and the next five thereafter). However that 20 minutes will hopefully be a very useful learning curve for Kerr Smith and indeed Tam Courts. That back 3 hopefully won't see the light of day together for quite some time.

The equaliser came at a good time. A lucky break for us after their Goalie (who was awful) fumbled an innocous looking shot, though good quick instincts from Shankland.

2nd goal a lovely move from Hoti, Reynolds, Pawlett and tidy finish from Nicky Clark. From then on there was only one team in it and we played some really nice stuff.

3rd goal another nice move and Clark really should have scored, having two bites at the cherry, but shot straight at their Keeper both times. Shankland following up with a blistering left foot drive. The type of finish he hasn't produced for a good while. Looked then that he would certainly score a hat-trick at least, maybe even a 'perfect hat-trick', but, alas, was only given 50 odd minutes.

Goal 4 before half time. Peter Pawlett shows good pace and desire to steal the ball off of the Elgin CH, outpace him and then score whilst 1 on 1. Good to see him making a decent contribution thus far this season.

Goal 5 (my favourite of the night), another lovely move see's the excellent Kieran Freeman played in at a tight angle and he rifles the ball in hard and low with his right foot, in off the Keeper's far post. An excellent finish and first goal for the club.

And another first goal for the club for young Chris Mochrie (who was very good in his cameo) drilling in a clinical finish after a low crossfield pass from Kieran Freeman was put to him on a plate.

All in all a very enjoyable evening, a good watch and and important lesson learned about our defence and how we should line-up going forward.

My MOTM was Kieran Freeman for his goal and his assist, and his all round play. He was always dangerous on the right wing and got forward and linked up play to great effect. Had an 'end product' to his play also.

Mentions too to young Flynn Duffy, Chris Mochrie, Lawrence Shankland (looked really hungry and confident tonight), and in particular Flo Hoti. Had shall we say 'mixed' reports whilst on loan at Forfar, but i liked the look of him tonight. Was always looking to pass forward and start moves and attacks. This is really refreshing to see given just how much sideways and backwards football our midfield played last season (and seasons prior).

And congratulations to young Finn Robson on his 1st Utd appearance. Pity our two kit men spelt his name wrong on his shirt.Amateurish tbh.

On to Arbroath now where a win should see us hopefully win the group (ahead of Arbroath on goal difference just now). Be good to see Jamie Robson get a game. And possibly Chalmers and Meekison make the bench (the former picked up a knock, the latter has been self-isolating). Maybe see Mulgrew starting again.

P.s. Took Shankland 23 games last season to score 3 goals. He has scored 3 already in 1 and a half games. Yes, the opposition has been lower league,but he looks so much more confident and happier this season. Good to see.

P.P.S. That home strip really reminded me of the kit we had in '99 when we had Ferraz, Telesnikov, Dodds etc. Think i like it.

 

Maybe's to early to say, but Shanks looking different gravy already this season.....
Young lads look ready......all good

The interesting thing about Freeman is that from everything I read about him last season, his biggest strength is in his defensive play and his versatility. If this kind of attacking ability is in there too then he could be a very good player for us.

I suppose it makes sense. The kid was picked out by a very good Southampton academy at a young age. This was after representing Scotland at most age groups. Great to see him shine last night (and in the Kelty game too).

I would say Liam Smith certainly has a fight on his hands to get that spot back.

On that, thought Duffy was good again last night. But I am going to put my stake in the ground and say that in this formation and style, Sporle is far and away the best play to occupy the left wing back position. I would 100% play him ahead of Robson in that position. Robson is a better 'left back' and Sporle is a better 'wing-back' in my eyes. And on recent showings, that may also be the case for the Freeman and Smith debate.

Canadian Arab wrote:

Freeman was excellent going forward. Didn't get to see him defend much and will be interesting to see how he does against better opposition that can pin us back. His tendency to want to get wide and up the park quickly hopefully means he'll be a good outlet ball. Dare I say Andy Robertson-esque? His balls into the box were very good and caused all sorts of bother. Been years since I could say that about United putting in balls from wide.
Dealing with their quick guy up front was just a case of Benji playing 10 yards higher to take away the big gap they had to play the ball into and Courts made that adjustment pretty quickly. But I wouldn't want to see that central defence against a quality team with pace up front. FWIW, I thought Neilson looked a lot more comfortable and composed on the ball than Kerr Smith did.
Last night we were getting at least 3 players within 12 yards of the ball very quickly and movement off the ball / cycling were excellent, allowing us to play 1-touch around their players. If we can do that against better opposition, we'll be a threat.
The value of Pawlett in a team of youngsters that wants to play like that was there for all to see.
Fully expect now not to turn up against Arbroath and go down 2-0.

Good post but hopefully wrong about Arbroath. They will however be a better guide to how ready we are and how the young guys will cope.