Dunno where that 2nd half performance has been hiding all season but credit where it's due, we were excellent and worked our arses off. If we got that every week you'd be fucking delighted 🧡🖤

Also dunno if that team selection was a throwaway 11 or not but I thought it actually worked really well. 1st time in a while we've had some mobility. Using the 2 full backs in the back 3 helped us match runners when they played balls into channels. Badly exposed in this area on Sun.

lifesanocean wrote:

Dunno where that 2nd half performance has been hiding all season but credit where it's due, we were excellent and worked our arses off. If we got that every week you'd be fucking delighted 🧡🖤

Also dunno if that team selection was a throwaway 11 or not but I thought it actually worked really well. 1st time in a while we've had some mobility. Using the 2 full backs in the back 3 helped us match runners when they played balls into channels. Badly exposed in this area on Sun.

 
Would agree that Mcmann & Smith made a difference in the back 3. Smith in particular bailed out Freeman on a number of occasions.
Unfortunately for him I reckon Freeman was our only poor performer tonight.

Very surprising score line and performance from Utd tonight (happily), particularly given our rag tag starting XI.

To be completely honest that is the best we have played for months, in terms of organisation, running, fight, coming back from adversity and actually trying to take the game to an opponent.

No idea what game the poster @stilliving was watching.

I thought Kieran Freeman showed conclusively tonight what we have missed from him at RWB/RM. He got forward to great effect when he could and him doubling up with Liam Smith on Celtic's left sided threats meant they only got through on that side once really all night (Benji's great save from Jota).

There were no failures tonight but i thought special praise should be merited for Levitt, Freeman, Smith and McMann. Mulgrew when he came on was excellent and a wee word for Nicky Clark. Ran himself into the ground tonight, with his off the ball pressing, and he talked young Rory McLeod through the entire game i noticed, and told him where to run etc.

Watched wee Rory carefully and even though he was starved of service i did see things i liked from him.

1) He played close to Clark all night. I hate it when Utd Strikers play miles apart.
2) The only chance he had (which was a half chance at best) he only had one thing on his mind, turn towards goal and get a shot off. No sideways or backwards passing. Seems a proper goal scorer in the making.

So, a very welcome and surprising point against the Champions. We drew with them at Tannadice 0-0 last season under Mellon about this time of year. But that was a far more impressive performance tonight. Particularly given the personnel available.

In the end i was actually a wee bit disappointed we never handed Celtic their first league loss since last September, given how many chances we created in the 2nd half.

Would have to offer Tam Courts a congratulations and well done on securing European football for the club. This is a very real and tangible success for the club.

I have been very critical of him and our play (and other aspects of the club), but it would be churlish of me to not offer my best wishes now he has delivered some success for Utd. It is his maiden season in charge as Utd Manager and he has had a huge learning curve in every way possible but weathered the storm. That deserves some acknowledgment (if not praise) from even his loudest detractors (of which i am one).

On to Saturday now and i really hope that with the pressure off the players they can go up to Dingwall on Saturday, enjoy their football, put on a good performance, score a few goals and help the club secure 4th place in style in front of a large and vociferous Utd away support.

The Premiership prize monies for 4th and 5th in the division are as follows.

4th = 1.81M
5th = 1.68M

So, securing 4th on Saturday could be worth £113,000 to the club.

Or the equivalent of a few hundred adult season tickets sold in the Eddie Thompson Lower.

A win on Saturday is big for the club.

 

What a phuckin performance. Considering wha we were playing against, that's gotta be the best performance this Season (that Ehv seen I might add). Whars abody been hiding.

Only minor annoyance in the 1st half, Hart came aboot 40 yds oot to the left to clear the ba, we only 2 defenders on the ba. Was shellshocked to see that Clark and McLeod no goin for it.

Seek to see Giocockpuss getting the haed on the ba just behind Smith.

Some strike beh Levitt.

Well deserved point, and as other fowk have sayed, aboot 4 nearies, any ane or which, woulda gave us the win but hey-ho.

Could you believe it. Hart playing keepy-up and the Tics timewasting. Wonders never cease. Glad we had them rattled.

MOTM for me Dylan Levitt.

AlwaysUnited wrote:

A free hit game, we've got nothing to lose here. I'm predicting a 2-2 draw to set up a cliffhanger in the Highlands next week.

Nearly right - warming to you....

Stillliving wrote:

As has been the case for the vast majority of the season the team was well organised and worked hard.
They seemed to show a bit more belief tonight particularly when Watt & Mulgrew came on.
Back into Europe, credit to TC, although I'm sure some will still be calling for his removal.

I was willing to give TC time after initially being unconvinced by the appointment (who could be?).  For a rookie manager you have to say he has done a good job, but it is fine lines and the jury is still going to be out for a while yet.  FWIW, if Asghar can actually give him a balanced squad for the start of next season I think we can push on to consolidate a fixed top six status, but as we know many of the teams below us, Hibs, Aberdeen, St Johnstone and probably the Fun replacement, Kilmarnock (our results at Dens always being better than those at Rugby Park) will be stronger.  So I'm back to challenging the man I do want rid of to get the recruitment right - do I have confidence?  No.

Before Hart started his keepie-ups and then caught the ball, was it not a pass back?

Arabdownsouth wrote:

Finn Seemann wrote:

Stillliving wrote:

As has been the case for the vast majority of the season the team was well organised and worked hard.
They seemed to show a bit more belief tonight particularly when Watt & Mulgrew came on.
Back into Europe, credit to TC, although I'm sure some will still be calling for his removal.

I was willing to give TC time after initially being unconvinced by the appointment (who could be?).  For a rookie manager you have to say he has done a good job, but it is fine lines and the jury is still going to be out for a while yet.  FWIW, if Asghar can actually give him a balanced squad for the start of next season I think we can push on to consolidate a fixed top six status, but as we know many of the teams below us, Hibs, Aberdeen, St Johnstone and probably the Fun replacement, Kilmarnock (our results at Dens always being better than those at Rugby Park) will be stronger.  So I'm back to challenging the man I do want rid of to get the recruitment right - do I have confidence?  No.

 
How exactly do we know that all of those teams will be better? If that was us in tenth or 11th you'd be forecasting doom for us but because it's other teams they are definitely going to improve next season. Crazy logic and negative thinking in my opinion.

I'm forecasting a view that Hibs and Aberdeen will be better next season - I suspect pretty much everyone including the bookies will think that.  If the Saints stay up I don't think they will be a piss poor as this season (when they still took half the available points off us).  I also think Killie will take more points off us than the Fun, because we are always rank rotten in Kilmarnock and not much better against them at home and the Fun are the Fun.  Hardly crazy logic , although perhaps negative - but I'd like to think more like realistic. I'd still like to think we'll be above at least 3 of those teams, but in a league where the majority are covered by less than 10 points difference, marginal improvements are important.  What is your 'logic' then?  
 

Arabdownsouth wrote:

Finn Seemann wrote:

Arabdownsouth wrote:

 
How exactly do we know that all of those teams will be better? If that was us in tenth or 11th you'd be forecasting doom for us but because it's other teams they are definitely going to improve next season. Crazy logic and negative thinking in my opinion.

I'm forecasting a view that Hibs and Aberdeen will be better next season - I suspect pretty much everyone including the bookies will think that.  If the Saints stay up I don't think they will be a piss poor as this season (when they still took half the available points off us).  I also think Killie will take more points off us than the Fun, because we are always rank rotten in Kilmarnock and not much better against them at home and the Fun are the Fun.  Hardly crazy logic , although perhaps negative - but I'd like to think more like realistic. I'd still like to think we'll be above at least 3 of those teams, but in a league where the majority are covered by less than 10 points difference, marginal improvements are important.  What is your 'logic' then?  
 

 My logic is simple. We have improved year on year since the Ogrens took over. Tam has done superbly in his first season and yet you still want rid of him. I don't and would much prefer to have continuity and continue the upward trajectory or at least maintain the current status quo as I doubt we can attain much higher than 4th in any given season. Possibly get further in the cups though.

Ah, you can't process words on a screen, that explains it.  Where did I say I wanted rid of TC?  All I said is the jury is still out.  Clearly he's done pretty well in terms of league position this season and he absolutely should be given another season and investment to see if he can consolidate that.  That's what I said .  It's Asghar I don't want.  I'd like someone that didn't waste Mr Ogren's money.  Take the blinkers off before replying.

Arabdownsouth wrote:

Finn Seemann wrote:

Arabdownsouth wrote:

 My logic is simple. We have improved year on year since the Ogrens took over. Tam has done superbly in his first season and yet you still want rid of him. I don't and would much prefer to have continuity and continue the upward trajectory or at least maintain the current status quo as I doubt we can attain much higher than 4th in any given season. Possibly get further in the cups though.

Ah, you can't process words on a screen, that explains it.  Where did I say I wanted rid of TC?  All I said is the jury is still out.  Clearly he's done pretty well in terms of league position this season and he absolutely should be given another season and investment to see if he can consolidate that.  That's what I said .  It's Asghar I don't want.  I'd like someone that didn't waste Mr Ogren's money.  Take the blinkers off before replying.

 Maybe be a bit more clear? You're still refusing to accept that whether you like it or not the club has been on an upwards trajectory since the Ogrens and yes Asghar too came on board.

Also no need to be fucking condescending either, cheers though

Not sure where you are getting that from!  I'd be thick as pig shit if I denied an upward trajectory on the playing field given we're up a whole division since Ogren coming in.  As I said I think Asghar has wasted Ogrens money and the danger there is that Ogren decides that he's maybe a little fed up of his investment.  He is a Republican Trump voter after all - the same people who want to become more isolationist.  So whilst we have improved on the pitch (although we aren't great truth be told) I am not convinced that the finances are similarly rosy.  The conveyor belt of talent to sell (which is the only real plan) is not quite there yet (although clearly a work in progress) so we must still be in somewhat of a perilous position.  You've proclaimed non interest in the finances before, I think, and that is up to you, but for me that is a key factor and I don't think Asghar is the man to grow the club back on that front and give Ogren the return that he sold him at the start.  Just my opinion - but explains my stance.

Not trying to be condescending, cheers though.

Tek wrote:

Very surprising score line and performance from Utd tonight (happily), particularly given our rag tag starting XI.

To be completely honest that is the best we have played for months, in terms of organisation, running, fight, coming back from adversity and actually trying to take the game to an opponent.

No idea what game the poster @stilliving was watching.

I thought Kieran Freeman showed conclusively tonight what we have missed from him at RWB/RM. He got forward to great effect when he could and him doubling up with Liam Smith on Celtic's left sided threats meant they only got through on that side once really all night (Benji's great save from Jota).

There were no failures tonight but i thought special praise should be merited for Levitt, Freeman, Smith and McMann. Mulgrew when he came on was excellent and a wee word for Nicky Clark. Ran himself into the ground tonight, with his off the ball pressing, and he talked young Rory McLeod through the entire game i noticed, and told him where to run etc.

Watched wee Rory carefully and even though he was starved of service i did see things i liked from him.

1) He played close to Clark all night. I hate it when Utd Strikers play miles apart.
2) The only chance he had (which was a half chance at best) he only had one thing on his mind, turn towards goal and get a shot off. No sideways or backwards passing. Seems a proper goal scorer in the making.

So, a very welcome and surprising point against the Champions. We drew with them at Tannadice 0-0 last season under Mellon about this time of year. But that was a far more impressive performance tonight. Particularly given the personnel available.

In the end i was actually a wee bit disappointed we never handed Celtic their first league loss since last September, given how many chances we created in the 2nd half.

Would have to offer Tam Courts a congratulations and well done on securing European football for the club. This is a very real and tangible success for the club.

I have been very critical of him and our play (and other aspects of the club), but it would be churlish of me to not offer my best wishes now he has delivered some success for Utd. It is his maiden season in charge as Utd Manager and he has had a huge learning curve in every way possible but weathered the storm. That deserves some acknowledgment (if not praise) from even his loudest detractors (of which i am one).

On to Saturday now and i really hope that with the pressure off the players they can go up to Dingwall on Saturday, enjoy their football, put on a good performance, score a few goals and help the club secure 4th place in style in front of a large and vociferous Utd away support.

The Premiership prize monies for 4th and 5th in the division are as follows.

4th = 1.81M
5th = 1.68M

So, securing 4th on Saturday could be worth £113,000 to the club.

Or the equivalent of a few hundred adult season tickets sold in the Eddie Thompson Lower.

A win on Saturday is big for the club.

 

 I read somewhere else it was a difference of 500,000 between 4th and 5th. Would like to see the current odds for United and Motherwell to finish 4th. I’d have us as favourites(only just mind you). 

https://www.totalsportal.com/football/scottish-premiership-prize-money/amp/
 

Last edited by japanarab (13/5/2022 3:58 am)

Arabdownsouth wrote:

Finn Seemann wrote:

Arabdownsouth wrote:

 Maybe be a bit more clear? You're still refusing to accept that whether you like it or not the club has been on an upwards trajectory since the Ogrens and yes Asghar too came on board.

Also no need to be fucking condescending either, cheers though

Not sure where you are getting that from!  I'd be thick as pig shit if I denied an upward trajectory on the playing field given we're up a whole division since Ogren coming in.  As I said I think Asghar has wasted Ogrens money and the danger there is that Ogren decides that he's maybe a little fed up of his investment.  He is a Republican Trump voter after all - the same people who want to become more isolationist.  So whilst we have improved on the pitch (although we aren't great truth be told) I am not convinced that the finances are similarly rosy.  The conveyor belt of talent to sell (which is the only real plan) is not quite there yet (although clearly a work in progress) so we must still be in somewhat of a perilous position.  You've proclaimed non interest in the finances before, I think, and that is up to you, but for me that is a key factor and I don't think Asghar is the man to grow the club back on that front and give Ogren the return that he sold him at the start.  Just my opinion - but explains my stance.

Not trying to be condescending, cheers though.

 
So the remark about word processing wasn't condescending, aye OK.

Whatever your opinion, you still cannot categorically say that each of those teams has a divine right to be better next season. Both Aberdeen and Hibs spent far more money than we did this season and look how that panned out.

I thought the word processing one was more factual, but you're probably right.

However, I never mentioned anything about a divine right to be better - just an opinion that they will be - an opinion that, as I said, most in Scottish football will share.  We certainly don't have a divine right to finish in the top 6 even if we play better than we did this season - which hopefully will be the case.  I'm simply not understanding why you think any of that is "crazy logic" as you insisted at the start.  To me it is more likely than not that Hibs, Aberdeen and others will not be as poor as they have been this season - hardly a "crazy" assertion.

Arabdownsouth wrote:

Finn Seemann wrote:

Arabdownsouth wrote:

 
So the remark about word processing wasn't condescending, aye OK.

Whatever your opinion, you still cannot categorically say that each of those teams has a divine right to be better next season. Both Aberdeen and Hibs spent far more money than we did this season and look how that panned out.

I thought the word processing one was more factual, but you're probably right.

However, I never mentioned anything about a divine right to be better - just an opinion that they will be - an opinion that, as I said, most in Scottish football will share.  We certainly don't have a divine right to finish in the top 6 even if we play better than we did this season - which hopefully will be the case.  I'm simply not understanding why you think any of that is "crazy logic" as you insisted at the start.  To me it is more likely than not that Hibs, Aberdeen and others will not be as poor as they have been this season - hardly a "crazy" assertion.

 
OK let me use your words then. In your opinion Hibs, Aberdeen and others will not be as poor next season but strangely we are likely to be poorer, have I got that bit right?

In your opinion, most others in Scottish football will share your opinion, have I got that bit right?

As I said, Hibs and Aberdeen both spent vastly more than us this season and both have finished in the bottom half, there is absolutely nothing that says they won't do so again. It's just your negatively slanted opinion that has everyone else getting better next year and us slipping backwards. Just because you expect it to happen does not make it so. If things went as expected we would have bounced right back up into the top flight at the first time of asking, but we all know how that turned out. I prefer a glass half full view is all and what is factual is that we have improved year on year under the new regime, and that includes Tony Asghar whether or not you like the man. Yes some recruitment has been poor, not disagreeing with that, but Tam has already stated that he's looking to bring in key additions to rebalance the squad.

Last summer the majority of fans had us tipped for relegation, as did most pundits. That turned out to be bollocks and we are back in Europe instead. My glass will remain half full.

Answering in order - No, I never said we are likely to be poorer.

Yes

I never said anyone wouldn't finish in the bottom half - I said they will be better - an opinion.  Your opinion is clearly the opposite.  But somehow my opinion is 'crazy'?

We were tipped for relegation and appointing a rookie manager and failing to recruit well pointed in that direction.  Maybe they're all 'crazy' too?  Just because we have ended up 5th in a very tight race doesn't mean the people thinking we would go down are lunatics (although given the Dees were in the league maybe they were).  I wasn't one of them by the way.

To draw this to a close, as I am getting bored with it, you are entitled to your opinion, but to say that someone else's totally rationale opinion is 'crazy logic' is nonsense.