JerryDungle wrote:

Not panic stations from me yet, we were fairly poor last night, but not exactly terrible. It was ultimately a rash, stupid lunge from an overzealous kid that cost us. Not gonna cane him too much for it as he’s generally been not bad for us, and what’s done is done.

But I do feel we need to drastically change the way we play to become more attacking otherwise we’ll get sucked into the bottom 3-4 teams in the table. I understand 3 at the back makes us more solid, but we’re not gonna get clean sheets every single week, and right now we offer next to no threat up front whatsoever. You can say it’s down to having no pace up top, but there’s ways around that, like getting our wingers and attacking midfielders closer to Jort to feed off his hold up play.

A centre half pairing of Gallagher and Graham is still better than at least half the league have in those positions, and we’ll still be solid enough, especially with Docherty and Sibbald grafting in front of them, but we need to find a way to get the best out of the likes of Babunski, Trapanovski and van der Sande cause this ain’t it.

I’d like to see us go 4-2-3-1 with something like this

GK - Walton
RB - Stephenson
CB - Gallagher
CB - Graham
LB - Ferry
CM - Docherty
CM - Sibbald
RW - Thomson
LW - Trapanovski
AM - Babunski
ST - van der Sande

That to me is more than capable of being a top 6 Premiership team. Good balance throughout it and we still have a lot of decent options on the bench to change things.

 
Looking at that makes me wonder if you actually watched the game last night. Both Macedonians were crap last night, VDS couldn't score in a barrel of fannies and Stephenson and Sibbald were shite all night. Adeboyega was probably one of our best players last night and shouldn't have been taken off. I get that you want to see us more attacking as do we all, but some of that line up needs dropping.

Arabdownsouth wrote:

JerryDungle wrote:

Not panic stations from me yet, we were fairly poor last night, but not exactly terrible. It was ultimately a rash, stupid lunge from an overzealous kid that cost us. Not gonna cane him too much for it as he’s generally been not bad for us, and what’s done is done.

But I do feel we need to drastically change the way we play to become more attacking otherwise we’ll get sucked into the bottom 3-4 teams in the table. I understand 3 at the back makes us more solid, but we’re not gonna get clean sheets every single week, and right now we offer next to no threat up front whatsoever. You can say it’s down to having no pace up top, but there’s ways around that, like getting our wingers and attacking midfielders closer to Jort to feed off his hold up play.

A centre half pairing of Gallagher and Graham is still better than at least half the league have in those positions, and we’ll still be solid enough, especially with Docherty and Sibbald grafting in front of them, but we need to find a way to get the best out of the likes of Babunski, Trapanovski and van der Sande cause this ain’t it.

I’d like to see us go 4-2-3-1 with something like this

GK - Walton
RB - Stephenson
CB - Gallagher
CB - Graham
LB - Ferry
CM - Docherty
CM - Sibbald
RW - Thomson
LW - Trapanovski
AM - Babunski
ST - van der Sande

That to me is more than capable of being a top 6 Premiership team. Good balance throughout it and we still have a lot of decent options on the bench to change things.

 
Looking at that makes me wonder if you actually watched the game last night. Both Macedonians were crap last night, VDS couldn't score in a barrel of fannies and Stephenson and Sibbald were shite all night. Adeboyega was probably one of our best players last night and shouldn't have been taken off. I get that you want to see us more attacking as do we all, but some of that line up needs dropping.

 
So because they had a shite game last night they need dropped? Fuck it, why stop at dropping them? Let’s just release them. On form and played correctly they’re two of our best players. Sibbald’s been our best player for the last two seasons, but because he was shite last night he’s away back to the back of the queue?

VDS is great with his back to goal, but asking him to play 40 yards away from the opposition’s box is never gonna gonna work. I’ve seen enough shite strikers in my time watching United to know he isn’t one of them.

Arabdownsouth wrote:

JerryDungle wrote:

Arabdownsouth wrote:

 
Looking at that makes me wonder if you actually watched the game last night. Both Macedonians were crap last night, VDS couldn't score in a barrel of fannies and Stephenson and Sibbald were shite all night. Adeboyega was probably one of our best players last night and shouldn't have been taken off. I get that you want to see us more attacking as do we all, but some of that line up needs dropping.

 
So because they had a shite game last night they need dropped? Fuck it, why stop at dropping them? Let’s just release them. On form and played correctly they’re two of our best players. Sibbald’s been our best player for the last two seasons, but because he was shite last night he’s away back to the back of the queue?

VDS is great with his back to goal, but asking him to play 40 yards away from the opposition’s box is never gonna gonna work. I’ve seen enough shite strikers in my time watching United to know he isn’t one of them.

 Did I say release anyone? VDS hasn't scored a single goal all season. We immediately looked more threatening once he went off. The Macedonians have been under par for a few games. Sibbald has had more than one shite game this season too. How Stephenson is playing ahead of Miller Thomson is a mystery too ( or perhaps no mystery really). I didn't say release anyone so no need for the over reaction.

VDS may be great with his back to goal but we are playing him as a main Striker so he needs to be great in front of goal too but he offers virtually nothing as a presence in the box. Maybe not his fault in the current system but Moult and Dalby looked a good pairing on last nights showing and I'd like to see them given starts.

 
No chance Thompson is a better defender than Stephenson, MT been caught wrong side of his attacker several times. He's probably a better offensive option though.

Arabdownsouth wrote:

redford_must_score wrote:

Arabdownsouth wrote:

 Did I say release anyone? VDS hasn't scored a single goal all season. We immediately looked more threatening once he went off. The Macedonians have been under par for a few games. Sibbald has had more than one shite game this season too. How Stephenson is playing ahead of Miller Thomson is a mystery too ( or perhaps no mystery really). I didn't say release anyone so no need for the over reaction.

VDS may be great with his back to goal but we are playing him as a main Striker so he needs to be great in front of goal too but he offers virtually nothing as a presence in the box. Maybe not his fault in the current system but Moult and Dalby looked a good pairing on last nights showing and I'd like to see them given starts.

 
No chance Thompson is a better defender than Stephenson, MT been caught wrong side of his attacker several times. He's probably a better offensive option though.

 
He's not given any penalties away with pub team tackles though

 
Sold at least 2 goals from getting wrong side of defender though.
Dinny get me wrong I like MillerT but only when playing in front of a right back.

Arabdownsouth wrote:

redford_must_score wrote:

Arabdownsouth wrote:

 
He's not given any penalties away with pub team tackles though

 
Sold at least 2 goals from getting wrong side of defender though.
Dinny get me wrong I like MillerT but only when playing in front of a right back.

 
I hear you,just really disappointed about last night I suppose.

 
So am I, we all are, it's shite to go out like that when it was in our own hands. Goodwin should have settled that side after we scored and he didn't he allowed players to charge forwards in numbers. Either he never shouted it to Docherty or no one was listening,  either way I think Goodwin has that one on himself

Arabdownsouth wrote:

JerryDungle wrote:

Not panic stations from me yet, we were fairly poor last night, but not exactly terrible. It was ultimately a rash, stupid lunge from an overzealous kid that cost us. Not gonna cane him too much for it as he’s generally been not bad for us, and what’s done is done.

But I do feel we need to drastically change the way we play to become more attacking otherwise we’ll get sucked into the bottom 3-4 teams in the table. I understand 3 at the back makes us more solid, but we’re not gonna get clean sheets every single week, and right now we offer next to no threat up front whatsoever. You can say it’s down to having no pace up top, but there’s ways around that, like getting our wingers and attacking midfielders closer to Jort to feed off his hold up play.

A centre half pairing of Gallagher and Graham is still better than at least half the league have in those positions, and we’ll still be solid enough, especially with Docherty and Sibbald grafting in front of them, but we need to find a way to get the best out of the likes of Babunski, Trapanovski and van der Sande cause this ain’t it.

I’d like to see us go 4-2-3-1 with something like this

GK - Walton
RB - Stephenson
CB - Gallagher
CB - Graham
LB - Ferry
CM - Docherty
CM - Sibbald
RW - Thomson
LW - Trapanovski
AM - Babunski
ST - van der Sande

That to me is more than capable of being a top 6 Premiership team. Good balance throughout it and we still have a lot of decent options on the bench to change things.

 
Looking at that makes me wonder if you actually watched the game last night. Both Macedonians were crap last night, VDS couldn't score in a barrel of fannies and Stephenson and Sibbald were shite all night. Adeboyega was probably one of our best players last night and shouldn't have been taken off. I get that you want to see us more attacking as do we all, but some of that line up needs dropping.

Were you at the game ADS?  Just wondering if Premier Sports coverage was impacting your assessment.  For me, with the whole game in front of me from the upper tier you could tell this was going to be a bit of a chess game from the start.  Kettlewell had clearly done his homework.  He nullified our wing backs and that was evident from Ferry having his most ineffectual game so far for us.  Trapanovski therefore was isolated with no support from behind and did little to shake his marker.  I'd like to see him come inside more but he clearly had defensive duties on his mind.  Bubunski found space and had the ball at feet quite a bit, but with nobody near him he couldn't play quick one/twos and when he looked up there was nobody making any decent runs.  He did make some terrible pass attempts though and was probably his worst game so far for us.  Both he and Trapa needed pulled when Goodwin pulled them so no real complaints.  Docherty and Sibbald did what was no doubt asked of them made them selves available, took the ball, moved it on sideways.  Whilst we do need 2 defensive midfielders I don't think we need 2 who do the same thing with the ball.  I'd be tempted to be trying Sevelj/Stephenson in there. Rest Sibbald.  The defence bar the goal and the free for all at the end were totally fine.  On the pen, I didn't think that the tackle was that rash.  Just a bit mistimed and the attacker definitely made the best of it.  That said, Gallagher's attempt to stop the boy just before the Stephenson tackle also deserves criticism.  That was a cop out tackle albeit from a boy blowing out his arse at that point.  If Gallagher had made a real attempt there then Stephenson has no need to get it wrong.  

For all of that, I actually thought we were totally fine bar the outcome.  We have shown we can go to another top six challenger and go toe to toe with them.  I don't fear Motherwell, like I don't fear St Johnstone, Hearts, Dundee, County and even Rangers.  Let's just let that sink in.  We are mixing it in the top league.  We're not getting our arses handed to us by Spartans, Dunfermline, Falkirk, Airdrie, Morton, Raith or indeed anyone.  Whilst a semi at Hampden was within our grasp and it was frustrating to lose in the manner we did we've come a long way.  The 'well fans who invaded the pitch certainly thought their team had come through a decent challenge to win.