redford_must_score wrote:

Being honest I thought we were a shambles for 60 minutes despite a side and formation that few would have complained about pre match. We were awful to watch.

Misplaced passes, hurried clearances, 2 players going for the same ball, no poise, no quality, no connections, defenders letting the ball bounce in our box. Shaky nervous defending, keeper flogs one again. Apart from that we were OK 😁
Nah we were stinking.
Fair play to JG, he goes 433 with 2 wingers and suddenly we look decent and do the damage necessary.

We will play better and lose so I'll take that.

Spot on. One of the worst games I’ve had to endure.

SuperMario wrote:

Really poor, think we need to stick to the 433

The Hungarian was the only 1 of the back 3 who was good today, he’s the best of the lot, lovu and bert weren’t great today. That was a howler from the goalie too, he’s gonna frustrate but I honestly do think he is a good keeper, if he cut out these really basic mistakes he’d be a top goalie, because shot stopping wise and with the ball at his feet he’s really really good.

3-5-2 just didn’t work, in hindsight it was maybe wise to try and match up with them but that lot have been playing that system for so long they schooled us all over the park. We currently need to play wingers, only formation imo that really suits us 433

 

Can't really argue with that, a better side would have scored at least a 2nd with the chances we gave them in the first half. Thought camara, luca, sibbald, moller were all decent, the best ive seen from moller. Didn't have the best view for the penalty, what actually happened for it to be a straight red?

The big issue for me was midfield again.
It's not personal but I've said it before Sevelj is not a midfielder. He dosent want the ball and just kicks it anywhere when he has possession.
It goes down as an excellent 3 points as SM had a lot of the ball but not many chances.
The introduction of Fatah changed the game in our favour, we  need to try and find a formation to get him in the starting 11.
I had a feeling today was the day for VAR to  have a major impact.

I thought we started out better than we did against either Livingston or Kilmarnock, however after 20mins we ended up on the back foot. The formation was just not working. Lucky to go in level.

What does impress me is that Goodwin is capable of changing things both in terms of personnel and formation. Fatah’s introduction changed everything. I don’t think teams like Kilmarnock, Livi or St Mirren have the scope to change things mid game in the same way

redford_must_score wrote:

Being honest I thought we were a shambles for 60 minutes despite a side and formation that few would have complained about pre match. We were awful to watch.

Absolutely, a very poor performance at Tannadice once again, against so called 'lesser teams'.

I didn't think we were all that great in the last 30 either btw. The penalty is the decisive moment in the match that alters the entire outcome. A moment of madness from Alex Gogic who otherwise was the stand-out player on the pitch by miles, absolutely bossed things. But then sells the jersey.

Not a great penalty from Fatah imo, but it hits the back of the net, so job done.

Sibbald's late raker, just rubbing salt in St.Mirren's wound, as they had been by far the better team most of the 90.

I am delighted by the win and score line, don't get me wrong, but these games where we don't show up for the first 45 (or even the first hour) are becoming a noticeable trend. We will get found out soon enough if this continues.

My player ratings -

Kucherencko (7) - Terrible blunder for their goal, but was otherwise very good. I said weeks ago he reminds me a lot of Radoslaw Cierzniak, who was a technically great Keeper and magnificent shot stopper, but would throw one in the net once every few games. We have to decide if this is an acceptable pay-off or if a less talented shot stopper but  more dependable cross taker should be between the sticks long term. It's a tough call. 

Luca (7) - Got battered all day, but kept going until about the fourth ridiculous thuggish challenge on him. Credit for still playing through a broken nose, he's a hardy young lad. They normally make them tough in that part of England.

Iovu (6) - So-so. Went missing a bit in the move that led to their goal, even though it ultimately was Kucherencko's error.

Esselink (6) - Didn't win enough in the air for me today.

Keresztes (7) - Our best defender, which is becoming a weekly pattern. By far the most accomplished on the ball out of our back line also.

Ferry (6) - Not his best game. Pretty quiet actually.

Sevelj (6) - Fairly anonymous again tbh. 

Camara (7) - Not his best game either, but grew into it a bit in the last 20.

Sibbald (7) - As above. Beautiful finish for the 2nd week running. Hopefully he can grow in confidence and start adding goals to his game, which he did regularly at Falkirk.

Sapsford (7) - Over all pretty quiet again tbh. Brilliant finish for his free-kick though.

Moller (7) - Worked hard for the team and got stuck in well physically. I still think he's the new VDS though and doesn't look any closer to scoring.

Subs -

Trapanovski - (6) -  Pretty quiet cameo. 

Naamo - (6) On earlier than usual. Never seen much from him on the ball though.

Fatah - (8) Sparked us. Really good to watch when he's on his game. 

Stirton - (5) Only the low rank because he had zero time really and not sure if he even touched the ball. Would have liked to have seen him on a wee bit sooner tbh.

Finally, Ivan Dolcek not getting on at all. I think there's definitely been a fall-out there, sadly. Hopefully the next time we see him he's fired-up and we get a positive reaction.

P. S. as said on another thread, Ryan Strain nowhere to be seen today. Surely he isn't injured already?
 

Tek wrote:

redford_must_score wrote:

Being honest I thought we were a shambles for 60 minutes despite a side and formation that few would have complained about pre match. We were awful to watch.

Absolutely, a very poor performance at Tannadice once again, against so called 'lesser teams'.

I didn't think we were all that great in the last 30 either btw. The penalty is the decisive moment in the match that alters the entire outcome. A moment of madness from Alex Gogic who otherwise was the stand-out player on the pitch by miles, absolutely bossed things. But then sells the jersey.

Not a great penalty from Fatah imo, but it hits the back of the net, so job done.

Sibbald's late raker, just rubbing salt in St.Mirren's wound, as they had been by far the better team most of the 90.

I am delighted by the win and score line, don't get me wrong, but these games where we don't show up for the first 45 (or even the first hour) are becoming a noticeable trend. We will get found out soon enough if this continues.

My player ratings -

Kucherencko (7) - Terrible blunder for their goal, but was otherwise very good. I said weeks ago he reminds me a lot of Radoslaw Cierzniak, who was a technically great Keeper and magnificent shot stopper, but would throw one in the net once every few games. We have to decide if this is an acceptable pay-off or if a less talented shot stopper but  more dependable cross taker should be between the sticks long term. It's a tough call. 

Luca (7) - Got battered all day, but kept going until about the fourth ridiculous thuggish challenge on him. Credit for still playing through a broken nose, he's a hardy young lad. They normally make them tough in that part of England.

Iovu (6) - So-so. Went missing a bit in the move that led to their goal, even though it ultimately was Kucherencko's error.

Esselink (6) - Didn't win enough in the air for me today.

Keresztes (7) - Our best defender, which is becoming a weekly pattern. By far the most accomplished on the ball out of our back line also.

Ferry (6) - Not his best game. Pretty quiet actually.

Sevelj (6) - Fairly anonymous again tbh. 

Camara (7) - Not his best game either, but grew into it a bit in the last 20.

Sibbald (7) - As above. Beautiful finish for the 2nd week running. Hopefully he can grow in confidence and start adding goals to his game, which he did regularly at Falkirk.

Sapsford (7) - Over all pretty quiet again tbh. Brilliant finish for his free-kick though.

Moller (7) - Worked hard for the team and got stuck in well physically. I still think he's the new VDS though and doesn't look any closer to scoring.

Subs -

Trapanovski - (6) -  Pretty quiet cameo. 

Naamo - (6) On earlier than usual. Never seen much from him on the ball though.

Fatah - (8) Sparked us. Really good to watch when he's on his game. 

Stirton - (5) Only the low rank because he had zero time really and not sure if he even touched the ball. Would have liked to have seen him on a wee bit sooner tbh.

Finally, Ivan Dolcek not getting on at all. I think there's definitely been a fall-out there, sadly. Hopefully the next time we see him he's fired-up and we get a positive reaction.

P. S. as said on another thread, Ryan Strain nowhere to be seen today. Surely he isn't injured already?
 

 

To say SM were by far the better side  dosent match up with the game I watched. They definitely looked the side more likely to score although UTD had more shots on target.  They had control of CM but the game comes down to putting the ball in the net.

In Scottish football terms calling SM , a team that has finished in the top 6 3 years in a row a lesser team,  in italics or not is
a bit disrespectful . Recent history would more accurately see SM see UTD as a lesser team.

Finally I would disagree with your analysis of Fatah penalty.  He approached the ball slowly waited for the keeper to commit to a side and rolled it in the other side. In my eyes a touch of class.

Apart from that we're in agreement.

Snacks94 wrote:

I thought Fatah’s penalty was excellent to be honest, very calm and composed considering the pressure on him.  Hopefully he takes confidence form yesterdays performance where he changed the game and starts on Wednesday.

 
Yeah totally agree,excellent penalty.  We see the world's top players do the same all the time and they get lauded for it so to say it's a poor penalty just because it was one of ours is unfair.

The gehm seemed to start oakay-doakey fir us, except that in the 1st 10 mins, the Midden got 4 coarners.

Eh actually didna enjoy large periods oe the match, esp. the 1st half. Found some oe it putrid TBH. It was a topic or conversation roond me, oe how Goodwin couldna see what we were seeing.

The Middens goal event ah happened in a split second. It was a simple faux-pas.

However each of the subs in thersells made a difference, and the last 10-15 mins was mair like the United we want to see.

Eh saw Gogic fouling Moeller efter the ba was played, but didna realise how it was such a dangerous "tackle". Weel done Fatah fir nailin it.

Thought we might play the "sit in the corner" gehm, but the lads proved me wrong. A great move and then anither crackin take beh Oor Wullie.

MOTM Sibbald and Stephenson, fir putting the haed on they chunts in a manner-oe speaking.

Stillliving wrote:

 

To say SM were by far the better side dosent match up with the game I watched. They definitely looked the side more likely to score although UTD had more shots on target. They had control of CM but the game comes down to putting the ball in the net.

In Scottish football terms calling SM , a team that has finished in the top 6 3 years in a row a lesser team, in italics or not is
a bit disrespectful . Recent history would more accurately see SM see UTD as a lesser team.

Finally I would disagree with your analysis of Fatah penalty. He approached the ball slowly waited for the keeper to commit to a side and rolled it in the other side. In my eyes a touch of class.

Apart from that we're in agreement.

Utd did have more shots on target, correct, but St.Mirren had a few that very narrowly whistled by the posts. Huge chances that if they had scored would have put them out of site. The stats Alan Temple put up were quite eye-opening.

Regardless, the only stat that matters is United 3 St.Mirren 1.

Btw i didn't put 'lesser teams' in italics, i put the term in quotation marks to indicate that it was an opinion that i didn't necessarily agree with. I expected a hard game against the Buddies and actually predicted 1-1 in the Prediction league.

Finally, i watched the video United posted of Fatah's penalty and i think i was slightly harsh on him, saying it was a poor pen. At the time i thought it was a bit of a trundler, but looking at it again he definitely looks to see what way the Keeper is going before hitting it. So, a decent penalty.
 

We weren't great,but they weren't either. They put a lot of balls in the box but apart from the keepers howler they never really troubled us that much, I think Kucherenko made 1 save of note. They are a horrible bastard of a side,full of thugs. When Stephenson got the knee to the face,their player never even had the grace to check on him to see if he was ok, wanker!
Also, Robinson has some cheek to whine about the free kick when his team got away with absolute murder all afternoon until eventually it caught up with them.
Fuck them! I think we deserved the win

The only important thing about Saturday was to halt the run of shit home results.  Job done.

Couldn't make this week (although did take in Forfar's cup triumph) but it sounds a familiar start to the game.  I think it falls on Goodwin to be a bit more dynamic in the start of games.  He clearly thinks its best to play into the game and keep it tight at the back.  For all of Saints possession it looks like we only give them a goal through another keeper error.  Not the only one on Saturday (Forfar keeper (ex-United player McCallum) did something very simmilar) as the weather meant handling was very tricky.  Kuch seemed to do enough in other situations to allow some forgiveness for me.  I do still think we haven't quite figured it out as a unit yet.  For me Esselink isn't commanding enough in the air to be the lead.