I think Jim’s comments after the game were spot on, I know hindsight is a great thing but he has started with the wrong team again.
Livingston at home and last night we were totally outplayed in the first half’s.

I do think Stirton deserves a chance. I understand that most managers are reticent to change anything but surely he has earned his right to start.

lifesanocean wrote:

Tek wrote:

Not our first defeat this season, but the first time we have been comprehensively outplayed.

An absolutely appalling display. One shot on target all night and Motherwell passed us off the park all night and looked fitter, stronger and faster.

Goodwin has to take his fair share of the blame for that tonight. The wrong starting XI selected tonight and the wrong formation.

Yet another game where we worryingly don't turn up at all in the first 45 minutes. This is starting to become unacceptable. You can't just expect to turn up for one half of football and expect to get anywhere as a club.

My player ratings on a bitterly disappointing night -

Kucherencko 6 - Didn't do anything particularly wrong tonight. Couldn't do anything about either goal. Some poor distribution however.

Ferry 5 - Garbage tbqh. A great block on the line to spare a Motherwell goal but was all over the place at other points. Beaten easily on the wing for their 1st and his corners, free kicks and even throw in's were very poor all night long. He is playing nowhere near his ability at the moment.

Esselink 6 - Poor night from Bert.

Keresztes - 6 - His poorest game in a United shirt. Very slack pressing down for their 2nd goal. He is a big strong boy, he has to be braver there.

Stephenson 6 - Thought he was quite poor tonight. Should have absolutely buried our only good chance of the night. Was outmuscled a few times in 50/50's. Possibly his worst game for us.

Sevelj 6 - His poor form this season continues. Sat far too deep for my liking (i know he would have been asked to do this btw). Nowhere near as effective for the team as he was last season when he was a Warrior most weeks.

Sibbald 6 - Stupidly sacrificed at half time as he was sitting on a yellow card. Given his recent form this was far too reactionary and should have been kept on for awhile longer as he has grown into the last two games massively in the 2nd half and been influential. Unless of course he got an injury.

Eskesen 4 - The Danish Jordan Tilson. I am baffled as to why Goodwin started him or what he seemingly see's in him. Offers nothing. An empty shirt.

Fatah 6 - Was anonymous all night and then out of nowhere came alive around the hour mark. Subbed off two minutes later. Daft timing. I would have given him another five minutes to see if he continued to grow into the game.

Sapsford 6 - Poor for the 4th or 5th game running. 

Moller 5 - I'm just not having him, sorry. Works hard etc etc, but that's 8 appearances for United now and hasn't looked close to even scoring. I can't shake off the feeling that he's the new VDS.

Subs -

Camara 6 - Bizarre that our best player starts on the bench. Made the midfield better instantly, though he can play better also.

Naamo 6 - Another one who i'm just not having. Not a particularly good defender/Right Back and not a forward /winger. What is he and what exactly does he bring to the team? Also why was he deemed a priority signing?

Trapanovski 6 - Knew after 5 minutes it was gonna be a game where nothing comes off for him. He needs to believe in himself a bit more at times. One ball played over the top, he is beating the 'Well player for pace and instead of continuing forward and running in on goal he cuts back, tries to cut back in and beat the player on the inside and runs into him giving Motherwell possession back. Just believe in yourself and trust your pace.

Dolcek 5 - Anonymous, bar one time he was put in and took too long to shoot because he wouldn't use his weaker right foot. He was offside anyway. Five long weeks since his last goal vs Aberdeen or indeed since he done anything of note in a United shirt.

Starting to become concerned that he's this seasons David Babunski i.e. a player who started brilliantly, looked too good for us technically and talent wise, but then seemingly became a player that Goodwin decided he 'can't trust' and subsequently fizzles out over the course of the season.

Jim Goodwin 5 - Poor starting XI, poor formation and poor subs at the wrong times. Also why have a Striker on the bench who's actually scored this season (Stirton) and never utilise him even when we are 2-0 down? Why not throw caution to the wind and go 442 and put him up beside Sapsford and try something different. Anything. Rather than try the same failing tactics all night and expect it to come good. 

 

Ferry looks about a stone overweight this season.

Eskesen is this season's Jim Goodwin blindspot; last season it was Allan Campbell and the season before it was Jordan Tilson, boys that offer absolutely nothing yet still get a game.

Our defence can't cope when pressure is put on them, be that pace or physicality, yes they are all big lads but they don't want to put their head in where it hurts and other teams know that.

I'm glad Goodwin finally admitted the real issue however, that the passing hasn't been good enough recently (although he had to be pushed on that in the interview) and that the midfielders aren't making good enough angles for passes, limiting the defenders options (in other words, they aren't showing for the ball). This should have been addressed when Pappoe got injured and the priorities should have changed to getting a more like for like replacement instead of signing a floaty wee waste of space who doesn't want the ball.

Every Motherwell player wanted the ball last night and were comfortable on it. Every one of our players either wanted too much time on the ball or wanted rid of it as quickly as possible (hoofing it up to Moeller mostly), or didn't want it at all. Not good enough.

Stirton is still not over his injury seemingly but has been put on the bench anyway. Another victim of Harold Shipman and his team of Dr Nick Rivieria's in the medical room at Tannadice.

Totally agree about Eskesen

When we signed I was a bit doubting as to whether he could make the grade and seems obvious he cannot

Doesn’t offer anything special going forward or in defence.

I get the Tillson comparison 😂 but I actually think Tillson was more effective and did something compared to Campbell and Eskesen!

I think Moller flatters to deceive. Trying to fit him in the team isn’t helping and it does not seem to be working playing him in a pair with Sapsford

Sapsford is better as the focal point and have Traps / Dolcek and Fatah trying to help with the supply

We have actually scored goals early season with the 3-4-3 - it was working better than last season

It’s defence we need to sort so hopefully Ross G can help when he returns.

Also not sure about Kuch. Longer term I’d like Adams to get his chance


 

The main issue for me at the moment is JG believes that we should be a passing team.
Defenders take the ball of the keeper and none of our midfielders are comfortable to take the ball are worse are hiding ( as JG hinted at in his post match interview)
Sevelj , Camara & Sibbald are not comfortable in possession. Eskissen as others have said I'm not sure what he is good at.
When Pappoe got crocked JG should have looked for a direct replacement or change his tacticts.
Don't want to be doom and gloom but I can't see this getting any better at least in the short term.

OK I'll say it. I've been very supportive of Jim Goodwin but on the evidence of this season so far he has taken our new team, our new signings, and made them worse week on week.

I think he's a good club manager but he's not coaching these players into a good team.

Exhibit No 1
Fallen out with our most dangerous and influential player.

Arabdownsouth wrote:

redford_must_score wrote:

OK I'll say it. I've been very supportive of Jim Goodwin but on the evidence of this season so far he has taken our new team, our new signings, and made them worse week on week.

I think he's a good club manager but he's not coaching these players into a good team.

Exhibit No 1
Fallen out with our most dangerous and influential player.

 
Is there actually any factual evidence of this fall out? Or just hearsay?

 
Well he's not starting. Clearly out of favour.

What do you think about my first sentence?
Agree or disagree?

redford_must_score wrote:

Arabdownsouth wrote:

redford_must_score wrote:

OK I'll say it. I've been very supportive of Jim Goodwin but on the evidence of this season so far he has taken our new team, our new signings, and made them worse week on week.

I think he's a good club manager but he's not coaching these players into a good team.

Exhibit No 1
Fallen out with our most dangerous and influential player.

 
Is there actually any factual evidence of this fall out? Or just hearsay?

 
Well he's not starting. Clearly out of favour.

What do you think about my first sentence?
Agree or disagree?

 
Out of favour is one thing but folk saying there's been a fallout without any evidence of that are just being unfair to the manager in my opinion. If a player isn't cutting it then he is absolutely right to leave him out, if he didn't then he'd be getting slated for that. On your first sentence, well we definitely are not getting better by the week thats for sure and I wasnt disagreeing with it. I was just asking a genuine question.

Right at the minute what I wouldn't give for #Graham, #Strain ::    Gallacher, Holt,Docherty and Walton back.
Not just defence wise but Ferry's peformances reflect personnel changes.
Totally get what Jims trying to do but just not working at the moment.