UNA Strassen (h) match thread

[JUSTaway]

Frustrating performance last night. First time I've seen us this season. The three centre halves are gigantic, and looked steady, but not massively tested. Everything went through the Dutch guy, whose passing was good, into feet, forward, breaking the lines at times, imagine opponents will put strikers in him.

But despite that it was like watching last season, everything was played in front of our opponents, and not fast enough. Midfield to forwards we were toothless. Pappoe and dolcek were miles off it, hope is they will improve with games. Sapsford took his goal well and showed some nice flashes of skill, but he is not the type of striker to lead a line, he'd be better off a target man, in a two or a three.

The wingers for me were ineffective, trapanoski either slowed it down, overhit the cross or took the wrong option, and dolcek was anonymous. Last season our main goal was crosses into the box, not sure what our main route to goals will be this season, as in contrast to our defence, our attack is lightweight, none of those three are Gona score many headers, and pappoe doesn't strike me as a player maker who will drive forward and open up defences.

The keeper had one horrible beregetti moment when he completely missed a corner early on. Hopefully he will settle down.

That was my early assessment, but aware it was just one game, so fingers crossed some guys are still finding their feet and fitness, gelling etc... and signings to come in attacking areas.

[shedka]

I wasnt too surprised by last night at all, we don't know yet the level of the players we have, it's a brand new team, the defenders do look good thankfully

Others look like they need to get upto speed or are maybe not as good as hoped (thinking the two centre mods in particular)

We already knew we needed some more signings yet, Luca would be huge

At this stage we can't say we have as strong a team or squad as we had in January

I knew they wouldn't be mugs either, so glad we won another game in Europe, disappointing it wasn't by more than a goal, we wasted that chance first half and they had a good block second half to deny a certain goal

Be a tough second leg but think we can improve and we should need setting up different, a 3-5-2 for me over there to have more control in middle, I'd also have Sapsford/Dolcek as a front two and Stirton off the bench

In the balance

[shedka]

No Scottish players starting, wow.

This is annoying all the right people in the media etc

They don't research much either, or they'd have mentioned one time that Ross Graham just got injured or he'd have started, a local lad now captain or local lad off the bench, both Utd fans

[Stoke_Arab]

Been on several social media sites today and never seen so many new players written off after one game.
If anything it was Ferry and Strain that were absolutely terrible.
This is a new team, it will need time, hopefully 7 days is enough time to get through this tie.

This 343 that Goodwin is obsessed with is going to cost us because it leaves 2 midfielders lined up against 3. Very few teams play with just 2 in midfield.
We need to see 352, not just next Thursday but in the league as well. Someone needs to tell Goodwin we are not Celtic.

Thought he should have hooked Dolček for Stirton earlier. I also think Pappoe and Camara were a bit overawed by the occasion, they will get better.
And.....Strain can take a set piece ok for 30 minutes then seems completely unable to get the ball past the first defender, does my head in, and another thing that needs sorting pronto.

[JUSTaway]

I remember many moons ago Craig Brewster toiling on his debut against Aberdeen, took him a good few months to really adjust to pace of top flight and establish himself. Would never have predicted he would end up with 20 goals that season after his debut.

[TerryTheTerror]

Jon Daly was regularly referred to as 'Prolific Jon' on here but by time he left he was immense.

[arab777]

Came away from the game disappointed with the performance but having had a day to reflect on it its not really an unsurprising one. First competitive game and a lot of the players didn't look like they knew how to connect with teammates and that is largely down to number of changes in the squad. I think we will need to be patient and understand it may take time. What I do believe is we have signed good defenders and that is the first key to not having a disastrous season. Work needs to be done on midfield and formations which I think will improve the more they play together.

It is difficult to gauge the standard of Strassen but if we had been playing a Scottish Championship club last night at this stage of the season like say Morton I would have expected a tough game and coming out with a narrow win would have been satisfactory.

The bottom line is it was a win and if we go through to next round we will have more games under our belt before facing Rapid.

[LSArab]

Yeah I am ok with the performance and pleased with the win

Strassen were no mugs and a decent side that came second in their league last season

I thought it was a committed performance. Maybe the urgency was not always there but it was a professional performance and we kept the clean sheet

Its all on the second leg now

[GUNBOAT]

Looking forward to the 2nd leg epic trip to see United's foreign legion,IF we manage to get through a tricky 2nd leg the work is getting binned again for a return to Vienna.I attended the European Cup 1/4 final away leg with boys from The Black Watch but never made the home leg as we were in West Germany at the time.

[geofoxposse]

Vienna also appeals to me as a trip, but sadly the Mrs needs a visa...... Oh well.

[Arabdownsouth]

It would be good to put the tie to bed early so we can rotate next Thursday given our league campaign begins on the Sunday, but it wouldn't be united if we did things the easy way. 1-0 and having to work for it next week is my expectation

Couldn't have put it better myself 😋