Dundee United v Airdrie (H) 27th Feb

[NOSCOTCAPS]

I totally agree with you, I don't think Meekison is being played in his best position and think what held Mochrie back last night was the pathetic lack of movement from our front players last night, Watt and Middleton were playing hide and seek and Grieve just isn't very good. Get Moult back up front, Meekison in behind him, play Kai on the left flank and Cudjoe or Thomson on the right, let's at least play players who want the ball and who don't hide. I find it ridiculous that we haven't got a proper right back and are trying to shoehorn midfielders in there yet we bring in another centre half when Gallagher was close to being fit and Graham was playing well in his absence so now we have a 4th choice centre half that we're probably playing good money for who unless he gets tried at right back will probably never play for us just like Denham in the first half of the season. Grieve and Tillson although triers are very very poor and should not be near our first team. I don't know what was going through the managers head last night with his selection or substitutions, he went on about slow build up play but how can you play quickly when your front players aren't looking for the ball. The first couple of minutes Watt charges down the keeper and could have got lucky with the deflection, it was plain to see their keeper wanted extra time on the ball but we never went near him again, we went at it half heartedly there was no team press to stop them with the ball just the odd individual here and there. We never at any point last night looked like a team or any kind of cohesive unit. We are at our best pressing teams in their own half and winning the ball high up the park and transitioning quickly. When our defenders or goalie get possession in our half we are clueless and painfully slow until we play a long hopeful punt up the park. Why Goodwin can't see this I don't know and if he does see it and his players are not doing it for him why does he play people every week that are to lazy to press high.

I am with you on Mochrie and Meekison, they are not the most toughest of midfielders but they can play football and very competent with the ball at their feet and Glass also. They can spot a pass, maybe it’s just case they are better than some of the tried, tested and more experienced; but those players just are not switching on to capitalise on the potential opportunities. We keep saying they are not ready, possibly not; but how do you get experience if you can’t get the job?

Any other team in this division they are stand out players and had they been in that Airdrie side we would have been played off the park even more so. Cudjoe, baffles me not always successful but gives defenders something to think about, certainly more than the 1 dimensional players, who get the ball or not and just run like headless chickens!

[Kdyteejay2]

I am with you on Mochrie and Meekison, they are not the most toughest of midfielders but they can play football and very competent with the ball at their feet and Glass also. They can spot a pass, maybe it’s just case they are better than some of the tried, tested and more experienced; but those players just are not switching on to capitalise on the potential opportunities. We keep saying they are not ready, possibly not; but how do you get experience if you can’t get the job?

Any other team in this division they are stand out players and had they been in that Airdrie side we would have been played off the park even more so. Cudjoe, baffles me not always successful but gives defenders something to think about, certainly more than the 1 dimensional players, who get the ball or not and just run like headless chickens!

They’re too easily brushed off the ball. Why are we not trying to muscle them up a bit. Agree about Cudjoe, he gets bums off seats in expectation. Doesn’t always make the best decisions but that’s a young player for you.

[arab1970]

I totally agree with you, I don't think Meekison is being played in his best position and think what held Mochrie back last night was the pathetic lack of movement from our front players last night, Watt and Middleton were playing hide and seek and Grieve just isn't very good. Get Moult back up front, Meekison in behind him, play Kai on the left flank and Cudjoe or Thomson on the right, let's at least play players who want the ball and who don't hide. I find it ridiculous that we haven't got a proper right back and are trying to shoehorn midfielders in there yet we bring in another centre half when Gallagher was close to being fit and Graham was playing well in his absence so now we have a 4th choice centre half that we're probably playing good money for who unless he gets tried at right back will probably never play for us just like Denham in the first half of the season. Grieve and Tillson although triers are very very poor and should not be near our first team. I don't know what was going through the managers head last night with his selection or substitutions, he went on about slow build up play but how can you play quickly when your front players aren't looking for the ball. The first couple of minutes Watt charges down the keeper and could have got lucky with the deflection, it was plain to see their keeper wanted extra time on the ball but we never went near him again, we went at it half heartedly there was no team press to stop them with the ball just the odd individual here and there. We never at any point last night looked like a team or any kind of cohesive unit. We are at our best pressing teams in their own half and winning the ball high up the park and transitioning quickly. When our defenders or goalie get possession in our half we are clueless and painfully slow until we play a long hopeful punt up the park. Why Goodwin can't see this I don't know and if he does see it and his players are not doing it for him why does he play people every week that are to lazy to press high.

100% Spot on.

Tin hat on I think it was actually quite brave of JG to play Mochrie and Meeksion BUT and its a big BUT. If you play them the team has to play in a certain way and as you say other players in the Team cant or wont play in that way. IE Defenders brave on the ball and passing into midfield.

And as you say there needs to be better movement upfront for them to link up with. Mochrie was making big driving runs from his own box deep into their half and Middleton was ACUALLY RUNNING AWAY FROM HIM. FFS

I think your right, in another team those players thrive but in this team they will be out the team for another 4/5 weeks.

Depressing stuff.

[Monifieth Arab]

100% Spot on.

Tin hat on I think it was actually quite brave of JG to play Mochrie and Meeksion BUT and its a big BUT. If you play them the team has to play in a certain way and as you say other players in the Team cant or wont play in that way. IE Defenders brave on the ball and passing into midfield.

And as you say there needs to be better movement upfront for them to link up with. Mochrie was making big driving runs from his own box deep into their half and Middleton was ACUALLY RUNNING AWAY FROM HIM. FFS

I think your right, in another team those players thrive but in this team they will be out the team for another 4/5 weeks.

Depressing stuff.

I'm not knocking him for playing Mochrie and Meekison but they can't both play in the engine room, Meekison to me is a 10, a very clever footballer, had he been there I'm sure Mochrie would have had a lot more options when he was breaking forward. He set the young lads up to fail which will give him an excuse like you say to drop them again for the next few games. I'd like to see Meekison behind Moult and Kai and either Thompson or Cudjoe out wide, hopefully doc in beside sibbald, the only position up for grabs is right back. Maybe out 4th choice centre half would be worth a good he certainly looks like an athlete who could get up and down the park.

[tHeArAb]

I totally agree with you, I don't think Meekison is being played in his best position and think what held Mochrie back last night was the pathetic lack of movement from our front players last night, Watt and Middleton were playing hide and seek and Grieve just isn't very good. Get Moult back up front, Meekison in behind him, play Kai on the left flank and Cudjoe or Thomson on the right, let's at least play players who want the ball and who don't hide. I find it ridiculous that we haven't got a proper right back and are trying to shoehorn midfielders in there yet we bring in another centre half when Gallagher was close to being fit and Graham was playing well in his absence so now we have a 4th choice centre half that we're probably playing good money for who unless he gets tried at right back will probably never play for us just like Denham in the first half of the season. Grieve and Tillson although triers are very very poor and should not be near our first team. I don't know what was going through the managers head last night with his selection or substitutions, he went on about slow build up play but how can you play quickly when your front players aren't looking for the ball. The first couple of minutes Watt charges down the keeper and could have got lucky with the deflection, it was plain to see their keeper wanted extra time on the ball but we never went near him again, we went at it half heartedly there was no team press to stop them with the ball just the odd individual here and there. We never at any point last night looked like a team or any kind of cohesive unit. We are at our best pressing teams in their own half and winning the ball high up the park and transitioning quickly. When our defenders or goalie get possession in our half we are clueless and painfully slow until we play a long hopeful punt up the park. Why Goodwin can't see this I don't know and if he does see it and his players are not doing it for him why does he play people every week that are to lazy to press high.

Agree with a lot of this. Meekison is a 10 type player. Kai was immense out on the left at the start of the season. The signing of the centre half is f*cking baffling. He's not going to play a single game this season, and is he any better than Graham has been? Mental.

[JUSTaway]

I don't see having cover for centre half as an issue, we were speaking about still bringing in another loan so it's not as though it's come at the cost of another position. Our transfer policy just seems to be limited in scope, wetherspoon just fell into our lap, and the other guys we brought in January just feel like we needed players to fill certain positions and we don't have anything in place to source targets beyond what the domestic market.

[JUSTaway]

100% Spot on.

Tin hat on I think it was actually quite brave of JG to play Mochrie and Meeksion BUT and its a big BUT. If you play them the team has to play in a certain way and as you say other players in the Team cant or wont play in that way. IE Defenders brave on the ball and passing into midfield.

And as you say there needs to be better movement upfront for them to link up with. Mochrie was making big driving runs from his own box deep into their half and Middleton was ACUALLY RUNNING AWAY FROM HIM. FFS

I think your right, in another team those players thrive but in this team they will be out the team for another 4/5 weeks.

Depressing stuff.

Mochrie and meekison weren't great, but the problems were definitely bigger at the top end of the park, watt never got in the box and couldn't hold the ball up, grieve did ok for a limited player, but he isn't a wide man, and hasn't brought much to the team in the three games he has started, Middleton fairly anon. I was expecting cujoe and moult to start after he brought them off early v queens park, and and grieve and watt both failed to hold the ball up much when they played were on park together. Also thought Airdrie would be similar opponents to queen's park and therefore it would be similar strategy with a few tweaks in personnel.

[sultan_of_arabia]

The relatively settled team during our early season run is our best team. We are all a little too reactionary including the manager currently and there has been no improvement from switching things up game by game.

Biggest problem has been replacing Docherty and controlling the midfield. That allows the front 4 to focus on attacking. We have the ball then we don't even want them dropping back as we should be dictating games in this league. With no pace or willing runners as soon as we drop deeper we have zero attacking threat as we keep seeing recently. Go back to control the games a bit better, get it wide and actually have a player to hit in the centre. TBF to Middleton it must be frustrating when he could beat a player and cross it only to have Watt as the striker 10 yards outside of the box.

Front 4 of Middleton, watt/Meekison/mochrie, Kai. With Moult leading the line.

Only changes further back I would consider is actually putting Grimshaw beside Sibbald as potentially that shores up central mid. It also allows us to have 2 more attacking full backs to support the front 4 when we have the ball. Thomson has shown enough that he could do that.

Clean slate and set the team the challenge to go out and win the league.

[JamesMcClean]

As mentioned above by others, the loss of Docherty is massive but it’s not being dealt with correctly. What we are missing big style from when Docherty was playing was that this allowed Sibbald much more freedom to push further up the park and link up. Instead he’s sitting too deep now and is not nearly influential enough on dictating play as a result and making runs in to the box. Frankly, when Tilson plays I don’t think Sibbald trusts him enough to push forward and leave him alone in front of the CHs. Now that Thomson has snuck in to RB, surely the only sensible option now is to allow us to release Grimshaw (who after all is allegedly a midfielder) in to the middle of the park so that Sibbald can be allowed to roam further up to, hopefully, a positive effect……………..

[shedka]

I'd rather Grimshaw at right back and Thomson midfield, he may have had a good game going forward mainly but we aren't as solid

Also would go as far as saying if Doc had been fit the last three months we'd have a relatively comfortable lead just now