Ok, we go again. This week we’ve debated the merits of 1-0 over Farfir, Benji ‘is he playing or not’, kids v Killie and whether MM is staying or going. It almost feels at times that we’ve been focused on anything other than our second most important game of the season to date. (Ross Co away in Feb BTW WAS the most important so far as we absolutely, positively needed to win that day otherwise the potential consequences of anything other were horrendous).
Can we win? Yes. Can we lose? Yes. I genuinely have no idea how this will pan out. Obviously the team will be different to Wednesday and everyone will be back (including no doubt McNulty ) most importantly the pairing of Edwards and Reynolds who really have been outstanding over the last couple of months. Deniz was absolutely fine with that pair in front of him v Forfar and if Benji doesn’t start, I wouldn’t honestly lose too much sleep. Who knows, if it goes all the way to pens we very well may end up being thankful that Deniz started.
Unfortunately though the bottom line is that ultimately the result does hinge on which SSBs team turns up. At the end of the day, they have a better squad currently and we can’t really argue with that in all honesty. IF they turn up and play well I’m not sure we can do much about it. But, that’s the point - have they ever turned up this season? They were lucky as sin to beat Livi and Celtic should have put four or five past them during the week. They can’t score goals and if the expected usual MM tactically defensive, stifle the life out of the game approach is deployed as expected then the SSBs may well continue to struggle to create chances.
One thing we can’t do (and won’t anyway as we all know) is to try and go toe to toe and play very open. That would give the Sheepies the freedom they’ve been craving and invite them opportunities that we can’t afford to give. So instead, yes it will be the usual strangle the game and try to grab a goal. So, if we’re going to do it in regulation time then the only possible prediction is 1-0 to United. Hopefully from SSB reject Sir Lawrence putting the final knife into their ‘disastrous’ season. (4th and likely qualifying for Europe of course can hardly be described as disastrous you Sheepies clowns).
The bottom line though is let’s just enjoy tomorrow. We’re safe, we’ve done relatively well this season, there’s a chance to get to a semi to grab and over the course of the season, although it’s been a long haul, we HAVE steadily improved and are a better, fitter and more organised team from that in August. Cast your mind back to just the last two or three years and this time of the season represented a piss poor United side including the likes of Durnan, PC Murdoch, Edjengele and a pub player from Barnet, struggling through the horror shows that were the play offs in a desperate attempt to make up for yet another schit season in a last throw of the dice at promotion. And as we all know failing miserably every, single, phucking time.
Regardless of how it goes tomorrow, we ARE getting there. Slowly but surely. So, tomorrow, C’MON UNITED and get stuck right in tae them.