Before some of you all jump down my throat due to your own negativity, hear me out. Let's actually have a debate rather than the blind religion-like following of Houston that seems to go on (I shall call it Houstology).
It's been pretty well established that after Slask's performance last night, we easily could have beaten them over the two legs - they had one of the worst defences I've ever seen at Tannadice, and I've seen Duff and McCracken play in the same team! So, if we had a good enough team (and surely no-one here is negative enough to disagree with that?) then the reason we lost must have been due to the tactics and therefore the fault of the manager.
Last night's tactics were ok, but not good. The formation and attacking side of our game was pretty good, but when defending we refused to press them, which I just can't understand. Perhaps Houston saw how the team tired in Poland when pressing them therefore told them to stand off a bit to conserve energy, although that would be suicidal and we'll be mauled in the SPL if the team doesn't have the legs to press for 90 minutes. We were dropping too deep, which meant when we did have the ball the midfield were too close to the defence and we resorted to lumping it up to Goodwillie or Daly who had a lot of joy in the air due to their terrible defenders, but who then had no-one to pass to as the defence was still on our own goal-line.
What really cost us this tie though was that insipid pefrormance over in Poland. Why oh why were we defending a 1-0 defeat...
But anyway, what really depresses me is that yesterday, when we needed to win comfortably, we went for an attacking 4-4-2 and scored 2 goals pretty quickly. Now, if Houston is such a fan of his 4-5-1 tactics, why would he change to 4-4-2 when we need to win? This hints at him thinking his 4-5-1 tactics don't lead to victories, in which case why the hell does he play 4-5-1 all the time!? It boggles the mind, it truely does. Seemingly he is as aware as I am that 4-5-1 doesn't work, yet he still plays it... is he on the pay, is he deliberately trying to get us to lose!?
Houston Debate
posted on 22/7/11
FFS, here we go again, your post is as "ok" as last nights tactics were. However, your last line of the post wondering if he is "deliberately trying to get us to lose" is rather stupid!!!
You have become an anti Houson bore otherwise known as antihoustonology.
I have a suggestion hobo, when Houston leaves or gets sacked, you apply for the job, you seem to have all the answers and are obviously the man every football team needs, with your skills and knowledge at the helm of any club, they would have to be successful.
posted on 22/7/11
Barab, did it not cross your mind that that was perhaps a tongue-in-cheek comment?
If we play like we did against Slask at home, it'll be an exciting season with hundreds of goals and we'll be in with a good shout of 3rd and a decent run in both cups.
If we play the negative way we did over in Poland though, I really fear for our status as a top 6 club.
Please, let it be the former!
posted on 22/7/11
Hobo - you do a lot talk sense. I can see that you read a game VERY well. But, nae offence mate, I wish you would change the 'Houston Out' campaign.
posted on 23/7/11
Good post Hobo
I think Houston is a very capable manager, and I believe he is better than what is out there at the moment, he's had to deal with a lot of cost cutting and still managed to get a decent team out on the park, I also think the work of Cathro, Levein and Houston is starting to pay dividends regarding the quality of youth players coming through the ranks, I know it's not necessarily his area but I would be inserting clauses into youth players contracts that they can only leave for a certain amount as a few of them have potential to be stars of the future, McLean's long term contracts don't look so daft now do they SPL?
I even agree with you about 4-5-1, it doesn't work, it really really doesn't, i'm a 4-4-2 man and when we play it we look very very good going forward, we should make teams worry about what we're going to do to them not what we have to do to stop them, we've won at Ibrox, we should have won in Athens last season and Slask this season we have the players to attack - I would much rather see an attacking United side win 5-4 than loose 1-0 playing 4-5-1!
posted on 23/7/11
- I would much rather see an attacking United side win 5-4 than loose 1-0 playing 4-5-1!
Like to think so numbnuts
posted on 23/7/11
Hobo - have you told Hoostie your concerns. Seriousily mate, you have to let him know how you feel. I'm not dissing you, but you clearly have a bee in your bonnet about his selection (and I must admit, i kinda agree with you) but there is no point in coming on ja606 day in, day out mumping about it. Go to the top man and get him told. You might get ignored but at least you will have made your feelings known. No point in telling us anymore, we know your views - and it sounds like a lot agree. Get a chat with the Boss, express your concerns, and come back and tell us what he says. I'm sure he will chat to you. Make an appointment, buddy
posted on 23/7/11
Friend, I was at the game last night and Skask were by far the better team. Actually knew how to pass the ball. United just got desperate and resorted to Gary Kenneth long balls. John daly is not an athlete in any way. Good luck for the new season
posted on 23/7/11
Slask. Stupid iPhone
posted on 23/7/11
WillieRFC54 - I think you should concentrate on your own team, good to see McCoist splashing out the £10m warchest he was given hehe
And why did Rangers think that Bursaspor would accept less than they paid for Miller? Miller was at the end of his contract at Rangers, at Bursaspor he had just signed??
I think it's really really funny when things go against the Old Firm, this has been one of the best pre-seasons in a long time purely for the nonsense coming out of Ibrox, we'll sign Goodwillie er no you won't oi Bursaspor stop trying to sign Whitaker we don't like it when other teams talk about our players in the press - ah i'm only here for the banter
posted on 25/7/11
Simple, we couldn't take our chances and lived to regret it. That's football