Morning folks.
Good win for the Terrors on Saturday and great to finally see a home SPL win. It's been a long time coming!
It was a strange old game on Saturday. I agree with both managers in that the game as a spectacle was ruined by the sending off - which for me was very soft and I really don't think it should have been a red - but ultimately at this stage of the season and with the league as tight as it is I don't really care. All that mattered was the three points and we got them. Having said that, I had to rely on tv pictures for the red card incident as I went for a pee and missed it.
Another early goal really helped though. After a 15 second goal last weekend it took a full 1 minute 58 seconds before Johnny Russell notched this time round. I really thought the chance was gone when he took it off Armstrong's toes but he swivelled and hit it well and it was a great start. The truth is though that after that we struggled and even after the boy went off we didn't play well at all in that first half.
The second half was different and we did really well at keeping the ball although quite often we struggled to find any kind of way through. As I said on Friday their strength is in defence and I thought that showed. Thankfully wee Willo is on fire and I thought our second goal was a really well worked goal, a lovely one two with Russell and a fine finish. Maybe a wee bit of an OTT celebration from Willo though.
Obviously they got one back from the boy Ngoo (I missed that goal as well because I was away to the toilet again ) but we responded well, kept our discipline and got the third to kill the game. Delighted for Gardyne as I think he's struggled a bit since coming to Tannadice and hopefully he'll kick on now with the confidence from that goal.
As for the players, I said on Friday that the player who I thought might struggle was Armstrong and I thought that was the case. You could tell the rest of the boys had spent the week working on the shape of the team while Armstrong was away captaining the u21s in Greece and I thought he really struggled to get in the game. I won't hold that against him though as the travelling and lack of preparation can hurt the best players, let alone young players. Beyond that I thought Willo was man of the match (as usual these days) but Dillon played really well against the boy Ngoo who, if he learns to use his frame better, could go on to be a fantastic player. However, Dillon used his experience well and marshalled him brilliantly.
It's a particularly good win for us as it pulls us up to the top 6, although we now face two very difficult away fixtures against Celtic and then Motherwell. Realistically Celtic should beat us but you have to hope they'll be distracted by their European adventures while Motherwell is always a tight match. I think a return of 4 points would be a fantastic achievement but realistically we may have to settle for a solitary point out of the two games, which would see us fall out the top 6 once again.
I am however optimistic with the way the team is progressing and that we are starting to hit a bit of form at just the right time.
DUFC 3 Hertz 1
posted on 11/2/13
Wim - if he continues the form of the last few weeks then I'm optimistic we'll get a couple of million for him.
I think the club would have accepted a 7 figure sum in January.
posted on 11/2/13
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posted on 11/2/13
It's nice to see the team actually playing fluid football - Rankin popping up on the left wing to deliver the cross in both the 1st and 3rd goals, Flood playing a one-two to set up his goal & Mackay-Steven playing on whichever wing he feels like. All very positive stuff. Even McLean looked decent when he came on - terrible with the ball at his feet but commanding in the air.
posted on 11/2/13
It's amazing how much of a difference there has been since the change of manager, particularly defensively but as you say Hobo across the team.
Makes you wonder why they weren't playing like this beforehand, but I guess the rigidness of the formation stopped the players expressing themselves.
We're much improved.
posted on 11/2/13
Arabs A good post Ivan.
I think if you look back at the thread I predicted a 3-1 victory
I thought we played well and I like the 4-2-3-1 system that we are playing. The possession football was good and I like enjoy that style of play. However, folk are going to have to get used to it. A few numpties around me wer giving it "get the ball in the box". It waws getting on my nerves as we Hearts were no threat while we had the ball.
Anyway, I fancy a 2-1 win at Celtic Park. The predictor has spoken.
Oh yeah, I also missed the red card as I was getting a hot dog
posted on 11/2/13
Yeah my mate started grumping at one point in the second half about the lack of urgency to get more goals. I didn't understand it and told him so. At this stage of the season the three points is crucial and I'd rather see us protect our lead and build on it if we can rather than throw men into the box and get caught on the counter. I thought we controlled the game well and played the game perfectly.
posted on 11/2/13
Yep, if you're a goal up and keep possession, you'll win. Don't want to see us give away the ball needlessly, although perhaps pass it a bit quicker than Rankin was on Saturday!
posted on 11/2/13
I thought it was noticable that we were trying to switch the play across the park a lot more often on Saturday than we normally do. Normally we get bogged down in little pockets of the park and try to play through tight situations.
I'd imagine this was a deliberate ploy rather than just something that happened during the game as it was happening even before the man was sent off.
posted on 13/2/13
What is very clear from the OP is that Ivan has a training need, namely bladder control! Too many of these ?! Have you ever thought of going before and after the game and at half time!
We are looking much better at the moment. Interesting this is being achieved with the same starting line up so Houston and McNamara appear to share same view of best starting 11 but a big difference in tactics with greater freedom given to our players. Much easier on the eye and reading between the lines of recent comments from the players (e.g. Russell on how new coaching staff are giving him more confidence) much better for collective esprit de corps.
I think the concern with the possession stuff was that we didn't end up getting caught with the wrong back pass which nearly happened once and IIRC did lead to Hearts goal.
posted on 13/2/13
I had three pints before the game and I've always been known for my weak bladder