Get your party hats on folks, there is a title party coming to Tannadice.
United all but secured the title on a wet and windy Friday night by once again beating our nearest rival in the league and opening up a 21 point lead at the top of the Championship. Technically we still need 19 points (18 should be enough with our goal difference) but the reality is that we're not going to be caught. We will be the Champions of our division, it's only a matter of when.
I heard John Robertson on the radio as I got back to my car on Friday night and he outlined exactly why it is that United are going to win this division. We're clinical. We have that cutting edge that the other teams don't have and that we ourselves lacked over the last three seasons. Of course, that all leads to the one key signing that has defined our season: Lawrence Shankland.
It was his goal again that won us the three points, and he was again the difference. In all competitions for ourselves and Scotland he has a goals record of something like a goal every 95 minutes. And he scores key goals, like the one on Friday. His goal in many ways was very similar to the first scored by Louis Appere. He took the ball in, paused, made the defender commit, twist away then fired into the net from the edge of the box. For me Louis' goal was better as he passed it into the net, but it was Lawrence's goal that won the three points.
It was a hard fought game in dreadful conditions and I was glad to see the players being up for the fight. It's the conditions that amateurs love to play in to be honest, where your slipping all over the place and sliding tackles are taking you 10 foot further than you expected. I thought we started really well, but then ICT adapted to our tactics and probably had the better of the remainder of the first half. Second half I thought we edged it and ultimately deserved the win.
The game was probably encapsulated by the battle between Jordan White and Mark Connolly, who at times seemed to be in a wrestling match rather than a football match. It was a big, bruising battle and, while White scored from a corner, he ended up losing in the long run.
It wasn't a great performance - far from it - and we certainly had a few strugglers out there. After a decent enough start to his United career, Powers was dreadful on Friday night and did well to last as long as he did on the park. And while he got two assists, Bingham struggled in an unfamiliar wide right position. I was however pleased to see Pawlett moved inside. If he is to play he has to play centrally and I thought he was better than he has been in recent weeks.
So what now? Well, we play the guessing game and try to predict where we win the league. I don't really mind, but I'd like to be there when we do. I was at the doon derby. I've suffered through these years of Championship misery. I think I've earned it. I'm away in March and miss the Alloa game, so I really hope it's not then!
Mon the Terrors.
DUFC 2 ICTFC 1
posted on 24/2/20
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 49 seconds ago
Mon the terrors
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have you pinpointed the date for Liverpool to win the league?
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March 16th at goodison would be sweet but it may be the following game v villa I think if both keep winning
posted on 24/2/20
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 18 seconds ago
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 49 seconds ago
Mon the terrors
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have you pinpointed the date for Liverpool to win the league?
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March 16th at goodison would be sweet but it may be the following game v villa I think if both keep winning
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posted on 24/2/20
Sorry ginger I could be wrong mind (wouldn’t be the first time)
I think city also may hit your boys this weekend similar to the cup final v Watford
posted on 24/2/20
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 7 minutes ago
Sorry ginger I could be wrong mind (wouldn’t be the first time)
I think city also may hit your boys this weekend similar to the cup final v Watford
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Yeah, think you're right mate.
I'm kind of clinging to the hope that we are just outside the relegation zone (1 point) and those below us are equally turgid.
As for the final? I gave my tickets to a wifie who is taking her boys. Their dad passed away last year so wouldn't have otherwise been able to go. It's a friend of a friend thing. Hope the kids just enjoy the occasion even if the result is awul.
posted on 24/2/20
Didn’t see the full game. Weather made it a bit of a lottery, but the win was all that mattered. Shankland took his goal really well.
Title is done and dusted for you guys.
posted on 24/2/20
Saw about an hour of it. Thought Appere was rank with his decisions.
posted on 24/2/20
comment by Gingernuts (U2992)
posted 2 hours, 51 minutes ago
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 5 minutes ago
I think Hearts will drop. They've had no positive reaction to the new manager and have dreadful luck with injuries.
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Agreed.
Their only salvation this year is the Scottish Cup maybe.
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Absolutely I expect the whole of Scottish football would not grudge them a run to the final again?
posted on 24/2/20
comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 17 minutes ago
Saw about an hour of it. Thought Appere was rank with his decisions.
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He's still very raw and needs a lot of work on his game. I think he's got something though. Needs a run of games up front, which is his best position imo.
posted on 24/2/20
Think you're being unfair on Bingham. Thought he played well and two assists is not to be sniffed at. Tracked back well, kept his passes simple and was always looking for the ball and to link play. Sometimes played things a bit too quickly like the ball was a hot potato but overall played well.
Pawlett too had his first decent spell in a long, long time. That's until his fatness caught up with him and he faded badly.
Think the team we had with Harkes and McMullan on for Powers and Pawlett would be a good way to start next game.
posted on 25/2/20
Hobo
I was frustrated with Bingham's complete unwillingness to try to take on the full back. I don't think he tried to beat him once. He also had periods in the game where he looked a bit lost (which is probably understandable given that he's a striker playing out wide).
I agree we looked better when Harkes and McMullan came on. I think the manager actually managed the game well in that he saw out the war of attrition in the bad conditions then injected energy into the team for the final third of the match when it was needed.