United returned to the Scottish Premiership with a draw against the farmers, but it really should have been all three points.
Before I turn to the game though, I want to address the technology and pre-match. Let's focus on the latter. The coverage was presented by Alistair Heather and I'm really not sure what to make of him. Firstly his hands are all over the place and he needs to put them in his pocket. But secondly, and far more jarring, was his use of random Dundonian words while he was talking. It just felt really weird. He was joined by Sean Dillon who was ok.
The coverage had issues though, not least the fact that the game started with Gaelic commentary rather than the dulcet tones of Dillon. I believe the game was due to be on Alba later that night and obviously either they or we fecked up. The DUTV commentary didn't start until the second half and we didn't get any highlights at HT. The picture quality however was excellent (again, possibly due to Alba being there to film it).
Onto the game itself. United started brightly and were rewarded when Harkes was put through on goal. The American should have done better, but was forced to pull a pass back to Smith whose drive was saved wonderfully well by Liam Craig, although really it should be the goalkeeper who makes saves like that. Nicky Clark stepped up and slotted home with aplomb.
After that it was a midfield battle and the ball probably needed paracetamol at HT. Both teams had lined up 352 and it killed the space in the middle of the park, so passes were at a premium. Both teams had a couple of half chances.
The game should have turned with the red card just before half time, O'Halloran had tried all game to get sent off and walked after leaving a little on Butcher for a second yellow card. It looked like United were on easy street and in the early stages of the second half Shankland had a couple of chances that he'll regret.
Then they scored, and we were all over the place. The goal was a disaster, with Connolly once again making a mess of it. Rather than knocking it out for a corner, he knocked it back into the middle of the area and into the run of Craig to finish.
After that you would have thought Saints had the extra man. They looked the more likely for the next 25 minutes although didn't create too many chances. It was during that spell that Neison, our 17 year old centre half debutant, really started to struggle. Mellon made the change to a 4 at the back and it shored us up but we never really looked like winning the game.
So two points dropped rather than a point gained and plenty of questions for the manager to ponder. It reinforced that we need bodies in, particularly at CB.
Mon the Terrors
DUFC 1 SJFC 1
posted on 3/8/20
That would be something. I couldn't see it myself but if that crackpot loses the head there's a chance.
posted on 3/8/20
Saw a thing on Twitter that said it sounded like the guy doing the pre match had read a Broons annual that morning... That bit was properly weird.
I suppose before the match you would have taken a point, but given how early the sending off was it feels like two dropped. The diagonal ball seemed like a tactic. Thought Jamie Robson played well, Harkes looked great going forward in the first half then seemed to drop out of it a bit. Pawlett showed two or three flashes of the player we hoped we had signed, but the rest of the time he seemed to make poor decisions.
Connolly... What can you say? That ball has to go out for a corner (or, truthfully, Benji should have given him a shout and taken it because at that point the nearest player was just drifting into the box), it’s the kind of mistake he got away with in the Championship but which will get punished at a higher level.
Think we suffered a bit of a Neilson hangover of moving the ball too slowly from side to side when they sat in. Thought Bolton looked ok when he came on!
We’ve been hamstrung by the court thing and by Neilson jumping ship (unfortunately not before he had offloaded Paul Watson) - so interesting to see how quickly we move now for any new signings.
Mon the Arabs.
posted on 3/8/20
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 26 minutes ago
comment by An s&m Lauders (U9757)
posted 7 minutes ago
Enjoyed watching the 4 years of Ivan's pain being recapped on sportscene.
Plenty tasty tears
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Surely watching Sportscene is more painful than what I endured?
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Yeah the Livingston player brings nothing.
McFadden isn't awful and I don't mind thommo but we still seem to find ways to fvck up any interviews, lighting and basically flop in comparison to MOTD. Even with the budget taken into consideration, it shouldn't be obvious that they're hiring notes to read off and we should be able to hear Micky Mellon's interview
posted on 3/8/20
Has failed trialist been binned from Sportscene?
posted on 3/8/20
border, agree with all of that
Not really sure what Pawlett's role is in that system. Harkes seems to get more advanced (probably because he has a better engine) and Pawlett just seems to be....there.
Think I would have preferred Butcher at the back and Powers in the midfield.
posted on 3/8/20
Hopefully we sign Edwards. Someone mentioned Alsford, he surely can't be as bad as that. Creative midfielder is the next position, we offered nothing except huffing and puffing. Been like that for years.
Disappointed didn't see Appere up beside Shankland. Think he is the foil for Shankland. Could we put Clark in the position where Pawlett played?
Bolton I hope gets played as an out and out winger hopefully. Looks like he has got something about him. Here's hoping we sign a creative midfielder and not another Chris Myres.
posted on 3/8/20
Disappointed didn't see Appere up beside Shankland. Think he is the foil for Shankland. Could we put Clark in the position where Pawlett played?
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Been thinking this myself. I'd like to see it tried.
posted on 3/8/20
It's been a worry all summer that we're heading in to a season in the league above with Connolly and Reynolds as a centre-back pairing.
Connolly especially is absolute dog poo. Stats from last season:
Connolly plays >75 mins:
1.73 points per game,
0.81 goals conceded per game
Connolly plays <25 mins:
2.35 points per game,
0.59 goals conceded per game
That is absolutely not a coincidence.
posted on 3/8/20
That's Edwards signed.
posted on 3/8/20
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 12 minutes ago
That's Edwards signed.
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Those annoying Irish twins with the mad hairstyle?!
That’s crazy.