It's always odd to see your team get humped despite not playing badly but I thought that's exactly what happened yesterday, and it was hard not to be left a little bit frustrated after yesterday.
I thought we gave Rangers a game yesterday and with a bit more composure and a bit of luck the scoreline might have been very different. But then how many times has that happened down the years against one side of the Old Firm? That's the difference when you play against better players unfortunately, that they take their chances when they come and if you don't take your own then you'll get punished.
Having said that, the goals conceded were in the main horrible, unfortunate or self inflicted messes. Two big deflections and a shocker from Benji punished us, although we should have been closing down quicker on the first two. The third from Aribo was a cracking strike to be fair to him. But those three messy goals were the source of the frustration for me, and to concede two so quickly together killed us off unfortunately.
At least we kept going and creating a few chances and it was good to at least get a goal back late on.
I still think this 41212 formation is the way to go for the rest of the season, although once again I thought it was obvious we were lacking a quality number 10. I don't think Nicky Clark is necessarily a bad player but he's not a creative number 10 and we're crying out for that kind of player. Hopefully we get one in during the summer window, and obviously we'll look to the likes of Declan Glass once he's fit.
Also good to see Kerr Smith come on yesterday. He's huge for a 16 year old and hopefully he gets more minutes over the season.
A bigger result was later in the day and it really opens up the relegation battle again. We're currently 10 points ahead of the teams occupying the bottom two spots. It really highlights our need to keep picking up points over the next few weeks and hopefully we can do that. Next week is therefore enormous for us as we travel to Kilmarnock. Get the three points and we're looking good.
Finally, United are looking to do a virtual sell out for the Celtic game on the 7th of March, asking fans to donate £5 for a virtual seat. I fully support this and i'll be buying a couple of tickets. https://soldouttannadice.co.uk/
Mon the Terrors
RFC 4 DUFC 1
posted on 22/2/21
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 8 minutes ago
Hamish
You: "but you need to ask why he is standing on the edge of the box completely unmarked as the ball drops."
Me: "although we should have been closing down quicker on the first two."
You can't argue that you didn't have a bit of good fortune to put you in a comfortable position that then allowed your team to go out and express themselves properly. As ever, goals change matches.
And you can't in one breath say "McGregor does what McGregor does" but not say "Siegrist does what Siegrist does" in relation to your other chances missed
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Siegrist did have a few very good saves and the pen save too.
Hope the virtual thing goes well. No idea why clubs haven't done that a bit more. Good time to do it when playing well.
Fancy your chances of points against Celtic?
posted on 22/2/21
Ivan
You; You can't argue that you didn't have a bit of good fortune
Me; Whilst the final outcomes of a couple of the goals did rely on a bit of luck
Kents goal was a huge bit of luck
Of course we got some luck during the game. I do disagree that the breakthrough goal was lucky. Hagi clearly meant his touch and it proved vital. It was a good goal.
I said I thought United started well. I just never felt as nervy as some Rangers fans did. I never really felt the result was ever in doubt. And as soon as we got the first I thought we might run riot.
I was a bit disappointed in the scoreline in the end tbh.
The United keeper did make a couple of good saves but I dont really know anything about him so I dont know if that was typical of him
posted on 22/2/21
spr - think it's hard to ask for more money from fans when they've already coughed up for season tickets etc and ppv all season. I think I'm right in saying that we've had to pay out more than most clubs for ppv over and above a sky subscription to watch our team (assuming we're not all watching on hesgoal).
I'd have been happy to do it a couple of times this season though.
As for the game against Celtic, I'm certainly not banking on any points from them but obviously they're not in the best place at the moment so we'll see how it goes. The Killie game next week is the crucial one.
posted on 22/2/21
The United keeper did make a couple of good saves but I dont really know anything about him so I dont know if that was typical of him
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Siegrist is an excellent keeper and it's very typical of him, which is why it was such a surprise to see him give away the final Rangers goal.
posted on 22/2/21
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 44 seconds ago
spr - think it's hard to ask for more money from fans when they've already coughed up for season tickets etc and ppv all season. I think I'm right in saying that we've had to pay out more than most clubs for ppv over and above a sky subscription to watch our team (assuming we're not all watching on hesgoal).
I'd have been happy to do it a couple of times this season though.
As for the game against Celtic, I'm certainly not banking on any points from them but obviously they're not in the best place at the moment so we'll see how it goes. The Killie game next week is the crucial one.
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Play for free kicks in the final third and you have as good a chance as any of beating celtic.
Losing 43% of goals from set plays is a remarkable statisitc.
posted on 22/2/21
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 44 seconds ago
The United keeper did make a couple of good saves but I dont really know anything about him so I dont know if that was typical of him
_________________________________
Siegrist is an excellent keeper and it's very typical of him, which is why it was such a surprise to see him give away the final Rangers goal.
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Cool
Its hard for me to say 'the United keeper does what the United keeper does' when I have only ever seen him a few times and he has conceded 10 goals in those 3 games.
Assuming it is the same boy that has been in goals for all 3 games btw.
I have seen McGregor make much better saves than the ones he made yesterday over a number of years. Which is where I was coming from.
posted on 22/2/21
A deserved win for the Gers though it could be argued that the scoreline flattered us a bit. United put in a good effort and played well at times. They can take some heart from their performance for their upcoming games.
posted on 22/2/21
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 57 minutes ago
spr - think it's hard to ask for more money from fans when they've already coughed up for season tickets etc and ppv all season. I think I'm right in saying that we've had to pay out more than most clubs for ppv over and above a sky subscription to watch our team (assuming we're not all watching on hesgoal).
I'd have been happy to do it a couple of times this season though.
As for the game against Celtic, I'm certainly not banking on any points from them but obviously they're not in the best place at the moment so we'll see how it goes. The Killie game next week is the crucial one.
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think these things are often aimed at non season ticket holders and wider football fans. good luck with it anyway.
Cant see you guys losing 10 points and who knows top 6 still on the cards.
posted on 22/2/21
From the Pie & Bovril twitter page:
Premiership PPV Costs
As at 22/02
St.Johnstone £204
Kilmarnock £197
Dundee Utd £194
St.Mirren £185
Ross County £184
Hamilton £179
Livingston £172
Motherwell £141
Aberdeen £135
Hibs £125
Celtic £43
Rangers £30
Total spend required to watch every away game over & above a SKY sub.
posted on 22/2/21
I think against any other keeper in the league United would have been 1 or 2 up within half an hour and in control of the play. From their games against us this season, I'd be shocked if they got dragged into a relegation battle.