Aberdeen v Dundee United

[OrlandoDon]

First time I’ve said we need to sign a new 9. Nisbet and lazetic offered absolutely nothing at 9, very little threat and neither close to a scoring chance. Very hard to be an attacking threat when your center forward doesn’t really worry opponents.

[Nordicus]

like the commentators said the amount of times we messed around and lost it instead of punting into the box was criminal

[OrlandoDon]

1 minute ago, Nordicus said:

like the commentators said the amount of times we messed around and lost it instead of punting into the box was criminal

Partly because we have no real attacking threat at 9, and neither wide player will attack the line. So we spend the day going sideways and backwards. Aouchiche and Armstrong will penetrate centrally as an attacking mid, but there’s zero quality attacking play for either wing or 9. It’s been a painful watch all season, we’re so predictable and honestly, the last 20, we may be the happier team to get a point. 

[OneBrianIrvine.]

1-1

same game we’ve watched all season

Hate to be the type of supporter that’s yay when we win and boo we’re shite when we lose but sadly my concerns about JT right back in play.

It’s hard to take any game in isolation now as its the same frustration every week - playing a formation we don’t have the players for, playing the guy who is incapable of playing as a lone striker AS a lone striker and overall just so one note. 

We’re all hanging on January and players coming in to fit this set up he now seems wedded to but sadly I don’t know if that’s going to be enough. I really hope it is…

[OrlandoDon]

He scored today but I’d be happy to send karlsson back and sign, permanently or loan, a pacey legit winger who will attack wide. Him on one side and belalovic on the other, with a proper 9. 

[Mason89]

1 minute ago, OneBrianIrvine. said:

1-1

same game we’ve watched all season

Hate to be the type of supporter that’s yay when we win and boo we’re shite when we lose but sadly my concerns about JT right back in play.

It’s hard to take any game in isolation now as its the same frustration every week 

Sometimes we win, sometimes we draw and sometimes we lose but it’s always shite 

[irnbru1903]

1 minute ago, Mason89 said:

Sometimes we win, sometimes we draw and sometimes we lose but it’s always shite 

It is really difficult to see what Thelin's vision is. Surely it isn't this.

[OrlandoDon]

Not quite sure what happened today, but like with st mirren and killie, thought our goal would pick us up and we’d go on and try to win it. Our goal killed our momentum and we were maybe slightly lucky to get a draw.

im def turning on JT unfortunately, same shit week in and week out, and as much as we all have hope for belalovic, looks like he’s being coached as an inverted winger to come inside too. That shit is starting to make my blood boil! I just don’t see how a few more new players in January fixes things. Think we do have some good players who aren’t playing to potential, or coached properly to play to their strengths. I just don’t see how JT improves our play or makes us a good team.

Edited 12 hours ago by OrlandoDon

[The.Moog]

Credit for coming back from a goal down (would be nice if we could stop putting ourselves in that position in the first place mind) but fuck me we’re such a difficult watch.

How hard is it to understand that to score you need to get the ball into the fucking box.

Yes Karlsson, I’m talking to you ffs.

Plus you’ve got your heart in your mouth every time a long throw, corner or set piece comes into the box - we are utterly incapable of just clearing our lines back there.

Bilalovic & Kjartennson both looked decent when they came on again. Aouchiche worked hard again but tries to be too clever too often.

Neither number 9 offered anything at all - again.

We’re a long way off where we need to be - and I think should be - halfway through “the project”. A LWB, CH, box to box midfielder and a No 9 who can actually play the lone striker role needed at a minimum - though I doubt we’ll get all that in January.

Just see a long uninspiring slog from here to the end of the season sadly…

[Brochred]

24 minutes ago, OneBrianIrvine. said:

Armstrong’s not had a great game today. I mean no one has but I expect more from him.

Bilalovic done good work covering but that’s it for plus points today.

I agree no-one had a good game, KNoester probably MotM. How many goals are we going to lose by letting the ball bounce/fannying about, IF IN DOUBT HOOF IT OUT. Armstrong and Karlsson had poor games Auochiche I though was the best of our midifeld until Kjartensson came on. He looked solid. Bilalovic needs to start ahead of Topi. Christ knows who we play up front

[BigAl]

Whilst on no way blaming him for our inability to beat a team who came for a draw and only late on thought they might actually have a chance of three points owing to our incompetence, a special mention must go to TBITB, Calum Scott whose ability to stop the game for the most trivial reason knew no boundaries.

[OneBrianIrvine.]

1 minute ago, OrlandoDon said:

That shit is stating to make my blood boil!

It’s making me loathe karlsson - I’ve never really taken to him but sick of watching him cut in and in and in. I was internally screaming at him to go on the outside/down the fucking line so many times today.

I hear and understand folk saying send him home in January , I’ve said the same at times, but at the same time is he not still our main scorer and for assists? 

Urgh I just hate how we play. I actually got a bit excited briefly hoping it was a back four today but deep down I knew better. And it’s not just the set up, we’re so ponderous. Jensen used to get a lot of blame for that but it’s no different with him out the team. 

Topi and Nisbet will no doubt get stick tonight but they’re being hung out to dry. Poor starting line up today (again) but even more disappointed that they couldn’t raise themselves after getting the equaliser. As others have said we disappeared after that and were lucky to get a point in all honesty.

Urgh.

 

[OrlandoDon]

Just now, OneBrianIrvine. said:

It’s making me loathe karlsson - I’ve never really taken to him but sick of watching him cut in and in and in. I was internally screaming at him to go on the outside/down the fucking line so many times today.

I hear and understand folk saying send him home in January , I’ve said the same at times, but at the same time is he not still our main scorer and for assists? 

Urgh I just hate how we play. I actually got a bit excited briefly hoping it was a back four today but deep down I knew better. And it’s not just the set up, we’re so ponderous. Jensen used to get a lot of blame for that but it’s no different with him out the team. 

Topi and Nisbet will no doubt get stick tonight but they’re being hung out to dry. Poor starting line up today (again) but even more disappointed that they couldn’t raise themselves after getting the equaliser. As others have said we disappeared after that and were lucky to get a point in all honesty.

Urgh.

 

It hurts my heart when I’d rather watch Motherwell play, they are an enjoyable watch, we are not. I want their manager.

[OrlandoDon]

So two tough away games next, then two games v the Huns. Based on today, any points? We are powder puff up front, create little, and gift goals….. ugh.

[RicoS321]

Just back. Wasn't great, wasn't terrible. Utd got what they came for, were really cynical and sucked all the joy out of fitba for an evening. When they actually tried to play football, they appeared capable. Complete domination, doing very little, until we make a rudimentary catalogue of errors. All our goals against come from the initial error causing a domino of further fuck ups. Today it was Aouchiche with a tragic attempt at a header when he should have controlled it, the defence gets caught out and Devlin loses a header he would normally go through first time and Milne doesn't read the game and cover, leaving Mitov rooted to his line for an easy finish. 

We then dominate up until our goal, with some fairly attacking subs. Those subs are then screwed for utd's fifteen minute spell of actual football until Thelin finally realises he needs to make a sub again. We finish the game on top but with little opportunity to score, save for one good run and cross from Milanovic. 

Shinnie ran his arse off the entire game, constantly making the space down the left and was my MOTM. Knoester decent too. Armstrong was terrible in the second half, as was Lazetic. Aouchiche worked really hard but his passing was woeful, and Polvara worked hard but once again gets caught in possession in the most schoolboy of fashion (think he might be a centre half). Karlsson did really well for the goal but just needs fired into the sea. McGinn was never the fastest player in the world, but he could drop a shoulder and send a player into a different timezone. Karlsson hasn't taken on a player since he arrived, and he's very easy to defend against. Nisbet perhaps looked poor on the TV, but he did a lot of work as the number nine and did stretch them a good bit in the first half - significantly more so than Lazetic. Kjartansson shored things up nicely and should have been on earlier. Bilalovic tracked back well but isn't the player you want in the wingback role. Keskinen was actually okay there, I think people forget he's the fullback with a player in front of him, but we missed Lobban. 

[Elgindon]

Also just back.Yes Utd were pretty stuffy but average, while we were both predictable and toothless again for too large a part of the game.Frustrating too,when youve got a bumper crowd and you hope to entice unregulars more often.

     As mentioned,we're clinging to the hope of a season changing Jan window.Ok lets see what happens then,nae huddin' my breath....  

   Thought Polvara did ok in midfield,nothing more,but as said,think he could be useful as a stand in defender since were light in that dept.Cool headed,seems intelligent enough to be able to read the game. Auxiliary defender/midfielder at most if he stays,but not bothered if he leaves

[BigAl]

29 minutes ago, RicoS321 said:

Just back. Wasn't great, wasn't terrible. Utd got what they came for, were really cynical and sucked all the joy out of fitba for an evening. When they actually tried to play football, they appeared capable. Complete domination, doing very little, until we make a rudimentary catalogue of errors. All our goals against come from the initial error causing a domino of further fuck ups. Today it was Aouchiche with a tragic attempt at a header when he should have controlled it, the defence gets caught out and Devlin loses a header he would normally go through first time and Milne doesn't read the game and cover, leaving Mitov rooted to his line for an easy finish. 

We then dominate up until our goal, with some fairly attacking subs. Those subs are then screwed for utd's fifteen minute spell of actual football until Thelin finally realises he needs to make a sub again. We finish the game on top but with little opportunity to score, save for one good run and cross from Milanovic. 

Shinnie ran his arse off the entire game, constantly making the space down the left and was my MOTM. Knoester decent too. Armstrong was terrible in the second half, as was Lazetic. Aouchiche worked really hard but his passing was woeful, and Polvara worked hard but once again gets caught in possession in the most schoolboy of fashion (think he might be a centre half). Karlsson did really well for the goal but just needs fired into the sea. McGinn was never the fastest player in the world, but he could drop a shoulder and send a player into a different timezone. Karlsson hasn't taken on a player since he arrived, and he's very easy to defend against. Nisbet perhaps looked poor on the TV, but he did a lot of work as the number nine and did stretch them a good bit in the first half - significantly more so than Lazetic. Kjartansson shored things up nicely and should have been on earlier. Bilalovic tracked back well but isn't the player you want in the wingback role. Keskinen was actually okay there, I think people forget he's the fullback with a player in front of him, but we missed Lobban. 

Seems pretty fair IMHO 

[OneBrianIrvine.]

1 hour ago, RicoS321 said:

 Nisbet perhaps looked poor on the TV, but he did a lot of work as the number nine and did stretch them a good bit in the first half - significantly more so than Lazetic.

This is something a lot of people refuse to acknowledge, I’m guilty of it myself at times - watching the game on TV only tells part of the story.

Thats nothing against those who don’t or can’t go, I myself don’t get to as many games as I did when I was younger.

It’s just frustrating that camera operators are obviously instructed to zoom in, or do cutaways and crowd shots. I guess it’s to keep the casual watcher entertained but I’d much rather have a fixed camera angle of the pitch as a whole rather than it following the ball.

[Jute]

1 hour ago, RicoS321 said:

Just back. Wasn't great, wasn't terrible. Utd got what they came for, were really cynical and sucked all the joy out of fitba for an evening. When they actually tried to play football, they appeared capable. Complete domination, doing very little, until we make a rudimentary catalogue of errors. All our goals against come from the initial error causing a domino of further fuck ups. Today it was Aouchiche with a tragic attempt at a header when he should have controlled it, the defence gets caught out and Devlin loses a header he would normally go through first time and Milne doesn't read the game and cover, leaving Mitov rooted to his line for an easy finish. 

We then dominate up until our goal, with some fairly attacking subs. Those subs are then screwed for utd's fifteen minute spell of actual football until Thelin finally realises he needs to make a sub again. We finish the game on top but with little opportunity to score, save for one good run and cross from Milanovic. 

Shinnie ran his arse off the entire game, constantly making the space down the left and was my MOTM. Knoester decent too. Armstrong was terrible in the second half, as was Lazetic. Aouchiche worked really hard but his passing was woeful, and Polvara worked hard but once again gets caught in possession in the most schoolboy of fashion (think he might be a centre half). Karlsson did really well for the goal but just needs fired into the sea. McGinn was never the fastest player in the world, but he could drop a shoulder and send a player into a different timezone. Karlsson hasn't taken on a player since he arrived, and he's very easy to defend against. Nisbet perhaps looked poor on the TV, but he did a lot of work as the number nine and did stretch them a good bit in the first half - significantly more so than Lazetic. Kjartansson shored things up nicely and should have been on earlier. Bilalovic tracked back well but isn't the player you want in the wingback role. Keskinen was actually okay there, I think people forget he's the fullback with a player in front of him, but we missed Lobban. 

Pretty much my view on it. Would not want to watch that United team more than a couple of times a season. Goodwin could get football stopped. We desperately need to a striker as we already knew Yengi was not good enough and on last few weeks evidence neither is Lazetic. Nisbet worked hard but is getting zero service from midfield. We need a striker in that can fit the system they are trying to implement. Karlsson is a really frustrating player. Despite scoring today I felt he was major reason our attack was so toothless. I would happily pay for Polvara’s flights back to the U.S. if it meant not having to watch him get out muscled or give the ball away again. 

[RicoS321]

11 minutes ago, OneBrianIrvine. said:

It’s just frustrating that camera operators are obviously instructed to zoom in, or do cutaways and crowd shots. I guess it’s to keep the casual watcher entertained but I’d much rather have a fixed camera angle of the pitch as a whole rather than it following the ball

It boils my pish. It's noticeably better on sky etc than the red TV coverage it has to be said, and foreign football is largely unwatchable. Every dead space filled with a close up of someone's face. Why on earth do we need to see close ups of a player's reaction? We want to see their actual reaction on the pitch, whether they chase down an opponent, get back into position or whatever. I want to see who's moving where when we get a throw-in or goal kick, not a replay of a nothing event, or a fucking close up of the fourth official holding up a stoppage time fucking board! Fuck the casual watcher, it's always somebody's team that's playing. 

[dons8321]

2 hours ago, OrlandoDon said:

Partly because we have no real attacking threat at 9, and neither wide player will attack the line. So we spend the day going sideways and backwards. Aouchiche and Armstrong will penetrate centrally as an attacking mid, but there’s zero quality attacking play for either wing or 9. It’s been a painful watch all season, we’re so predictable and honestly, the last 20, we may be the happier team to get a point. 

Neither wide player will attack the line because it'll put them on their wrong foot, so they nearly always check back and the oppo defence can reset.  As an old-fashioned winger, you want to burn past FB, and flash it into the penalty area where the defenders are chasing back facing the wrong way.  Instead we have inverted wingers who cut back inside all the time, giving defenders time to reset.  

[OrlandoDon]

I cannot accept the type of support fo nisbet. He’s a forward who is meant to create and score goals. He isn’t doing that. Week in and week out. Looks off the pace much of the time too. He doesn’t combine with our center mids or wide guys (if we even have those), that I don’t really know what he does. I don’t know where hibs played him, but if he’s more of a 10 who plays with another forward, then that’s on Thelin. 

Lazetic was poor today, but has been ok most of the season and is young, hasn’t been a main 9 for a team as far as I know. Nisbet is an experienced pro. Working hard isn’t enough for me. 

football is mainly about two things. Not giving away goals, especially cheap goals, and scoring goals. We should see 18 months of Thelin work in these two areas, but today is a perfect example of where we are. We’re not bad at the back, and have looked better this season since the back 3, but even now we’re back to where we were last season where we look shaky at the back, bit nervous, and are giving away goals. We’re almost going backwards and getting worse defensively. In attack it’s all about the final third. Combinations, crosses, getting to the line, different types of runs to attack crosses, a forward laying off to a shot from a midfielder etc. I have absolutely no clue what we are trying to do in attack. And today isn’t a one off, this is the norm for us.
Said it before, I’m an ‘A’ licensed coach with 30 years coaching experience. I have not clue what we are trying to do in attack. We don’t really see combos. Don’t see overlapping, don’t see width, don’t see getting to the line for crosses, don’t see early crosses or variations of crosses. What the fuck are we meant to be doing in attack??

I don’t believe nisbet, or karlsson, are bad players. But they are clearly not being utilized or playing to their ability level. That’s on Thelin too.

[OrlandoDon]

12 minutes ago, dons8321 said:

Neither wide player will attack the line because it'll put them on their wrong foot, so they nearly always check back and the oppo defence can reset.  As an old-fashioned winger, you want to burn past FB, and flash it into the penalty area where the defenders are chasing back facing the wrong way.  Instead we have inverted wingers who cut back inside all the time, giving defenders time to reset.  

Inverted wingers can work, seen it and coached it. But we’re doing it incredibly poorly. Inverted allows many things, including full back overlapping for width, cut inside for a switch of play/through ball to the opposite winger, penetrating ball to a diagonal run of a forward. We do little to none of that. We cut in and it’s crowded with very little movement. As a result we’re very limited in options so most often it’s sideways or backwards. Opponents get back, get set, and have time to be organized. Our inverted play is counter productive and quite often buys opponents time to get back.

shady mo was very limited, but after a season or so with us figured out he simply had to knock it past a defender an go. We are so badly missing that. That’s a lot of goals/assists we have lost. 

Edited 9 hours ago by OrlandoDon

[TheDonbytheDee]

Every game you know what is coming.  We dick about so much, you know the opposition are going to punish us.

Lots of nice little passing movements, but always that extra touch that's not needed or a poor final pass into the danger areas, or more likely an opposition player.

Thought Shinnie was MOTM for us not got the legs for the 90 minutes at the LWB role, but the heart of the guy, never ever stops. A lot of players could learn from him.

Knoester was a close second. The guy is class.

Reading a few pops at Nisbet and Lazetic. Nobody we bring in as a striker is going to work with the shit they are given to work with. 

Thought Armstrong was shit all game, especially his final ball, just woeful. Some of his corners were embarrassing. He is far better than that.

Topi as well, just a waste of a shirt tonight.

United weren't great, but we have a knack of making average teams look like world beaters.

A draw was a fair result overall, but the sort of match we should be looking to take three points from, or at least make teams fight hard for anything, instead of just gifting them it.

 

Edited 7 hours ago by TheDonbytheDee

[Goldie03]

It was a painful watch on tv, thought we might kick on when we got the equaliser but dear god it was torture, dreading ER on Tuesday evening now. 

The fannying about without getting a decent ball into the box is doing my head in!!