Lack of pace and too predictable

[LewysGot2]

So, after making the trip to Dundee and not having looked at any TV coverage, I can't get something out of my head after yesterday's nonsense.

We know we're missing our counter attacking out to the genuinely pacy Martin Boyle. We've seen that Elie Youan can, inconsistently, provide an alternative- but lacks the sheer desire and bravery of Boyle. He never goes for the jugular and more often than not wants too much time on the ball. We lack genuine pace elsewhere in the team and whether this is one of the reasons our build up play from the back is so ponderous or not, our ability to turn defence quickly into attack is non- existent. I lost count yesterday of the times Marshall let utd get 11 men behind the ball before distributing it. Compare and contrast Utds ability to get in about us quickly from turnovers and get in behind the pushed up full backs.
I like Egan Rileys technical ability but he lacks pace - Fish is far more athletic.

Genuine pace comes at a premium but our frightening lack of it outside Boyler is a massive issue.

[wookie70]

I was up photographing the game and the slowness of of play is is even more evident when you have so much time to catch shots of players in possession. I think the problem is two fold. One, the ball carriers are either playing it safe or not able to play passes that hurt other teams but the other factor is that there is very little movement. Youan was back to his early season form, Jeggo and Egan-Riley take so many touches before playing a pass, McKirdy actually got a good early ball into the box in the first few minutes but after that was poor imo. Nisbet and Myko are really good and if we could move the ball quicker and get some quality into the box we have firepower. You mention Marshall and quite a few times he was looking for the early ball but there was little interest from potential runners. The whole team just looks like it has lost interest. It will be interesting to see what the reaction is for the Derby as Johnson singled out Fish, Youan and Taveres in his post match comments and those comments will either create resolve or make players lose more confidence.

[Pretty Boy]

There were multiple occasions yesterday that saw the player with the ball standing with his arms outstretched begging for movement ahead of him, even someone dropping short just to bounce the ball off and create a bit space would have been something. That's hardly a one off either, it's a feature most weeks.

It's easy to blame the phenomenon of overcoaching these days. Players being too rigid, being given too specific an instruction and losing any ability to express themselves. I'm not sure that applies here though, it just looks like the players don't really know what they are supposed to be doing a lot of the time. The absolute mess our right hand side got in against Rangers is one of the clearest examples, the 2 players on that side didn't have a clue who was doing what and we got roasted down that flank every time the ball was moved there. Yesterday felt the same. It was pass, pass, pass, turn insides, pass, pass, pass, back to the keeper, pass, pass, pass, tune inside, pass, pass, pass then either a hoof long or a misplaced pass. I've no issue with keeping the ball but there was zero intent to what we were doing. It wasn't drawing United out, it wasn't forcing them to lose their shape, it wasn't quick enough to cut them open. It must have been a dream to play against as it was so pedestrian and predictable. There just seemed no plan and the players seemed at a loss as to who was supposed to be doing what. That doesn't absolve them of any blame of course, there are enough experienced players in that team that one of them could have taken things by the scruff of the neck and dragged us through the game.

[Broken Gnome]

There were multiple occasions yesterday that saw the player with the ball standing with his arms outstretched begging for movement ahead of him, even someone dropping short just to bounce the ball off and create a bit space would have been something. That's hardly a one off either, it's a feature most weeks.

It's easy to blame the phenomenon of overcoaching these days. Players being too rigid, being given too specific an instruction and losing any ability to express themselves. I'm not sure that applies here though, it just looks like the players don't really know what they are supposed to be doing a lot of the time. The absolute mess our right hand side got in against Rangers is one of the clearest examples, the 2 players on that side didn't have a clue who was doing what and we got roasted down that flank every time the ball was moved there. Yesterday felt the same. It was pass, pass, pass, turn insides, pass, pass, pass, back to the keeper, pass, pass, pass, tune inside, pass, pass, pass then either a hoof long or a misplaced pass. I've no issue with keeping the ball but there was zero intent to what we were doing. It wasn't drawing United out, it wasn't forcing them to lose their shape, it wasn't quick enough to cut them open. It must have been a dream to play against as it was so pedestrian and predictable. There just seemed no plan and the players seemed at a loss as to who was supposed to be doing what. That doesn't absolve them of any blame of course, there are enough experienced players in that team that one of them could have taken things by the scruff of the neck and dragged us through the game.

The lack of movement has been chronic for years - largely a result of not buying the right sort of midfield player, but the forwards are equally culpable.

The most likely candidate I could see showing for the ball and looking to move it on positively would be Newell, but for too often that would just end up being recycled out wide then back to where we started. Aside from that, it's really the most damning indictment of whatever game plan we have - far too often there is just nothing on for a player, and it probably renders us the easiest team in the league to play against.

[marinello59]

There were multiple occasions yesterday that saw the player with the ball standing with his arms outstretched begging for movement ahead of him, even someone dropping short just to bounce the ball off and create a bit space would have been something. That's hardly a one off either, it's a feature most weeks.

It's easy to blame the phenomenon of overcoaching these days. Players being too rigid, being given too specific an instruction and losing any ability to express themselves. I'm not sure that applies here though, it just looks like the players don't really know what they are supposed to be doing a lot of the time. The absolute mess our right hand side got in against Rangers is one of the clearest examples, the 2 players on that side didn't have a clue who was doing what and we got roasted down that flank every time the ball was moved there. Yesterday felt the same. It was pass, pass, pass, turn insides, pass, pass, pass, back to the keeper, pass, pass, pass, tune inside, pass, pass, pass then either a hoof long or a misplaced pass. I've no issue with keeping the ball but there was zero intent to what we were doing. It wasn't drawing United out, it wasn't forcing them to lose their shape, it wasn't quick enough to cut them open. It must have been a dream to play against as it was so pedestrian and predictable. There just seemed no plan and the players seemed at a loss as to who was supposed to be doing what. That doesn't absolve them of any blame of course, there are enough experienced players in that team that one of them could have taken things by the scruff of the neck and dragged us through the game.

:agree:
Dundee United, one of the worst teams in the league, had an easy game yesterday. I don’t think our players are over coached, I just think we have far too many poor players.

[green day]

:agree:
Dundee United, one of the worst teams in the league, had an easy game yesterday. I don’t think our players are over coached, I just think we have far too many poor players.

Agreed - I posted this as part of a rant on the PM board yesterday - could probably add Jeggo into the "lose" column, which overall makes a really damning assessment of our recruitment;


I thought I would look at todays team and give my opinion on if they are good enough for next season or should leave -


Johnson - leave now please


Marshall - leave


Cadden - leave
Fish - loan so leave
Egan R - loan so leave
Cabraja - leave


Newell - leave
Jeggo - keep
Campbell - keep
McKirdy - leave
Youan - loan so leave (not sure of fee or if hes worth it?)
Nisbet - leave (think hes being sold in the summer)


Subs


Kukharevic - loan so leave
Henderson - leave
Stevenson - keep as coach and backup
Jair - leave