purestate

Article this week asking if Utd have best midfield three in league at moment. Could be an interesting game especially if Oscar fit enough to start but we do seem to have options available to counteract and maybe some of the (more accurate) long balls will suit the game. definitely at least a draw.

This is exactly what we were saying. JGR and MM don’t have the confidence to play to Fadinger / Hodge in the centre or midfield is not offering in the same way McGinn/Welsh did with Watt Just/Faddy did last year. Last year the ball would have gone to Watt to start the build or create the space. with Oscar back we hopefully see a bit more of that as it subtly shifts the space available for those in front of it’s a real shame that neither P-H or JT could convert the move in first half as it was as well worked as anything last year.

Went for JGR. Been a tough shift for defence recently and he did the work to keep StM really doing anything of concern. He also is being trusted to take the ball a lot to build the attacking phase, yes he went back a number of times but that was generally when no-one offering short for him and majority of his long balls were targeted rather than aimless punts.

Hearts picking up a few injuries this evening it seems. Don’t wish ill on individuals so knocks that keep 5 or 6 of them out of weekend will do.

It seems AJ has had the ‘misfortune’ of having a far better than expected start to his time. Most of the signings also appeared to have hit the ground running and be exciting prospects. A number of us, optimistically as it turns out, expected us to just get stronger push on further. On reflection if you’d told me before a ball was kicked that we’d get through two rounds comfortably and lose to top German team then after 7 league games have 8 pts - 2pts off 4th and 4 above last place I’d have been delighted. I’d therefore consider myself more frustrated than worried because of the last three games. The international break comes at a great time for us to allow a rest and reset and I’m still in the optimistic camp that we will kick on and be challenging for top half rather than looking backwards.

Very slim pickings. Lowry had some good touches and through balls - even if no-one quite on his wavelength. Free kick was terrible though 😔

Shankland going off was probably to our disadvantage as our passing game would have had him puffing and no way he is pressing Poulsen in same way. Still hoping that’s got a few bad performances out of peoples systems all in the one go without, what could have been, a big dent in GD.

So many to choose from but went for JGR. Solid defensively when in the centre then remarkably the out ball / furthest forward multiple times from Poulsen when HJK were throwing everything at us.

Yes, seems like more than a coincidence. Surely makes probably easier to deal with both club and player. Them to reduce wage bill and him to step back up.

Yes. This is the dilemma. On these specific players I do think Wilson has shown enough to be the type of squad player we are talking about. In this case we have both Williams and Longelo who would likely start at left back in almost every case but he could replace either if not available. Ross hasn’t, for me, shown / grasped his chance in any position. Maybe he is an example of going out to lower league as last opportunity. Long may we have some coming through to have these debates.

Do you mean for competition rules rather than just development? I wonder if the recently announced SFA summit ‘Made in Scotland?' will come up with anything radical in this direction. Tom English article on BBC doesn’t mention us - maybe us having quite a few on bench and pitch doesn’t fit his article narrative but for every Robbie Ure there are multiple Scots who haven’t made it - could they have if quotas and/or alternative competitions gave them a chance here? I’d be happy to try unilaterally to have a squad with a lot of (Scots) youngsters getting a chance.

Just listened to the AJ interview after Falkirk. As others have commented it’s a refreshing, no BS, take on the game and where we are at moment. plus I reckon he’s given us a steer to new song/chant at 4:11 in

So far we’ve played three games, scored 7 goals, and conceded once. You can argue about quality of the opposition and chances but arguably the recruitment has focused on what we knew, that a creaking/injured defensive setup was replaced. it’s not as if we haven’t brought in attacking players and everyone wants a striker who can “bang in the goals”. I suspect we all think AP and CH aren’t good enough and Eythor needs to get fit to judge so that’s the main gap so far. Yes we can/should strengthen in some areas but I wouldn’t call current first team operating with one hand behind the back.

Could’ve been Whyte and Lowry for their 2 touches each in the winner but having given it to Oscar in euro games it has to be Said today. 🙌 pS I can totally see why Poulsen and Moormann are getting votes though.

Wow we didn’t make that easy but a couple of fantastic passing moves resulted in two goals. Brilliant.

Certainly team are getting bodies in the way but I’d prefer we weren’t giving so many chances to shoot

What a goal

They’re all looking as if on last legs

Can’t judge on a single game but I think fans get more excited by sheer pace than the recruitment team. Smart defending will quickly nullify that with strength, positioning and (legal) blocking if the player doesn’t also have good ball control. Seedorf had his moments for us but didn’t really have the skill to back up the pace. And as for taking players from lowly Euro qualifying opposition the two word cautionary tale is Shane Blaney 😉

Don’t quite understand the comments on Wilson - from my view he had a solid game and had some good interchanges with Williams in attacking sense. Noticeable that manager kept him on the pitch for the whole game and trusted him in central role when Longelo came on. he might not be starter ahead of Longelo / Williams but nothing I saw gave me the fear.

Priestman for all round performance and lasting the full game where others played well sporadically but, understandably, faded.

TBF Wilson looked fitter than most against Genk. Wouldn’t have a problem him being a back up at moment to, as you suggest, allow Longelo to move forward.

Longelo was injured for last Friday based on the manager update so hopefully not. Although listed as left back presumably could play right and allow Tom S to move forward not perfect but another option

Agree to an extent. Intention yes but naivety in that if good bids and offers to players came in that we would be in a position (not just contractual) to resist. I think most of us are/were realistic about that prospect. Stating the obvious but hindsight is the real issue. Would any of us be worried about losing Watt for £1.5m when he came in from a recent relegation campaign? If we’re in the same place next season with Moorman then that will have meant he (and team hopefully) have had a great season.

Agree Ngandu looked like a football player in terms of touch and composure but physique requires a bit of work. At 16 though he could just be in that classic growth phase. My 193cm 19yo went through a fair few tumphy phases. only signed in July - Him and Thompson defence of the future - while the manager still under 40 😆