Team vs Cowdenbeath

[Bergen Blade]

Just a guess with the formation:

Howard​

Westlake Maguire Higginbotham McGinty​

Whitehouse Doyle McDonald​

Brandy - - - - - - - -Porter - - - - - - - - Murphy​

​

 

[Rudders]

Ah the dreaded 4-5-1

 

[Come from away]

Depends where McD is setting up.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

With the personnel he has available I'm expecting DW to move towards a 4-5-1/4-3-3 shape. Suits what we have. Saying that I'm not sure where McFadzean fits into a 4-3-3 and we simply must play him IMO.

 

[DazBlade88]

With the personnel he has available I'm expecting DW to move towards a 4-5-1/4-3-3 shape. Suits what we have. Saying that I'm not sure where McFadzean fits into a 4-3-3 and we simply must play him IMO.

He can easily play on the left of the three.

I'm 99% certain we'll be playing with a lone striker this season, and that doesn't mean that we're necessarily defensive. McGinn and McDonald deeper with another midfielder pushing on along with two wingers and we'll be getting plenty of men forward.

I'd say push McDonald as the most attacking midfielder, but his shooting is pretty poor and I think he prefers to play from deep. Something like this perhaps:

----------- McGinn-----McDonald-------

Brandy---------Murphy-------McFadzean

-------------------Porter--------------------

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

My conundrum is where he would be better in a system like that, in the midfield three or the three up top. Could do either for me but not sure which would suit his abilities best. Either side of the front three would be my bet.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

I like that set up Daz....very continental and modern. Which is exactly why we probably won't do it. Unless Weir is the man to finally drag us into the 21st century!

 

[OllyBlade]

No Flynn again?

 

[Zanzibar]

He can easily play on the left of the three.

I'm 99% certain we'll be playing with a lone striker this season, and that doesn't mean that we're necessarily defensive. McGinn and McDonald deeper with another midfielder pushing on along with two wingers and we'll be getting plenty of men forward.

I'd say push McDonald as the most attacking midfielder, but his shooting is pretty poor and I think he prefers to play from deep. Something like this perhaps:

----------- McGinn-----McDonald-------

Brandy---------Murphy-------McFadzean

-------------------Porter--------------------

McDonald is rubbish anywhere in the depth of midfield because he hasn't the legs, nor does he put himself about enough.
If at all he must play behind the front line and not be used for defending.

 

[Come from away]

So you watchers in Scotland, any sign of possibility from some of the newcomers?

 

[Ballinpigpubs13]

McDonald is rubbish anywhere in the depth of midfield because he hasn't the legs, nor does he put himself about enough.
If at all he must play behind the front line and not be used for defending.

McDonald put himself about well yesterday and got stuck in' probably too much for a friendly imo.

 

[Pinchy]

McDonald put himself about well yesterday and got stuck in' probably too much for a friendly imo.

McUpanatem!

 

[Bergen Blade]

He can easily play on the left of the three.

I'm 99% certain we'll be playing with a lone striker this season, and that doesn't mean that we're necessarily defensive. McGinn and McDonald deeper with another midfielder pushing on along with two wingers and we'll be getting plenty of men forward.

I'd say push McDonald as the most attacking midfielder, but his shooting is pretty poor and I think he prefers to play from deep. Something like this perhaps:

----------- McGinn-----McDonald-------

Brandy---------Murphy-------McFadzean

-------------------Porter--------------------

Worth a go and an improvement on what we saw last season, although I personally prefer one holding anchor man/defensive playmaker, and two central midfielders being allowed to bomb forward to join up with attacks.

If we use your team and end up with holding full backs this season (i.e. McMahon and Hill) we could have a whole back four + two sitting central midfielders not contributing a lot in terms of forward movement on and off the ball. There would be a lot of playmaking, maybe a lot of possession, but maybe not enough penetration, two against one situations and getting players in the box?

In any case it will also be interesting to see if McDonald and McGinn can form a good understanding. McDonald looked lost at times when Robson came in and demanded to be the playmaker.

 

[Silent Blade]

Worth a go and an improvement on what we saw last season, although I personally prefer one holding anchor man/defensive playmaker, and two central midfielders being allowed to bomb forward to join up with attacks.

If we use your team and end up with holding full backs this season (i.e. McMahon and Hill) we could have a whole back four + two sitting central midfielders not contributing a lot in terms of forward movement on and off the ball. There would be a lot of playmaking, maybe a lot of possession, but maybe not enough penetration, two against one situations and getting players in the box?

In any case it will also be interesting to see if McDonald and McGinn can form a good understanding. McDonald looked lost at times when Robson came in and demanded to be the playmaker.

 

[DazBlade88]

Worth a go and an improvement on what we saw last season, although I personally prefer one holding anchor man/defensive playmaker, and two central midfielders being allowed to bomb forward to join up with attacks.

If we use your team and end up with holding full backs this season (i.e. McMahon and Hill) we could have a whole back four + two sitting central midfielders not contributing a lot in terms of forward movement on and off the ball. There would be a lot of playmaking, maybe a lot of possession, but maybe not enough penetration, two against one situations and getting players in the box?

In any case it will also be interesting to see if McDonald and McGinn can form a good understanding. McDonald looked lost at times when Robson came in and demanded to be the playmaker.

I see your point actually.

It's hard to say who we could play in that type of role as McGinn, McDonald and Doyle have produced little in terms of an attacking threat over their career, Whitehouse can get definitely get forward from midfield but other than that we have nothing.

I would prefer it if we had more attacking options at full back because I love to see them getting forward as much as they can. It would solve a lot of our attacking problems in my opinion. Jack Dean from Fulham has been made available, maybe he's that type? We had him on trial last pre-season I believe.

To be honest, after last season I think McDonald needs to put himself out there a bit more and take charge of games. With more movement from the wings (we can only hope) he should be in his element really, and let McGinn take up the deeper role possibly? I've not seen much of the lad to be fair so I don't know his game, although I think he takes a decent set piece.

 

[Pinchy]

I see your point actually.

It's hard to say who we could play in that type of role as McGinn, McDonald and Doyle have produced little in terms of an attacking threat over their career, Whitehouse can get definitely get forward from midfield but other than that we have nothing.

I would prefer it if we had more attacking options at full back because I love to see them getting forward as much as they can. It would solve a lot of our attacking problems in my opinion. Jack Dean from Fulham has been made available, maybe he's that type? We had him on trial last pre-season I believe.

To be honest, after last season I think McDonald needs to put himself out there a bit more and take charge of games. With more movement from the wings (we can only hope) he should be in his element really, and let McGinn take up the deeper role possibly? I've not seen much of the lad to be fair so I don't know his game, although I think he takes a decent set piece.

I doubt any of us have seen much of McGinn but I've seen more than enough of Mrs. Doyle.

 

[Sharrowblade]

Its really come to something, when you get asked by Cowdenbeath fans after half an hour, 'Is this your first team?'

 

[Houso]

But being able to say "no, it's not" was surely a comfort?

 

[Bergen Blade]

But being able to say "no, it's not" was surely a comfort?

Yes, as soon as Long's back we'll start scoring.

Seriously, I think the starting line up was decent and would be disappointed if we aren't showing real signs of improvement by August.

 

[Houso]

Yes, as soon as Long's back we'll start scoring.

Seriously, I think the starting line up was decent and would be disappointed if we aren't showing real signs of improvement by August.

Come on Bergs, it's likely that 3 of that defence won't start, 1 of that midfield, and then there's likely to be another change up front.

I'd say that at least half of that side isn't first team material.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Come on Bergs, it's likely that 3 of that defence won't start, 1 of that midfield, and then there's likely to be another change up front.

I'd say that at least half of that side isn't first team material.

All of those are players who will be aiming for a regular spot and we should expect them to do well at our level, let alone against Cowdenbeath. But it was only an early pre season friendly, I am sure we'll improve.

 

[Houso]

All of those are players who will be aiming for a regular spot and we should expect them to do well at our level, let alone against Cowdenbeath. But it was only an early pre season friendly, I am sure we'll improve.

I don't disagree with that. I was only saying it wasn't our first team

 

[Sharrowblade]

I'd say that at least half of that side isn't first team material.

Maybe, but they were infinately better than our second half team

 

[Houso]

Ruh-roh.

 

[Bergen Blade]

A few comments from a poster on BM:

By all accounts Utd were very poor today. There were some stand out performances, although not all in a good way.
Elliott Whitehouse came on for Doyle in the first half and played most of the second half. Was disappointing. Thought he showed promise for Youth Cup finalists team but really had little confidence to make decisive forward passes. There's still potential but I doubt he'll make much of an impact in the short term on this showing.
Brandy was ineffective. His touch simply wasn't there today. Played the first half. Had it not been a friendly could possibly have been sent off after mistiming a tackle near half time. Looked a bit rusty so difficult to judge how he'll go on once season starts.
On a positive - Ironside put himself about second half and looked a threat although was a bit isolated up front on his own (as was Porter first half). We had 15 minutes of excellent position after half time. The three trialists (particularly numbers 20 and 18) looked really promising on the ball - I didn't catch their names. Unfortunately they drifted out of the game midway into the second half.

I understand Weir giving the lads from last season a chance but he must understand after this that we desperately need to strengthen. We made Cowdenbeath look half decent near the end. Crying out for a goal scorer, possibly two of them.

Well, off to Kirkcaldy for Raith Rovers on Wednesday night. Hope it's better than today was!

The poster later confirmed that the two players he thought were trialists were Jordan Hodder and Jahmal Smith.

 

[Sharrowblade]

A few comments from a poster on BM:



The poster later confirmed that the two players he thought were trialists were Jordan Hodder and Jahmal Smith.

Can't agree about Whitehouse, I thought he was the best of the midfield in the first half, and he didn't come on for Doyle, he began the game.
He played the last 25 minutes of the second half, but he looked tired by then, and put a couple of misplaced passes in, to be fair, he probably didn't expect to come on as he had just finished his cool down routine. I don't worry about his ability to get forward, but I do worry about his ability to get injured.

Howard had little to do, came for a cross when he shouldn't but overall, he communicates with the defence well.
Westy has his critics, but did nothing wrong and was always willing to receive the ball. McGinty did ok, as did Maguire and Higgo. McDonald still flatters to deceive. Murph, can't say I knew he was playing
Agree with the comments about Brandy, Porter and Ironside (who could have had a couple, but their triallist keeper pulled off a couple of smart stops). I thought, No 18 was McGinn?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharrowblade/9243595438/in/set-72157626074614032

Second half, yes started well, but by the end we were ragged. We invited pressure late on, by this obsession of going backwards. Hill, Collins and Williams did not look comfortable. We still don't get quality crosses in, Williams has to know by know we don't have any forwards 16ft high, and the one time we got round the back, McFadzean showed no composure when he scuffed his shot in haste.

Ultimately, yes we were poor, no point dressing it up, but as you rightly pointed out Bergen, it was a pre season friendly, played on a very hot afternoon. After all, in the greater scheme of things it will be forgotten by next week.

DW probably knows now after two friendlies, what many United supporters knew last season. .

 

[Guesty]

I seem to remember a correlation in the past between a bad preseason and a good season and vice versa, but I could be mistaken on that.

 

[Dnblade]

Alright everyone,I'm new on here but have read the board regularly.

What's everyone think of McFadzean at Left Back,I know he's played there for the academy before.I think he could be a good attacking LB who get's forward on the overlap...he seems to have a decent engine and tidy on the ball.
Also regarding McGinn,rather than a defensive midfielder..Isn't he more of an attacking type,who is quite creative.I've copied a paragraph from 'a united view' blog which describes how he was played at Watford before he got injured...maybe he could play in the middle of a 3 behind the striker if we are intending to plat a 4231..

From a united view....
Come the following season however and Stephen began to spread his wings. More frequently involved now he began to impose himself upon a central midfield position. When Jordon Mutch returned to Birmingham after an impressive six month loan in the January McGinn stepped into the apex of the diamond, sometimes even playing an advanced role behind lone striker Danny Graham. He looked terrific... deft, clever, efficient with possession and yet effective too, slide rule always handy for a vicious through ball and adept at timing his runs into the box. He might not quite have been the finished article, but he was progressing at an exciting rate."