Pull My Strings

No mate, you're mistaken.

Graham went on Denholm because he was identified as the weak link. I'd be amazed if it was a decision made by United.

Aye, maybe.

Tbf, he hardly played for Dunfermline. He came back to United that season and was excellent at a much higher level. I think the Dunfermline stint said more about Peter Grant's team than it did about Graham.

Yeah, Grimshaw at right back and I'd be tempted to stick Ross Graham in beside Holt for the time being. Don't know what to do with Denholm but he really needs to learn quickly how to defend or he's going to be a liability.

Well, that's a cheery thought. I think it was like that under Thompson Jr and the mood only changed when he was finally ousted. Ogren doesn't seem like such a negative presence though. He might have made bad decisions (obviously he has) but he doesn't seem like a guy who lives under black cloud like Thompson.

It's very difficult to be positive after seven consecutive defeats. In my opinion, there were some positives signs last night .. but, it's yet another defeat and no doubt another blow to the confidence and any lingering patience from the fans will all but have evaporated. On the positive side, we now appear to have a competent (possibly good) keeper and hard, vocal organiser in midfield in Docherty; the young guys are getting a chance and some of them look like they could make a real contribution (Fotheringham, Cudjoe, Meekison, in particular); Moult, if he stays fit, should be an excellent striker at this level. With a bit of the rub of the green we could have won both cup games thus far (big deal, I know, and we didn't). Against that the centre half from Cardiff looks like a lovely footballer but completely incapable of competing with a big centre forward (possibly any centre forward - we've only seen him against a couple of big guys). By my reckoning he lost every single high ball with Brian Graham last night and was generally bullied. Graham's a decent, experienced, wily player but he's nothing special and he was handled comfortably by Ross Graham when he came on. The full backs are average to poor (although McMann did okay last night). We're still moving the ball too slowly. The players collectively couldn't hit a coo's arse with a banjo.

I think it remains to be seen whether Moult's a ridiculous signing. Looks like he hasn't played for over seven months following his last ankle injury. It's possible that's he's actually recovered after a long period of rehabilitation, in which case he could be an amazing signing at this level. Of course, past experience tells us that guys who start to pick up lots of injuries towards the end of their careers are rarely far from another one but it's possible.

Consensus on the Motherwell thread appears to be that he is (or was) an excellent player but is now made of biscuits.

Mypa was 2-2, it just felt like 2-0.

He was fine yesterday, as much as anyone was fine, and there'll be many others in the firing line before him, I suspect. Erskine came into the club at a time when we were enjoying some of the best attacking players we've had for a generation (Gauld, Armstrong, GMS, Ciftci). He simply wasn't of the same standard, as the rest of his career I think bears testament to. Brian Graham had a similar problem. I'm not convinced United fans are any more impatient than any other group of fans.

I suspect you've an agenda, my man.

Fair enough. We needed destroyers in midfield last season and Docherty was sold to the fans as filling that hole. He played deepest of a midfield three today but Spartans didn't do much attacking after taking the lead so I couldn't really say whether he destroyed much or simply played deep. If guys want to vehemently declare that he's not a destroyer then who am I to argue. Not a destroyer Not a "baller" Budget Darren Fletcher. Gotcha.

Neither a destroyer, nor a baller. Ffs, what is he good for (Mrs Meeker aside)?

Nobody thinks he's an "amazing baller" ffs. It's only really the Patrick fans who seem to think today was a story about Ross Docherty. If you're genuinely interested, he was fine. Time to move on lads.

Yeah that was pretty shit. Getting humped by Queens down at Palmerston was pretty bad. The 2-0 v East Fife at Tannadice will be up/down there.

You feeling okay? Lot of Patrick fans in here randomly laughing and muttering to themselves about Docherty. Was he not popular then?

Not convinced. This is a poor United and still regrouping against an upwardly mobile 4th tier team. Doesn't feel worse than taking 9 (nine) from Celtic last season and many other results.

Certainly don't think we need both Docherty and Grimshaw in midfield. Both destroyers and we shouldn't need two destroyers against teams sitting with with 10/11 men behind the ball. Mochrie, Glass and Meekison all looked more capable of working the ball and making worthwhile forward passes. Not convinced that either Freeman or McMann are good enough to be playing in a team hoping to win the league. Well I am convinced, tbf, but not in a good way.

Add Shankland and you've got Neilson's team which ran away with the Championship. Of course that team was incredibly pedestrian apart from Shankland so, ... Edit: so just need to sign someone as good as Shankland and we're laughing. Nae bother.

Ahem.

There's an element of truth in that but it's difficult to be measured after the last 12 months. Very poor from Watt, Middleton, Grimshaw (and others I'm sure). The young guys who came on were better but we're crying out for a good centre forward. It won't Watt and until we get a new guy in I'd go with MacLeod, who at least plays that position.

More intensity required but it's early days. I don't think Tony's the answer at centre forward. A more negative man might point out the parallels with Aberdeen's performance v Darvel.

Neither, I'm afraid. Easy ball into the right back area, cut back and a tap in. It's a static camera stream with no replays so I wouldn't want to point the finger at this stage but not the keeper or McMann at fault.

Meekison also fit to start? Ooft. No Sibbald. Does that suggest he'll be going sooner rather than later.