Pull My Strings

Nah, not booked. Only thing which stops it being a clear red is the fact that Cudjoe gets back up and scores. Even then, it's incredibly dangerous so might still have been a red. Thought the challenge on Middleton around 30 minutes could also have been a red - very deliberate foul from behind when Middleton was about to either shoot or roll in Watt. Not the last man but we were 2 on 1 on the edge of the box.

Not for me. That's just playing guys for the sake of it. Denham is behind Graham for a reason and isn't our player. He'll surely be gone in January. Graham is first back up to Gallacher and Holt and needs to play to ensure he's ready to step in when required. Likewise Tilson, who we'll need when Docherty and Sibbald aren't available. We're absolutely steamrollering teams just now because the team are totally focused on winning games and keeping clean sheets. There are already lots of young guys getting regular game time. If Moore deserves a place then he'll get it in due course.

Fifth goal? Easy to lose track. It was Docherty.

Well that was fun. Think that's the best we've played this season. We've had a lot of big, comfortable wins but even in those games there have been periods when the opposition have steadied the ship, or looked dangerous, or at least held the ball for a period. This was just utterly dominant for the whole game and looking to score every time we had the ball, which was a lot. Good performances from everyone but I was particularly pleased with Watt and Middleton. I think its fair to say that both were pretty underwhelming for the first couple of months of the season and were probably quite fortunate to keep their places every week. It's no great insight to say that Goodwin was trying to play them into form but I wasn't at all convinced that it would work. It has though. Both have been excellent since the Queens Park game and Middleton in particular looks like a man reborn. Absolutely unplayable today.

That's a shocking lack of attention to detail, tbf.

Is the game actually in doubt tonight? Been a long time since we had a game called off for a waterlogged pitch. I can't recall the last one. Maybe the Rangers game which was abandoned at half time.

Not sure I agree but that's a perfectly reasonable complaint. One for the SPFL though rather than United.

Honestly lads, what's the conspiracy that you guys keep angling at? Do you doubt that United wanted the game this Friday to give it a special feel for the club and fans? If so, what's the ulterior motive? You might think that it's a silly reason to request a change to the scheduling (that's your right) or that the SPFL should have paid more heed to the view of Arbroath before making a decision (perfectly fair), but this persistent whining as if there's been some dreadful injustice visited upon your club because the game was moved for a reason other than the usual, bog standard ones (TV, weather, fixture clash, policing, etc.) is really unbecoming.

Oh no, I can see the outline of that man's nipple.

It is not. Oh you.

Aye, well you're entitled to your opinion.

It was Moult who was booked for leading with his arm and who tried to kick the ball when your man was lying on the ground with it in his hands. Not sure there was much in either incident.

Can we criticise Barton himself? I think that would be fair. Like, if I pretended to be a pilot and then crashed the plane, oopsie.

What about Kevin Holt though, eh? I mind him, albeit obliquely, from his time at Dundee. A lanky, rather feckless left back. I did not expect this guy to pitch up from Partick in the summer. Impeccable centre half, no nonsense, tidy, and loads of goals. Cheers.

Only reason to bring him back would be to give him a new contract and play him. If I were Logan Chalmers I wouldn't sign a new contract. He's approaching his mid 20s and hasn't been trusted under numerous managers, why would he think that would change now. I can see him staying at Ayr or going to another Championship club and really kicking on but he's either just not quite good enough for United now or, maybe he is good enough, but it's taken longer than either side are happy with.

I hope that's true. It wasn't true at United but if the penny's now dropped then that's fantastic. I think its probably too late for him to come back in at United but he's clearly a very talented boy and it's nice to see him doing well elsewhere. Edit: Missed the second part of your post. Fotheringham and Cudjoe are both much younger, at least as talented going forward and also contribute more defensively. Both are well ahead of Chalmers in terms of goal contributions over a much shorter period. Watt and Middleton are the senior guys ahead of him. Glass, Meekison and Mochrie can all play that position and have contributed more in fewer appearances. Then you've got the really young guys who are out on loan but likely to come back in January, Macleod and Thomson.

He's a luxury player and the guys he's competing with at United are either better, harder working or both. Most United fans would have been happy enough for him to stay but not at the expense of the guys who are already ahead of him in the queue, imo.

Nice tribute from Holt for his first. Edit: I see it's been done.

"A fine header", he said, and everyone agreed.

I'm not familiar with your work. Are you an idiot or a troll? Just so I can judge the correct level of withering.

We (United fans) didn't actually sign Docherty - that was the club- and the club didn't buy Docherty - he arrived on free transfer. And he's been excellent. It beggars belief that someone can have watched the guy for any period of time and not realise what a good player he is. Does the dirty stuff very well, passes the ball on constructively and generally organises the play and players around him. Can't comment on his suitability for mobile catering but I've no reason to believe that he wouldn't put a good shift in, if required.

Injuries to Holt, Gallacher and Graham meaning a return for Denham?

Goodwin made reference after the game to both Meekison and Cudjoe having picked up knocks in training. The way he said it didn't make it sound serious but who knows.

Yeah, Watt's a cheat as well.