skinny arab

When we signed him most fans were happy that we had finally signed a natural number 10, the big problem is Ross seems to be unwilling to play him there (left of a midfield 3 yesterday and right of a front 3 against AZ) so it’s difficult to criticise the player until he gets a run of games in his natural position.

Keeper Freeman Edwards Mulgrew Behich Meekison Sibbald Cudjoe McGrath Watt/Middleton Fletcher Freeman in for Smith as a better attacking option, picked up 5 or 6 assists during his run in the team early last season, Meekison in for Harkes (Levitt out for a few weeks) as Harkes does a lot of running without contributing very much and tough call between Watt and Middleton, Watt played well despite the lack of goals last season but has disappointed the last couple of games. What I would like to see (unless we miraculously bring in a decent defensive midfielder before then) but fully expect Smith and Harkes to start. Very early in the season but this already feels like an important game after 2 very timid performances.

How many times does our play break down when Harkes touches the ball, fucking baffles me how he’s seemingly undroppable.

Dutv commentary team “Hearts 1 goal lead won’t be as big a gap if we equalise”, fucking unreal

We finally sign a no 10 in McGrath, I wonder if we’ll ever try playing him there. Cudjoe been decent but looked a bit shell shocked after his unbelievably soft booking but we need more from Watt.

Thankfully Stewart Murdoch won’t be playing centre half for us tomorrow

What I like about Levitt is that he doesn’t just pick the easy pass to keep the team in possession (like certain other midfielders past and present), he seems to have a clear picture of where his teammates are and will make a half turn or faint in order to play a positive pass. Excellent work by the club to get him back, gutted that it’s a 2 year deal purely on resale value as he will undoubtedly have admirers going forward.

Supposedly a deal was all but done for Gogic while Courts was here but when Ross came in he vetoed it, could be bollocks of course.

I’ve mentioned previously in this thread that the lack of a decent defensive midfielder would hurt us and I think today further emphasised this point, not saying we definitely would have held on but an aggressive ball winner protecting the back certainly would have helped today as the red card turned it into a game of attack v defence for the final 20 minutes. Positives from todays performance for me were the keeper looks good and isn’t shy on an early release (refreshing after 20 seconds Benji), Fletcher showed he will be a key player for me and hopefully him and Watt can strike up a decent understanding as there were a headers that Fletch won that Watt didn’t read, Levitt scores another cracker and finally despite not being impressed so far I thought Sibbald had a decent game. Negatives were Harkes, performance and bookings (thought both were a tad harsh but when on a booking don’t make daft needless fouls) and I thought we were a bit too quick to go ultra negative after the sending off as felt we started the second half better than Killie but after the red card we decided to abandon attacking.

That’s AZ as confirmed as our Europa opposition. At least we got further than Motherwell. (In the competition, not Geographically before some smart arse comments)

Expect it will be the team that started against Fleetwood although I would be tempted to push Mulgrew into midfield and bring Graham in at the back.

I think this would be most Arabs take on things and with a couple of good signings (DM & AM, Shinnie & McGrath would be perfect) this should be achievable. Will need a bit of luck avoiding injuries as not much decent back up in the squad at the moment, Clark & Chalmers came on yesterday and offered very little.

If we don’t add a decent defensive midfielder to the team we will be in serious trouble.

Pretty sure Swansea will be paying considerably more than we were, don’t think much blame can go to Utd here.

New Utd away kit

At Claypotts lights, behind Douglas sports centre

Butcher away to Burton

Shinnie & McGrath to do the kit unveil tomorrow

After 2 very good signings Sibbald is a very underwhelming signing to put it mildly. As for GMS v Neilson compensation, its a no brainer for me, surely compensation figure should be £250k region whereas GMS market value is nothing like that these days. Would take him as a squad player on a free transfer but f**k taking him as opposed to a £200k + fee.

Don’t forget Connolly, still under contract for a year but no idea if we’ll see him back at Tannadice.

Charlie is actually one of our lowest paid players on a basic pay of £150 per week although he does get a £10k bonus for every zinger has comes away with during press conferences.

Could be a case of his existing contract doesn’t end until the 30th so he can’t be officially confirmed as a Utd player until after then.

Gogic supposedly signing

Utter pish, no fucking way are we offering that sort of money to Clark