ArabFC

I don't know how anyone could really form much of an opinion - he started just once this season.

Did Cammy spitroast Neilson's mum?

Whatever folk think of how Powers has performed (adequately or decent or not), he's just been a wasteful signing. We have a lot of weaknesses in the squad, but instead of addressing any of them we signed a Butcher mini-me. We need to be looking at signing players who are better than what we've already got, not loading the squad with more meh. Anyone in their right mind think Butcher & Powers is midfield combo fit for the Premiership?!

I don’t think Paul Watson is all that great, but the way he’s been dropped is a fcuking disgrace. Reynolds and Connolly are barely good enough for this level, let alone the Premiership. Powers and Butcher is a brutal midfield combo. But we’ve got the league wrapped up, so, meh!

I notice folk elsewhere suggesting Watson come in for Connolly, but I was just watching the highlights, and couldn't help notice the complete irrelevance Mark Reynolds was at Hibs second goal. He spots the Hibs player in front of him at the edge of the box, stands still as he advances, stands still as he goes past him and then stands still as the ball is crossed an finished. Oh yeah, and then throws his arms up in disgust. Crude gif to illustrate...

Not a fan thus far either. Didn't see last night but actually it's his passing (completion rate at least) which has been his standout attribute before that.

Aye, and they haven't been up to the job in the most part because they've been injured. As far as I understand it, Sow is out of contract come the end of the season, so if Shankland stays around he'll be a sub most of the time, and then leave unless he somehow comes good. Pawlett on the other hand has another year left (I think) and given his wages he's not going to be taken off our hands if he's not performing, so why not try and see if we can get him playing again while we've got the league pretty much wrapped up? I'd like to see him more central than out wide, where Neilson plays him, but hey-ho. Against Hibs, Neilson has played the dreary midfield 3sum of Harkes/Powers/Butcher, and against Morton he played Sow up top.

I'm sure you were saying that when we signed them!

He actually came into the team against Partick and set-up Shankland within a minute. And then we've played Hibs twice, so... Pawlett may well not come good, but the hate on here for him and Sow (both of whom have really struggled with injuries) really is beyond the pale sometimes.

Didn’t see it, but the BBC text commentary follows every Hibs goal with “terrible defending by United”

If there's a team bold enough to offer the sort of silly money it'd take to buy him, then fair play. We're gonna lose him at some point, and if we can cash in when we're as good as up already, I wouldn't be all that upset.

Watson has every reason to be extremely pissed off at being left out. If I was a cynic I might think the ‘rotation’ of the centre backs over the last few games was nothing more than an excuse to get Connolly back in. And talk about packing the midfield. Harkes, Butcher and Powers as a three, with Pawlett who isn’t really a wide player.

Is Robbie rotating the centre-backs now? It's a damn attacking line-up anyway!

Ali Coote who was another to scarper off to England after just a few games has signed for Waterford after three years of playing for Brentford B https://www.the42.ie/ali-coote-4979215-Jan2020/

King is 24 years old! If he starts a dozen league games in his United career (regardless of the length of contract awarded) I'll be astonished.

Fairly irrelevant when the manager has written him off. See Cammy Smith.

Stanton and Harkes essentially played the same role, and given neither of them were first choice picks, it’s no surprise that we were looking to move one of them on. A good player on his day, but neither consistent enough or tough enough to ever really win me over.

I'd go... ...........................Shankland Appere......Pawlett.....Glass......McMullan ...............................Butcher Robson......Reynolds.....Watson......Smith ...............................Siegrist I appreciate nobody else would!

I’d like to see Pawlett play in the ‘Clark’ role. He’s good on the ball. Just don’t think he’s all that suited to playing out wide anymore.

It would, slightly, but if he's been told his contract isn't getting renewed (and most wouldn't argue with that with a view to next season) it's only fair to let him go if he has an opportunity. Also opens the door for Glass, if he wasn't already ahead in the pecking order.

No doubt it's early to judge, but I'm gonna do it anyway. By the by, does anyone know what Appere's natural position is meant to be? Every fibre of my being screams out that he's a forward, but he's consistently played out wide (left).

Yup, and that’s why I said he was fine. But we want to progress and I don’t think he’s what we need. Most teams need a Butcher - that aggressive fcuker who breaks up opposition threats. And every team needs that guy in the middle of the park who DEMANDS the ball. Us even more so given our centre backs aren’t that great on the ball. ie Mark ‘McPunty’ Reynolds. Butcher doesn’t give us that, neither does Harkes or Stanton, and I don’t see it in Powers.

He did do ‘fine’ but what does he add? If you think he’s an upgrade on Butcher, then fair enough, but I don’t see it.

Slightly concerned by the signing of Powers. He’s not terrible. He just appears to be a slightly slower, slightly less aggressive version of Butcher. What we need in midfield, desperately, especially if we go up is someone who WANTS the ball to play.