Back Again

Clearly a glutton for punishment. After last week's horrendous result at Falkirk, when fortunately I decided not to go, I thought I'd support the team at another relatively local game, just across the Forth in Dunfermline. And despite last week's hammering a decent following in the United end - the attendance was just a few hundred below the game in September and, with the SPL taking a break, largest gate of the day in Scotland. Interesting comparison with the last game, when United seemed to be coming into form and won 3-1 at the then league leaders. This time United seemed nervous and lacking in confidence from the start and it rarely got much better. No one wanted to risk anything and time after time the ball was passed sideways and backwards without anything happening, to despairing shouts all around me. Very few forward runs, not enough effort to create space. And too easily brushed off the ball by a more physical Dunfermline team. They weren't much better, although late in the game they seemed to realise they really ought to go for it and should probably have scored a goal at the death to win the match. Perhaps if they'd upped their game a little sooner they could have won it. Clearly injuries to a couple of key players have exposed the lack of depth in the United squad. Last time Fraser Fyvie scored twice but he is out injured for the rest of the season. Still, the rest of the squad should be doing much better. If it was me, I'd have them in practising the basics for as long as it takes - for example what to do at a throw-in when you need to make space and then control the ball. And get them working as a team much more. With a team game like football it's about making the whole more than the sum of its parts and that's done by developing a good understanding of what your team mates are going to do, even before they start to do it. It's making runs into space before a pass is made. Making a pass to someone who isn't there yet but who has started his run in anticipation of the pass. They won't always come to anything but that's what you need to do to create space and receive the passes. It means being fitter and mentally switched on. Ready to make runs that come to nothing but instead of thinking it was a waste of effort, already looking for the next passage of play. And tracking your man, not giving up and vaguely jogging towards the ball. Everyone stepping up and earning their salaries. Scott McDonald has the experience to make things happen on the pitch and rather than complaining when things don't go perfectly be looking to motivate his team-mates. And what's with the idea of bringing everyone back to defend corners? Surely you leave someone up on the halfway line to provide a counter-attacking outlet. At the very least the other team have to keep a player or two back to mark them. I guess the manager would say that going from a 1-6 defeat to an away draw with the team just below you in the league was a marked improvement but with the league leaders winning and pulling further away in a league where only the champions are guaranteed promotion most of the United fans around me clearly though it wasn't good enough, with plenty of booing at the end. Although the club seems to be struggling financially they still have plenty more resources (for now anyway) than most of the rest of the league and the key is getting the most out of those players. It should be possible.