So here it was, the first game of the season. There were a lot of fears about the unknown aspects of this United team - Would the young keeper hold up? How would our new defence hold up? Would we create enough chances? And would we score them?
Player Ratings
Position(s) Played: Goalkeeper
Match Rating: 7/10
AZT Season Average: 7.00
Comments:
Looked calm on the ball, kicked well and made some brave catches. One or two nervous moments in the air and perhaps could have moved his feet better for the goal but that would be ultra-critical. Young keeper didn't have much to do on his league debut but did what was required well. Looks a solid #1 for the season.
Position(s) Played: Right-Back
Match Rating: 7/10
AZT Season Average: 7.00
Comments:
Had a tough time against the pacey Johnny Hayes but handled it well enough. Part of a very solid back 4 unit and as Captain can claim credit for organising it that way. Doesn't get forward like Dixon, but not expected to. Did however manage some nice linkup play for Erskine's first half chance.
Position(s) Played: Left-Back
Match Rating: 7/10
AZT Season Average: 7.00
Comments:
A more 'Paul Dixon' style performance. Not back to his best but looked far more effective with Blair Spittal to work with. Made some good overlaps and will do more so as the relationship between the two develops.
Position(s) Played: Centre-Back
Match Rating: 7/10
AZT Season Average: 7.00
Comments:
Looked calm and rarely put a food wrong. Only criticism would be too many long balls in the second half but the midfield weren't doing a good job of getting in space so I don't like putting that blame on the defence.
Position(s) Played: Centre-Back
Match Rating: 8/10
AZT Season Average: 8.00
Comments:
Man of the Match for me. Played a solid game and worked very well with Donaldson. It looked like we may have a very promising partnership here. Looks better on the ball than I was expecting and very aggressive. Could have scored if not for a good save from Ward.
Position(s) Played: Centre Midfield
Match Rating: 6/10
AZT Season Average: 6.00
Comments:
For a player with this much ability he needs to impose himself on games more. The Aberdeen midfield overran us in the second half and we needed Souttar to take the ball and build some moves from the back, but he wasn't getting himself into space. Hopefully this won't be something we see regularly.
Position(s) Played: Centre Midfield
Match Rating: 6/10
AZT Season Average: 6.00
Comments:
A hard worker and helped cancel out Willo Flood's energy in the centre of the park. You can see we lacked that bite when he went off. Unfortunately wasn't good enough with the ball on this occasion, making the wrong move on our best counter-attack of the second half.
Position(s) Played: Left Wing
Match Rating: 7/10
AZT Season Average: 7.00
Comments:
Another promising performance from the young winger. Blair seemed to come to life at the end of last season and he's picked up exactly where he left off. A 'showboat' style double-nutmeg encapsulating his overall good play. Will be a very big part of what we do this season.
Position(s) Played: Right Wing
Match Rating: 7/10
AZT Season Average: 7.00
Comments:
Almost given an 8 as he was out stand-out midfielder. Every time the ball made it to Erskine we looked more dangerous. Sadly, he fell out of the match in the second half, something that will need to become more rare if he wants to reach his full potential.
Position(s) Played: Attacking Midfield
Match Rating: 6/10
AZT Season Average: 6.00
Comments:
I almost rated at a 5 but Charlie's problem was from not being involved enough rather than not doing well enough. I think even Charlie would expect better of himself with the ball at his feet. Excellent player but we need to be moving the ball quicker through the midfield to utilise him.
Position(s) Played: Striker
Match Rating: 6/10
AZT Season Average: 6.00
Comments:
It made the difference when he went off and that sums up how important he was in the first half. His touch wasn't' always perfect but he held the ball up well against a very strong Aberdeen defence and brought us into the game. Sadly another hamstring issue took him out of the game. Hopefully not something that will be too frequent.
Substitutes
Position(s) Played: Striker
Match Rating: 6/10
AZT Season Average: 6.00
Comments:
Darko was not able to get involved in the game at all but I would put this fault at the team rather than himself. I'm sure he will be the first to say he's not a target man.
Position(s) Played: Centre Midfield
Match Rating: 6/10
AZT Season Average: 6.00
Comments:
Didn't touch the ball at all really. Not much to write about.
Position(s) Played: Right-Back
Match Rating: 6/10
AZT Season Average: 6.00
Comments:
As he did in the Watford game, Simon looked energetic and always keen to run in behind. Too many long balls dropping on the defence rather than behind him meant he was not utilised.
Match Analysis
Well it turned out we were OK. Not brilliant, not awful, but OK. The defence looked solid and in the first half we seemed to be doing well enough. We competed with a settled and strong Aberdeen side. Sadly, when Bilate went off, so did our chance to win the game. We were not able to build from the back and with our hold up option gone we were left without an outlet.
If it were not for an outrageous looping header, we would have probably taken a draw from the game due to our solid defensive unit. I wouldn't say it would have been a deserved point based on our overall performance in the second half, but definitely within our grasps.
McNamara will need to figure out how to get the team more comfortable moving the ball around on the ground if we are going to score more goals. Let's hope that starts at Fir Park next week.
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