![\"uteynh8npca033evyrdsq8g7iif2jlbzkoqn4wy5yrlc02qn.png\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/uteynh8npca033evyrdsq8g7iif2jlbzkoqn4wy5yrlc02qn.png\")
<\/p><\/p>
<\/p>
Like many, I had tipped Dundee Utd pre-season to have a bit of something about them this year. New manager Jack Ross was given considerable financial backing and immediately set about putting together what appeared at the time to be an impressive squad, well-equipped to build - and even improve - on the club\u2019s fourth-place position last season.<\/p>
<\/p>
St Mirren's 3-0 win at Tannadice on Saturday, however, was amongst the most comfortable and emphatic performances we have seen since Stephen Robinson\u2019s arrival at the club. It was an absolute exercise in football clich\u00e9. With fans treated to such gems in action as:<\/p>
<\/p>
\"Football isn't played on paper.\"<\/em><\/p> <\/p> \"There's no substitute for hard work and organisation.\"<\/em><\/p> <\/p> \u201cWe\u2019re sorry Mr Ross, but Reiss policy states we cannot offer a refund for clearly soiled chinos.\u201d<\/em><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> In assessing Saturday\u2019s win, one is reminded of Stephen Robinson\u2019s July interview, where he \u201cslammed\u201d the League Cup format as being detrimental to St Mirren\u2019s (and teams around us) pre-season preparation. Robinson bemoaned the group stage games as being unrepresentative of how we will look to play in the league, saying: \u201cit\u2019s so false, you have so much possession of the ball<\/em>\u201d.<\/p> <\/p> While the Saints boss was widely derided at the time, Saturday\u2026 aye\u2026 kind of proved his point. The dismantling of Jack Ross\u2019 men was a masterclass in off-the-ball football, with St Mirren having just 30% of possession and scoring three swashbuckling goals on the counter.<\/p> <\/p> Facing an opponent that will look to dominate the ball, St Mirren\u2019s 352 becomes a 532 when out of possession, as can be seen in the below image.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The above is typical of Robinson's defensive shape across the teams he has managed. Tight lines and a narrow shape give St Mirren the numerical advantage in midfield. St Mirren\u2019s pressing traps are often to deter opponents from progressing centrally and to prevent being exposed to transitional moments from chasing the ball too far and being vertically stretched. With such little space for Dundee Utd to operate here, they are forced either wide (didn\u2019t work, lol) or long (also a no, unlucky).<\/p> <\/p> Should the opposition try to play directly through, St Mirren\u2019s compact defensive positioning makes this virtually impossible, with the midfield trio of Mark O\u2019Hara, Ethan Erhahon and Keanu Baccus on hand to clear up any loose balls, providing potential transitional moments due to poor opposition coverage if a turnover does occur.<\/p> <\/p> The interchangeability and flexibility of this central midfield three was key to St Mirren\u2019s win. When a high press was initiated, any of the three could push towards the Utd defensive line without freeing up Dundee Utd\u2019s more advanced midfielders.<\/p> <\/p> In the above example, Charles Dunne cuts out a pass 30 yards from St Mirren\u2019s goal and the ball is picked up by O\u2019Hara.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> With Jonah Ayunga to his left, Keanu Baccus to his right and Curtis Main occupying the blindspot of the last defender, O\u2019Hara as the ball-carrier has options all around him. With the Utd defence unable to handle the chaos of the counter, Main peels off his man and (with a little help from Dylan Levitt\u2019s big toe) receives O\u2019Hara\u2019s through ball on the edge of the box and coolly slots home for his first goal of the season.<\/p> <\/p> From defending their own box to being one nil up in just ten seconds.<\/p> <\/p> With second (Main again) and third (Alex Greive) goals following an almost identical blueprint, Saints\u2019 3-0 win was a satisfying throwing down of a gauntlet from a team who appear to be pulling together, working in its manager\u2019s image.<\/p> <\/p> St Mirren\u2019s game will be built around defensive compactness and quick transitions. By ceding possession and understanding when and when not to play, Robinson\u2019s men can, in essence, use their opponent\u2019s strengths against them, as we did at Tannadice.<\/p> <\/p> Maintaining this system, however, will require endurance, as it can be draining both physically and mentally, and it is therefore vital to have a large, versatile, squad. With the addition of returning fan-favourite Alex Gogi\u0107 this week, and some more incomings likely in the offing, we look to have just that.<\/p> <\/p>![\"vclqhkcoifbhoklw31ytuih51n580pmypc19w9eyifkubaou.png\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/vclqhkcoifbhoklw31ytuih51n580pmypc19w9eyifkubaou.png\")
<\/p>![\"bzjqwpzloyyfo6fuxhsldox7hcfrqfupoczaq8mfvkimq8yn.png\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/bzjqwpzloyyfo6fuxhsldox7hcfrqfupoczaq8mfvkimq8yn.png\")
<\/p>![\"vn1fdzmleojill4p5cbav1l5jltilpcuf9c3to8bcutzau6o.png\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/vn1fdzmleojill4p5cbav1l5jltilpcuf9c3to8bcutzau6o.png\")
<\/p>![\"kgxwm4jceikhpkuc9ewl7wjuubjq7lottqm6aa5gm1kuzvst.png\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/kgxwm4jceikhpkuc9ewl7wjuubjq7lottqm6aa5gm1kuzvst.png\")
<\/p>