The structural changes continue at Tannadice and this time the focus is on the youth development structures.
We've appointed Andy Goldie as our new Academy Director. The 33 year old has previously been a coach at United but was more recently a youth coach at Hamilton and has been an elite coach with the SFA. His remit is to restructure the youth system so that we can achieve elite status in the new project brave structures.
Part of the restructure also includes the appointment of Brian Grant as 'Head of Player Pathway and Loans', which is a very interesting appointment. Grant's job will be to help young players into the first team during the difficult years between 16 and 23. Leaving aside the fact that anyone in their early 20s who hasn't broken into the team is unlikely to do so, I think it's an important age group to focus on to help prepare them for the United first team.
I'm really pleased with these changes and the speed in which it's been implemented - with the promise for further structural changes ahead. Youth development has always been something that's been associated with the club but the structures we had in place and were implemented by Craig Levein during his tenure at Tannadice have been slowly broken apart by Thompson over the last few years. The failure of our youth system has been shown in our years in the Championship as none of our youth players have been ready or able to step in to bolster the team (Matty Smith and Jamie Robson are, imo, not good enough).
While the benefits may be a few years away, I think the benefits will come with this introduction and it pleases me greatly that the new owners are looking at the long term benefit to the club and not just at short-term profit making. It reassures me that they understand what the club is about and what's the best way to ensure the success of the club - and that's youth development.
Yet another bit of welcome positivity coming out of Tannadice. Long may it continue.
DUFC News
posted on 5/2/19
Even I didn't comment on this tragic article.
posted on 5/2/19
comment by border_arab (U5560)
posted 30 minutes ago
Five stars.
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POV - not sure it was necessarily Cathro, but the structures put in place by others that were pulled apart. But no doubt the quality of coaching has deteriorated too.
posted on 5/2/19
Ah the notebook. JFK's favourite DVD.
posted on 5/2/19
Hi Craig,
I was just having a look at the players that Dundee released during the transfer window there.
Adil Nabi
Glen Kamara
Souffien Moussa
Roarie Deacon
Kharl Madianga
Jean Mendy
Elton Ngwatala
Has Dundee FC been taken over by a far-right group?
posted on 5/2/19
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 5/2/19
I find the criteria for elite status to be very prohibitive for clubs outwith the central belt. I don't think it's particularly beneficial for our game across the country and I think more can be done to support teams in the north (and south) of the country who are striving to have a successful youth system.
posted on 5/2/19
Hi Ivan,
Hope you are well.
Conversely, you just have to look at the signings we have made over the last couple of seasons to illustrate how liberal and left wing we are, players such as:
Adil Nabi
Glen Kamara
Souffien Moussa
Roarie Deacon
Kharl Madianga
Jean Mendy
Elton Ngwatala
All ethnically challenged yet unwilling to take advantage of the chance the liberal club has given them. A chance that the far right club across the road has been unwilling to offer. Apart from Morgaro Gomis or whoever, that I’ve heard you guys refer to as “now one of us”, suggesting that he wasn’t before and that all ethnically challenged individuals are inferior to yourselves.
Disgraceful attitude, but one I’d expect from such a far right club.
We have also given players with clear and obvious disabilities a chance over the last season and some that I am pretty sure have vaginas. A club to be proud of.
posted on 5/2/19
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 5/2/19
From my perspective - and I'm sure from the perspective of the Dundee clubs and the Highland clubs too - that it was designed without considering the conditions outwith the central belt and for the benefit of the central belt. Ultimately when you have clubs like United with its long history of youth development, and to then exclude them, seems ridiculous.
posted on 5/2/19
comment by Craig Curran (U1734)
posted 2 hours, 54 minutes ago
Hi Ivan,
Hope you are well.
Conversely, you just have to look at the signings we have made over the last couple of seasons to illustrate how liberal and left wing we are, players such as:
Adil Nabi
Glen Kamara
Souffien Moussa
Roarie Deacon
Kharl Madianga
Jean Mendy
Elton Ngwatala
All ethnically challenged yet unwilling to take advantage of the chance the liberal club has given them. A chance that the far right club across the road has been unwilling to offer. Apart from Morgaro Gomis or whoever, that I’ve heard you guys refer to as “now one of us”, suggesting that he wasn’t before and that all ethnically challenged individuals are inferior to yourselves.
Disgraceful attitude, but one I’d expect from such a far right club.
We have also given players with clear and obvious disabilities a chance over the last season and some that I am pretty sure have vaginas. A club to be proud of.
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Harsh, but true.