We'll start with a nice stat. Dundee haven't won a derby at Tannadice since before our starting right back yesterday was born.
If we go by chances created in the game, they'll probably be wondering how they lost that game. But lose it they did thanks to Harkes strike that the keeper really should have done better with.
It wasn't the best of games to be fair, which is a surprise for our derby which is normally a pretty entertaining affair. The first half was full of niggly wee fouls and it was very stop start. They started the better of the two teams and the paedo had a couple of sights of goal, but we started to come back into the game and hit the post through Pawlett and had a couple of other half chances.
Second half was a wee bit different and I felt we were more in control of the game. The change at half time helped us, with Butcher going off (after his inevitable yellow card) with concussion and I thought Levitt helped us take control of the middle of the park and build our attacks better - even if it did feel a bit one paced at times.
We did ride our luck though and the boys really should be buying the most handsome centre half pairing in the game a drink after that as a thank you. The challenge by Mulgrew on Sheridan towards the end was a thing of beauty, and the goalline clearance by Edwards was magnificent.
I'm not sure I'd go as far as saying we deserved to win, but you take it when it comes.
As for performances, the star men were the two central defenders and of course Jeando Fuchs who is just tremendous. While I don't think the aforementioned Kerr Smith did badly at right back (especially at 16 and not his natural position), I thought we were much better when Freeman came on and I really want him to get into the starting XI. I think if we are going to continue with a narrow front three then we need good width from the full backs and he's our best option for that. I thought McMann did well on the other side too although he's maybe not quite as strong going forward.
I also feel that we really do need to bring in another striker in January. I don't rate McNulty at all. He did a power of work yesterday and I appreciate his efforts, but I just don't feel he ever looks like scoring, and his link up play isn't great either, particularly when you compare it to Nicky Clark.
A wee word for Pawlett too. I wasn't particularly impressed that we gave him a new deal but he's actually playing quite well for us this season and had another good game yesterday.
As for the Dees, bottom of the league doesn't look great, but you've got to feel they'll be ok once they get Griffiths fit. He looks miles off it at the moment. And he'll need to be able to deal with the kind of abuse he got yesterday because I imagine he'll get it in every ground in the country now.
Anyway, winning's all that matters so as ever, mon the Terrors
DUFC 1 DFC 0
posted on 20/9/21
What it would mean in reality is that we wouldn't have to sell off all our best prospects when they're 16 like we do now.
We had Kerr Smith playing yesterday but if the club had our way we'd have sold him off in the summer just to get some cash in.
It would be great to have the cash to be able to keep those boys and get 100 games out of them before they go and disappear in the English academy system.
posted on 20/9/21
flip side to that is if they would be good enough to go into champs league or if you would then replace them?
obviously i don't know but i imagine a lot of scouting for united is quite local based on budget? i'm not saying you don't get players from abroad I just mean finances stop you scouring the globe.
posted on 20/9/21
flip side to that is if they would be good enough to go into champs league or if you would then replace them?
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i'm saying that like in this scenario they haven't just won the league
posted on 20/9/21
One jammy win and Ivan is talking about winning the CL. What is he like??
posted on 20/9/21
comment by JFK - The Rebel Treble (U8919)
posted 37 minutes ago
here imagine someone other than celtic or rangers won and got that money.
jackpot btw, real chance to build something
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it would be great if another side were to break through just doesn't seem possible without some dodgy backroom deals
posted on 20/9/21
comment by Stephen McGinn (U1734)
posted 4 minutes ago
One jammy win and Ivan is talking about winning the CL. What is he like??
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I'd settle for going out in the last 4 since it's our first time in the competition for a few years. We don't want to get too carried away.
posted on 20/9/21
Didn’t manage up after all. Dundee will be disappointed not to take anything after the last ditch tackle and block but who cares 😀. Always great to get a derby win. Fuchs is a tremendous wee player who will undoubtedly go on to bigger things but we’ll enjoy it while we have him
posted on 20/9/21
Sunday was as nervous as I’ve been going into a derby. I really thought that if they were going to take us and end that 17 year run, then that was their chance. Ah well 😁
Plenty solid performances, although we didn’t create as many chances as I would have liked. What a shift McNulty put in though, properly hassling their defenders, despite a lack of service.
We look more threatening from midfield this season, Pawlett is far better than any of us realised he would be, and Harkes - often the subject of plenty abuse from the guys who sit near me - is always good for a run into the box (his nutmeg of Fontaine at the end of the 1st half was glorious).
Niskanen had a funny game - for someone who is a winger he seemed to drift inside too often, so we didn’t really stretch their defence. I’m putting that down to a couple of things - actually Dundee held their shape REALLY well when they didn’t have the ball, plus it was his home debut and the atmosphere was pretty intense. Appere made a big difference when he came on.
Felt like a derby we really had to work hard to win, unlike some more recent clashes.
All in all I’m really pleased - ten points from that opening run of matches seemed more hope than expectation, yes we have things to work on but I think there might be more to enjoy this season than last. Mon the terrors.
posted on 20/9/21
This was the least depressed I've seen the Dundee lads at work look after a derby defeat. Obviously thrilled to keep it to 1-0.
Good to see Appéré back after a long spell out. Maybe he'll offer some sort of creativity. I hope. Also Declan Glass is still coming back from injury so that could possibly be a source of attack from midfield.
I'm clutching at straws here.
posted on 21/9/21
Great to get the three points. The performance wasn't the best but in a derby to get the win is the main thing.
Fuchs is an amazing player. Hopefully, we see him for the full season.