SPL Report Card - Dundee United

Well, that was a boring season

 

MARKS OUT OF 10: 5

LEAGUE: 6th, 47pts (2011-12 - 4th, 59pts)

SCOTTISH CUP: Semi finals
LEAGUE CUP: Quarter finals

MOST USED FIRST XI: Radoslaw Ciernziak, Keith Watson, Sean Dillon, Brian McLean, Barry Douglas, Stuart Armstrong, Willo Flood, John Rankin, Gary Mackay-Steven, Johnny Russell, Jon Daly

OVERVIEW: Well, that was a pretty unremarkable season at Tannadice.  United never looked like challenging at the top of the league, and never looked like being stuck at the bottom either.  In the end, they scraped into the top six, but they finished the campaign with fewer points than the sides in seventh and eighth. Their run to the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup feels like it was the only interesting thing that happened to them.  It was hardly a year to forget, but I doubt it will live long in the memory of many Arabs.

HIGH POINTS: Given the vitriol aimed at United over the last 18 months by Rangers officials and fans, their demolition of the Ibrox side in the Scottish Cup was sweet indeed.  Meanwhile, there was no doubt regarding the best football team in Dundee, as the Terrors were unbeaten in derby clashes.

LOW POINTS: Only Dundee won as few home games as Dundee United - just four.  And two of those were the first two!  United didn't win another home game until February. 

STAR MAN: If only Gary Mackay-Steven could stay fit for more than half a season.  He's a rare breed in the SPL - a player that you'd pay good money to watch.  He has the tricks, but he has an end product as well.  Hopefully he will continue to get better - and stay injury-free.

ONE FOR THE FUTURE: John Souttar has made the mistakes that you expect from a 16 year old in central defender, but you can see why he has a lot of people excited.  This kid is a heck of a prospect.

WASTE OF SPACE: The signing of Gregory Vignal was utterly pointless - the French defender got injured and never played a first team game.  A complete waste of a wage, especially considering the club don't have a huge amount of spare cash.

THE BOSS: It's impossible to judge Jackie McNamara on his first few months in the job, given he has only been able to work with what Peter Houston left behind.  At Partick Thistle, McNamara got his team playing some good stuff, but they were often vulnerable away from home.  Houston was a pretty successful manager with Dundee United, but things seemed to go stale this season, and his departure seemed inevitable long before it happened, given there was a lot of backbiting in the media regarding his contract and wages. 

PROSPECTS FOR NEXT SEASON: McNamara doesn't have an easy job on his hands.  Jon Daly looks past his best, but his leadership will be sorely missed.  If the club can't resist Johnny Russell's suitors, they could be very short of goals, especially since he's unlikely to get much of a budget to replace them.  The jury's out on whether Raith striker Brian Graham is of SPL quality.  The signing of Partick duo Paul Paton and Chris Erskine should boost the midfield, though.

FIRST TEAMERS DEFINITELY LEAVING: Steve Banks, Rory Boulding, Jon Daly (has signed for Rangers), Robert Thomson

NOT IN THE MANAGER'S PLANS: none

UNLIKELY TO SIGN NEW DEALS: Barry Douglas, Willo Flood

L.