8/10
LEAGUE: 4th, 58pts (2012-13 - 6th, 47pts)
SCOTTISH CUP: Finalists
LEAGUE CUP: Quarter finals
MOST USED FIRST XI: Radoslaw Ciernziak, Keith Watson, Sean Dillon, Gavin Gunning, Andrew Robertson, Stuart Armstrong, Paul Paton, John Rankin, Gary Mackay-Steven, Ryan Gauld, Nadir Ciftci
OVERVIEW: At their breathtaking best - and at times the football really was breathtaking - Dundee United were unquestionably the second best side in the country. But, as you'd expect from such a young team, inconsistency was a big problem, which is why Jackie McNamara's side finished fourth in the league and lost in the Scottish Cup final. McNamara's attacking philosophy won plenty of plaudits though, and after a few stutters at the end of the Peter Houston era, United appear to be on the up again both on and off the field - the club's financial issues were resolved this season too. That said, they may not be able to turn down decent offers for their talented youths.
HIGH POINTS: The run of form between October and December, when they won seven out of eight games (the other was a draw at Celtic) and scored 27 goals, was absolutely electric and will stick in the memory. The crushing of Inverness in the Scottish Cup, and the late season destruction of Motherwell (has there ever been a game where so many goals were set up by backheels?) were also sensational. United scored three or more goals in seventeen games this season.
LOW POINTS: I witnessed a capitulation to Ross County in January that was just the pits. That was part of a rotten run around the Christmas period, which had previously seen successive heavy defeats in Paisley and Perth after the kids ran out of steam.
STAR MAN: Left-back Andrew Robertson went from playing for Queen's Park to his first international cap in less than a year. The hype is justified - he is probably the first modern attacking left-back that Scotland has managed to produce (no, Gary Naysmith does not count) and he has the talent to command the entire wing by himself. Someone will pay big money for this boy.
ONE FOR THE FUTURE: Ryan Gauld's performances dropped off a touch in the second half of the season, but its easy to forget that he is only 18, given that he has already played 50 times for United. Expect the attacking midfielder to be even better next season.
WASTE OF SPACE: Chris Erskine was hindered by injuries at the start of the campaign, but even when he was fit he looked a shadow of the player that starred for McNamara's Partick Thistle side. A return to Firhill on loan in January was the best move for both parties, and I doubt the winger has a future at Tannadice.
THE BOSS: McNamara's stock is sufficiently high that he was courted by Blackpool ahead of the Scottish Cup final. There's plenty to like about his philosophy, and his willingness to give young players a chance. He does need a better Plan B than 'bring on a big striker and punt it up to him', because that didn't really work when it was tried. But the fans have got to be pleased with the man in their dugout.
PROSPECTS FOR NEXT SEASON: It's likely that central defender Gavin Gunning will leave, which will leave a big hole to be filled, given that John Souttar is still very raw and Sean Dillon is, frankly, not very good. If anyone else significant moves on, it will be for a decent sized transfer fee which can be used to bring in reinforcements. A new striker would be nice, as Nadir Ciftci is better in a deeper role, and neither Brian Graham and Farid El Alagui are mobile enough for the system McNamara likes to play. It's likely that Souttar, Robertson, Gauld and Stuart Armstrong, amongst others, will be even better next season, which is an exciting thought.
FIRST TEAMERS DEFINITELY LEAVING: Gavin Gunning, Morgaro Gomis, Dale Hilson
L.
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