jimmyshimmy
31-05-2007, 22:43
One down and more to come was the gist of what the Manager had to say to the press this week, as he unveiled Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska as his first confirmed close season signing. Following him shortly will be central defender Darren Dods and it is widely expected that the Championship player Willo Flood will also be joining up on a one year loan deal from Cardiff City within the next few weeks. Although a verbal agreement has been reached, the Gaffer, as ever, remained cautious about confirming matters until it has all been signed, sealed and delivered.
A number of other targets are being pursued but again, the Gaffer was not willing to divulge names or even positions at this stage. He did however express the hope that at least another two players would be added to the squad before the start of the season, assuming budgets can be flexed or adjusted accordingly.
Much of this of course depends on guaranteed income streams such as from season tickets and therefore the end of the Early Bird period this Sunday, 3 June, will have an important bearing on his plans.
To date, sales are very encouraging and running about 50% ahead of the same period last year. However, this may have much to do with purchases being accelerated due to the Barca priority situation and we will not be in a position to tell for certain until the position settles down after the end of Early Bird. Early Bird sales normally account for some 80% of total sales, so next week will be a critical period for assessing budgets and the funds available for any further squad strengthening.
Although the season is barely over, the new one will soon be upon us. A list of pre season friendlies is included in this week’s enewsletter and the SPL fixtures are expected to be announced on 14 June.
Finally, congratulations this week go to our Under 14 Youth side on winning the prestigious Festival D’Armor tournament in Brittany. This is the first time a Scottish side has won this age group – a report is included below.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Under 14s Win The Festival D’Armor
In our seventh attempt to bring the Challenge Paysages d’Iroise trophy to Tannadice, our Under 14s came good and saw off the holders, the French league side Vannes OC, in a thrilling final to register a first Scottish success in the younger age group of the Festival D’Armor in Brittany last weekend.
In his side’s eight games, Youth Initiative top scorer Robert Thomson scored seven times, with his forty fifth goal of the season – a brilliantly struck angled drive - securing a 1-0 victory in the final, though it also took a remarkable save late on from keeper Marc McCallum to prevent the French side from taking the game to a penalty kick decider.
Graeme Liveston says: “After a slow start, performances improved dramatically and qualification from our section along with French giants Rennes was easily assured. After that, our only setback was when we went behind to EA Guingamp in the quarter-final, then Marc McCallum had to pull off an unbelievable save to prevent us from going two goals down.
Robert Thomson and Craig Nelson both then found the net, however, to see us progress and centre back David Low’s powerful header in the semi-final was all we needed to reach the final. Overall an outstanding performance, emulating our 2003 success in the Under 16 competition and allowing us to join an impressive list of recent winners including Espanyol Barcelona, Inter Bratislava, R.C. Strasbourg and Hajduk Split. Skipper Willie Robertson, along with Liam Scott, regularly dominated in midfield, the back four of Ryan McMahon, David Low, Kenny McCulley and Greg Whyte was impressive throughout, only conceding two goals, while Thomson and McCallum both obviously played major parts in this very prestigious victory.”
-------------------------------------------------------------
Pre Season Friendlies
The following pre season friendlies have now been arranged. The possibility of games in the North of England is being explored, but has not yet been confirmed.
Tuesday 17 July - Airdrie United (a) 7.45pm
Sunday 22 July - Raith Rovers (a) 3pm
Tuesday 24 July - Forfar Athletic (a) 7.30pm
Thursday 26 July - Barcelona (h) 8pm
Sunday 29 July - Livingston (a ) (to be confirmed)
Tuesday 31 July - Arbroath (a) 7.30pm
-------------------------------------------------------------
This Week in History
Although the start of the close season is now a relatively quiet period, in days gone by many pre season tours were actually post season tours and occurred immediately after the end of the season.
For example, on this day in 1966, United began a tour of Iceland and Denmark with a 7-2 victory over Fram and in 1994 drew 1-1 with a Trinidad & Tobago international side in Trinidad.
In 1969, Dundee United were in North America and defeated old friends Dallas Tornado 2-0, two years after representing Dallas Tornado in the NASL.
In 1972, United were on a tour of Nigeria and in 1979 United reached the final of the prestigious Japan Cup, after dispatching Italian giants Fiorentina en route, but lost 2-0 to Tottenham Hotspur.
On 2 June 1965, the second leg of the Summer Cup Final took place at Tannadice in front of a healthy 15,000 crowd. Although Mogens Berg scored for United, the Terrors went down, surprisingly, 3-2 on aggregate.
Finally, it is worth recording that on 2 June 1994, United’s final game of their end of season tour of Trinidad and Tobago saw coach Gordon Wallace, aged 50, playing the entire match thus becoming the oldest player ever to play for United.
:thumbup:
A number of other targets are being pursued but again, the Gaffer was not willing to divulge names or even positions at this stage. He did however express the hope that at least another two players would be added to the squad before the start of the season, assuming budgets can be flexed or adjusted accordingly.
Much of this of course depends on guaranteed income streams such as from season tickets and therefore the end of the Early Bird period this Sunday, 3 June, will have an important bearing on his plans.
To date, sales are very encouraging and running about 50% ahead of the same period last year. However, this may have much to do with purchases being accelerated due to the Barca priority situation and we will not be in a position to tell for certain until the position settles down after the end of Early Bird. Early Bird sales normally account for some 80% of total sales, so next week will be a critical period for assessing budgets and the funds available for any further squad strengthening.
Although the season is barely over, the new one will soon be upon us. A list of pre season friendlies is included in this week’s enewsletter and the SPL fixtures are expected to be announced on 14 June.
Finally, congratulations this week go to our Under 14 Youth side on winning the prestigious Festival D’Armor tournament in Brittany. This is the first time a Scottish side has won this age group – a report is included below.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Under 14s Win The Festival D’Armor
In our seventh attempt to bring the Challenge Paysages d’Iroise trophy to Tannadice, our Under 14s came good and saw off the holders, the French league side Vannes OC, in a thrilling final to register a first Scottish success in the younger age group of the Festival D’Armor in Brittany last weekend.
In his side’s eight games, Youth Initiative top scorer Robert Thomson scored seven times, with his forty fifth goal of the season – a brilliantly struck angled drive - securing a 1-0 victory in the final, though it also took a remarkable save late on from keeper Marc McCallum to prevent the French side from taking the game to a penalty kick decider.
Graeme Liveston says: “After a slow start, performances improved dramatically and qualification from our section along with French giants Rennes was easily assured. After that, our only setback was when we went behind to EA Guingamp in the quarter-final, then Marc McCallum had to pull off an unbelievable save to prevent us from going two goals down.
Robert Thomson and Craig Nelson both then found the net, however, to see us progress and centre back David Low’s powerful header in the semi-final was all we needed to reach the final. Overall an outstanding performance, emulating our 2003 success in the Under 16 competition and allowing us to join an impressive list of recent winners including Espanyol Barcelona, Inter Bratislava, R.C. Strasbourg and Hajduk Split. Skipper Willie Robertson, along with Liam Scott, regularly dominated in midfield, the back four of Ryan McMahon, David Low, Kenny McCulley and Greg Whyte was impressive throughout, only conceding two goals, while Thomson and McCallum both obviously played major parts in this very prestigious victory.”
-------------------------------------------------------------
Pre Season Friendlies
The following pre season friendlies have now been arranged. The possibility of games in the North of England is being explored, but has not yet been confirmed.
Tuesday 17 July - Airdrie United (a) 7.45pm
Sunday 22 July - Raith Rovers (a) 3pm
Tuesday 24 July - Forfar Athletic (a) 7.30pm
Thursday 26 July - Barcelona (h) 8pm
Sunday 29 July - Livingston (a ) (to be confirmed)
Tuesday 31 July - Arbroath (a) 7.30pm
-------------------------------------------------------------
This Week in History
Although the start of the close season is now a relatively quiet period, in days gone by many pre season tours were actually post season tours and occurred immediately after the end of the season.
For example, on this day in 1966, United began a tour of Iceland and Denmark with a 7-2 victory over Fram and in 1994 drew 1-1 with a Trinidad & Tobago international side in Trinidad.
In 1969, Dundee United were in North America and defeated old friends Dallas Tornado 2-0, two years after representing Dallas Tornado in the NASL.
In 1972, United were on a tour of Nigeria and in 1979 United reached the final of the prestigious Japan Cup, after dispatching Italian giants Fiorentina en route, but lost 2-0 to Tottenham Hotspur.
On 2 June 1965, the second leg of the Summer Cup Final took place at Tannadice in front of a healthy 15,000 crowd. Although Mogens Berg scored for United, the Terrors went down, surprisingly, 3-2 on aggregate.
Finally, it is worth recording that on 2 June 1994, United’s final game of their end of season tour of Trinidad and Tobago saw coach Gordon Wallace, aged 50, playing the entire match thus becoming the oldest player ever to play for United.
:thumbup: