an-dee
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Posts posted by an-dee
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Jack Hendry getting looked at by Celtic?
That’s the paper talk. Celtic, and some teams down south all interested. Jack’s just signed a deal with a new agency so I’m sure they’re just doing their bit to get his name out there. Don’t see Celtic or any teams down south making a move when he’s still got less than a full season’s experience. Maybe at the end of the season.1 -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40635626
Has he appointed anyone on the Head of Recruitment side since?
Not yet, or at least I haven’t heard anything. I’d imagine he’ll want someone in place for next summer though.0 -
Agreed. Bringing it back to Dundee (as it's their thread after all), McCann banging on about their lack of a scouting system when he arrived is pretty key IMO. I know he was saying he put in hours bringing players in but given he spent ages deciding whether he'd actually take the job, decided he wouldn't, then decided he would means that realistically he can't have had time to look properly at players. I know Hartley wanted to do everything himself but I always found the sheer number of signings Hartley seemed to make then discard really weird.
If you're looking at that sort of market (ie: English Lower Leagues and National League) I think you really need to scout the absolute f**k out them. Last season we ended up with absolute duds like Jacob Blyth, Craig Clay, Lee Lucas, Luka Belic etc because in hindsight is seems McGhee was just telling our Head of Recruitment roughly what he was after then picking from a list of names saying "he sounds alright" and maybe watching the odd video. In the case of Clay he appeared on trial seemingly because he was/is Richard Tait's pal and was looking for a club after his release by Grimsby.
The difference this season is that while we've still been shopping in the same market as we have been the past couple of years Robinson's known what type of players he was after. From listening to Alan Burrows talk about the recruitment process during the summer it sounds like Robinson had been travelling to watch players and putting in the miles and hours so he knew what he was getting. Which has been a massive improvement.
Robinson and Craigan worked with Carson in the N.I set-up, Robinson worked with Dunne at Oldham, though Rose and Bigrimana were relegated with Coventry they also won the EFL Trophy at Wembly. We'd already been in for Peter Hartley before. Tanner played with McHugh at Plymouth. So on and so forth. We've taken a couple of punts but for the most part we've brought in players who the staff have had a prior working relationship with or have watched throughly.
Speaking purely from the outside looking in it'd be interesting to know how much McCann's changed the scouting network at Dens or whether he's just got the club to buy a subscription to Wyscout and Scout7.
I’m sure we were using Wyscout under Hartley. From McCann’s comments earlier in the season I don’t think he’s a fan of it.1 -
I know youll ignore this, but I think you'd be wasting O'Hara up front. His strengths, to me, seem to be making runs from deep, much like Murray Davidson. Take the ability to meet a cross on the sprint and he'd be half the player.
I actually agree with you. He’s a powerful runner and it’s his late runs from deep that usually cause other teams problems. He’s quite a threat coming in off the right too, scored some important goals for us in that position.0 -
17 hours ago, G_Man1985 said:
He has had a season at his club free of injury I think. Maybe it's something we do at training is the issue...
After all we are a third tier club.
He must be full of confidence. Said couldn't be said for many of our players. I think he should be given a chance. We can't do any worse than what we are doing .Aren't Derry City part-time, in which case, he'd only be training part-time? If they are it maybe explains why he's had a run of games injury-free.
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1 hour ago, capt_oats said:
As someone who has no emotional attachment towards Dundee (other than thinking McCann's an arsehole) this says a lot about the problem you're having and while you can frame a lot of it on Bain, possibly in the same way we endured with Samson last season it probably points to something a lot deeper. If you're giving up that number of shots then it's the sort of thing that you can probably trace back to the training ground and coaching. It's about the whole team rather than just an individual. You're conceding chances because you're not doing things like stopping crosses, tracking runners or the midfield is standing off attackers that's as much organisational/tactical as it is individual.
I've been lurking over on TDB forum (out of genuine interest rather than a trolling sort of way) and I've seen threads about formations and line ups, whether the fans should be giving more support and some absolutely wild shouts like you're actually a great team with excellent players and have just been unlucky in the most "if your Auntie had baws she'd be your Uncle" style imaginable.
Ultimately if the players don't know what they're supposed to be doing then it doesn't matter if it's a 442, 4231, 352 or how positive the fans are, you're not going improve. Obviously Bain spilling that shot against Thistle isn't something McCann can do anything about (short of just not playing Bain) but when you look at the other chances Dundee are giving up it says a lot more about how the team is set up and it's not about McCann's man management of players or "digging deep" it's about whether he can actually coach.
Alex Fisher has a chance last Wednesday that was almost exactly the same as the one Rojano scored for Accies 3rd on Saturday, the only difference (obviously) was that Bain made an exceptional stop from Fisher who was 3 yards out at the near post to meet Frear's cross from the bye line. If you're giving up the same sort of chances from those sort of positions week in, week out then questions should be asked as to what's going on during the week that's allowing that to happen.
Looking at obvious average stats like goals for and against you're averaging 1 goal a game vs almost 2 a game conceded;
For: 12
Against: 23
GPG For: 1
GPG Against: 1.91So you're almost in a position where (on average) you're having to score 2 goals a game just to draw. That's a problem. Equally there's only been one league match this season (St Johnstone at Dens) where Dundee have scored more than one goal in a game. You can obviously level that stat as having signed an absolute huddie like Moussa and still having him involved in the side but if you're 12 games deep into the season then as much as you should be looking at the defensive side of things you should probably be looking at transitions and the attacking side of things. IIRC Dundee's xG stats have gone off a cliff. At the start of the season in the games against Accies etc the side were creating good quality chances but just not taking them, now it seems they're just not creating chances that you're likely to score from and when you are creating chances they're falling to Moussa unmarked in the middle of the goal to pass the ball back to Tomas Cerny. A goal's a goal and all that but the lack of conversions from open play is something that should really be questioned as well.
The SPFL Radar sums it up here:
Obviously that's all stuff you already know, you guys are watching them week in week out but long story short, I don't think it's something that can really be distilled to "because Bain" or anything like that. I'd say it's a lot broader than that. I said in a post earlier in this thread that while I don't think the players in this Dundee side are anywhere near as good as some on TDB appear to have convinced themselves they are I'd have thought that someone who knew what they were doing and wasn't learning on the job would be able to get more out of them.
You make a lot of good points and sometimes it's good to get an outsiders opinion because we all get emotional about Dundee so it's hard to stay objective. Against Motherwell, we were constantly getting battered down the right because Curran isn't a natural fullback and was standing off and letting everything come into the box. We've been far too passive defensively for years, this isn't a new thing. For what Kerr lacks going forward, there aren't many wingers get the better of him. He has to play on Saturday because Hibs have pace and ability out wide (maybe not so much ability with Boyle, but definitely pace), and I fear we'll get caught out time and time again if we play with two attacking wing backs again.
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I've stuck up for Bain a lot over the past two seasons but he is becoming a bit of a liability. Don't know if it's a confidence thing or if it's his attitude. When we first came and got his chance against Motherwell away I think, he was coming for everything, getting a good punch on it or collecting it and taking the pressure off. That lasted most of the season and we were all tipping him to get a big money move and Scotland caps. Saturday's opener is the perfect example of how that's changed. The ball bounces on the 6 yard line and he doesn't come to collect it, under absolutely no pressure. Yes, Wolters loses his man at the back post but that doesn't become an issue if Bain just comes and collects that cross - it was a nothing cross, one that should have been easily dealt with and yet we find ourself 1-0 down again with a mountain to climb. Then there's the mistake against Thistle which lets them back into the game. Even their second goal is rolled across the 6 yard box, it wasn't exactly hit with any pace. Maybe that's a bit harsh expecting him to collect that, but Meekings at the front post almost leaves it with the expectation Bain would deal with it.
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Just now, G_Man1985 said:
Was either him or waddell unless a back 3. Defence looks decent .Him over Waddell for me. Think he's the best CB at the club, to be honest. Good to have plenty options though.
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1 hour ago, G_Man1985 said:
Kerr I didn't say that. Yer reading skills clearly aren't so good. Bain and McGowan and strikers you are correct. However for your enjoyment.
1. Parish - a clean sheet could be good.
2. Kerr ' my favourite player ( please read )
3. Holt - is doing well.
4. Meekings - can't be any worse
5. Waddell - keep him playing
6. Kamara - best player we have
7. Deacon - cross a good ball
8. Allan - got to come good at some point
9. Youngster
10 Leitch-Smith - looks promising
11 youngster .
Upfront is pretty poor .
Hopefully that will help with your curiosity Ross.No Hendry?
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16 minutes ago, RawB93 said:
Did we have a game at Dens about 15 years ago which featured the Coronation Street cast, some of which had to take fag breaks in the dugouts, or have the drugs finally taken custody of my brain?
Think I remember this too. Was it not something to do with the guy from Emmerdale being a Dundee fan and organising a charity match with soap actors and fans/ex-players?
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47 minutes ago, senorsoupe said:
Is Marcus Haber injured, or has that c**t McCann dropped him?
Injured. Went off against Aberdeen.
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4 minutes ago, Dee Man said:
From what I've heard, anytime Bain has gestured at the home fans, it's at specific individuals in the Coxy who've been dishing out dogs abuse to him so fair play to him. I've always wondered what these clowns think they'll achieve from slaughtering their own players other than pissing them off or making them nervous.
Like I said, I've never actually seen it but you're right. If that is the case then it must be difficult not to react. Players are only human at the end of the day.
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3 minutes ago, G_Man1985 said:
Was that before or after he gave a few gestures to the home support.
We will let him go for nothing by end of this season. Hopefully he dosnt relegate us. N let's be honest we won't be getting another goalkeeper. Priorities has to go to a striker. Until Moussa is back then I presume he will go back into the squadSounds like your dislike for Bain has nothing to do with his ability as a goalkeeper so I doubt we can have a reasonable discussion about it or whether he cares or not, so fair enough I'll leave it at that. I sit in the Derry and honestly don't see him gesturing towards the home fans although this is not the first time I've heard it. Even so, if we get relegated it won't be because Bain has gestured towards the home fans and it won't be anything to do with his ability as a 'keeper IMO.
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6 minutes ago, G_Man1985 said:
I don't think he gives a f**k and last season proofed it which I believe cost him a move in the summer.Looking at his reactions when we do concede it looks like he does care to me. I seriously doubt any 'keeper likes to concede goals or dislikes keeping clean sheets.
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1 hour ago, G_Man1985 said:
A goalkeeper who likes to keep clean sheets would be nice
Do you genuinely think Scott Bain likes to concede goals?
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1 hour ago, G_Man1985 said:
2 bits of transfer business we have had in a long time. When was last time before them we have made a good amount of money on a player. 2 of the best players in the league and we get very little.
Like every team we are a selling club and we have maybe Kerr who is worth something. Business from selling players won't happen.
Season ticket prices ( yes I got one ) are pricing people out of getting one. Attendances are pretty poor on a whole already never mind getting a 15 thousand seated stadium.
The youth set up must be shite as we have very little coming through.
We've had Kerr, Wighton and now Waddell coming through in the past few years. Also Curran, Gourlay and Ferrie have all been in and around the squad before. We've also had more young players out on loan recently than I can remember in a long time. We've definitely been better recently in terms of bringing players through IMO.
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14 minutes ago, PauloPerth said:
I didn't realise Dundee won't own the new ground. I still think the best option is to work towards buying back Dens then in time developing the South Stand.
Renting an out of town arena from a business group.. aren't Dees fans a wee bit wary that this goes a bit Coventry city a few years down the line?
To be fair it isn't really out of town. Further away from the city centre definitely but there are residential areas close by and it's easily accessible by public transport (or at least it used to be, haven't used the buses for a while). The Americans are obviously keen to make their money back from holding conferences/events etc. in new facilities that will be purposely built alongside the new stadium. Redeveloping Dens won't make them as much money long-term IMO. It's not exactly a prime location for a conference/events venue, right in the middle of one of the poorest areas of the city. For me having the Americans own the stadium kind of makes them more likely to stick around having invested so much into it.
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56 minutes ago, ArabFC said:
Dundee have done much the same thing recently, pulling out of the soon to be built Regional Sports Centre, complete with indoor pitch etc etc.
Ostensibly it's because they claim they're going to build their own, along with a 17,000+ seater stadium on the Kingsway by Camperdown.
Dundee United on the other hand, about eight years ago, realised St Andrews University already had state of the art facilities, and moved in there.
It won't be 17000+. Think 12000 or so is more likely.
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Meekings signs. Won't be match ready yet but good signing if we can keep him fit.
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Kamara the best of the three. Rutten looks good but I think we would be sorted with one or the other. Kamara strolled it today and looked really comfortable in that holding role.
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24 minutes ago, bunglebonce said:
I'm guessing McGowan will typically be preferred over Vincent here, but a 4-3-3 with Vincent deeper, Allan with more creative licence and O'Hara doing the box-to-box work is a pretty balanced midfield IMO.
I actually thought Vincent did his best work further forward for us last season. He isn't the best on the ball so playing him deeper was a waste. He was at his best pressing high and winning the ball back further up the pitch. If Hateley wasn't so slow and laboured I would have him in the deeper position because he's technically pretty good, but his lack of pace and sharpness means he gets caught in possession too often.
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31 minutes ago, FreddieDaquin. said:
I think a lot of people thought Spence would be here to sit about on the bench but after his performance on Tuesday he didn't look out of place, he's here to get stuck in - I'd imagine Hendry will be the same.
Yeah fair point. Think Spence might actually turn into a good bit of business. We've lacked that kind of aggression for the past few seasons in the middle of the park.
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1 minute ago, Sting777 said:
He had a year left on his contract at Wigan so I doubt he has been tempted back up here to be a squad player. He showed plenty of promise at Firhill. Big, powerful and commanding. As I said, the lack of games would be the only worry for me. Played a few games for us, a few for Wigan and some for the teams he was loaned out to. With Lindsay away, I would have been delighted to have seen him back at Firhill
Didn't realise he had a year left. Sounds like he has plenty of potential. The type of player we should be signing.
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10 hours ago, Walter said:
Really? This Jags fan would have been pretty underwhelmed. He seemed a reasonable prospect in the few games he played but did little down south. I wouldn't expect him to walk into the starting line-up at Dens or Firhill.To be fair I would expect him to be third choice. I think we'll still sign one more centre back.
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All things Dundee FC
in Scottish Premiership General Chatter
Posted
We played a back 3 away to County, switched to a back 3 against Rangers when Allan came on and started with a back 3 against Aberdeen before switching to a back 4 midway through the first half. The only change was Waddell coming in for Kerr, which I don’t think was necessary even though Cammy’s final ball was poor on Friday against Aberdeen.