DUNDEE UNITED find themselves in a somewhat unusual situation going into the new campaign. The fourth-placed finish achieved last term – the Tayside club’s highest final league position since 2014 when the first team featured the likes of Andy Robertson, John Souttar, Stuart Armstrong, Gary Mackay-Steven and Ryan Gauld – didn’t go unnoticed, and it wasn’t long until head coach Tam Courts was lured away to take the reins of Honved in Budapest.
Most supporters of most teams would feel an apprehensive shiver running down their spine at the thought of losing their manager so soon after a period of success, yet the mood music from those tied to Tannadice is that the Terrors have traded up. Within a week of Courts’ departure, former St Mirren, Sunderland and Hibernian boss Jack Ross was unveiled as his successor.
It’s hard not to look at the appointment as something a coup for United. Courts had done well last year in his first season as a fully-fledged coach and his achievements are worthy of respect and admiration but even the 40-year-old’s most ardent supporters would struggle to argue that his name carries quite as much cache as his replacement’s.
There is a sense that Ross’ dismissals from first Sunderland and then Hibs had more than a touch of ruthlessness about them, and that United have appointed a talented head coach whose stock on the managerial-merry-go-round had suffered a momentary dip. Whatever the reason, fans will be quietly optimistic about what the new season will bring.
Supporters of the Premiership outfit typically view themselves as contenders to qualify for European football each season and after a few difficult years, it appears as though the club are back roughly where fans would like them to be. The upcoming Europa Conference League qualifier against AZ Alkmaar feels like it may be a step too far for the Taysiders but there is little doubt that the boosts – both to the club’s coffers and its reputation – will be warmly welcomed.
It feels like the beginning of a bright new era at Tannadice. Those troubling campaigns where they toiled in the second tier feel like a lifetime ago and there are high hopes for what can be achieved over the next ten months. The foundations have already been laid by Courts; it is now down to Ross to build on them.
The make-up of the squad is largely similar, albeit with a few notable departures and arrivals. Swiss goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist is the biggest name to have departed Tannadice over the close season after the 30-year-old agreed a free transfer to Celtic, and he leaves sizeable gloves to fill. The good news is that Siegrist’s replacement, Swedish shot-stopper Carljohan Eriksson, was identified and in the building as far back as January, while Australian Mark Birighitti has also been brought in to challenge for the No.1 jersey.
The departure of Lewis Neilson, the promising defender who upped sticks to complete a move to Hearts this summer, was a blow but perhaps the most encouraging piece of business that United have conducted was in convincing Dylan Levitt to sign a permanent deal in Scotland. The central midfielder cut a mightily impressive figure in the heart of the Tangerines’ midfield last term and the club deserve credit for convincing the 21-year-old Wales internationalist to commit his future to United.
The jury will be out on Turkish left-back Aziz Behich, the 31-year-old who signed a two-year deal at Tannadice on Thursday and represents something of an unknown quantity, but fellow summer arrivals Steven Fletcher and Craig Sibbald look like savvy acquisitions that should provide good bang for their buck on Tayside.
It is a case of evolution, not revolution, thus far under Ross. The 46-year-old has developed a reputation for employing a style of play that is easy on the eye yet undercut with a healthy dose of pragmatism – his predecessor was guilty at times of leaning a little too heavily on the latter, and so the introduction of the former will be welcomed by supporters.
Another fourth-placed finish and a run in one of the cups would represent a strong season for United. Catching pace with Hearts looks like a step too far and there will be one or two people at Tannadice looking nervously over their shoulder at Jim Goodwin’s resurgent Aberdeen side. But apart from those two rivals for a European berth, United supports will, quite rightly, fancy their team’s chances this term.
There is a strong youth contingent at Dundee United and they are likely to be given the opportunity to stake a claim for a place in the first team in the coming months. Up-and-coming Scottish talents such as defender Ross Graham, playmaker Chris Mochrie and midfielder Archie Meekison impressed in spells last season and will be looking to make an impression, while foreign imports such as Ghana’s Mathew Cudjoe – who arrived last November – have enjoyed a fine pre-season, and are worth keeping an eye on this term.
Manager Jack Ross
Captain Charlie Mulgrew
Key player Dylan Levitt. The central midfielder requires little by way of introduction on Tayside, having impressed on loan at Tannadice last season, and much of United’s success will rest on Ross getting the most out of the talented midfielder. Good with the ball at his feet and with an eye for a pass, Levitt is a tricky opponent to keep quiet for 90 minutes – and he has a happy habit of scoring a few 30-yard goals a season, too.
In Dylan Levitt (Manchester United), Aziz Behich (Giresunspor), Steven Fletcher (Stoke City), Craig Sibbald (Livingston), Mark Birighitti (Central Coast Mariners).
Out Benjamin Siegrist (Celtic), Lewis Neilson (Hearts), Nathan Cooney (Brechin City), Callum Butcher (Burton Albion), Trevor Carson (St Mirren), Mark Connelly (Derry City), Adrian Sporle (released), Maxime Biamou (released), Kevin McDonald (released).
Last season It was an encouraging campaign as United ended a near decade-long wait to qualify for European football, with United rising five places in the table compared to the previous year. A host of young players were blooded in the first team and although catching Hearts proved to be impossible, the Terrors secured fourth place relatively comfortably in the end. They met the Old Firm on four occasions in the league but took points off them four times, showing that on their day they can be a match for anyone in the division.
Odds 500/1.
