Dundee United

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

We're still in August, the sun is shining and autumn is right around the corner, but already derby week has crept up on us like that takeaway curry that you swore was mild.

For United's new players, this is baptism of fire. Forget easing yourself into Scottish football with a comfy game against Brechin (no offence Brechin).

No, you're marched into battle up Tannadice Street, trying not to get clipped by an Asda delivery van, before heading straight into the cauldron of Dens.

Dundee, of course, have the bragging rights from the last two derbies. And while those games weren't exactly played in black-and-white television days, it still feels like two completely different teams lining up this time.

United's squad turnover has been drastic. Fourteen new players have come in, but most have looked very good, albeit in the small sample size we have seen of them.

Dundee haven't stood still either. From the outside it looks like they've plugged the holes in their defence, but possibly at the cost of the attacking swagger that made them relatively entertaining last season.

United, on the other hand, have built a team that, on paper, looks like it could thrill once everyone's fit. But while we've added some flair, we seem to have also developed a defensive frailty that wasn't really in the script.

Basically, we've gone from Fort Knox to a garden shed with a dodgy padlock in about three months.

Which makes this derby utterly impossible to call. It could go any way - a scrappy 0–0, a six-goal thriller, or a bizarre 3-2 where the winner goes in off someone's backside in the 94th minute.

And let's not kid ourselves on, this is worth more than three points. This is about bragging rights, dignity, reputation and, in my case, whether or not my desk on Monday morning looks like a shrine to Simon Murray.

After the last two defeats, I shuffled into the office to find my workstation plastered with his face. It was on my keyboard, taped to my monitor, even laminated on to my chair.

I couldn't even look at the guy without hearing my colleagues' muffled giggles from behind their screens.

So, please, footballing gods, let this be the week when I get to channel my inner Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. Let me be the one choosing the wallpaper, carefully selecting pictures of United's goalscorers, artistically arranging them across the office like I'm on Changing Rooms: Banter Edition.

It's my turn to redecorate. It's my turn to gloat. It's my turn to casually hum Beautiful Sunday as I refill the communal kettle.

Just one win, lads, that's all I ask. Just one.

Paul McNicoll can be found at the Dode Fox Podcast, external

Image source, SNS

Kai Fotheringham has joined St Johnstone from Dundee United for an undisclosed fee.

United say "the deal also includes performance-based add ons and a sizeable sell-on fee".

The Scotland Under-21 forward, 22, made his United debut in October 2020 and has made 123 senior appearances, which includes games on loan at Falkirk, Raith Rovers, Cove Rangers and Stirling Albion. Fotheringham has scored 21 club goals.

He joins a St Johnstone side top of the Scottish Championship after three league wins out of three.

Image source, Getty Images

New Dundee United striker Nikolaj Moller is a "terrific physical profile" who is "perfectly suited to the combative nature" of Scottish football, says manager Jim Goodwin.

The Swedish forward has arrived from Swiss top-flight side St Gallen on an initial two-year deal, with a club-held option of an additional year.

A former Arsenal, Bologna and Malmo youth player, the 23-year-old spent last season on loan at Stromsgodset in Norway, scoring five goals in 24 games.

"He's more than just a traditional target man," Goodwin said of his new recruit, who scored once in 23 games for St Gallen.

"He has the rare blend of height, technical ability and raw pace, which allows him to play with his back to goal and link the game, or stretch opposition defences with selfless runs into the channels.

"These attributes gave him the opportunity to learn within some elite footballing environments during his formative years, and he's a more well-rounded player thanks to those experiences.

"At just 23, Nikolaj has already tested himself across numerous European countries, all with different cultures on and off the park - that speaks volumes about his adaptability and ambition.

"We believe Tannadice is the right environment for him to settle, develop further and showcase his talents at senior level."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

New arrival Ivan Dolcek is already impressing at Dundee United.

The Croatian winger, who joined from Slovakian side Dunajska Streda on a season-long loan in July, has made an instant impact with three goals in two league games to sit joint top of the Premiership goal chart.

A delve into the Opta data illustrates his potency. Dolcek's xG (expected goals) is just 0.88, highlighting his lethal finishing, and the 25-year-old tucked away the one 'big chance' that came his way.

He is averaging a goal every 59.7 minutes and has also scored all three of his shots on target, while having just nine touches in the opposition box.

The winger, who can also operate at left-back, is proving his defensive abilities too. Only Panutche Camara and Miller Thomson have a better tackle success rate than Dolcek. He has also won possession nine times - only Craig Sibbald and Camara have a higher tally.

With the games coming thick and fast there will be plenty more opportunities for Dolcek to showcase his abilities at both ends of the pitch.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

A tired and injury-hit Dundee United squad have a weekend off as their scheduled opponents Aberdeen focus on European commitments instead - a blessing in disguise for Jim Goodwin.

First and foremost, the break provides a little spell of respite amid what has been a frantic start to United's campaign.

It also gives manager Jim Goodwin time to step back and reflect on the start his new-look side have made.

There has been a lot to like so far, particularly their impressive - if ultimately unsuccessful - showings against Rapid Vienna on the continental stage. But there will also be cause for concern.

In their last five matches, across all competitions, United have conceded 11 goals.

There are some mitigating circumstances, the main one being the selection problems which have dogged the early stages of their season. Even so, it is going to be very difficult for the Tangerines to win games if they continue to lose goals at that rate.

Goodwin must find a way of plugging those leaks at the back. If he can, then there is absolutely no reason at all why his team cannot go on and enjoy another fine campaign.

If he can't, then a season which promises plenty could turn into a real slog.

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

It's been a tough few days as a United fan.

Despite going out on penalties on Thursday night, you couldn't help but feel proud.

The effort, the spirit, the togetherness was all there. Every player gave everything, and we matched a decent European side over two legs. The crowd at Tannadice played their part too. It felt like a proper big night again.

Fast forward to Sunday and it's hard to feel anything but flat.

Yes, the squad's stretched. Yes, it's been a brutal schedule. But to go out of the League Cup with a whimper hurts. We never got going. Kilmarnock were streetwise, organised and we didn't ask enough questions - or defend well.

The contrast between Thursday's fire and Sunday's fizzle was hard to watch.

Two competitions gone in the space of four days. That's a sore one. You can understand the fatigue, but it doesn't make it easier to swallow.

The support has been incredible by travelling, turning up and singing their hearts out. All we want is to see our team give themselves a chance.

We'll dust ourselves down and go again. The league now becomes everything until the Scottish Cup comes round in January.

We've seen enough already to know this group is capable, but if we want to build something lasting then we can't keep letting these opportunities pass us by.

Plenty of football still to play. But we need a response. And fast.

Paul can be found at the Dode Fox Podcast, external

Image source, SNS

Luca Stephenson thinks his pre-season experience with Liverpool has improved him as a player as he begins a second loan period with Dundee United.

The 21-year-old signed a new contract at Anfield after featuring four times in summer friendlies.

"It's sometimes a bit of an eye-opener when you play with players of that quality," he said.

"I thought I had a really good season up here last year, and then you go back there and you see there's other levels to the game.

"I'm just hoping what I learnt over the six weeks while I was with them in pre-season, can I bring that here, can I show people what I've learnt off them? And I know I'm only young, but can I help other people?"

On his conversations with Reds manager Arne Slot, Stephenson explained: "He watched an awful lot of me last year, whether it was live games on the telly or through clips, and I think he enjoyed how I came on.

"I think he's seen another improvement from me when I came back into pre-season, so the message from him was quite clear - to go and do the same again, step up another level if it's possible."

Stephenson played 33 consecutive league games for United last season before undergoing double hernia surgery.

"Being on loan, it's not the easiest thing in the world, knowing you're only going to be in places for a short amount of time, a year here, a year there," he added.

"I wanted to be somewhere I was happy, I was comfortable. I liked the dressing room, I liked the manager and I wanted to be somewhere where I was appreciated."

We asked for your views on Dundee United's 2-1 defeat against Kilmarnock in the Scottish League Cup.

Here's what some of you said:

Joe: Another cup disappointment but thought we showed a lot of quality in the first half. We were dead on our feet in the second half but not overly concerned to lose that game, very excited about what this team is capable of. Bring on the derby, if we can't beat them them then I'll start to worry.

Andy: Dreadful performance I'm afraid. So disappointing after so many good performances. There was nothing good to take from today and even worse another injury!

Jack: Another injury will really put us in a dangerous situation. Hopefully the team gels a bit more during the break. If I was Jim Goodwin I would get the defence sorted out ASAP.

Jamie: The management of the players now needs to be questioned. How can we have between six to eight players out injured for the first five games of a season? Goodwin should have played a lot of the young players against Hearts to give others rest. Now we are going into a Dundee Derby with Owen Stirton as our only striker. Sort it out United!

Lee: United's defence was the jewel in their crown last season now it's a mess. The new boys, and in particular Iurie Iovu, have struggled and the team keep losing goals at set pieces. Goodwin needs to sort that out. He could start by putting Sam Harding in the team who's a much better player than the defenders he's brought in. Scottish football needs to ditch these old pieces of carpet they call artificial pitches. Every time United play on them someone gets injured and this time it was Max Watters.

Kieran: I think the result was a foregone conclusion before the ball was kicked but my word we could not have made it any easier for Killie for score. For the first goal, the gaping hole in defence was laughable - you could have literally parked a bus in there. The second goal was just as embarrassing. Again lessons not learned from cross balls into the box which is ironic seeing as we are meant to have some of the tallest defenders in our ranks. That's every game bar UNA Strassen we have conceded two-plus goals. Even so early on it is alarming especially with the derby next up.

Returning captain Brad Lyons netted the winner against Dundee United as Kilmarnock set up a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at home to St Mirren.

Read the match report here

Have your say on the game

Image source, SNS

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "We always had a concern about this afternoon's fixture given the exploits on Thursday night.

"The boys have played 120 minutes of football on Thursday, very little time to recover for the game, Kilmarnock were the fresher team and I think that showed. But that's no excuse for some of the goals we conceded.

"The first goal was shocking, the second goal is embarrassing. We've had numerous warnings in the last couple of games, we've not dealt with a wide free-kick.

"I thought the game overall wasn't a great spectacle. In the second half we offered very little.

"We find ourselves going out far too early at this stage of the cup competition. The real frustration from us is that we haven't been undone by wonderful football, today we've not defended situations well enough. I had a feeling we'd run out of energy in the second half and that's what happened.

"I don't know what we've done to deserve the bad fortune that we've had since we've come back from pre-season. We thought we had finely tuned the players. I think Max Watters' injury is a fatigue injury.

"He's put a lot into the last couple of weeks, he came late into the team, he sprinted for that ball and felt something go behind his leg. We don't know what the damage is, we'll have to get another scan but the injury list is a joke at the moment. We're going without some really important players and we're asking a lot of those we do have available."

Image source, SNS

Dundee United striker Zac Sapsford is facing up to four weeks on the sidelines after picking up an ankle injury against Rapid Vienna.

The forward won his side a penalty in their Conference League defeat at Tannadice on Thursday night but strained an ankle ligament in the process.

Having been replaced by Amar Fatah in the squad for Sunday's League Cup game against Kilmarnock, manager Jim Goodwin confirmed the extent of Sapsford's injury.

"Fatah is in the team today because of the injury to Zac Sapsford that he picked up in the build-up to the penalty where he got wiped out," Goodwin said.

"That's a major disappointment for us because he's been a real key player for us up until now.

"It's a strained ankle ligament injury so those types of injuries can take anything from two to four weeks.

"He's a young lad, he'll heal quickly. Majorly disappointed not to have him in a really important game today."

Image source, SNS

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin is confident he can "get them going" following Thursday's Conference League disappointment.

United lost on penalties to Rapid Vienna in the third qualifying round and the Tangerines face a Sunday trip to Rugby Park to take on Kilmarnock in the Premier Sports Cup second round.

"I don't think it will be difficult to get them going," said Goodwin. "I do obviously have a concern around about the energy levels within the group.

"A number of the players have had to play every minute of every game this season so far, given the amount of players we have missing.

"It was my first time as manager being involved in European football and I can respect what other managers and teams have had to go through in years gone by and I can see how difficult it is to get that balance right.

"When you're missing seven or eight key players like we have been over the last three or four weeks, then it makes that all the more difficult, unfortunately."

Forward Max Watters, 26, believes Dundee United will only get better after narrowly missing out on the Conference League play-off round. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

Richard Winton
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Defender Bert Esselink says Dundee United must aim to be back in Europe next season after showing they can compete in continental competition.

Jim Goodwin's side led 4-2 on aggregate against a Rapid Vienna side who reached the quarter-finals last season, before ultimately going out of Conference League qualifying at Tannadice on Thursday on penalties.

"We have to strive for that again," said Esselink, who joined United in the summer.

"I think as a team we are capable of good things. We showed we can be part of these competitions and that we can compete with these kinds of teams.

"That's something we can be proud of and have to strive for again until the end of the season."

Image source, SNS

We asked for your views on Dundee United's defeat on penalties to Rapid Vienna in the Conference League third qualifying round.

Here are some of your comments:

Richard: Shoutout to the fans, that was the best atmosphere I've experienced at Tannadice. First-half performance was incredible, second half for some reason we sit back and invite them to score. You could see extra time coming a mile off, such a disappointing approach to the second 45 minutes. At least we have some more time now for the injured players to recover!

Rob: The result is hard to take, but let's look at the positives. So many performances from so many players, all over the park. To a man, we were superb, especially in that first half. Credit to Jim Goodwin and his staff - this United team can play and it can fight. Everyone connected with the club should be very, very proud of this team.

Kieran: If there was any game to show two sides to football this was it. From sheer delirium at half-time to utter devastation at the end. Again the frustration from most fans would be we let an another lead slip but overall we have immense pride for the team. They left everything and more out on the park to take a quality team like Rapid all the way to penalties. The team can only get better from here.

Stephen: Conflicted pride at the end. I can't ask for any more from those players. They left it all out on the pitch and for one strike hitting the frame we are out and I'm as gutted as I am proud of the effort. Nobody gave us a hope yet we came so close with a brand new squad that's still yet getting to know one another. It's done so on to the League Cup then the league with optimism.

Nathan: Immensely proud of the team. It's the manner of defeat that's sickening. Two up with 30 minutes to go and then lose by one penalty in a shootout.

Jamie: Never thought I'd see a Rapid Vienna side playing for penalties. Owen Stirton's chance in extra time will haunt us for a long time. I'd also like to say how disappointed I am in whoever runs the music at Tannadice. They made Fatah wait for 30 seconds to take his penalty when he was ready to go. Gutted for the players.

Image source, SNS

Former Dundee United striker Billy Dodds on BBC Sportsound

United took four good penalties and Amar Fatah's wasn't bad, it just it the post, he struck it well, just off direction. They should be so proud because this was a good team they were playing against.

I think United should've won it in injury time. It was the old rollercoaster. You can see this Dundee United team growing. They have to take the positives. His team are gelling. This team are going places.

Former United coach Tony Docherty on BBC Sportsound

United deserve great credit. Dundee United have taken a real quality Rapid Vienna team to penalty kicks. For Jim [Goodwin], I'm disappointed for him but he'll take huge pride from that performance.

They took this tie right to the death against a really, really strong opponent. The standard of penalties at the end there was outstanding and that's the determining factor.

Former Dundee defender Cammy Kerr on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast

It goes to show how far United have come. There's a real foundation at United now.

I know for a fact Jim Goodwin definitely fancied their chances taking Rapid back to Tannadice at 2-2. Extremely unlucky. It's always kind of that luck when you go to penalties.

Midfielder Luca Stephenson, 21, harboured hopes of returning to Dundee United on loan from Liverpool before securing a second loan at Tannadice this week. (Record), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Richard Winton
BBC Sport Scotland at Tannadice

Image source, SNS

Max Watters has thanked the "unbelievable" Dundee United fans after they watched their side suffer an agonising Conference League exit at the hands of Rapid Vienna.

Striker Watters scored twice in the first half of the second leg to give United a 4-2 aggregate lead, but Jim Goodwin's weary side conceded twice before going on to lose on penalties in front of a raucous sold-out Tannadice.

"They were unbelievable," Watters said of the United fans. "They were there from minute one to the very end. Outstanding.

"We have to say thank you to them because it helps us when we're down, when we're struggling, when we're tired."

Image source, SNS

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin told BBC Scotland: "As a manager, all you can ask is that your team leave everything out on the pitch and we saw that over the last two legs.

"I've found out a lot about the team, in terms of the characteristics you would want. That never say die attitude. We started the game so well do. To be 2-0 up, to lose in the fashion we did, it's a major disappointment.

"I'd like to thank them for being with us on the journey and doing the club proud away from home. I'm gutted for everyone of them, but grateful to them.

"Our injuries have been well documented, we've suffered another one here tonight with Zac Sapsford - in the build up to the penalty he's taken a knock on his ankle.

"We've had to ask a lot of the group over the last few weeks. It's really difficult, it's my first experience as a manager at this level and it's been so challenging getting the balance right. You need your full compliment to be able to rotate and freshen things.

"I don't want to use it as an excuse. Any team in the country would be suffering without their best players available and that's the situation we find ourselves in at the moment.

"We've gone toe-to-toe with a good Rapid Vienna team, and apart from within our camp, no one would have given us a hope in hell. It's as hard a tie as we could have gotten when you look at the teams available.

"Everyone expected us to get turned over in Vienna but the boys put in a great performance and kept the tie alive. Tonight, we're underdogs going into the game. Rapid got to the quarters last year, they've spent £5m on three players - that gives you an understanding of what we're up against.

"This needs to give us a lot of belief and encouragement for the season ahead and being involved in these games gives you a real taste for it. Let's try and get back here again next year and go that little bit farther.

"The players can hold their heads high, it's given us a lot of optimism for the season ahead."

Image source, SNS

Dundee United succumbed to fatigue and expection to cede a two-goal lead against a slick Rapid Vienna side and have their hopes of Conference League progression ripped from their grasp in agonising style in a penalty shoot-out.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say here.

Image source, SNS

Luca Stephenson has rejoined Dundee United "stronger, fully fit and hungry to pick up where he left off," says manager Jim Goodwin.

The 21-year-old Liverpool midfielder returns to Tannadice for a second season-long loan after impressing last term, scoring three times in 34 appearances before double hernia surgery.

Stephenson's move follows Finnish defender Dario Naamo, 21, signing a three-year contract to free up a space after United had reached their maximum of six loans.

"Luca's return was a priority for us this window - he brings something unique in terms of his leadership, versatility and understanding of how we want to play," said Goodwin.

"He's had a brilliant summer working under Arne Slot and alongside some of the best players in the world - that experience will serve him and us incredibly well this season.

"Luca knows what this club stands for, the standards expected and the passion of our fanbase. To bring in someone of his quality, who's already embedded in the culture and values of the club, is a massive boost."

Naamo has yet to feature in a competitive game for Goodwin's side after suffering an ankle injury in pre-season.

"This move represents a forward-thinking and proactive piece of business from the club - the reason we worked hard to include an option to buy in the initial agreement between ourselves and St Polten was because we wholeheartedly believe in Dario's ability," Goodwin said.

"He personifies the modern-day wing-back - energetic, combative and technically accomplished, with a desire to impact the game at both ends of the park."