Season Review
This will probably be the last football post for a while, so don't worry kids. Although United's season starts on the 14th July so it's not that far away ;o)
It's been a tiring season for me, my clubs, and football in general. It all started on a high as we came off the back of an exciting world cup (and I'm willing to argue that with people, I really enjoyed it - Germany, Argentina, Spain, Uruguay, Ghana, Chile. All exciting attacking teams, brilliant entertainment) and Dundee United were in Europe for the first time in a while. But come May 2011 we had suffered referee refusing to work, the growth of sectarianism, the disgrace of FIFA, and some of the poorest football on offer in a while. It was a rollercoaster, but not necessarily a good one and had left me wondering why I should bother going back next year.
So first off, Dundee United.
We were the width of a goal-post away from going through to the group stages of the UEFA Cup (fuck that Europa League nonsense) against AEK Athens, and that was after the farce of the stadium being changed at the last moment and our fans scrambling around the city trying to work out where to go. I should have known then that it was going to be a long season.
We started the domestic season slowly as well, incuding a humiliating 4-0 defeat at home to Caley Thistle, and it wasn't until we beat Aberdeen 3-1 in September that we got our first win of the campaign - and what a game it was, we were 3-0 up after 8 minutes and it included a howler by Jamie Langfield. What more could you want?
But it was a very stop-start feel to the first half of the season, we had a lot of injuries including the key wide/creative players Swanson and Conway and that held us back as we seemed too rigid and predictable which precented getting key wins that would have enabled to finish third come May. The defence suffered from injuries as well, but amazingly we found the best centre half at the club when we moved Sean Dillon from left-back into the centre. I hope he stays there next season beside Kenneth, and Watson can come back from injury and develop further.
Over the winter we hardly played and that possibly helped us, it allowed the injured players to recover and the others to get a rest. The weather seemed to hit us hardest as the snow and ice settled in for nearly 6 weeks and this led us to having to play a glut of games over a short period but it worked. We suddenly went on a role and achieved a great set of results that turned our season round, and by the end we finished a very respectable 4th and were only 2 points behind Hearts. Overall I think that reflects the season overall, if only we had scored that last minute penalty at Tynecastle, but that's football.
The only disappointment was the cups, yes we got to the Quarter Finals in both of them, but for some reason our bogey ground this season was Fir Park and we received a spanking from Motherwell both times. These things happen though and we'll be after the Scottish Cup again next season.
Come the last game of the season we had to say goodbye to a clutch of players who had helped us lift the Scottish Cup in 2010, so best wishes to them all especially Conway, Gomes, Buaben, Happy Feet, and Kovakevic. It means Houston has a big rebuilding exercise in him, how will he cope? Especially with a big question mark still over Goodwillie. That was another of the off-field problems this season after he was accused of rape, there has been no further news regarding this but will it prevent him being sold on? He is a class striker who I think can go to the top of the game, so if he does leave I hope he chooses England or overseas as I think he will benefit from that move more, although the rumours do seem to be suggesting a move to Rangers.
The breakthrough player of the season for us was Johnny Russel, a wee striker that mainly played out right but contributed 9 goals, and seems to be able to outjump even the tallest of defenders. A good prospect and one who may be able to replace Goodie if he does leave.
So overall a good season which could have offered more if it hadn't been for all the injuries, but it is always hard to follow a 3rd place and a cup win so no real complaints.
Charlton Athletic on the other hand just meandered through the season, there was maybe hope of promotion at the beginning of the season but at the end of Parkinson's rein we had already started a poor run and he was relieved of his duties and replaced by 'Sir' Chris Powell, but apart from a 4 game run when he first started it was a campaign of pure averageness. There was a small scare of a possible relegation battle for a couple of weeks, but the mid-table finish probably reflects the standard of our squad and play. I only managed to see Charlton a couple of times on TV and we looked poor, I know not to expect miracles when we are playing in the 3rd Division but the passion didn't seem to be there, let alone an idea of what we were trying to achieve. A big disappoint all told.
Chris Powell has a big summer on his hands as he needs to overhaul the squad on a limited budget, and there are fans who are already turning against him so he will need to start well or some of the fans will turn on him quickly. I think he should be given a chance to develop and take us forward, we can't keep changing managers and don't have much money so to be around the play-offs is the most we can expect but let's wait to see what happens over the summer.
Borussia Moenchangladbach tried to kill me, it looked all over the winter break as we only had 10 points and looked pitiful. But then a change of manager in February, coming in was Lucien Favre, saw a miracle being to unfold and come the last game of the season we had a chance of avoiding relegation completely after I think it was a six match unbeaten run, and for about 10 minutes it looked possible. But we finished 3rd bottom and had to play Bochum in a play-off as they had finished 3rd in the 2.Bundesliga.
It was nervy stuff over 2-legs but we scored in the 93rd minute at home for a 1-0 victory, and a 1-1 draw in Bochum meant we stayed up and I was a happy bunny. It was scary stuff though and I don't want to have to go through that in a hurry.
Nearly there, don't worry.
Scotland showed progress on the national stage, and although we failed to win the Carling Cup it looks like we are getting the nucleus of a decent squad together and if we can keep Craig Levein in the post I think we have a chance of qualifying for the 2014 WC, although I think it may already be too hard to go to the Euro's unless we can get a point in Spain. Hmmmm, I know we did brilliantly against Spain at Hampden, coming back from 2-0 down to make it 2-2, but in the end we lost 3-2 and I can't see us managing something like that again for a long time. Fingers crossed Levein wants to stay as he is probably bored not being involved everyday, it would be a big loss if he moved on.
So, with all the hassle of FIFA being inept and corrupt, Rangers and Celtic fans/clubs destroying Scottish football with their actions, and even more price rises for season tickets it did actually feel like a very long season and one I was glad to see the back of overall. For once a close-season is much needed for things to calm down and the batteries to be re-charged.
So will I be back for next season? You bloody better believe it. Come on 2011/12!!!
It's been a tiring season for me, my clubs, and football in general. It all started on a high as we came off the back of an exciting world cup (and I'm willing to argue that with people, I really enjoyed it - Germany, Argentina, Spain, Uruguay, Ghana, Chile. All exciting attacking teams, brilliant entertainment) and Dundee United were in Europe for the first time in a while. But come May 2011 we had suffered referee refusing to work, the growth of sectarianism, the disgrace of FIFA, and some of the poorest football on offer in a while. It was a rollercoaster, but not necessarily a good one and had left me wondering why I should bother going back next year.
So first off, Dundee United.
We were the width of a goal-post away from going through to the group stages of the UEFA Cup (fuck that Europa League nonsense) against AEK Athens, and that was after the farce of the stadium being changed at the last moment and our fans scrambling around the city trying to work out where to go. I should have known then that it was going to be a long season.
We started the domestic season slowly as well, incuding a humiliating 4-0 defeat at home to Caley Thistle, and it wasn't until we beat Aberdeen 3-1 in September that we got our first win of the campaign - and what a game it was, we were 3-0 up after 8 minutes and it included a howler by Jamie Langfield. What more could you want?
But it was a very stop-start feel to the first half of the season, we had a lot of injuries including the key wide/creative players Swanson and Conway and that held us back as we seemed too rigid and predictable which precented getting key wins that would have enabled to finish third come May. The defence suffered from injuries as well, but amazingly we found the best centre half at the club when we moved Sean Dillon from left-back into the centre. I hope he stays there next season beside Kenneth, and Watson can come back from injury and develop further.
Over the winter we hardly played and that possibly helped us, it allowed the injured players to recover and the others to get a rest. The weather seemed to hit us hardest as the snow and ice settled in for nearly 6 weeks and this led us to having to play a glut of games over a short period but it worked. We suddenly went on a role and achieved a great set of results that turned our season round, and by the end we finished a very respectable 4th and were only 2 points behind Hearts. Overall I think that reflects the season overall, if only we had scored that last minute penalty at Tynecastle, but that's football.
The only disappointment was the cups, yes we got to the Quarter Finals in both of them, but for some reason our bogey ground this season was Fir Park and we received a spanking from Motherwell both times. These things happen though and we'll be after the Scottish Cup again next season.
Come the last game of the season we had to say goodbye to a clutch of players who had helped us lift the Scottish Cup in 2010, so best wishes to them all especially Conway, Gomes, Buaben, Happy Feet, and Kovakevic. It means Houston has a big rebuilding exercise in him, how will he cope? Especially with a big question mark still over Goodwillie. That was another of the off-field problems this season after he was accused of rape, there has been no further news regarding this but will it prevent him being sold on? He is a class striker who I think can go to the top of the game, so if he does leave I hope he chooses England or overseas as I think he will benefit from that move more, although the rumours do seem to be suggesting a move to Rangers.
The breakthrough player of the season for us was Johnny Russel, a wee striker that mainly played out right but contributed 9 goals, and seems to be able to outjump even the tallest of defenders. A good prospect and one who may be able to replace Goodie if he does leave.
So overall a good season which could have offered more if it hadn't been for all the injuries, but it is always hard to follow a 3rd place and a cup win so no real complaints.
Charlton Athletic on the other hand just meandered through the season, there was maybe hope of promotion at the beginning of the season but at the end of Parkinson's rein we had already started a poor run and he was relieved of his duties and replaced by 'Sir' Chris Powell, but apart from a 4 game run when he first started it was a campaign of pure averageness. There was a small scare of a possible relegation battle for a couple of weeks, but the mid-table finish probably reflects the standard of our squad and play. I only managed to see Charlton a couple of times on TV and we looked poor, I know not to expect miracles when we are playing in the 3rd Division but the passion didn't seem to be there, let alone an idea of what we were trying to achieve. A big disappoint all told.
Chris Powell has a big summer on his hands as he needs to overhaul the squad on a limited budget, and there are fans who are already turning against him so he will need to start well or some of the fans will turn on him quickly. I think he should be given a chance to develop and take us forward, we can't keep changing managers and don't have much money so to be around the play-offs is the most we can expect but let's wait to see what happens over the summer.
Borussia Moenchangladbach tried to kill me, it looked all over the winter break as we only had 10 points and looked pitiful. But then a change of manager in February, coming in was Lucien Favre, saw a miracle being to unfold and come the last game of the season we had a chance of avoiding relegation completely after I think it was a six match unbeaten run, and for about 10 minutes it looked possible. But we finished 3rd bottom and had to play Bochum in a play-off as they had finished 3rd in the 2.Bundesliga.
It was nervy stuff over 2-legs but we scored in the 93rd minute at home for a 1-0 victory, and a 1-1 draw in Bochum meant we stayed up and I was a happy bunny. It was scary stuff though and I don't want to have to go through that in a hurry.
Nearly there, don't worry.
Scotland showed progress on the national stage, and although we failed to win the Carling Cup it looks like we are getting the nucleus of a decent squad together and if we can keep Craig Levein in the post I think we have a chance of qualifying for the 2014 WC, although I think it may already be too hard to go to the Euro's unless we can get a point in Spain. Hmmmm, I know we did brilliantly against Spain at Hampden, coming back from 2-0 down to make it 2-2, but in the end we lost 3-2 and I can't see us managing something like that again for a long time. Fingers crossed Levein wants to stay as he is probably bored not being involved everyday, it would be a big loss if he moved on.
So, with all the hassle of FIFA being inept and corrupt, Rangers and Celtic fans/clubs destroying Scottish football with their actions, and even more price rises for season tickets it did actually feel like a very long season and one I was glad to see the back of overall. For once a close-season is much needed for things to calm down and the batteries to be re-charged.
So will I be back for next season? You bloody better believe it. Come on 2011/12!!!