De Vries to join up with Levein

[Manwell Pablo]

COG has hardly played this season - as you are quite aware. And the only time he's had a relatively free attacking role was against Macclesfield.

Sylla doesn't score goals - ever - not in 40-odd games. Hammond has scored far more and our results improved when he came into the side too suggesting that his pace really is quite valuable, which I'd actually think was obvious in a side so short of pace.

I've nothing against Fryatt, not that I think he deserves any more patience than anyone else if he can't be bothered to get himsel;f properly fit for the start of the season - which seemed to be the case to me.

Fact is he's scored a couple of goals and that's about it in close to a dozen appearances - same as Hammond and only one better than COG who's only played half the games.

He didn't score many last season (one?) for us or Rushden, their fans commented on how he didn’t score enough despite how good he looked (in League Two) and He's scored one goal this season against a league two team who are the only team not to register a win in England in any competition. Oh yes and he's injured.

What? Where has Sylla come from now? But seeing as you bought it up, stick talentless wonder Hammond out on the right and you wont see a goal or anything resembling the two assists Sylla gave us on Saturday in a 100 games never mind 40. Yes Hammond has scored a few more, he hasn't scored enough goals to be considered to of scored far more goals than any one. He also plays up front which gives him a distinct advantage.

Fryatt deserves more patience than COG or Hammond because he's alot better than them and if we get him on form we will have

[Fez of Mahrez]

I've got loads of really good points to make about Fryatt and Hammond etc but I can't be arsed at the moment.

Stay tuned.

[Lichfieldfox.]

And mine!

I didn't realise he was that big - I honestly thought he was about six foot but solid with it.

The question then is, considering he has excellent shooting technique - why don't we have a specialist striker working on his offensive heading, his fast close control, his finding of space in the box and his partnership work with individuals. Or do we have one I don't know about.

And why isn't he used more? I know he's been injured but even before that he was a bit part player who's never really been let off the leash. I could never understand the difference in how he played for the reserves - with freedom to orchestrate things - and the limited role he always played for the firsts (Macclesfield apart).

And don't anyone say he can't control the ball and hasn't got pace. His control can be fine and he's got enough speed, stamina and strength to get chances against anyone.

MDV wouldn't score many marks in the control and pace department but we definitely need some height and physical presence up there with Hume.

With our right wing problems it makes me think more and more about Hammond out widish, Hume and COG/Louis Dodds up front and attacking full-backs.

Fryatt could get his fitness back by coming in off the bench.

There'd be no problem doing this if RK would ditch Johnson once and for all, put Stearman back where he belongs and use Tiatto/Sheehan at left-back, not because Nils hasn't done okay but because he doesn't compliment the style of play we need to be looking for.

You'd have a side like:

Logan;

Stearman, McAuley, Kisnorbo, Sheehan/Tiatto;

Williams;

Weso/King, Porter;

Hume,

Hammond O'Grady

.

Subs: Whoever including Dodds and Fryatt.

A central diamond (a la Chelsea) and a team with pace, passing, movement, overlapping, natural fluidity. It starts to look like a unit instead of a bunch of disjointed sections. Furthermore the team would then have eight/nine potential scorers instead of three or four...and more natural passers.

Don't get me wrong, I like 4-4-2 but we don't have the personnel for it.

Awaits castigation for leaving out McCarthy, Nils, Sylla, Hughes and Welsh.

Looks an exciting team, although I've never seen Dodds or King play.

Email it to Rob Kelly .... you might get offered a job.

[Lichfieldfox.]

I've gone onto the Dundee web site ARAB forum and suggested they make us an offer for de Vries.

[Thracian]

Looks an exciting team, although I've never seen Dodds or King play.

Email it to Rob Kelly .... you might get offered a job.

I'd hate it to lose ....the flak they'd get on here would wreck their careers for ever!

King and Dodds are just names from the corridors of Leicester City you'll probably never see.

RK described Dodds is "the best natural finisher we've got at the club" or something very similar but, while we've no-one even threatening to help Hume with the goalscoring burden, City have sent him to somewhere softer than our reserves to sharpen and toughen himself up.

By the time he returns MM will doubtless have taken over and the club will have a coachload of new strikers purhased from the four corners of the earth so Doddsy will probably be further down the pecking order than when he joined the club years ago.

[Janx]

Surely we only have one more season to loan him out for after this then its "see ya"

[lookwhaticando]

If a defender's what he wants, he can take Maybury in January.

[Thracian]

Yes but they were on fire during pre-season, banging them in against Macclesfield, Boston, Stockport and the might of the Confrence North, Hinckley United.

If it wasn't for the fact I'd look like a big girls blouse, I'd cry at that suggestion. Whoever it was needs banning from football for the safety of everyone else who goes or enjoys the game.

Anyone who advocates Sylla as a Championship right winger should remember about people in glass houses...

[Lichfieldfox.]

SubmitDate: 16/11/06 14:57:44

Source: Forum

Comments: Please make Leicester an offer for Mark de Vries

A reply from dundee utd by email:

"Very much doubt whether we could meet Championship wage levels, but let's wait and see what the Manager recommends."

________________________________

From: [email protected] [mailto:communications@dundeeunit=

edfc.co.uk]

Sent: Thu 16/11/2006 14:57

To: Derek Robertson

Subject: New Forum entry - www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk

So no chance to offload Sylla or Maybury either then. Levein must have also taken a big wage cut (if you ignore his time at Raith)

[lookwhaticando]

That's right... give them the impression he's shit and we need to offload him. Sure-fire way of getting rid of him.

:laugh:

[The Don]

Chirs O'Grady is 6ft 3!!!

Thats big in my book!

Yeah but about 6 inches was for his afro!! Now he's had a hair cut, he'sd only 5'9

[Thracian]

It amazes me that you think that approach's like these would be so much better than our current one. That sides going to concead two goals a game and there is only one player in the side who scores frequently. Your front two would probabley score about 10 a season between them.

I don't like to mention it really but our current side - coincidentally since Sylla's been around again - has conceded two goals a game in four of the last five.

The team you ridicule would almost certainly score more goals because it would have more people capable of scoring and more people capable of supporting into the box.

It would also be able to press higher up the field and have more pace on the break. It would also be able to retain possession longer. Not that we'll ever find out for sure.

[FrankieWorthoYaggedMyWife]

RK described Dodds is "the best natural finisher we've got at the club" or something very similar but, while we've no-one even threatening to help Hume with the goalscoring burden, City have sent him to somewhere softer than our reserves to sharpen and toughen himself up.

You make some valid points and then you go and ruin it all with ridiculous sugestions like playing King and saying the Conference is "softer" than reserve football! For starters around 75% of the conference are professional so it is hardly like he has been packed off to some park side! It is also one of the most physical leagues around, hardly soft!!!

You advocate free flowing football a la Arsenal, Barcelona???

I am sure that if we had the players available to play that sort of game we would do but we are an average Championship side with the vast majority average players! If the Madaric takeover goes through that may change but for now that is where we are at. We have to scrap for every point and if it makes us unattractive to watch then so be it!

You harp back to the "good old days" under O'Neill but ask yourself this, how many of our current set of "golden" youngsters would have got a look in? Stearman? Wesolowski? and thats about your lot!

You moan about "the chosen men" but did you complain so freely when Impey was selected week in week out and we finished in the top 10 of the Premiership? All managers have favourites! Get over it!!!!!

A few weeks ago you were quite happy to play Stearman in midfield after his fine display against Villa? Our first defeat in 9 games against Sheff Wed and you are back with the "playing Seven defenders " crap you came out with months ago! Ww currently have 18 players fit so we are hardly overwhelmes with options are we?

Rob Kelly's job is to get results, how we do that as far as I am concerned doesn't matter? We were desperate to watch under O'Neill at times but no one complains when you win!

Please, please, please stop posting negative crap on this forum!!!!

[Thracian]

You make some valid points and then you go and ruin it all with ridiculous sugestions like playing King and saying the Conference is "softer" than reserve football! For starters around 75% of the conference are professional so it is hardly like he has been packed off to some park side! It is also one of the most physical leagues around, hardly soft!!!

You advocate free flowing football a la Arsenal, Barcelona???

I am sure that if we had the players available to play that sort of game we would do but we are an average Championship side with the vast majority average players! If the Madaric takeover goes through that may change but for now that is where we are at. We have to scrap for every point and if it makes us unattractive to watch then so be it!

You harp back to the "good old days" under O'Neill but ask yourself this, how many of our current set of "golden" youngsters would have got a look in? Stearman? Wesolowski? and thats about your lot!

You moan about "the chosen men" but did you complain so freely when Impey was selected week in week out and we finished in the top 10 of the Premiership? All managers have favourites! Get over it!!!!!

A few weeks ago you were quite happy to play Stearman in midfield after his fine display against Villa? Our first defeat in 9 games against Sheff Wed and you are back with the "playing Seven defenders " crap you came out with months ago! Ww currently have 18 players fit so we are hardly overwhelmes with options are we?

Rob Kelly's job is to get results, how we do that as far as I am concerned doesn't matter? We were desperate to watch under O'Neill at times but no one complains when you win!

Please, please, please stop posting negative crap on this forum!!!!

a) The Hinckley side our Reserves hammered 5-0 are top of the League feeding into the conference and I don't think for one moment our Reserves would l;ose 8-0 to Brighton as Northwich did. So you don't convince me on that one.

b) I'm sick of excuses why we don't play flowing football. No we can't field the players Arsenal field but we don't play their sort of opposition either, or anything like it. You have to scrap to get the ball in any football

but you can play your way out of the Championship like any other football. Clogging is taboo now and has been for a long time.

c) I hardly ever mention the "good old days of MON" - they were much more akin to what you seem to want. I go back to Matt Gillies, thanks. I didn't rate Impey especially and doubt I've ever mentioned him.

d) I wasn't happy about Stearman - he seemed as good an option as any at a time when the squad was decimated with injuries.

e) We do play seven defenders and it is like a f.....g millstone. The eight games unbeaten included five draws which are no use to us at all if we want promotion. And 18 players is plenty providing you balance them up properly and don't carry passengers. What we need 30-odd in a squad for God knows but it sure leaves us with stacks of unfit players.

f) As for Kelly's job being to get results I agree and we fail to win far to often. As for how he does it you are in good company. A good few fans don't really care. But I do. And I don't believe we'll fill our stadium consistently or win anything, whichever comes first, without having the conviction to take the game to the opposition. That means being every bit as hard as necessary to win possession but it also means having the players who can play a bit when they do get the ball.