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Pre-season injuries; same old story!

We haven't kicked a competitive ball yet, but already 3 of our first 11 are out injured.

Kenneth and Robertson have both picked up injuries in pre-season encounters that have put their involvement in the Europa tie in doubt.

The back problems that kept Danny Swanson out for most of last season appear to still be a major issue, and there are no signs that he will feature any more this season than he did last season.

He (Swanson) hasn't even kicked a ball in pre-season, and the real thing is almost upon us!

It's amazing that with all the advanced medical science available today that no-one can seem to get to the bottom of Danny's problems and get them sorted.

On the plus side, it sounds as though Gary Mackay-Stevens is showing up well in pre-season. It's a pity we have to wait until we sell our star player until we can sign him.

Just as well our over-worked squad got some experience of coping with adversity last season (due to frequent and long term injuries). I get the feeling they'll be faced with even more muddling through this season.

I'm beginning to wonder if our pre-season training and fitness regimes are everything they should be in the modern age?

Who is providing the medical advice to the club?

Are they up to the task?

With the exception of the miracle recoveries made by Jon Daly, evidence that they are up to the job is not apparent.

A couple of seasons back we only discovered that Sandaza needed a double-hernia operation on the eve of the season - I mean WTF was that all about?

The guy was clearly struggling in April/May before the previous season ended, surely the hernia problem should've been diagnosed and dealt with then, giving the player the whole summer to recuperate and a chance to get involved in pre-season training?

I suspect that there is something not quite right at United - in respect of training regimes and medical advice.

posted on 4/7/11

Think we might just be unlucky in the injury aspect, although your right we do get a large amount of them, hopefully robbo and kenneth will make speedy recoverys our euro tie is going to be tough enough i think. But the young players do seem to be stepping up ok, maybe best to get all the injuries out the road before the season starts.

posted on 4/7/11

Scott Robertson at it again, typical! Don't even get me started on Swanson...

Hopefully thinning out the midfield will force Houston into playing 4-4-2... please!

And on a positive note, I've only heard good things about Rankin and Scott Allan had a cracking assist against Forfar.

posted on 4/7/11

Yeah i read that scott allan had had a good game too, lets hope they are all fit again soon.

posted on 5/7/11

Good to hear positive feedback about Scott Allan. Feedback regarding Gary Mackay-Stevens sounds positive too.

posted on 5/7/11

Robertson out for 4-6 weeks, heard a rumour that he has refused to sign a contract extension, his contract is up at the end of the season. Is he a waste of a jersey at this stage, considering his previous problems and our medical staff abilities?

posted on 5/7/11

Is he a waste of a jersey at this stage
------------------------------------------------------------

It's a difficult question isn't it?

He looked the real deal in his first season with us, but since his first major injury he has never looked like recapturing that level of performance.

Disappointing if the rumour about him refusing the contract extension is true - given that we aint had much 'bang for our buck' from Robertson, I feel he is due to do us a turn - at least one good season in return for our patience.

Mind you, I'm not so sure if United should be offering him a contract extension at this stage, given his injury history and failure to live up to the early promise.

it's a pity we couldn't have punted him this close season, allowing us to use his wage to tempt Prince to re-sign with us on an improved deal.

I rekon Prince is the better player, and far less injury prone.

posted on 5/7/11

Injuries are part and parcel of the game althou Peter Houston did say on off the ball that Utd go for cheapest possible option on medical advice. This was obviously tongue in cheek (i hope) but id does lead me to a couple of doubts about Houston. With this comment along with a couple derisery comments about the City of Dundee he is arrogant beyond belief. He also goes on about the lack of depth ion the squad but every club is in the same boat (barr 2 or 3). He negative attitude must rub of on the staff at United. If he doesnt want to be here then leave. We will no doubt manage to survive and move on.
Secondly, why are we desperate to land Mackay-Stevens. Ok we lost 4 midfielders but we have bought 2 in. We desperately need a CB. If we have money for only one more signing this should surely be it.
If we lose Goodie then Russell and Hilson will be there. Ryan Dow along with Allen and Armstrong are young players for the midfield but yet a CB seems to be the furthest from his mind.
For such a successful manager during his short spell as United there is just something about him that does not sit easy.

posted on 5/7/11

Tino
-----------------------------------

I never heard the comments Houstie made about medical advice or the City of Dundee - what did he say?

I think the reason we are desperate to land Mackay-Stevens because we only really have Ryan Dow and Barry Douglas who can play out wide.

Even then, Barry Douglas is really a LB, not a flying winger, and Ryan Dow may not be ready for regular 1st team action yet.

Without wide players to service the strikers and 'worry' defendences, we would at best just be a stuffy side with very little style or craft. Who really wants to watch that?

So, I can understand where the urgency for a Conway-replacement comes from. From what I've heard & read so far, the lad Mackay-Stevens sounds like a promising player who will add a bit of craft to a side that really needs it with Conway gone and Swanson injured.

I totally agree with you about the need for a solid CB though.

Centre backs are always picking up injuries and if two of our current CBs get injured at the same time we are absolutely stuffed!!

posted on 5/7/11

Have to say if that is the case with Scott Robertson, put him up for transfer now. I'd rather have a player who is more often on the park than not. He is not a playmaker and maybe needs new surroundings. I'd have Dillon in midfield over him if we were struggling. However in doing so who would you have at centre-half?

For me Sean Dillon has to be an automatic pick. Only that is if he is in a central position. Play him at fullback and your asking for trouble.

Gary Mackay-Steven has to sign as cybershed says above. Dow got man-of-the-match against Rangers the season before last. When though has he been given that amount of time or more in a competitive match against anyone?

Peter Houston on the shortlist for the Hibs job? Lets hope thats as far as it goes.

James McPake is a centre-half who has been linked with us, anyone know if any substance in it?

posted on 5/7/11

Dow isn't even a winger, he's a striker, but because he's left-footed he gets played out of position!

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