Good morning all.
Today is the first full day of work for the new manager of Dundee United, Micky Mellon.
Firstly, let's all recognise what a magnificent name that is.
Secondly, it looks on paper to be a pretty sound appointment. Each appointment comes with risk of course and Mellon, despite being a Scot, hasn't worked in Scotland before. But he does have a pretty good track record in the English lower leagues with a succession of promotions. Perhaps just as importantly, that's the kind of market that we'll be shopping in (it's worked well for Motherwell lately) so he should have a good know knowledge of players from his time in those leagues.
Quite promisingly, the fans of his previous employers are sad to see him go. He was probably going to take Tranmere down again after getting them promoted, but they seem to still think highly of him and that for me is always a good sign.
Obviously I wish him well and hopefully he can assess the squad quickly and bring in a few new faces ahead of the campaign beginning in a few weeks. It'll be interesting to see if we press ahead with some of the targets we already had or if he has more control in that area.
Sadly we do still have the backdrop of the court case and the acrimony I feel towards particularly Hearts is growing enormously. I've always said on here that I quite like Hearts but that's quickly changing. While I held sympathy for their plight, and particularly Partick's too, they can quite frankly go and feck themselves now. We're being hammered financially through no fault of our own, and they may very well kill off Raith and Cove with what they're doing. That's shameful.
But let's focus on the positives and that's the new manager appointment. All the best to Micky, even if he has put 'Step On' by the Happy Mondays in my head for the last few days.
Mon the Terrors
DUFC News - New Manager
posted on 7/7/20
What do you think should have happened spr?
posted on 7/7/20
comment by Arabs4ever (U3310)
posted 1 hour, 33 minutes ago
That plane banner will need to get looked out as Neilson doesn't do entertaining football to win matches.
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What - WLM?
posted on 7/7/20
I've never known a winger to beat his man then put in awful balls that are either going out or to the opposition. Being a former Celtic player I thought he would know how to cross. FWIW I think he is better through the middle, that way he doesn't need to cross and can use his speed to a better degree.
posted on 7/7/20
Not that one that was flown over Burnley. The one that was flown over Tynecastle during his first spell as manager/head coach.
posted on 7/7/20
I think like most wingers he's inconsistent. I don't mind him, I think he's got room to improve on his game and I think he has done since he joined us, but I would be deeply concerned if he was our primary creative force going into next season as he was last season. I want at least two wide players brought into the club in the next few weeks.
posted on 7/7/20
comment by Gingernuts (U2992)
posted 2 hours, 11 minutes ago
Ooooh
Arab on Arab.
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They get their cauks cut off if they get caught
posted on 8/7/20
Just listening to the Arabzone interview with the new manager Micky Mellon, which is free to view by the way. I've got to say I am very impressed by how he speaks about how he wishes to have his team play football.
Quicker and slicker now that in itself is something Neilson was never going to bring in his time at Tannadice. I like how he says he is a winner and has been all his days.
I think the tune that United show come out to is U2 Desire. We finally have a manager who is willing to change his tactics during the game. Whereas Neilson had his Largs coaching manual and it read, must not react to anything just let it continue as is. So much so we never had the Championship won outright with this "genius" in charge.
I believe we have an ex Sunderland goalie on trial, young Scottish keeper. Heres hoping Mellon finds a winger or two. Playmaking central midfielder, centre-half and a striker. Seemingly Safranko was linked with a move back? As much as I liked him here I'd rather look forward to other players that Mellon must know about.
posted on 9/7/20
I think he speaks very well and is definitely saying all the right things.
Most importantly though he delivers on the park and it means he needs to get the signings in - as you say we've a few gaps in the squad that need to be urgently plugged. That's the frustrating thing about this court case/arbitration - the cost of that equates to a couple of players for us. It could make a big difference to our season.
On Safranko....I'm torn to be honest. I like him but never thought he was as amazing as others did (I thought his link up play often let him down for example). He wouldn't be a bad signing but I want Mellon to bring his own players in.
posted on 9/7/20
Thought this was a belter from the OldFirmFacts Twitter account: https://twitter.com/Oldfirmfacts1/status/1279828546911862786
I liked Safranko. His total lack of pace was an obvious issue but seemed to have a good reading of the game. Nothing like Shankland though, who I'd put in the top 3 strikers ever to play the game.
posted on 9/7/20
Just watched another interview with Micky Mellon. Talks up the young lads that are in the squad. If your good enough your old enough.
I remember going to see the reserves midweek and you would have a great match to watch. These times you did well in the reserves you could be named in the Tully on the Friday night for the game on Saturday. None of this going out on loan rubbish. For example Gallacher was how old against Barcelona?
Scottish football sold itself down the river by scrapping the reserves and having U21s. You learned against senior pros, not against guys the same age. Here's hoping we get back to having the reserve setup as old. These games were played at Tannadice, years ago. Now it seems it's St Andrews or Whitton Park for a home game.
The Transfer Window has been extended until October. No such luck that someone's been able to put a brick through it. How can a transfer window be beneficial to anyone? Again I'll hark back to the old days. Transfers were done throughout the season until deadline day. Worked perfectly. Puck Sky and the Transfer Window breaking news. Have it the way it was. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Anyway just to have a manager who talks about making adjustments to make the team win is encouraging. Neilson was set in stone boredom and for that I'm glad he has gone. Hell mend the Jambos.