Reading that I would have to agree with you, things look bleak, but it could be worse...at least we don't follow DFC!
CB issue is still there but at least it means Dillon should get played there which is good news and I think our young players coming through are going to show some quality and I expect them to take the step up no problem. As for this Polish team, tight affair out there and a win at home, Lets stay positive as long as we can.

to be honest, i can see the dilemma.

conway, bauben and gomis all left for nothing and now you have to try and replace them havng made no money from their transfers.

I think teams should be more prudent in tying players to deals and offering at least minimal release clauses in their contracts so they make a bit on the transfer at least.

We tried to extend their contracts but they refused to sign. No club loyalty left without United Gomis could we ll still be playing part-time football for Cowdenbeath and Conway may have gone to a bigger club and never been given the chance to develop as a player the way he was at United, same with Buaben, but these players listen to their agents and don't care what happens to the clubs that helped make them. Thanks for the cup memories and I wish them all the best but they could have done more for us in the end.

just need to try and find guys like that to help you build the team again.

nice to see flood back in scotland tbh, i liked him at celtic, i never thought he would break the first team but always felt he was a good player to have at the end of a game, if you were 1-0 up and the other team was pushing for an equaliser he would chase the ball and put players under pressure.

Grumblepants... that's just bitter. We gave them a contract and they all honoured it. Gomis tried his hardest at United for 4 1/2 years and has moved onto a club that will be paying him 10x what he got at Tannadice... anyone that wouldn't move in those circumstances needs their head examined!

Annoyed at the lack of a centre-back. We've known we'd need a new tall centre-back for over a year yet all we've done is sign Severin. Seems Houston has yet another blind spot.

Hobo - yup, I'm having a bad day, angry at the world today. We do have young lads coming through in the midfield role that look like they will do the job, I think Armstrong and Allen will be in the team a lot this season so with flood & Rankin we haven't really lost anything in midfield except experience. As for the CB issue, I just can't figure out what is going on there. It has been clear for 2 seasons that we needed to sign someone (Webster was only on loan). Im not sure about Seve, he was unlucky with injuries last season, maybe he can do a job in that position.

GK: Pernis/Mentel/Banks
RB: Watson/Dillon
CB: Kenneth/Severin/Ross Smith(Dillon will probably play)
LB: Dixon/Douglas
Wide Players: Swanson/Dow (Russell can play here)
Midfielders: Rankin/Robertson/Flood/Armstrong
Strikers: Goodwillie/Daly/Hilson/Russell



Thats 20 first team players, but Ross Smith, Dale Hilson and Ryan Dow haven't properly played at SPL level before. Definitely think that we need to bring a couple in. A proper CB, not someone converted to a CB is needed and I also think a wide player needs to be signed. I also think that if Goodwillie does go we will need cover there aswell.

Scott Allan aswell ^^^

What does everyone think the best line-up when everyone is fit will be (assuming no further transfers)? I'd go for:

Dusan

Watson Dillon Kenneth Dixon

Flood Robertson Rankin Swanson

Goodwillie Russell

Bench: Banks, Severin, Douglas, Armstrong, Allan, Hilson, Daly

Really highlights the need for at least one winger though, preferably two as Russell is so much better as a striker and Swanson may never be fit again.

Although I fear under Houston it'll be:

Dusan

Dillon Severin Kenneth Dixon

Swanson Rankin Flood Robertson Russell

Goodwillie/Daly

Sad face.

Dusan
Watson Dillon Kenneth Douglas
Swanson Robertson Rankin Flood
Daly Goodwillie (Russell if he goes)

Bench: Banks/Mentel, Dixon ,Severin, Allan, Armstrong, Russell, Hilson

As long as we win our home game I'm happy...

Still never seen United win in Europe...

Does anyone know when our last European victory was?

Indeed. I really feel the club are playing us for fools...

Sick and tired of: 'we have no money so come and steal our players'...' we're going to loose this match' etc etc.

We have gotten rid of about 12-14 players in the past year including 3 1st team regulars (who must have been higher earners), and Danny C who was the highest paid player at the club, and replaced them with 3 (WF,JR, & SS). I don't want the club to insult the fans intelligence telling us the bidget is the same. No its not. If Thomoson is not willing to come with 1k a week to get in the boy from Airdrie, it is time for him to step aside and let someone else in who actually cares about the club...

Also, Dillon starting in the team next year = bottom 6.

I think Dillon is our best CB at the moment. I also think Thompson wants out but there is no one else to invest in the club, at least he isn't walking away and leaving us up do-do creek.

I had to use do-do because every other word I tried was flagged up as banned - I am not 6 years old.

I agree with the sentiment of this article, however we must be realistic. There is no money to spend and to do so would clearly be putting us in a position which the board are uncomfortable with. Have we learnt nothing from the irresponsible actions of the board across the road. I recognise we need cover, however if we have to wait till Goodie goes then at least a level of sense is being shown. I don't thik some arabs realise how tight money is for the club and Thompson, the family have poured millions in and some of the comments seem unfounded to me. The family effectively saved the club when they came in and have continued to support it.

Yes cover is required, however I am more confused as to why we spent money bringing in Rankin when a CB was the priority. Flood and a good CB were the obvious choice.

It feels like we're already up the proverbial 'do-do' creek without a ball even being kicked.

I have serious doubts about where Thomson's heart lies, and where the club is headed.

We have some decent/good players at the club, but we are seriously lacking in any sort of depth whatsoever.

More injuries WILL occur once the season gets underway, and there will be occasions where there are more than just 3 first team players are out injured.

If we're 'down to the bare bones' now - how on earth are we going to cope when those situations arise?

The loyal FANS have done their bit; buying their season tickets and thousands of tickets for the Europa tie.

The PLAYERS proved their worth last season; digging deep to cope with injuries, suspensions and an unprecedented backlog of games to ensure Europa qualification for the club this year (2nd year in succession).

But what are the directors up to? How much money are they taking out of the club for their suits, dinners, cars etc, etc?

Is it not time they stuck their hands in their pockets to give the players and manager a fighting chance for Europe and the season ahead?

In the season ticket brochure it was all 'United We Stand' etc, etc, blah, blah, blah.

Well, words are cheap, it's time for them to do something positive and get their collective finger (and wallets) out!

cybershed -

I feel confident in saying that Stephen Thompson has lost a lot more money to United than he has gained.

His family have put a lot of their own personal money in already. As others have said, look down the road to see what happens when clubs grossly overspend.

We must be realistic.

On that note, I sincerely hope Rankin isn't a high-earner...

Remember, Romanov tried to buy our club a few years ago... I won't hear a bad word about Thompson!

We must be realistic
--------------------------------------------------

I recognise and appreciate the financial input from the Thomson's, but we must be also be realistic in terms of the number of decent players needed to cover injuries/suspensions throughout a season and remain a top six club.

All I'm asking for is for the directors to put together a bridging loan until Goodie gets sold - allowing us to get in some defensive cover and sign GMS.

Let's face it - Goodie isn't going anywhere while he has that charge.

With no Goodie sale we don't get any money, and his goals are worth more to United than the pittance we'd get for him anyway - I see Wolves just spent £7m on someone I hadn't even heard of.

Football's gone mad.

£2m was too low a price to ask for Goodwillie anyway - clubs aren't going to take him seriously if he's "only" worth £2m. They'd rather sign half the player for 4x the price just to make it look as if they're making big signings!

I can't understand why people hate Sean Dillon. I for one thought he was rank rotten when played at right-back. However when he has been moved to a more central role, whether midfield or centre-half, he has suddenly become a much improved player. If he is ever played fullback again you are pretty much giving the opposition a two goal lead.

Strongest side for me would be:

Pernis

Watson Dillon Kenneth Douglas

Swanson Flood Rankin Dixon

Goodwillie Russell

Subs: Banks, Severin, Armstrong, Robertson, Daly, Allan.

We really need to sign GMS. A centre-half I have heard mentioned is James McPake. Quite possibly still talking about the need for a centre-half next year at this time.

As for someone to come in and takeover Utd I thought John Bennett was keen at one point.