WeKnowSFA

26th May2010

All systems go for Dundee United and Houston

by WeKnowSFA

Another SPL hotspot gets filled

Some people may have been caught on the hop by the announcement that Walter Smith has signed a new contract but Rangers but the situation at Tannadice hasn’t been a big shock. Frankly, after winning the Scottish Cup and guiding the team to third place, it would have been a massive shock if Peter Houston was not offered the job.

Some will argue that Houston has only carried on the good work started by Craig Levein and whilst there is a semblance of truth in this, it is by far from the true story. Let’s not forget that Craig Levein was unable to get his team above Jimmy Calderwood’s for two seasons in a row and certainly never enjoyed Hampden success.

Craig may have been the overwhelming favourite to take over the Scotland job but even he would have to say that Peter Houston has come up with the goods in the way that Levein failed to do at Tannadice.

Whilst the Celtic hot seat remains unfilled, some United fans would have worried that perhaps Peter Houston would be snatched by the Glasgow club but United have kept hold of their man.

Peter Houston may be enjoying a short break for now but he really needs to get back to work soon and plan for next season.

United have a Europa League qualifier in August to consider and if the Arabs can get through, they will be in the Europa League! That should be enough incentive for United players to stick to sensible living throughout their summer break.

Of equal importance is for United to at least consolidate third place in the SPL. It is hard enough to get there but it seems even harder to remain in third and Hearts are the only team in recent years to have consistently claimed to be the best of the rest. This is what Peter Houston has to be aiming for.

If the majority of the Cup winning squad can be maintained a new face or two to add some freshness to the squad could be more than enough to have United putting the pressure on the big two and aiming to stretch their dominance over the rest of the league.