Dens men crash out at home

Wha’s in charge eh?

On the showing of the first half, it certainly wasn’t Jocky Scott as Dundee yet again gave their visitors a two goal lead at Dens Park. The games between the two sides have been tight so far but the smart money was going on a home victory.

Therefore, going a goal down in 3 minutes was definitely not part of the script. Going two down after ten minutes was even more of a shock and the confident Dee fans would have been thinking that they were to be let down by their side yet again.

With just over 15 minutes remaining, Dundee grabbed a goal back, evoking memories of their comeback against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. There is no doubt that Dundee are a different class in the league but for all their pressure, they couldn’t get that equalising goal at the end.

It was left to the Raith fans and players to milk the moment in Dens Park and the likelihood is that they will be playing at Hampden in April for the Scottish Cup semi-final.

He may not have got the managers job at Tannadice but the Arabs will be cheering Peter Houston and his team for what they did on Tayside today.

Can Raith Rovers make the final?

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Much hilarity in store!

There is definitely going to be an SFL team in the Scottish Cup semi-final with Dens Park hosting the all Division One clash.

League leaders Dundee will start favourites for the tie, befitting of their league topping status. Dundee have not been at their best of late but the chasing pack have also stumbled giving the Dee a gap to maintain.

The club have spent strongly in their pursuit of promotion but a semi-final appearance wouldn’t be refused.

Raith Rovers are nearer the bottom of the SFL but have challenged Dundee a few times this season. Raith boss John McGlynn was linked with the Dundee United job earlier in the season but he needs no further encouragement to defeat Dundee.

One player the WeKnowSFA team will be looking out for is Rovers keeper, David McGurn. David was the keeper for our school team and obviously the practice he got during games have helped him make it as a footballer. Good luck David!

We’re not biased though, there is a Dundee player we are looking out for as well.

We have our site here so it is only natural we look for blogs and columns. Some are ghost-written. Take Mark Hatley’s latest piece for the red-top he “writes” for, it seems as though it was spewed directly from the pores of Jabba The Traynor.

Leigh Griffiths has a blog on the BBC site but we think it may be ghost written by Jim Spence. After all, when you read the genuine Leigh Griffiths blog, we know which one captures the inside story at Dens Park.

It is a little bit blue so if you’re young or at work, proceed with caution but otherwise, check it out here.

The depiction of Jocky Scott (wha’s in charge here?) had us chortling all week. More power to the blog we say!

So, all to play for and WeKnowSFA satisfied with any outcome. What else could you ask for in a cup tie?

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STV focus on the money aspect of the first SPL season

It is the fourth episode of STV’s Football Years programme and it appears to be focussing on money. It certainly talks…but it don’t sing and dance…and it don’t walk!

1998/99 was the year when the SPL started, bringing with it the glorious era that Scottish football is now enjoying. Err, thats not quite right is it?

The 1997/98 was one of the most pivotal seasons in Scottish football history and will forever be remembered by Celtic, Rangers and Hearts fans. This was to be the season when Rangers overtook their rivals 9 in a row league titles but somehow, on a final day of drama, Celtic came out on top of a thrilling season when Walter Smith walked away from Ibrox with nothing – something he has since rectified.

Rangers were in need of a re-tune and Dutch boss Dick Advocaat was the man to do it.

The man to front the Celtic challenge never arrived until much later on in the close season, dampening his ability to impact on the club but the work of Dr Jo Venglos has been long hailed by Celtic fans, even if the media treated him disgracefully.

Still, that is unlikely to be the story of the show, it was the year of Advocaat and a massive expenditure.

Artur Numan, Giovanni van Bronckhurst, Gabriel Amato, Lionel Charbonier and Andrei Kanchelskis were amongst the summer signings. These were added to as the season progressed with names like Stefan Klos and Neil McCann coming on board.

The expenditure was seen as being worth it by the Rangers fans as they clinched the domestic treble and looked set to build the foundations for a serious assault on Europe.

History will judge Dick Advocaat in a chequered manner and his expenditure has been a major part of the current Rangers financial difficulties but Rangers fans loved the Little General in his pomp and prime.

It is easy to criticise Rangers for their expenditure but some of the purchases around Scotland were just as crazy and given the other clubs had less of a turnover from Rangers, possibly even more damaging for the health of they clubs.

Motherwell and Dundee were two clubs who spent, spent, spent in chasing the glory and in Dundee’s case, you have to think they haven’t learned a thing.

Not only did they have another financial blowout in the 2000s but currently the club is buying their way to the Scottish First Division title and they look intent on outbidding SPL clubs for players. You would have to hope that Dundee’s backer is sure of his money because there are only so many times a club can go to the well before they find out is dry.

The show is set to look into the discussion about whether Dundee should have only one club but is there really much debate? Fans of both clubs will say no, never…whereas many outsiders who don’t care for either club will see the benefits of the move.

Jim McLean, involved with both clubs and never short of opinion, is set to feature in this part of the show.

A season of new beginnings and money madness.

Who was your worst buy of the early SPL seasons?

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Weaver ready to wave goodbye to Tannadice

“He’s agreed to join us until January when Dusan Pernis arrives because he wants to put himself in the shop window.”

Craig Levein said as much on the day of his arrival but the clock is starting to tick on Nicky Weaver’s time with Dundee United. The fact that United’s new Slovakian goalkeeper Dusan Pernis has arrived earlier than planned should see him ready for a first team spot when his move is finalised during the January transfer window.

Dundee United boss Craig Levein told the Tangerines website;

“Dusan began training with the lads this week after signing the release forms with his old club. It’s good to be able to bring him in a bit earlier than January so he can get his family settled and become acclimatised.”

The United boss has developed a reputation of unearthing decent goalkeepers at Tannadice. Lukasz Zaluska is now at Celtic whilst Grzegorz Szamotulski was another big hit with the Tangerine faithful.

Nicky Weaver has had a roller coaster career down south but he has rarely put a hand wrong for Dundee United. The move up North may have allowed the keeper to revitalise his career and it will be interesting to see where he ends up next.

That is not the concern of United fans though, who will be keen to see how Pernis settles in.

With United pushing hard at the top of the table, there will be no room for error and the Slovakian will need to be on top of his game right away.

United fans, where does Weaver rank alongside your recent goalkeepers?

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Battle to get out of SFL as close as ever

In the battle of the Thistles, the home side managed to overcome their northern rivals, capping a woeful week for Terry Butcher and his boys.

After throwing away a two goal lead in a cup final last weekend, Inverness Caldeonian Thistle once again conspired to let their fans down badly. You can rest assured their manager would have been kicking some doors in the West End of Glasgow after this result.

The visitors grabbed a perfect start when Ross Tokely put them ahead within the first ten minutes. Tokely is never a player who will win any Mastermind awards but he is an honest, hard working player who has remained faithful to the club.

Caley took this lead to half-time but much like last Sunday at McDiarmid Park, their will collapsed in the second half.

Strikes from Adams and Lovell had turned the game around before the 70th minute mark, brightening up Maryhill on what was another dark day in Glasgow. Winter is virtually upon us but the three points that put them into third place will no doubt have put a smile on all of the Harry Wrags fans.

The top four clubs in the SFL are separated by two points, although Partick Thistle have played a game extra compared to the other teams.

If the visitors had won, they would have been on 25 points instead, so there will be a lot of change to come in the next few months.

Queen of the South and Dundee remain in the lead but it would take a brave football fan to bet on the outcome of the SFL this season.

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