Friday, October 31, 2008

Welcome Home Jocky...................

Jocky Scott has become Dundee manager for a third time, with chairman Bob Brannan praising the 60-year-old's hunger for the job. "I have seldom met anyone with greater desire to do a particular job than Jocky has to be the manager of Dundee FC," Brannan told BBC Sport. "For him, the club is unfinished business and that is a feeling that is clearly shared by many of our fans." Scott was sacked in 2000 with Dundee fifth in the Scottish Premier League. It was their highest-ever finish in the SPL, but the then owners of the club were not happy with the style of play being adopted and imported the big-spending Ivano Bonetti. "Despite the manner in which his last stint at the club ended, he has never stopped believing in Dundee FC and, in turn, the board believe in Jocky," said Brannan. "That is why he is unquestionably the man for us." I hope that, before I leave here again, Dundee are in the Premier League. Brannan said that Scott's reputation for being an outstanding coach, tactician and organiser, as well as having a "remarkable" network of contacts at the highest levels of football, made him the outstanding candidate, with up to 90% of supporters backing the appointment. Between his two spells at Dens Park, Scott had periods in charge of Aberdeen, Dunfermline Athletic and Arbroath, plus a caretaker spell with Hibernian. And, after leaving Dens in 2000, he managed Notts County and Raith Rovers, was caretaker at Plymouth Argyle, reserve team coach at Sunderland and assistant with Danish outfit Viborg. But Scott feared he might never have another opportunity to be a manager. "I've been trying for a least two years to get back into the game in Scotland," he said. "Everybody seems to think it's a young man's game these days, to the detriment of experience. But I've still got faith in my ability. "It has been a long time coming since the last time at Dundee, but I am looking forward to the challenge. "It left a bitter taste because I thought I had done well the last time and established the club in the Premier League. "Dundee Football Club should be in the Premier League and I hope that, before I leave here again, we are in the Premier League." The First Division club have been searching for a new boss since sacking Alex Rae earlier this month after going 10 games without a win and dropping to ninth in the table. Rae's assistant, David Farrell, took charge of the first-team for Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Morton but has now also left the club. Scott is expected to form his backroom team within a week, with another former Dundee player, Ray Farningham, who had a spell as manager of Forfar Athletic, expected to be one of them. Returning to Dens renews Scott's 40-year association with the club he graced as a midfielder.
I'm happy with Jocky Scott's return to Dens, but it will be a lot of hard work to turn us around. Jocky Scott will do this I have no worries about that!!!! Link to a interview below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/7702179.stm

Jocky Scott Set To Return?

Dundee are set to appoint Jocky Scott as manager for the third time. The Irn-Bru First Division club have called a press conference for 2.30pm, where it is expected they will unveil the former Dens Park striker.Scott will replace Alex Rae who was sacked after Dundee picked up 12 points from their opening 10 league games.The 60-year-old was on a shortlist of five or six candidates, but Dundee were foiled in their attempts to speak to three employed managers. Queen of the South and Brechin denied them permission to speak to Gordon Chisholm and Michael O'Neill respectively, while Kenny Black pledged his future to Airdrie.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Just to Cheer Us Dee's Up....







Can You Spot Me in The Away End?......

Morton 2 Dundee 0, Cappielow, First Division, 25/October/08

MORTON beat both the elements and a Dundee side who were not just lacking a manager, but lacked fight, determination and adventure and are quickly heading for a winter of discontent.The conditions were always likely to be paramount and twice in the space of a minute Dundee's Freddie Daquin almost scored direct from corner kicks. In 15 minutes the wind-assisted kick curled the ball viciously and Allan Jenkins did well to clear off the line on the near post. The return kick threatened in similar fashion and this time Jenkins headed off the line.When the deadlock was broken in 26 minutes it was through a piece of sublime opportunism. Dundee midfielder Darren Williams was dispossessed by James Grady who ran through, Robert Douglas raced from goal to block his shot at the edge of the area, but Peter Weatherson kept his cool and followed up to brilliantly curl the loose ball into the net from 25 yards.Grady should have doubled 'Ton's lead in 34 minutes when Jim McAlister ripped open the Dundee defence, but the veteran striker shot wide. Five minutes later Douglas made a terrific near-post block from Kevin Finlayson's 12-yard volley, as Morton threatened to overrun hapless Dundee.Morton deservedly got a second in 59 minutes. Finlayson floated a through-ball for Grady and his chip was handled by Craig McKeown. Ryan McGuffie lashed home the spot kick for his sixth goal of the season.
Dundee: Douglas, Paton, Malone, Dodds, McKeown, Williams, Daquin (Gilhaney 70), Posniak, Davidson, Antoine-Curier, O'Brien (Mearns 86). Subs Not Used: Roy, Deasley, Benedictus.
Booked: McKeown.
Att: 1,741
Ref: C Thomson

The gap is nine points now, I'm glad that I missed the game due to work, Enough Said....

New Striker..For Morton Game?

DUNDEE may pitch trialist Fabiano Vignarolia in against Morton tomorrow. The Italian striker is a free agent and has been training with Kilmarnock in the past week but Rugby Park manager Jim Jefferies has been unable to see him in a game, as SPL rules forbid anyone who requires international clearance being used as a trialist, even in reserve games.With Dundee badly hit by injury, Jefferies will let him play for the Dark Blues so he can have him watched in action. Vignarolia, 32, has played for Parma, Lazio and Bologna.Stand-in Dundee manager Davie Farrell said: "The guy is a very good player and comes with an impressive pedigree from his time in Italy. He's not fully fit but he's technically very good so we'll add him to the squad for Cappielow." Farrell will be in the dugout following the sacking of Alex Rae on Monday.

Latest From Dens Park..........

DUNDEE have invited applications for the vacant manager's position at Dens Park following the departure of Alex Rae and will have a board meeting tomorrow to discuss likely candidates. Former Dens Park captain Barry Smith is a front-runner and could be handed the job alongside a more experienced figure like Ray Farningham. Smith is back in Scotland following a spell in Icelandic football with FC Valur and is known to want a move into coaching. The 34-year-old, who made over 300 appearances for the club, is viewed by fans as a club legend and, given the massive turnover in playing personnel since he left two years ago – only Bryan Deasley remains – he could walk into the job fresh. Smith was handed the reigns for two games in the wake of Alan Kernaghan's sacking in 2006 and remains a popular figure in the Dens boardroom. Farningham is highly regarded for overseeing a youth development programme which brought through the likes of Lee Wilkie, Gavin Rae, Steven Milne, Derek Soutar, Scott Robertson, Paul Dixon and Kevin McDonald. The ex-Forfar manager would add experience to a Smith ticket and the pair would be a popular choice among supporters. Queen of the South manager Gordon Chisholm is another who is strongly fancied. Airdrie United's Kenny Black and Steven Frail are also likely to be under consideration at Dens Park.

Dundee Sack Alex Rae

Alex Rae has been sacked as manager of Dundee after a disappointing start to their First Division promotion bid. The former Rangers, Sunderland and Wolves midfielder was relieved of his duties after Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to struggling Ross County. Rae, 39, had lost support in the boardroom but was unhappy at the summer sale of top players like Kevin McDonald, who was sold to Burnley. Dundee are third bottom of Division One but remain just six points off the top. Assistant manager David Farrell will take charge of the first-team for Saturday's match against Morton in Greenock as Dundee aim to resurrect their pursuit of leaders Queen of the South.

Dundee 1 Ross County 2, Dens Park, First Division, 18/October/08

DUNDEE'S dismal form continued with a home reversal to rejuvenated Ross County. While Derek Adams' side were recording their fourth consecutive victory, Dundee have garnered three points once in their last nine matches and have slid down the table. The scoreline did not reflect the visitors' dominance, especially in the first-half. County set about commanding the opening exchanges. The front pairing of Dyron Daal and Steven Craig performed with menace but it was a more unlikely source, defender Andy Dowie, who scored the opening goal. A corner from Richard Brittain should not have caused Dundee much consternation but a failure to attack the ball let it slip through to the back post, where Dowie was lurking to nod the ball home. Then Craig produced a stunning finish to send his side two up. Richie Hart's quick break left Dundee lagging and he crossed for Craig inside the area, who, with his back to goal, managed to spin and squeeze a shot over Douglas from only a few yards. Dundee boss Alex Rae brought on Mickael Antoine-Curier and Freddy Daquin at the break and this move worked. Antoine-Curier found a goal after only 13 minutes of coming on when Davidson back-heeled the ball into his path. He broke through on Bullock and slashed a low shot into the corner. Dundee then began to come more into the game but could not gain enough momentum to find the equaliser.
Dundee: Douglas, Paton, Malone, McHale (Mearns 72), McKeown, Williams (Daquin 46), Dodds, Posniak, Deasley (Antoine-Curier 46), Davidson, Gilhaney. Subs Not Used: O'Brien, Roy.
Booked: Dodds.
Att: 3,228

This has to be the worse team I have seen in 27 years, no fight and I do fear for our future in this Division, and it's only October.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Partick Th 0 Dundee 0, Firhill, First Division, 04/October/08

Dundee only capable of fielding four substitutes on the bench because of an injury crisis, almost snatched a dramatic early lead when Freddy Daquin swung over a corner from the right which was met perfectly by the head of Craig McKeown. However, Jags defender Paul Paton was well placed on the near post to clear.The injury-ravaged Dark Blues, with manager Alex Rae forced to name himself as a trialist substitute, showed a positive approach and almost capitalised on a mistake by David Rowson. Chris Pozniak put Mark Gilhaney away on the left, his cutback picking out Daquin, but the Frenchman blasted over from 16 yards.Ian McCall's Partick side gradually claimed the ascendancy and Simon Donnelly took a pass from Gary Harkins before shooting narrowly wide of Rab Douglas' right-hand post.Dundee almost broke the deadlock on the hour amidst a blaze of controversy after referee Eddie Smith allowed Mikael Antoine-Curier to break free on the right after the Dens man had clearly handled the ball.The striker found Bob Davidson in excellent position on the edge of the area but his shot was cleared off the line by Simon Storey.It was as close as either side got as the match petered out in a drab stalemate.
Dundee: Douglas, Paton, Malone, Dodds, McKeown, Cowan, Daquin, Posniak, Antoine-Curier (Deasley 63), Davidson, Gilhaney. Subs Not Used: Mearns, O'Brien, A Trialist.
Att: 2,556
Ref: E Smith