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'Next two games could define our season'

'Next two games could define our season'

BBC News25-02-2025

Dundee's slide continues. A fourth consecutive league defeat - this time at Ross County - leaves the Dark Blues second bottom of the Premiership.The next two games could define Dundee's season. A trip to Motherwell on Wednesday will determine whether we remain within reach of the mid-table teams or if a daylight gap emerges.Remarkably, Dundee were 10 points ahead of St Johnstone in January. By Saturday, we could replace them in bottom spot.With Motherwell and St Johnstone being the teams directly above and below Dundee it adds heavier emphasis to the matches for a team that will be feeling the pressure.This could very well be the biggest week of Tony Docherty's managerial career to date. Failure to pick up points could throw the manager and club into a very alarming situation.On the other hand, a turnaround now would be perfect timing given the Scottish Cup quarter-final and Dundee derby at Tannadice on the horizon.Football is a funny game - just now feels very doom and gloom but we could quickly be on cloud nine. It is up to to the players to prove they have the character to match their ambitions and rise up from their current wreckage of form.Amid this chaos, I find myself reminiscing about how strong the team looked at the start of the season. I stated that if Dundee sold Luke McCowan for anything less than a club record fee, it would be a disaster. I argued that, to compete for Europe and make cup runs, keeping him was essential and his influence outweighed any short-term financial gain.Was losing a captain in a team short of leaders, a matchwinner in a side lacking a talisman, and the heartbeat of the squad, worth just £1m?Dundee have a history of underselling their best assets. And in every scenario I can think of it never ends with us competing where we want to be.

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Who would you pick for your greatest Dundee United team of all time?
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We asked Tom to pick his all-time United XI in a 4-4-2 formation, along with five substitutes, and highlight some of the players who didn't make the cut. Is this United's greatest team? MacKay played for United from 1962 to 1972. Tom said: 'He was confident, brave and a great shot-stopper. 'For many years he shared the goalkeeping duties with Sandy Davie.' Gough was part of the league-winning side in 1983. 'He was athletic, excellent in the air and very dependable,' said Tom. 'Gough combined well with Ralph Milne and played for United from 1980-1986.' Dundonian Jimmy Briggs was a hard-tackling left-back and former captain of the team who played for the Tangerines from 1955 to 1970. Tom said: 'At times he played up front and scored over 30 goals – mostly penalties. 'He was even an emergency goalkeeper on occasion.' Paul Hegarty won the League Cup in 1979 and 1980 and the league in 1983. He served United over 700 times and scored 82 goals. Tom said: 'He was commanding in aerial duels and scored his fair share of goals. 'Hegarty was a Scotland international and United's greatest captain.' David Narey made his United debut on November 21 1973 at home to Falkirk in a 2-1 win and spent 22 glorious and trophy-laden years at Tannadice. Tom said: 'He was elegant, skilful and always there when needed. 'Narey was a class act and famously scored against Brazil for Scotland.' Kirkwood won double League Cups and the 1983 league championship. 'He was hard-working, hard-tackling and could score a goal,' said Tom. 'Billy was one of those players you didn't appreciate until he wasn't there.' Jim McInally signed from Coventry City in 1986 and was part of the side that got to the 1987 Uefa Cup final and won a 1994 Scottish Cup medal. 'Another hard-working and committed player who took no prisoners,' said Tom. 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Paul Sturrock signed for United in July 1974 and his career coincided with the most successful period in the club's history. 'Another exciting player who ran at defenders continuously,' said Tom. 'Scored and made many goals for United during the Jim McLean era including five in one game against Morton in the league in November 1984.' Hamish the Goalie took over from MacKay and kept goal for 14 years. He was immortalised in song by singer Michael Marra for his 1983 testimonial. 'An absolute character, who, for a short time, took United's penalties,' said Tom. Petric signed from Partizan Belgrade in November 1993. 'He was a classy central defender,' said Tom. 'Unflappable under pressure and a key player in our 1994 Scottish Cup win.' Rolland was a full-back who played for United from 1967 to 1978. Tom said: 'Thrilling runs brought goals from this legend at Tannadice. 'He was a hard tackling and committed player.' Gillespie played inside-forward and signed for United in 1959. 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Tom said pulling together his greatest side was a difficult task. So what do you make of Tom's XI? What would your team be? Let us know.

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