A fitting time for United to lift the Cup
It would be a fitting end to centenary year celebrations to bring the Scottish Cup back to the city for only the second time in their history.
Formed in 1909 as Dundee Hibernian to serve an Irish community which numbered one in four of the city population, the club changed its name during season 1923/24 to Dundee United in an effort to attract a wider base of support.
A generation which now knows only of the club's success as a top-flight outfit need only scan the history books to see that the first 50 years were often perilous times for the Tannadice outfit, which flirted with extinction on several occasions.
United fans hope to be celebrating a Scottish Cup triumph over Ross County on Saturday. Photo: SNS.
Today the United name still has a mild resonance in European circles, courtesy of famous victories against the likes of Barcelona, Moenchengladbach, and Monaco, when the Tannadice club were in their European pomp in the 1980s.
Many long for the return of those halcyon days and, highly unlikely though that is, the current coaching staff and players will be aware of the hand of history on their shoulder on Saturday.
This, after all, is a club which is used to being at Hampden, even if have seen them fall at the final hurdle.
United will be backed at the national stadium by their biggest ever travelling support of 27,000 in a blaze of tangerine.
An eclectic squad assembled by Craig Levein and honed to perfection by has already booked a Europa League spot by finishing third in the Scottish Premier League.
They are arguably the best side seen at Tannadice since the heady days when European football was a staple part of United fans' diet.
in goal has top-class technique, temperament and speed of reaction.
Crucially, he also has that indefinable goalkeeping quality simply known as "presence".
At the heart of the defence strolls through games with Franco Baresi-style authority, issuing instructions and generally organising those around him.
, his central defensive partner and a Dundee United fan to his socks, has formidable physical strength and attacks the ball with undiluted power and aggression.
At full back and Mihael Kovacevic are solid grafters who stick to their tasks and don't give much away.
The midfield, though, dictates the tempo of the side and they play with a rhythm and an urgency which on its day can be irresistible.
Craig Conway and Danny Swanson have between them fierce pace, precision of delivery and an appetite for work which gives defenders no rest and requires maximum concentration against their foraging runs.
Prince Buaben and Morgaro Gomis have a sublime range of movement and technique which can unlock the tightest of defences.
In attack United are spoiled for choice.
Jon Daly and are the likely front pairing and they combine flair and graft with a keen nose for the scent of goal.
With Danny Cadamarteri still hopeful of his shoulder injury clearing, and Francisco Sandaza, and Damian Casalinuovo also available, Peter Houston has no shortage of options which provide guile, height and strength up front.
That's before adding in the pace of wide man Jennison Myrie-Williams, defender Keith Watson and strong-running midfielders David and Scott Robertson.
United are the SPL side and are rightly favourites, but , Hibs and Hamilton Accies clearly indicate their pedigree and anything less than a full-on performance from the Tannadice side could be punished.
The open-top bus is provisionally booked, the City Square is ready to receive the ecstatic throng and the Tannadice gates will be thrown open for the parading of the Cup.
There is a quiet confidence among the 27,000 Arabs who will desert the city to travel the road and the miles to Hampden on Saturday.
But many of them have been down that road before only to see their high hopes crushed.
United have been successful in only one of their eight Scottish Cup finals.
Their fans are well aware that the men from Dingwall backed by 17,000 fervent Highlanders will provide skilful, tough and obdurate opposition.
They know that only the very best from their team on the day will do. The Staggies will be underdogs and that is a condition which United fans know all about.
In 1994, with the supremely confident Ivan Golac in charge, United started the day as longshots against Rangers and wrote themselves into the history books with the club's first ever Scottish Cup win.
On Saturday Peter Houston and his men also have the chance to make themselves Tannadice legends.
There would be no better time to do it than in this centenary year.
They pay me to watch football and talk football. That’s some people's idea of Christmas every day. I can't deny it's mine too. I view the football world through a different lens from some journalists, because I live and work in Dundee. The Old Firm are interesting, but so was my breakfast this morning. There is a whole lot more on the Scottish football menu than the big two. From the SPL to the juniors, the game offers lots of dishes, and they all get my taste buds going.
Comment number 1.
At 13th May 2010, BillyDodds_14 wrote:Can't wait! Was at the Celtic 2005 and Rangers CIS finals, 3rd time lucky hopefully!
Does anyone know what the plans are as far as parading the trophy is concerned, should we win it?
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Comment number 2.
At 14th May 2010, writtenbyfansforfans wrote:I am a big fan of the underdog and, as such, am really hoping that Ross County can triumph. Whatever happens, I am sure it will be a great day for both clubs and it makes a nice change to not have either half of the Old Firm involved!
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Comment number 3.
At 14th May 2010, Rovers Return - HKR AWAY DAYS wrote:I always enjoy Jim's blogs but do you feel that Dundee Utd are the closest team to possibly knock either Rangers or Celtic from the top two spots?
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Comment number 4.
At 14th May 2010, Rob04 wrote:WAppreciate that the Arabs are your tribal ties Jim but I would have thought that this blog would have been better written from the perspective of the 'underdog' in the final. There may be 'life' as you know it in Scottish Football outside the Old Firm but if the Cup is all about 'romance' there is very little in this piece.
Your players have 'guile', speed, height, 'presence', Andy Webster has Baresi-like qualities (he likes pasta!?!), etc, etc, etc. Ho-hum. Still finished twenty odd pints behind the OF in the league though and helped on the way to the final by 'hands' at Firhill!
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Comment number 5.
At 14th May 2010, U14357625 wrote:While Ross County winning would be a great story, a victory for United might not be a bad thing. They are clearly the third best side in the country at the moment, and a piece of silverware might spur them on to have a real go at the top two next season.
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Comment number 6.
At 14th May 2010, Vox Populi wrote:At 4. If Jim Spence is a Dundee United supporter then it's better that he writes a blog like this which comes from the heart, than a stereotypical forced piece hailing Ross County as the 'plucky underdog'. I'n sure an article on that could be found elsewhere.
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Comment number 7.
At 14th May 2010, VenomPD wrote:What have you been smoking Jimbo? Andy Webster compared to Baresi......beyond belief.
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Comment number 8.
At 14th May 2010, Jim Spence - ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Sport wrote:Rob04 It is the centenary year for Utd, and I was asked to contribute a piece on them. County are The main feature on the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Sport Scotland website and it can be found through following this link.
You'll have seen too we've been running Derek Adams cup final diary all week too so the Staggies have been well covered.
As to Utd finishing twenty points behind the Old Firm, ask yourself honestly. Where do you think any Old Firm manager would finish if they were managing United on a budget which is a fraction of that at Ibrox or Parkhead.
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Comment number 9.
At 14th May 2010, liam_mackenzie wrote:Subterranean
you a celtic fan? sound a wee bit bitter.
There has also been a cup final diary by Andy Webster.
Cant wait for the game!
What an atmosphere there is up north!
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Comment number 10.
At 14th May 2010, themightyshed wrote:C'mon the SHED!!!! Aghhh, it's all getting a bit too much...
Do yourselves justice tomorrow lads, and let the cup come back to Tannadice. Please. Please. Please.
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Comment number 11.
At 14th May 2010, pandawatch87 wrote:For the love of God, never let me see Andy Webster and Franco Baresi mentioned in comparison ever again.
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Comment number 12.
At 14th May 2010, blindedbyfear wrote:"1. At 10:29pm on 13 May 2010, BillyDodds_14 wrote:
Can't wait! Was at the Celtic 2005 and Rangers CIS finals, 3rd time lucky hopefully!
Does anyone know what the plans are as far as parading the trophy is concerned, should we win it?"
The city centre is provisionally on lock-down on Sunday from 10:30am to 2:30pm. A 'civic reception' is planned for the team if they win. I don't know that time this will start at, but I read this info on a bus stop outside Primark.
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Comment number 13.
At 14th May 2010, Rob04 wrote:Fair comment Jim. Utd are a very good team: well put together, strong and with a bit of pace and cutting edge. And all done on a shoestring budget wheich makes it all the more commendable.
In reality and irrespective of the budget, given how poor the OF have been rated by the journalists and fans this season you would have expected a closer gap. Celtic in particular have been exceptionally poor and erratic. And yet again we reach the end of the season and the pack are no closer despite all the noises made about a close league. Would I like more competition in the SPL? Well who wouldn't even if I would still want my team to win.
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Comment number 14.
At 14th May 2010, Glen Haig wrote:It's just going to be great for us neutral fans being able to watch a cup final without either Old Firm team in it. We always know the drill when either Rangers or Celtic are involved, that it will be a boring slugfest where the big team grinds out a result without actually playing any real football.
I have a good feeling that tomorrows game will be frantic, end to end stuff. Really looking forward to it!
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Comment number 15.
At 15th May 2010, FarEastArab wrote:with regards to the negative "20pts behind the Old Firm" comments, remember that with 5 games to go we were only 4 behind Celtic with them to play. We lost that game and it was 7, but within 2 games secured 3rd spot and with a Cup Final at the end of the season we rested our top players. Our season was done with 3 games to go and we took our foot off the pedal. So if Celtic fans want to shout about how far ahead of us they were then let them do it if thats how they can get to sleep at night during a trophyless season.
Back to United (it never ceases to amaze me how Blogs like this get hijacked by the great western unwashed), a fantastic season by all accounts BUT we have to bring that trophy home. I don't like talking about plans to parade the cup, Ross County will be up for this and we have to be at the very top of our game, it's very arrogant. Can't believe the negativity thats in the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ piece about Ross County, where it states that Dingwall has around 5000 inhabitants and Dundee 143,000 odd inhabitants and yet "United have ONLY sold 10,000 more tickets"....eh, well thats because thats all we've been given. Ross County need a slice of the pie as well!! We've sold more tickets than when Rangers played Dundee in the final in 2003.
Lets do the biz the day lads!!
Put your Hands up!!!
Shed Rule!!
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Comment number 16.
At 15th May 2010, dudesteven_g wrote:C'mon the Staggies!
Where's the Dingwall-based/Highland-biased ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ reporter's blog to give us some balance along with Mr Dundee's offering? ;-)~
I know, I know, just kidding Mr Spence!
Seriously, good luck to both teams today, normally I'd be happy to support Utd in a cup final, since they'd normally be the underdogs, but as a neutral (west coast but not 'western unwashed') I'll be cheering on Ross County. I won't be too disappointed if Utd win it though....
First and foremost I'm looking forward to a final without the ugly sisters involvement (no offence but they tend to be boring games with OTT media focus on them), and hopefully an open and entertaining game which both teams really will feel they have a good chance of winning.
Can't wait, whatever the outcome, I hope it's a great day out for both sets of fans - and that some of them are sober enough to remember the game tomorrow!
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Comment number 17.
At 15th May 2010, pitroddieloon wrote:At 4 - Still finished twenty odd points behind the old firm? In Spain, Valencia in third are 27 points behind Real Madrid in second. Just saying...
I enjoyed this piece. I have suspected it must be annoying for the Dundee United supporters that the build up to a historic day for them have been over shadowed by the media fawning all over Ross County. I suppose it must be flattering to be considered the favourites for once, but it's nice to see them get a bit of recognition.
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Comment number 18.
At 15th May 2010, Willie Mays Hayes wrote:Greetings from a Helsinki Arab (amazingly, beautiful weather here today in contrast to the snowfest, minus 22 degree winter that made life in Dundee almost seem sub-tropical).
Great post from FarEastArab (15), let's keep it in perspective folks. Remember Motherwell, St Mirren. Please, no talk of open buses, civic receptions etc.
Brilliant observation by blindedbyfear (12) about info gleamed from bus-stop outside Primark, lol. I can't imagine a similar post regarding Chelsea or Barcelona cup final arrangements.
Let's keep it positive but real. Ross County will be well up for this. It should be a cracking match and it's absolutely great to read that Utd will have 27,000 fans and the mad Highlanders 17,000. Football is about the passion between rival fans and not about selling one's soul for corporate hospitality.
C'mon the terrors
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Comment number 19.
At 16th May 2010, Rob04 wrote:#15
we were only 4 behind Celtic with them to play. We lost that game and it was 7, but within 2 games secured 3rd spot and with a Cup Final at the end of the season we rested our top players. Our season was done with 3 games to go and we took our foot off the pedal.
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So close and yet so far..no change there this season either then!
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So if Celtic fans want to shout about how far ahead of us they were then let them do it if thats how they can get to sleep at night during a trophyless season.
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Well done to DUtd getting the cup. Played well and thoroughly deserved it. Goodwillie was good but Conway stole the show and the first of his goals was just terrific to watch. What a finish.
And now you have enough cups to serve at a very very small tea party!
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(it never ceases to amaze me how Blogs like this get hijacked by the great western unwashed)
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In case you haven't noticed there isn't that many blogs on the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ about the OF. Indeed those that are can be very poorly informed at times. If these blogs were just for non-OF fans then the number of posts would drop off dramatically and Jim would be having a virtual conversation with himself in nearly empty ether-space. And btw it can be like that anyway!
Unwashed? Well we could all resort to stereotypes couldn't we really, but personally I think what is sung about teams from the North and East isn't repeatable and nor is it true. I always wonder if DUtd (and Dons and E.of Scotland)fans say these kinds of things because they think making some reference to poverty (e.g. unwashed, soapdodging, slums) is clever.
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Comment number 20.
At 31st May 2010, quo_bono wrote:dear sir,
I have read about England`emphatic win over the least strong test playing side Bangladish by 8 wkts[was it ] The only problem I had was
I could not find a an ENGLISH TEAM CONSEQUENTLY I came to the conculsion that the team that beat Bangladish was indeed ,looking
at the nationality of the side ,a commonwealth side playing under
the flag of England!!! I have been informed ,reliable so,with the
highest recomendation that You are a man of integrity and could inform me of the true infiltration of South African players[have we as a country never lernt from the Zola Bud affair], and explain why if they are so good thier own country does not select them [{Ah money speaks louder than genes] also the Irish element who would rather play for England than Erin { was it true that an erin sweater was worn by a player playing recently for england when they defeated Ireland ye Gods and little fishs this must make Lord Hawke [yorkshire ]squirm in his after life
One last question where have all the English County players striving week in and week out to make the England Test Side gone? How soul destroying it must be for them knowing commonwealth players first.
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Comment number 21.
At 8th Jun 2010, quo_bono wrote:Complain about this comment (Comment number 21)