retired_selvinel

Thistle > Caley

boooo

retired_eneko5613

I'm not even playing Caley anymore. Keep up!
---
2nd January 2013

Dear Diary,

With November out of the way, December is traditionally a time to rebuild and regroup. It usually sees a bit of money spent, and this year was no different. First arrival was Alex Holmes. Hard negotiation with Fulham meant we sealed the deal for a million, just half their original asking price. Not only that, but at £3100 per week he is taking something approaching an 80% pay cut. We're glad to have him on board for the next 4 and a half years.

Holmes is not available for our current European encounters, but that doesn't stop us doubling the aggregate scoreline at Dens Park against Sigma Olomouc.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">6/12 Dundee 2 SK Sigma Olomouc (CZE) 0 (Watson 3, Walker 15) agg: 4-0 UEFA Cup 3rd Round</pre>
Our latest signing is soon paying back his transfer fee, though, doing the business to claim all three points in the first of a double header against Rangers. The win took us briefly to third, but the return fixture at Ibrox wasn't as successful, for either Holmes who was booked and substituted, or us as a whole.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">9/12 Dundee 1 Rangers 0 (Holmes 22) 3rd12/12 Rangers 2 Dundee 1 (Green (16), Hegarty 20, Green (51)) 4th</pre>
Just to prove we were only good enough for 4th, we lost at home to Aberdeen. More due to the fact that Ryan Esson had a stormer in the Don's goal than any poor play on our part.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">15/12 Dundee 0 Aberdeen 1 (Stewart (44)) 4th</pre>
Arbroath were no match for us, especially man of the match Holmes who ran the game from start to finish.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">19/12 Dundee 3 Arbroath 0 (Holmes 3, Hegary 68, Stevenson 90) 4th</pre>
Gordon Williamson returned to Dens Park the day after that excellent victory, and as is tradition, went straight into the first team for Ayr's visit. I shouldn't have bothered. Really.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">22/12 Dundee 0 Ayr 2 (Gill (34), Jack (71)) 4th</pre>
Colin Sinclair came home as well, in time for some last minute shopping, but there was no way he was going to get a run out in the first team. It was back to McLean and Stevenson for the trip to Tynecastle. We came a very close second in a topsy-turvey game which at the end of the season will probably be remembered more for injuries to Chris Kerr and Martin Gallacher than the fact that Scotland's best striker Gary O'Connor nicked the game in the last minute. Happy sodding Christmas.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">26/12 Hearts 3 Dundee 2 (Hegarty 21, Young (39), Kenny Miller (72), Sérgio 83og, O'Connor (90)) 4th</pre>
The January sales started early. I needed a replacement for Chris Watson, who had decided moving on from Dundee was the best option, especially if he wanted to earn any money. His replacement to be was Arbroath's Jim McGowan, a 21 year old who cost £425k, but only wanted £900 per week. He will be with us for at least the next 4 and a half years.

With Auld Lang Syne ringing in our years, we headed to Motherwell for the New Year's Day game. They obviously had celebrated with more restraint than us, but what can you expect when we have an entirely Scottish squad? 3-0 was a fair result, with few of our players looking up for it at all.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">1/1 Motherwell 3 Dundee 0 (McGarry (29), Murray (62), McGarry (75)) 4th</pre>
Fourth, still, as we head into the winter break. Reasonable, I suppose, but we really need to break back into that top three.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">SPL. After 24 Games1. Rangers 48 +162. Hibs 47 +153. Celtic 46 +144. Dundee 39 +45. Hearts 37 +66. M'well 35 +5</pre>

retired_eneko5613

4th March 2013

Dear Diary,

After a nice two and a half week break, I was itching to get us back into action. Unfortunately, so was Caley Thistle's Mickael Forssell. A draw cost us a plce, but it could have been worse if Andy Walker hadn't snatched a late equaliser
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">19/1 Dundee 2 ICT 2 (Hegarty 22, Forssell (26), (58), Walker 85) 5th</pre>
Whilst Sam Allardyce was in town, there was opportunity to do business. For once, Caley were in a worse position in the league than us, and I wanted to take advantage of the situation. Steve Mitchell was my target, and I got my man for just £875k. That's almost half the price I paid for him out of Caley's budget! Plus he agreed to sit nicely within our wage structure at £1100 per week for the next two and a half years.

Mitchell would get his first run out with some of the other lesser used players, including Nicol and McGowan, in our 3rd Round Scottish Cup encounter with Stenhousemuir. McGowan got his first goal for the club, and looked very impressive. The rest of the team did just about enough to ensure that one goal was enough.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">26/1 Dundee 1 Stenhousemuir 0 (McGowan 20) Scottish Cup 3rd Round</pre>
Three league games in three days tested our squad depth to the limit, and four points was the sort of return that was going to keep us oscillating around fourth of fifth place. Steve Mitchell got his first Dundee goal, but it was the only one against rock bottom Falkirk, whilst Celtic did us by a single goal again.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">2/2 Dundee 1 Hibs 1 (McLean 68, MacDonald (76)) 5th6/2 Falkirk 0 Dundee 1 (Mitchell 55) 4th9/2 Celtic 1 Dundee 0 (Zonneveld (37)) 4th</pre>
Another League Cup Semi Final, this time at Tynecastle so at least there was a crowd! Caley, again, were the opposition, and once more we booked our place in the Final. Yet again it took a late goal that decided it, this time from second half substitute Lauchlan.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">13/2 ICT 1 Dundee 2 (Mitchell 13, Davis (45), Lauchlan 88) League Cup SF</pre>
Straight from there, we were into more cup action. 2nd Division Stranraer must have cursed their luck when drawn against us in the Scottish Cup, but they were about to reap the rewards. It was another opportunity for me to try a few players out, including veteran 35 year old Martyn Corrigan in the advanced midfield position for the first time. He had a great game, dominating from the start and getting his first goal within the first five minutes, but a single defensive lapse ten minutes later allowed Darren Sarli in to equalise. Poor finishing prevented us from scoring a second, and meant the embarrassment of a replay four days later.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">16/2 Stranraer 1 Dundee 1 (Corrigan 3 - 1st goal for club, Sarli (15)) Scottish Cup 4th Round</pre>
More or less the same team ran out for the repaly. It was only right that they should suffer the embarrassment themselves. This time we dominated even more, and when Alex Holmes put us in front with twenty minutes to go I was sure we had them beat. But no, Sarli was there again, and we had no reply. Extra time came and went and it was down to five individuals to put the ball in the net from 9 yards.

Dempster was first up, and he scored with comfort, so when Jamie Campbell saved Stranraer's first attempt, things looked good once again. Alex Holmes saw his spot kick saved, and the usually reliable Wilson slotted his wide, and we were dumped out of the cup - one of the biggest giant killings of the season.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">20/2 Dundee 1 Stranraer 1 (Holmes 67, Sarli (81)) Stranraer win 4-3 on penalties</pre>
The way to bounce back. The only way to bounce back, was with a win. Fortunately, Arbroath were amenable to the idea, but worryingly we only managed a single goal again.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">23/2 Arbroath 0 Dundee 1 (Gallacher 39) 4th</pre>
After the long winter break, UEFA cup action returned, and thanks to a Mark Wilson header, we came away from Nantes with a vital single away goal as well. We did lose Steve Thomson midway through the first half, though. The physio simply shook his head, and with Kerr already out with an injury my first job when we're back in Scotland is to find a new left back.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">28/2 Nantes 0 Dundee 1 (Wilson 17) UEFA Cup 4th Round 1st leg</pre>
Remarkably, and ideal candidate was not only identified, but persuaded to come on a short term loan, in the three days leading up to our next league fixture. He came with an unfortunate name, though: Mark Dick. Dick, 27, a Portsmouth player his entire 10 year career, would be spending a little while north of the border.

Having only just met his teammates, Dick put in a hell of a perfomance as we cruised past Livingston by a relatively comfortable two goal margin. It was a special day, too, for Andrew Stevenson, who notched his first goals since September.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">3/3 Dundee 2 Livingston 0 (Stevenson 52pen - 5th of season, 68) 4th</pre>
So, with three games to the split, we are already safely in the top half. We need to push on, however, and try to close the eternal gap to 3rd.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">SPL. After 30 games1. Celtic 59 +182. Hibs 58 +193. Rangers 57 +154. Dundee 50 +75. M'well 47 +106. ICT 44 +104 points back to 7th</pre>

retired_eneko5613

11th April 2013

Dear Diary,

What a month! Eight games, only three of them in the league. We've covered some miles as well in the process.

Alex Holmes' goal just inside the first half hour put us on course to complete the job against Nantes, and although they got their away goal back with twenty minutes or so to go, we still made it to full time relatively comfortably. Steven Craig had to be helped off the field shortly after the equaliser, with what turned out to be a strain on the same groin muscle he tore last season. Rather than take any risks, we dispatched him straight off to the specialist. We've had to more or less write him out of our plans for the rest of the season.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">7/3 Dundee 1 Nantes 1 (Holmes 27, Neaga (72)) Agg: 2-1. UEFA Cup 4th Round 2nd leg</pre>
No league match at the weekend, due to the Scottish Cup which of course we're not involved in, so not a lot to do except to prepare for our next European adventure. History suggested that Spartak Moscow would be tougher opposition. But what does history know?

What History will recall, maybe, is a first (and much deserved) under 21 call up for Tommy Davidson. Well, OK, it's probably small news within the bigger picture, but it meant a lot to him, and if I'm honest it meant quite a bit to me, as I spotted his talent.

So, cutting the drivel, Spartak Moscow came to town, and were surprisingly poor. Our first experience of the UEFA Cup Quarter Final was a good one, generally speaking. Two goals for us, including a 5th of the season for Alex Holmes, were only spoiled by a quick fire response from the Russians. The away goal might come back to haunt us, especially on the back of a long trip to cold Moscow, but I have faith in my players, and we've got nothing to lose.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">14/3 Dundee 2 Spartak Moscow 1 (Walker 40, Holmes 65 - 5th of season, Kokiashvili (66)) UEFA Cup Quarter Final 1st leg</pre>
We could take our mind off Europe for a while - whilst we concentrated on the League Cup Final! Some relaxation there! 49977 filled Hampden Park with a sea of blue, with the Dundee fans almost indiscernable from the opposition, Rangers'. Finals don't go well for us, so I really hadn't got our hopes up, but as the first half progressed, it looked as though we were actually getting somewhere. Rangers had to make an early enforces substitution, and they never really recovered, despite Joren Nuyts showing he was still one of the best strikers in Scotland. The best was saved until the last action of the half, when Richie Waddell's cross was headed home by the rampant Alex Holmes, the referee's whistle for half time almost drowned out by the twenty thousand plus celebrating Dundee fans.

But, of course, getting to half time is only doing half the job. Some calm words had to be said in the dressing room, as we tried to come up with a plan to make sure the Old Firm didn't creep their way back in. We didn't plan on Andy Walker getting an early injury, but on came Mitchell and the lads did me proud. Nuyts his a shot over the bar in the 68th minute, and Stuart Shaw forced a save out of Alexander with three minutes to go, but neither was a clear chance, and I was still relatively relaxed when the final whistle went, to signal Dundee's first major silverware for twelve years.!
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">17/3 Rangers 0 Dundee 1 (Holmes 45) League Cup Final</pre>
We didn't get long to celebrate, though. We had to be in Moscow by Thursday, just four days later! There was a quick party back in Dundee, and everyone had the Monday off, but Tuesday saw a quick light training session before heading off with our woolly jumpers in tow.

After just eight minutes in the Luzhniki we were in trouble. Sergey Gurchenkov put the Ruskies ahead, and their away goal was looking very valuable indeed. Goals in both halves from Steve Mitchell sealed the deal, though. Semi Final here we come!
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">21/3 Spartak Moscow 1 Dundee 2 (Gurchenkov (8), Mitchell 21,54) Agg: 2-4. UEFA Cup Quarter Final 2nd leg</pre>
Back home to the luxury of a week off. A week in which we made Mark Dick a permanent signing for the bargain price of £210k. He signed a five year deal at £1000 per week, and I'm sure we'll offer him a great deal of first team action in the future.

Steve Mitchell scored again as we returned to League action, our first game in that particular competition for 27 days! His 5th of the season, and 3rd in two games, kept us safely in fourth spot for now.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">30/3 Dundee 1 Hearts 0 (Mitchell 18 - 5th of the season) 4th</pre>
The semis of the UEFA cup brought Spanish opposition to Dens Park for the first time this century. Fancied Spanish opposition at that. Deportivo la Coruna have great pedigree in European competition and are the obvious favourites. It was vital, therefore, that we were disciplined at home.

Disciplined we were, expecially in defence, with Tommy Davidson having an outstanding game. Whatever Tommy let through, Neil Alexander was on hand to keep out, and McLean's headed goal quite early on was a real bonus.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">4/4 Dundee 1 Deportivo de la Coruña 0 (McLean 18) UEFA Cup Semi Final 1st Leg</pre>
To celebrate we went to Ayr, and went a little bit mad, scoring three goals in a game for the first time since December. McLean reached the 15 goal mark for the second time under my leadership, and we improved our grip on 4th place a little more.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">8/4 Ayr 1 Dundee 3 (Gallacher 25, Mitchell 37, McLean 52 - 15th of season, Derek Watson (71)) 4th</pre>
As we headed into the last game before the split in the league, Tommy Davidson once again received Under 21 call up papers. It's only a matter of time now until he gets capped.

Rangers got their revenge for the League Cup final in the league game that could have see us move level on points for third place. A single goal did the damage in a match where they only had two shots at goal. Keeper Stephen Bywater did his job excellently both before and after the Rangers winner to keep his side in the game.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">11/4 Rangers 1 Dundee 0 (Shaw (55)) 4th</pre>
And the table at the split sees us 4th, and if I'm honest, unlikely to move up or down.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">SPL. After 33 games1. Hibs 67 +232. Celtic 64 +193. Rangers 62 +164. Dundee 56 +95. ICT 49 +116. M'well 47 +7</pre>

retired_eneko5613

11th May 2013

Dear Diary,

There was still an outside chance we could make it to both third place in the league, and of course we had a slender lead in the UEFA Cup Semi Final after the first leg. So why did it feel like the final part of the season was going to be an anti-climax? Even the fixture computer had the ironic sense to load all our chances on the first game. Rangers, at Ibrox, for the second time in three days, would be followed by home games against Caley Thistle and Hibs. If we still actually had anything to play for, we would have to win at Celtic Park before facing outsiders Motherwell at home.

It was all largely irrelevant, though. The 2-0 beating that Rangers handed out to us put 9 points between the teams, and effectively ended our league season.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">13/4 Rangers 2 Dundee 0 (Shaw (29), Nuyts (74)) 4th</pre>
Over 34000 Spaniards filled the Riazor stadium, fully expecting their side to comfortably turn round the one goal defeat suffered in a place most of them had never heard of. The party was already in full swing, as Deportivo looked forward to the inevitable UEFA Cup final. Something of a siesta was, therefore, in evidence when Steve Mitchell picked up McLean's through ball and planted it squarely beyond Franco. An away goal, and all of a sudden real hope for us! An equaliser came from the inevitable pressure, but three minutes later Steve McLean did his thing and got us a totally unexpected second goal. Massive.

Second half saw Chris Kerr depart with a knock, closely followed by Steve McLean who had unexplicably pushed a member of the opposition over and earned himself a red card. Shades of Gazza in whichever England international it was, as McLean realised he would miss the final, should we actually hold on. As it was, the ten men did well, although a 62nd minute goal brough Deportivo back within one goal. The final whistle signified a repeat of last season's third round tie - against Roma. This time over one leg, and with a lot more to play for!
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">18/4 Deportivo de la Coruña 2 Dundee 2 (Mitchell 22, Rojas (38), McLean 41, Sola (62)) Agg: 2-3. UEFA Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg</pre>
At last! Something to look forward to! All I wanted to do now was get the remaining league matches out of the way with minimum of trouble. Everyone was fired up, though, so it shouldn't have come as much of a surprise when we went through the next for games unbeaten, earning me a Manager of the Month award for April in the process
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">20/4 Dundee 1 ICT 0 (Mitchell 90) 4th27/4 Dundee 2 Hibs 1 (MacDonald (11), Mitchell 67, Waddell 81) 4th4/5 Celtic 0 Dundee 0 4th11/5 Dundee 3 Motherwell 0 (McLean 14, Holmes 31, Watson 45) 4th</pre>
In the end, we only missed out on third place by one point! So close, yet so far away.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">SPL. Final Standings1. Hibs 75 +242. Celtic 73 +233. Rangers 67 +154, Dundee 66 +125. ICT 51 +76. M'well 51 +4</pre>

retired_eneko5613

20th May 2013

Dear Diary,

Copenhagen in May. Romantic. But we weren't there for the romance. 40000 fans, with Italians and Scots well represented, filled the Parken stadium. Alexander, Henderson, Kerr, Wilson, Davidson, Gallacher, Holmes, Watson, Waddell, Stevenson and Billy Mitchell ran out in their special edition Dundee home shirts. National anthems and the UEFA hand shaking, all the hallmarks of a classic final. The match, or the first half at least, was not a classic though. I suppose we were slightly second best, and I was glad to get us into the dressing room at 0-0. The second half, though, was the best of my career.

Almost.

Martin Gallacher's pass found Alex Holmes free in the penalty area, and just before the hour mark of the UEFA Cup Final we were ahead. Roma hit the bar five minutes later, and Alexander had to make a series of saves. Roma just couldn't get the ball past the veteran Scot though. Time ticked down. The fourth official indicated three minutes of stoppage time. Each minute seemed like an age. Deep in the last minute of the planned three, Garcia López beat Kerr and drifted a cross in from the right. Alexander came and punched, but the ball fell to Ronaldinho, who broke the hearts Dundee players, fans and manager alike.

Extra time passed far too quickly, the only point of note was an injury to goalscorer Alex Holmes in the 120th minute. Changes required, then, to the lineup for our most important penalty shootout ever.

Penalties wasn't something we had even considered. The absence of Holmes and McLean meant a different lineup anyway, but I was looking for players with bottle. Stevenson stepped up to take the first for us, and scored with no problem. Alexander couldn't stop Davide Carbone's spot kick, and the tension went up a notch. Neither Lauchlan nor Antonio Cassano (in his last game for Roma before a £16.75m move to Inter) made mistakes. In the same way, Wilson and heartbreaker Ronaldinho despatched near perfect penalties. A mistake now from either side would probably be very costly.

Gallacher, one of the pivotal players of the season, kept his nerve, as did Ezequiel González. Last chance saloon for everyone then. Our fifth nominated penalty taker was Richard Waddell. My heart sank as I watched him walk up from the centre circle. you could see the dread written on his face, and in those few moments my entire squad flashed before my eyes. Who else could I have persuaded to do this job? I stared down at my shoes, and the inevitable cheer from the wrong section of the crowd told me that Waddell had missed - it didn't matter how, but the relatively calm attitude of Lorenzo Spada made me realise that he hadn't made a save.

Mario Romeo slotted the final penalty away, and what had been so close became so far away. Our first appearance in the final had ended in much the same way as our first appearance in any other final. Nothing.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">15/5 Dundee 1 Roma 1 (Holmes 58, Ronaldinho (90)) Roma win 5-4 on penalties. UEFA Cup Final</pre>
We made our way dejectedly back to Dundee, but our hearts were lifted by the time the awards dinner came around, as we reviewed what had to be classed as a successful season. There were plenty of awards to give out as well. Tommy Davidson should have received his player of the month award for May, but he was away training with the Under 21 side again. Steve McLean picked up his cap for SPL team of the year, as well as the shield for fans player of the year, and surprisingly, I got the Manager of the Year award. Our average attendance of 12946 was also a club record. Bonus.

retired_eneko5613

26th July 2013

Dear Diary,

A few weeks off and we were all ready to build ourselves up for another season. Yet again, attracting players was a problem. Actually, more a case of finding the right players was a problem. Money, of course, still wasn't a problem. Yet again the club turned a profit last season, so there's well over £10m in the bank. An extra million came in from players moving on in the summer. The main problem was to find a new backup keeper - and even that proved tricky.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">In: James McLean GK 21 (Man City - Season Loan) - Moved on to Livingston on a permanent deal before the season started Daniel Williamson D/DM RC 21 (Fulham - Season Loan) Gary King GK 19 (ICT - £375k) 5 years, £925p/w</pre>
See? Not exactly world beaters...

There was some resistance within the club to the summer leavers. Chris Watson was a popular (and good) midfielder, but at 31 his best years were gone, and £750k couldn't be laughed at. Jamie Campbell wouldn't sign a new contract, so some money was better than none.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Out: Ewing Crawford (Ayr - free) Jamie Campbell (Ayr - £250k) Chris Watson (Hearts - £750k) Stuart Campbell (Retirement) Sean McAuley (Retirement) Chris Kerr (Retirement)</pre>
Mitchell, Ogunmade and Walker all got on the scoresheet in preseason, with a Dundee derby that ended 2-0 in our favour followed by a 1-0 win over St. Mirren and a 0-0 with Queen's Park. The Edinburgh contingent of the league try to destabalise us with big money bids of £1.8m and £2.2m for Steven Thomson. Selling him would have been a step too far for the fans, and even though he's not happy about it, he stays.
£2.2m for Steven Thomson

So, the (much smaller) squad for this season's assault is:
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">The Dundee "Lions" Squad 2013/2014Goalkeepers:1. Neil Alexander (35) 4th season, 140 appearances. (Called up but never capped)13. Gary King (19) 1st seasonDefenders:2. Mark Wilson (31) Capped at Under 21 level. 7th season, 234 appearances, 12 goals3. Jim McKenzie (25) 4th season, 31 appearances, 1 goal4. Stephen McCann (28) 6th season, 152 appearacnes, 8 goals5. Steven Craig (25) 4th season, 67 appearances15. David McCall (19) On Loan from Fulham20. Tommy Davidson (21) 2nd season, 32 appearances22. Steven Thomson (22) Capped at Under 21 level. 4th season, 57 appearances, 2 goals23. Stuart Henderson (22) Capped at Under 21 level. 4th season, 78 appearances25. Daniel Williamson (21) On Loan from Fulham27. Martyn Corrigan (35) 3rd season, 81 appearances, 1 goal30. Kevin Johnston (18) 3rd season31. Kevin Gardiner (26) 2nd season, 14 appearances34. Mark Dick (27) Capped at Under 21 level. 2nd season, 4 appearancesMidfielders:6. Martin Gallacher (27) Capped at Under 21 level. 3rd season, 82 appearances, 16 goals7. Alex Holmes (25) Capped at Under 21 level. 2nd season, 44 appearances, 11 goals8. John Dempster (30) 8th season, 89 appearances, 13 goals11. Martin Lauchlan (32) Capped at B Team level. 3rd season, 84 appearances, 11 goals12. Peter Hegarty (25) Capped at Under 21 level. 8th season, 226 appearances, 29 goals14. Richard Waddell (32) 3rd season, 61 appearances, 10 goals16. Joe Webster (26) Capped at Under 21 level. 3rd season, 44 appearances, 1 goal17. John Rae (20) 2nd season, 3 appearances19. Andrew Rae (22) 5th season, 4 appearances28. Thomas Nicol (22) 2nd season, 5 appearances32. Jim McGowan (22) 2nd season, 4 appearances, 1 goalForwards:9. Andy Walker (27) 11th season, 236 appearances, 54 goals10. Gordon Williamson (27) 6th season, 75 appearances, 29 goals18. Andrew Stevenson (27) 4th season, 129 appearances, 41 goals21. Daniel Ogunmade (28) Capped at Under 21 level. 4th season, 24 appearances24. Steven McLean (30) 3rd season, 83 appearances, 31 goals26. Colin Sinclair (23) Capped at Under 21 level. 3rd season, 4 appearances, 1 goal29. Billy Mitchell (18) 2nd season, 11 appearances33. Steve Mitchell (29) 2nd season, 18 appearances, 9 goals</pre>

retired_eneko5613

10th September 2013

Dear Diary,

What promised so much, delivered so little. At least to start with.

Two defeats in the first two games rocked Dens Park and left us bottom of the league. Questions were being asked about why I hadn't spent in the summer, was the squad too shallow. There were even rumblings that my position would be in jeopary if things didn't pick up.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">27/7 Motherwell 2 Dundee 1 (Walker 55, Ucar (68), Reeve (79)) 11th3/8 Dundee 0 ICT 2 (Marshall (17), Forssell (27)) 12th</pre>
The addition of 17 year old Colin Clark, a 17 year old centre back from the youth academy, was hardly going to quell the fury. Therefore, the game at Ayr suddenly looked a little intimidating. The first 15 minutes were nail-biting, until Josh Dyche got himself sent off for trying to take McLean out of the game. The breakthrough came straight away, but Ayr got straight back level and we were meant to suffer for the rest of the half. The goals flowed, though, in the second and we shot half way up the table on the back of our first win.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">10/8 Ayr 1 Dundee 4 (Holmes 18, Jack (20), Holmes 50, Weatherston 80og, Corrigan 89) 6th</pre>
And into the top four with a similar second half demolition of Arbroath, assisted by my old Rotherham friend Ashley Barr.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">17/8 Dundee 3 Arbroath 0 (Mitchell 55, Holmes 68, Barr 78og) 4th</pre>
A surprise callup to the Scotland squad came midweek for Mark Wilson. The 31 year old defensive rock hadn't seen a sniff of international action since being capped for the Under 21s ten years ago, when incidentally he played for our rivals across town. Tommy Davidson and Gary King would train with the Under 21 squad this time around.

A first half double strike seals us a third win on the trot, and in the space of a month things have completely turned around. Now it's talk of Europe and improving on last season's finish! Fickle? Football fans? Says who?
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">24/8 Dunfermline 0 Dundee 2 (Gallacher 10, McLean 36) 3rd</pre>
In the stakes for most unfortunate teenager of the year, 15 year old Kevin Cook graduates from the academy, only for us to find out that he was born south of the border and has no Scottish ancestry. He had real potential as well, and it's such a shame to dash his hopes. We sit down, with his parents, and explain the situation, telling him we'll do everything possible to find him another club. To be honest, if anyone sees him play and needs a right wingback, it shouldn't take long.

Gordon Williamson's career as a Dundee player is finally over. The striker who has played more games for Clydebank than for Dundee in my time here moves south of the border to Huddersfield for £500k, making way for Lee MacDonald to join from Hearts. £975k buys us a 22 year old striker, capped at under 21 level, and with an SPL goals tally in double figures. He signs on for 5 years at £1700 per week.

MacDonald moves straight into Williamson's vacated number 10 shirt, but doesn't feature immediately as we play his former club, Hearts. It's a ding dong battle with a penalty each in the first half, and two surprising goals for Corrigan cancelled out by two annoying ones for captain Dean Morgan in the second.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">7/9 Dundee 3 Hearts 3 (McLean 31pen, O'Connor (45pen), Corrigan 48, Morgan (53), Corrigan 62, Morgan (80)) 4th</pre>
The table starts to take shape 6 games in, and the main talking point in the media is the apparent fall from grace of Celtic. We're comfortably enough placed, in what is looking like it might be a season of inconsitency all around.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">SPL. After 6 games (except where shown)1. ICT 13 +62. Rangers 12 +63. M'well 12 +24. Dundee 10 +55. Hearts 8 +3 (from 5 games)6. Livi' 8 -1 (from 5 games)7. Ab'deen 8 -28. Celtic 7 -19. Hibs 6 -2</pre>

retired_embartl

Catching up with this...

Hard luck on the Cup final losses in 2012, yes November is a bitch, a season of mostly 5th, congrats on the League Cup final win, what a bugger about the Roma loss, a season of mostly 4th - now for a season of mostly third and a Euro Cup win :thup:

retired_eneko5613

Hey BoN! Sorry it's took over six weeks for me to catch up with you! You certainly never know what's going to happen at Dens Park...
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21st October 2013

Dear Diary,

Has November come a month early this year? Just seven points from five league games has cost us a couple of places in the table. Still, the cup competitions are coming along nicely, and there's been a nice bit of wheeler dealing as well.

No clever talk was required to persuade our first new signing to join. Craig Quinn joined directly from the youth academy. Yes he's Scottish! He came with the highest recommendation from the staff at the academy, and he's already caught the attention of the senior coaching staff. Even as a spotty 16 year old, I think he could go a long way, although he needs to decide whether his favourite position is right back or centre half.

This season's UEFA Cup draw pairs us with Lyngby, setting up a visit to another new European country. However, we have to entertain them at Dens Park first. Our two senior strikers do most of the entertaining, ensuring we'll take a comfortable lead with us across the North Sea.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">12/9 Dundee 2 Lyngby 0 (McLean 10, Walker 50) UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg</pre>
Over to Ibrox for the midweeker against a Rangers outfit who we could overtake given the right result. Tired players weren't going to get past a solid defence, though, and the best we could hope for was to hang on for a draw. Búgger, so close.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">15/9 Rangers 1 Dundee 0 (Fraser (90+1)) 5th</pre>
The news that came through after the match was enough to make me smile despite the result. Sheffield Wednesday had expressed an interest in English protégé Kevin Cook earlier in the week. I knew that if I left it at that then things might get messy, with tribunal involvement in setting the fee, denying the lad the quick move he deserved. We had a quiet word with the Sheffield outfit's backroom staff, and suggested that we would be happy to let Cook go "for free" if they made it worth our while. Not strictly what you would call "by the book", but they knew what we meant. The Sheffield representative called back and said he had something that just might suit me. A couple of days later I had got hold of an international midfielder, one whould I had worked with before. He'd cost me £3.1m last time I signed him, this time I effectively got Stephen Pearson for free. He signed a three year deal, and became the highest paid Dundee player on £4300 per week

Pearson took the number 35 shirt, and made his full debut immediately for the visit of Aberdeen, and he made an impact straight away.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">21/9 Dundee 2 Aberdeen 0 (McGowan 43, Pearson 65) 5th</pre>
A decent enough start, I'm sure you'll agree...

Mark Wilson would spend another vacation with the Scotland squad in early October. He's like a kid, he gets so excited by it all. I think he knows that there isn't really much chance of him getting a game, but he prefers to dream a little. No-one wants to deny him that.

Our trip to Denmark proved a quiet affair. Less than five thousand fans were inside Lyngby's stadium, and the sending off of the home side's keeper midway through the first half effectively ended the game as a contest. The icing was placed on the cake by Peter Hegarty a few minutes later.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">26/9 Lyngby 0 Dundee 1 (Hegarty 28) Agg: 0-3. UEFA Cup 1st Round 2nd Leg</pre>
The second round draw gave us another opportunity to get a new stamp in the passport. Steaua Bucharest, at home first, but with a trip to Romania at the end of October.

Livingston were despatched by a single Stephen Pearson goal to move us back up to 4th at the end of September, whilst October got underway with our League Cup debut. Dunfermline fell foul of a convincing performance which saw Lee MacDonald grab his first goal for us.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">29/9 Dundee 1 Livingston 0 (Pearson 31) 4th2/10 Dundee 3 Dunfermline 0 (Wilson 45pen, MacDonald 64, Holmes 69) League Cup 3rd Round</pre>
And with that we could sit back and enjoy the week of international games.

No place for Mark Wilson in the final 18, as Scotland beat Malta 2-0 at Hampden. It was a nice ten day break for us, though, and should have been the ideal boost. So Ayr would prove no problem? Wrong. Another Lee MacDonald goal gave us the lead, but Ayr's French forward Olivier Bracigliano got an equaliser. A dangerous challenge from Peter Hegarty five minutes from time earned him a red card, and finished our chances of scoring a winner.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">12/10 Dundee 1 Ayr 1 (MacDonald 56, Bracigliano (74)) 5th</pre>
Despite the eratic league form, we still had what it took in Europe. Ten minutes into our 2nd round match with Steaua Bucharest, Steve MacLean had already hit the Romanians for two, passing the five mark for the season. The visitors self destructed even more, having two players sent off, and Mark Wilson was able to add a penalty to more or less seal the fixture.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">17/10 Dundee 3 Steaua Bucharest 0 (McLean 5,9 - 5th of season, Wilson 77pen) UEFA Cup 2nd Round 1st Leg</pre>
With that confidence boost under our belt, we headed to Celtic Park. Despite performing well, we were never in the lead, and Peter Crouch proved our undoing as we slipped to a lowly 6th place.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">20/10 Celtic 3 Dundee 2 (Pinillos (2), Webster 6, Crouch (27), Webster 70, Crouch (82)) 6th</pre>
Only one point separates us from the bottom half of the table. In my world, that's practically staring into the abyss. I doubt I'm the only one to think it, either.
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">SPL. After 12 games (except where shown)1. ICT 28 +122. Rangers 24 +13 (from 11 games)3. Hearts 24 +124. Celtic 19 +4 (from 11 games)5. M'well 18 -46. Dundee 17 +6 (from 11 games)7. Hibs 16 +1 (from 11 games)8. Arbroath 14 -5 (from 11 games)</pre>