First Two SPL Games Previewed.

The SPL fixtures have been announced, well kind of, as we are all still uncertain as to which of the 'Thistles' will be playing SPL football next season, although it's looking increasingly likely that it'll be Inverness (at Aberdeen!). Another farce really isn't it? Every year something like this happens. They should just permanently relegate Dundee FC. Or Aberdeen even. Problem solved.

SATURDAY 10/08/04 - SEASON KICKS OFF!!

Plastic Pitch

Our first fixture takes us to East End Park and their plastic pitch. I thought their pitch was a UEFA experiment? How long is this going to last? And why an SPL club? Our game is enough trouble already (see above) without adding to its farcical status by having us treated as guinea pigs.

If it's an experiment, one thing seems to have been proved - visiting teams who normally play on grass don't like it, and we didn't last year, if our results on it are anything to go by. A league draw and a defeat, and kicked out of the Scottish Cup there too! Ouch!

So let's have a look at the Pars.

Stevie Crawford, their most prolific scorer of late, has moved on to pastures new, away to Plymouth Argyle, which is a relief for the rest of the SPL - though they still have the services of one Craig Brewster, and any Arab who doesn't know who he is, give yerself a shake!. They have a new manager in Davie Hay, and he'll be out to make a good start of course, again, as will our own Ian McCall. An interesting fact about Davie hay actually - he is blind in one eye after a serious injury cut short his playing career whilst at Chelsea!

There's not been a great deal of transfers in or out at The Pars, so much the same team as last year is expected, minus Crawford of course.

There should be a biggish crowd for this first game of the season. A good traveling support should follow McCall's Miracles to east End Park, and the home support is usually good for any club on a sunny 'season-opener.'

This may well be James Grady's first competitive game for United, so hopefully he'll notch and get one (or three) on the board.

It's less than an hour in a car to Dunfermline and I hope plenty of Arabs make the effort for the first game of the 2004/05 campaign.

Dundee Derby 17/8/04 Live On Setanta TV

For details of how to get Setanta click here.

Well well. The big one. Live on PPV TV too.

Well there are possible teams to discuss, and predictions, outcomes etc etc but the BIG question for most fans, and I apologise in advance for bringing the subject up at all, but the big one is 'boycotts'.

There has been, and always will be, fans (of any club) who will NEVER visit their rivals' grounds. Ayr fans who would never go to Killie, Man City fans who will never go to Old Trafford and a thousand other such rivalries. We are no different. There have always been a few Arabs who will never set foot in Dens, and vice versa.

Recently, and it appears to have started since DFC went into administration, there has been an upswell of 'diehards' who refuse to attend either way. It has to be said, from an outsider's point of view at least, that Dee4Life must take part of the blame for this, having (badly) sponsored a boycott of the last derby - even if they say they didn't sponsor it officially, they WERE originally involved and gave the boycott some credence. Bloody stupid in my opinion. Yes they've done a great job in raising money for the Dee, but could they not have got the buckets out (or something else) at Tannadice rather than besmirch the Derby's reputation for all concerned? There's no doubt some Dees will stay away, as has always happened, but I sincerely hope it's just the normal die hard blue-noses and we have a good attendance. The game's history, and future, is more important than points-scoring by either set of fans now.

There's talk of United getting the Shed End, but I suppose we'll have to wait and gauge Dee opinion on the matter. Are they going to attend as normal? Will there be a half-assed stay-away by disgruntled Deez? I think there will. Some won't go - and more than a typical derby - but I don't think there'll be an organised boycott to 'raise funds' like last time. However, having seen some plans once for the 'New Super Derry', anything could happen.

We are also long overdue a derby win for Ian McCall. It'll be around 18 months in August and IM has yet to see a team under his tutelage secure a win over our near neighbours, though how we only drew 2-2 in the last game is a mystery to all. We out-hustled and outplayed Dundee for 90% of that match, and they had two attacks and scored twice! Such is football.

I think we are a much stronger team under McCall, and are starting to show quality - a valuable commodity. I think IM has the ability to spot quality himself, and produce it from his players. IM's ability to instill the right attitude in his players is another area where I think we have improved massively, and a factor in previous bosses' poor performances.

It looks as if Dundee will still have Novo, and I can't believe he hasn't been snapped up by a bigger club - we'll have to watch out for him.

1-2-3-4-5th!!

Still, if you remember, our first four games last year were against Hibs, Hearts, Celtic, and Rangers, and we managed to lose all four and still finish fifth.

Prediction: Draw at Dunfy and a win at home!