Dundee United desperately need stability after a tough spell.
The owner and board are rightly taking time over their next managerial appointment.
A win and a draw has halted the recent decline and Liam Fox, who was Tam Courts’ assistant, has quietly steadied what threatened to be a panicked club.
There’s much talk of players having too much power in the game but, like it or not, they’re the ones who cross the white line to perform, not the manager.
If, as suggested, some players had been previously comfortable with training routines and methods tailored to suit them as individuals I’m not sure why that should be an issue if it produces good results.
Fox was part of a management team which oversaw a successful season, albeit some fans complained about lack of excitement and dull play.
I suspect they would now take that over some of the recent horror shows they’ve endured.
I said when Courts was first appointed that any new manager is a gamble.
Liam Fox would be a long shot too, but no more than the appointment of Courts, and it may well be that what United need instead of a fresh face is someone like Fox, who knows the workings and methodology of the club and who can marry its youth model successfully with the experienced players at Tannadice
Sometimes what’s required to reboot things is right in front of your nose.
For all the big names that have been mentioned, perhaps what Dundee United now need is a return to that which brought them joy previously.
I chewed the fat after the Dundee v Queens Park game last Saturday with Cammy Kerr and former Dee striker Simon Murray.
Both lads gave fine performances, with Cammy on the winning side and Simon running himself tirelessly into the ground leading the line for the Glasgow outfit.
A 3-0 win was, I thought, deserved for Dundee but, with possession and shots on goal eeksie peeksie between the teams, it was a timely reminder of how tough the Championship is and that clinical finishing is vital.
Zach Robinson’s second goal in particular was magnificent and showed the kind of threat which may be the difference in games this season.
🚀 🔥
Zach Robinson 👏 👏 👏 #thedee pic.twitter.com/maCyTFz66x
— Dundee Football Club (@DundeeFC) September 3, 2022
I said last week that Dundee still look light in depth and, if the budget permits, Gary Bowyer will hope to use his wealth of contacts in England to bolster his squad.
I think the Dark Blues are gelling nicely, with an encouraging energy and tempo to their play.
But the Dens board need to free up whatever funds they can to back their manager and let him strengthen for the best possible chance of going on a winning streak.
Zak Rudden was touch-and-go for the Cove game, postponed due to the Queen’s death.
Stretchered off after scoring Dundee’s third goal last week, his absence would’ve been keenly felt in a side short on strikers.
So Bowyer needs to know that he can invest in additional firepower if he can find the right target, to further boost the Dark Blues’ goal threat and title ambitions.
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