Panic Stations?

I have been trawling a few fans messages boards this morning, basically because I'm too lazy to get my own stories, and there seems to be a few fans getting quite unsettled that Rangers have plummeted out of Europe (Oh ma sides!!).

No, not because they secretly like the Forces of Darkness and wanted them to do well but because it may now be time to raid United for a few of our players.

As you may be aware, Rangers have recently been linked with Wilkie, Gomis and Bauben. Some feel that, with the loss of circa £10m revenue from missing out on the Champions League, after their 2-1 (agg) defeat from Kaunas, that the club will have massively reduced spending and may target players from other SPL clubs.

But to be honest, I think most of their summer spending will have been done on the basis of actually receiving that £10m, leaving them with pretty much zilch to spend.

And I don't really think we will, unless we get offered completely bonkers money, which I don't think they can really justify spending, accept any sort of bid for any three of the above mentioned players.

And, not to be offensive towards United players, but Rangers fans will no doubt want big names to appease them. I don't think United players, or any other SPL player for that matter, would go far enough to pacify them.

My main concern is that Walter Smith gets the boot and they make moves for Craig Levein...

Your thoughts?

Transfer Talk

So apparently a bid of around £60k has gone in for Jim O'Brien of Celtic. The out of contract player has been on trial with Motherwell recently but it is thought that gaffer Craig Levein is keen to bring the young winger back to Tannadice, where he spent the second half of last season on loan.

I'm never one to question the judgement of Levein, but I would be leaving this one well alone. From what I seen of him last season, he offered us little. I'm sure other United fans share this view.

To our next target, it is rumoured that we have rekindled our interest in Ranger Forward Alan Gow. Rangers have told the forward, who has made a massive 2 appearance since signing last year, that he can move for free should he find a suitable club.

The club are also set to pay off his contract in full, meaning Gow would be more willing to take a wage cut. United face competition from Hearts for his signature.

If either of these rumours/stories are true, my choice would be Gow. But hey, we might end up with both!

Hunt Deal almost done?

Word is going around that despite rejecting a £500k bid from Reading for Noel Hunt last night, the club have now accepted a bid in the region of £750k.

It is thought that United are prepared to accept a bid closer to the £1m mark, with £750k thought to be the figure it would take to prise the Irishman away from Tannadice.

Rumour has it that the striker is now one route to the Madjeski Stadium to under go a medical, before putting pen to paper on a deal that will see him join forces with his brother Stephen Hunt.

It is noted that Hunt was set to be left out the squad to face Dunfermline tonight (not tomorrow as I stated elsewhere) due to a knock.

I'm more than happy for this deal, if true, to go through. Yes, his goals last season were important and will be a big loss for the team, but (and here I go putting all my faith in one man) if Warren Feeney can chip in with a few this year and this likes of Shala and Sandaza can pick up a years experience, I reckon the loss of Hunt wont be as dramatic as some may thing.

And we can very well argue with a profit of £700k over a couple of years, can we?

Reading Hunting Hunt.

United have knocked back an improved bid from Reading for Striker Noel Hunt.

The Royals made a second bid for the Irishman, believed to be in the region of £500k.

Steve Coppel is looking for a striker after the sale of Dave Kitson. It is thought that Hunt may be swayed by the fact his brother plays for the club.

As much as I would hate to see him go, his contract is up at the end of the season. Time to cash in, or risk loosing him for nothing.

Feeney may well turn out to be a good signing, and with a years experience Shala and Sandaza may prove to be big players for us.

Time to wait for an improved bid and take the money.

Get Him Signed!!!

Ok so this here would appear to be a video of our Spanish Trialist Francesco Sandaza.

Francesco Sandaza
Uploaded by brondony

The Boy looks like a class act.

I say, get him signed!

Watch and enjoy.

Spanish Striker on Trial.

Unfortunately not David Villa however, apparently United have a young Spanish Striker by the name of Francesco Sandaza on trial (I have shamelessly stolen this info from United Mad, cheers to hulltoonarab!)

Check out the thread, contains videos of the guy, looks fairly decent.

Rumor is the Gaffer has him on trial to assess his suitability for the SPL.

Deal for Feeney?

I couldn't have been more wrong.

Apparently O'Donovan is not Tannadice bound. I hold my hands up and admit my mistakes.

Anyway although there is nothing official been stated on the BBC, Official Site or anywhere for that matter (Other than Wikipedia and a few message boards) it appears Warren Feeney has apparently signed a one year loan deal.

News appeared in a Belfast newspaper today (I can't find a link at the moment) confirming.

Seems a bit out of the blue although it had been mentioned a couple of times, the big rumour was O'Donovan was the one set to sign.

Feeney did look like a good prospect at Bournemouth with 32 goals in 98 appearances. If he has signed, hopefully the gaffer will be the one to get some decent form like that out of him.

Lets see what the next couple of days bring, maybe some official confirmation?

O'Donovan to sign?

I have it on good (read decent) authority that Dundee United will sign Roy O'Donovan from Sunderland over the weekend/early part of next week.

Craig Levein has been on the trail of the striker since last summer however, a deal fell apart.

The deal for the striker will be a season long loan. Leeds United are also said to be interested in the Irish man.

Not knowing much about the guy, it's fairly hard to comment. I have said before I believe he could be a decent signing and the Gaffer does have a knack of signing the right men, so hears hoping.

We shall see over the coming days.

Incoming?

Next striker for United to be linked with?

Maruis Niculae of Inverness Cally Thistle.

Cally appear to be set to cash in on the Romanian hitman, as they struggle to afford his £4k a week wages.

Now, I haven't seen much of him admittedly but, from what I have seen, I'm not to impressed to be honest. As much as he is a powerfully forward, he just doesn't seem to bang in enough goals.

That and I wouldn't imagine he would be happy to take a wage cut, and I don't think we would be looking to give one player a circa £4k wage.

Keep looking in my opinion.

So, What Do We Need?

Craig Levein has stated he is looking to bring in another three players. Two out of these three he would like to be strikers.

But what do you think we need?

So far we have added Andis Shala(ST), Michael McGovern(GK), Scott Robertson(MC) and Paul Dixon(DL)

Firstly Goalkeepers and Defenders are settled. We have lost Kalvenes, but with the addition of Dixon to battle it out with Danny Grainger for the left back spot, we should be covered. Wilkie, Dodds and Kenneth for the centre backs and Dillon and Kovacevic, who can also play in the middle, are fine cover. Hopefully this season will see the return of the highly rated Keith Watson from injury.

Midfield, I feel, is where we need an addition. Robertson will cover the space left by the departure of Mark Kerr. Hopefully we can sort out the Bauben situation soon. Cameron is back, and hopefully time served with St Johnstone has done him some good. We also have Gomis and David Robertson.

As for wingers, here lies the problem. Craig Conway is a good little player however, he is currently injured. Other than him, there is a distinct lack of wide players.

Unless we are looking to play a narrow midfield, we could do with the addition of some width. Willo Flood, who can play wide or through the centre, would be my first choice, although money will dictate whether this is possible or not.

Another shout could be Jim McAllister from Morton. Maybe not the fans first choice, but, from my limited view of him in action, could do very well under the tuition of the Gaffer. Other than that, I'm at a loss for suggestions.

And finally, the forwards. Shala has been added and is sounding very enthusiastic about the coming season. Whether he makes an instant impact remains to be seen. He is only young and will need time.

Hopefully we can keep a hold of Noel Hunt and he can build on last year.

Daly, hard to comment due to injuries, but, harsh though it may be, it's time for him to move on if he can't prove his fitness. We can't afford passengers.

As for forwards on the cards, Alan Gow is still being mentioned, although any deal is likely to be a loan, and even at that, is very unlikely. Roy O'Donovan look set to stay with Sunderland, rumours of Liam Buchanan of Partick have died down.

My choice? Villa or Arshavin, but I feel they would buckle under pressure of playing for a club of Uniteds size(!)

I'm sure the Gaffer has something up his sleeve, no doubt it will be a gem.

Who do you think we should be looking at? What do we need? Have you heard any rumours?

Your comments are welcome.

Rumours, Rumours Everywhere

Well, with the news that Craig Levein is after 2 or 3 signings, rumours have been fly around a bit.

The Gaffer is looking for another striker and names that have come up include Alan Gow, Roy O'Donavan and Anthony Stokes.

There has also been mumblings that a deal for Willo Flood could be on the cards.

Moves for any of the players noted above are likely to be for season long loans.

At the moment I would be happy for Flood to return, as for the strikers, personally O'Donovan would be my preferance.

Whats do you guys think?

And have you heard of any other possible targets?

How about some rumours?

Well, let have some rumours then, shall we?

Right, word on the street will have you believe that Ghana International Prince Bauben may well have played his last game for the club. It is thought that the players agents demanded a large increase in wages for the player following his first International Cap.

The increase is believed to be far more than the Club are willing to pay.

Rumour has it that United has said Bauben will not play for the club again, unless he finds himself a new agent.

Bit of a shame really. Bauben has show some real potential this season and could be a cracking player in the coming year however, if United were to bow to pressure from players and agents for massive increases in wages, they risk setting a a dangerous precedent.

The phrase involving a rock and a hard place springs to mind.

I for one hope this is sorted out soon.