Jocky Scott revealed last night what all of us already knew - that he played Rab Douglas knowing he wasn't fully fit to play.
And that appeared to be a risk not worth taking as Rangers crashed six past hIm in the first 45 minutes.
But Scott was adamant he was correct in playing him, saying afterwards: "Rab wasn't 100 per cent, but you want to play you're best players against Rangers and he is the best goalkeeper I have.
"I don't think you could blame him for any of the goals because he was getting very little help from those in front of him."
Asked about his side's overall performance, the Dens manager added: "You cannot give goals away to a side of that quality, especially after one minute and hope to compete. We had a chance to equalise but they went and scored again.
"It could have been 1-1, then it was 0-2, it could have been 2-2, then it as 1-3. But they are a quality outfit."
Rab Douglas admitted last night's opening 45 minutes was the worst he's ever had to endure in his career so far.
He was the only Dundee player prepared to speak with the media last night following the humiliating defeat by the league leaders, and he said: "At half-time the boys were devastated.
"It was certainly the worst 45 minutes I've ever experienced. The second half was a bit better peformance-wise, but then it was just damage limitation.
"It was awful but we have too pick ourselves up for the games against Celtic and Kilmarnock." Dundee make the trip to Parkhead on Wednesday before visiting Rugby Park this Saturday.
Jocky Scott will be without Nicky Banger, James Grady and Patrizio Billio for the clash with Rangers, while Shaun McSkimming and Rab Douglas face tests.
Neither of them are rated any better than 50-50 ahead of the clash with Dick Advocaat's side, so it could well be a patched up side that take on Rangers at Dens Park on Sunday.
However, despite lacking a large chunk of his first team, Scott is optimistic that the Dark Blues can send out a side capable of giving Rangers a run for their money. He said: "It is just a case of waiting and seeing who makes it but we have been working away with the players who are fit.
"But it is far from doom and gloom here as some would have you believe. The players are very upbeat and the mood is positive," he added.
Argentinean trialist Hector Nunez has been told by the club he won't be getting any offer of a contract to play for Dundee.
He played in a closed-door game earlier in the week against Raith Rovers, but apparently left the club immediately before waiting to hear he verdict of Jocky Scott.
Yugoslavian international Sasa Curcic, who was expected at the club on trial this week, has failed to show and reports from his home country suggest he has already signed for champions Obilic. But they claim that's not true. He remains in Belgrade at the moment.
Meanwhile, Goran Zujovic has been granted a work permit and residency rights by the British Embassy and can now sign for the club.
Dens park's playing surface is to get reseeded as the club attempt to repair the damaged surface.
After Sunday's game against Rangers, there will be no first team action at Dens Park until April 1, and that will allow the groundstaff to get to grips with the park which is showing serious wear and tear, which could account for part of the problems the team seem to be having playing and getting results at home.
Jocky Scott hopes it upsets Rangers style of play on Sunday, but knows the grass has to be repaired now. After being reseeded, the club's hot-air dome will be put in place to encourage growth. There's no truth in the rumour Rangers boss Dick Advocaat wants to stay under it after Sunday's game. Chick Young, maybe.
The Goran Zujovic saga looks to be drawing to a close at long last.
The young Yugoslav (20) has been almost seven months at Dens without taking part in a competitive match due to difficulties cutting through red tape.
But Zujovic and Dens Park stadium manager Jim Thomson have flown to Belgrade where they expect to obtain, from the British Embassy, the necessary documentation for him to at finally get his career in Scotland off the ground.
Originally Zujovic, as a non-EU passport holder, required a work permit. However, he has subsequently married a British citizen and now only needs temporary residence/working rights status.
The arrival at Dens of Sasa Curcic faces further delay.
Curcic was due to join the club on trial on Monday but that was put back 48 hours.
Now it will be the end of next week at the earliest before the former Partizan Belgrade and Aston Villa midfielder puts in an appearance.
Curcic is still in Belgrade where he is under intense pressure to abandon trying out with Dundee in favour of signing for Yugoslav champions Obilic.
Dundee have granted former Aberdeen, Celtic and Dundee United winger Joe Miller training facilities.
Miller is on the look out for a new club after a hoped-for move to the MLS collapsed.
Willie Miller is back in line for a place against Aberdeen at Dens Park tomorrow, but Rab Douglas misses out.
Miller has been missing since last October, but some reserve matches have proved he's fit again and gets the nod for tomorrow's game.
But as for Rab, the news isn't so good. He's getting better from the injury that has kept him out of the last two games (Ayr & Raith), but he won't be risked against The Dons tomorrow.
Instead, he's being kept back for Sunday's match against Rangers.
Although he is Yugoslavian, the 28 year old will not require a work permit as he is married to a British Girl.
Curcic began his professional career with OFK in Yugoslavia in 1991. In 1993 he moved to one of the most storied Yugoslavian clubs, Partizan Belgrade. He remained at Partizan for more than two years, moving to Bolton Wanderers midway through the 1995 season. After a productive season at Bolton, he became Aston Villa's record signing at the beginning of the 1996 campaign when he commanded a four million-pound transfer fee.
The attacking midfielder moved from Villa to Crystal Palace in 1998, and made his debut at the London club on March 28, 1998, against Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park. A creative player with excellent vision and passing skills, he played perhaps his best game at Palace against Derby in 1998, assisting on two goals and scoring the third in a 3-1 win.
Curcic is an enormous talent with great vision and skill, and his ability to attack from the midfield and create scoring opportunities for others will be welcomed.
His career record to date is:
SAT 26TH FEBRUARY
WED 23RD FEBRUARY
TUE 22ND FEBRUARY
SAT 19TH FEBRUARY
Former Bolton and Aston Villa midfielder Sasa Curcic is to have talks at Dens Park next week.
Curcic has recently been playing in the USA with New York/New Jersey Metro Stars, however left them a few weeks ago and returned to Yugoslavia.
| TEAM | SEASON | PLAYED | GOALS |
| OFK Belgrade | 91-92 | 17 | - |
| OFK Belgrade | 92-93 | 32 | - |
| Partizan Belgrade | 93-94 | 32(1) | 8 |
| Partizan Belgrade | 94-95 | 30(1) | 6 |
| Partizan Belgrade | 95-96 | 10 | 2 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 95-96 | 33 | 7 |
| Aston Villa | 96-97 | 20(5) | 1 |
| Aston Villa | 97-98 | 3(6) | - |
| Crystal Palace | 97-98 | 6(2) | 1 |
| Crystal Palace | 98-99 | 6(11) | 4 |
| NY/NJ Metrostars | 99-00 | 7(2) | 7 |
| Career Total | 196(26) | 36 |
Dundee's two remaining fixtures against Hibernian have been switched due to the Edinburgh club starting ground reconstruction before the close of the season. The match between the clubs originally scheduled for Dens on Saturday March 11th will now take place at Easter Road on Sunday March 12th. The return fixture will now be played at Dens on Sunday May 14th. One other fixture is looking for a new date is the trip to Pittodrie scheduled for March 18th - This game has been cancelled because of Aberdeen's participation in the CIS League Cup Final the next day Sunday 19th.
The question was: Should James Grady &/or Eddie Annand be offered new contracts?
| Votes | Percent | |
| Grady new contract only | 100 | 48% |
| Give Both of them new contracts | 74 | 35% |
| Dont offer them anything | 23 | 11% |
| Annand new contract only | 13 | 6% |
| ---- | ||
| Total Votes Cast | 210 |
| Votes | Percent | |
| Falconer & Grady | 52 | 38% |
| Falconer & Banger | 49 | 36% |
| Banger & Grady | 23 | 17% |
| Falconer & Annand | 8 | 6% |
| Grady & Annand | 3 | 2% |
| Banger & Annand | 1 | 1% |
| --- | --- | |
| Total Votes Cast | 136 |
Should Jocky give Graham Bayne a chance in attack?
| votes | percent | |
| YES | 70 | 84% |
| NO | 13 | 16% |
| ---- | ---- | |
| total votes cast | 83 |
Dundee have arranged a friendly for tomorrow against Raith Rovers at Starks Park with a Noon kick off.
Admission is £7 Adults £5 Children. The game though will not allow Jocky to see Hector Nunez in action as it is open to the public. As Nunez is not an European passport holder he needs a work permit to play. Jocky however is hoping to see him in action in a closed doors game on Monday.
Jocky Scott said today he was devastated at Tuesday's defeat by Ayr, but praised the supporters for their backing.
The Dens boss said: "I feel sorry for the fans who travelled all the way to Ayrshire - they gave us tremendous backing. Unfortunately, we didn't give them the result they wanted. To be honest, over 120 minutes, we only played the way we know we can for 10 minutes in extra time after we had scored. We were a lot more attack-minded and had lots more shots during that spell than we had in the other 110 minutes. But we had the opportunity not to let it go.
to the penalty stage, but we didn't take advantage of that. Instead of keeping possession and passing the ball about to frustrate them, we tried to charge forward all the time and gave possession away."
And Scott admitted his players also gave away far too many free-kicks and corners to Gordon Dalzeil's side, and the rest, as they say, is history. Meanwhile, Rab Douglas may be missing for another two weeks as his injury he sustained against Celtic is refusing to heal.
Celtic's hopes of playing Dundee at Parkhead this Saturday have been scuppered following discussions with the SPL.
Both sides had a free Saturday after Dundee crashed out of the Scottish Cup on Tuesday against Ayr United - as did Celtic against First Division Inverness the week before. And despite both sides having played each other last Saturday with Celtic winning 3-0, the clubs had preliminary discussions about rearranging the fixture to ensure some action this weekend.
However, following an approach to the SPL in Glasgow, the decision was to abandon that thought . The fixture should have taken place in November, but had to be rescheduled because of Scotland's commitments in Euro 2000.
He has joined on loan until the end of the season with a view to making the move permanent.
This could be good news to Dundee as they will be entitled to compensation as he has moved back to this country within a year of leaving Dens under the Bosman ruling.
Anderson is currently on the books of French side Toulouse but their coach, Alain Giresse, is not an advocate of the use of wingers. Which makes you wonder why he signed for them in the first place.
Preston rushed through the paperwork to register Anderson before Friday's deadline and are now looking to include him in the squad to face Bury on Saturday.
THU 17TH FEBRUARY
Ando has finally got the BIG move to a TOP club that he has been seeking when he joined PRESTON NORTH END of the Nationwide 2nd Division.
Anderson was apparently impressive in Wednesday's reserves win over Port Vale, scoring the first and creating the second as a trialist.
WED 16TH FEBRUARY
An Argentinian trialist arrived at Dens today on a weeks trial.
Hector Mario Nunez is a 24 year old striker and currently plays for San Lorenzo, who are presently 4th in the Argentinian league.
Dundee defender Lee Maddison - out since last October with a pelvic problem - is set to take a major step towards his comeback next week. Jocky Scott said: "Lee has been building up his work recently and we are hoping to arrange a closed-door game, which will get him back into action."
Douglas said: "It's a painful one. I took a knock to the ankle and as a result of that I've also twisted my knee."
The weather forecast isn't looking too promising at the moment, but the match is not under threat. ( now where have we heard that one before!!!!!)
Nicky Banger is also back in the squad after serving his suspension, however Patrizio Billio is still out with hamstring problems.
The Dons Norwegian boss Egil Olsen sent a scout to monitor Rab at Dundee's 3-0 victory over Motherwell last weekend, with the Norwegian expexted to visit Dens to watch him in action against Rangers at the end of the month.
Should they make a bid a fee of approx £1.5 million would be expected, as Rab signed an extension to his contract last year.
Jocky and the club would find it difficult to turn down a bid of this size given the current financial situation at the club.
And before the numerous Arabs that visit this site make any comments about the above story on the guestbook, a piece of news for you - Jason De Vos is reported to be on his way with both Derby and Sunderland preparing to mount bids. I wonder how you lot will get on when your only half decent player departs!
Jamie Langfield is standing by for a call-up by Jocky Scott for tomorrow's match against Ayr United.
Regular number one Rab Douglas injured his knee against Celtic on Saturday and now Scott may be forced to give Langfield his first-team debut in a competition that has already seem its fair share of shocks, most notably Celtic and Kilmarnock.
SUN 13TH FEBRUARY
Wimbledon are reportedly keeping a close eye on Robert Douglas as a possible replacement for the outgoing Neil Sullivan.
| NIMES | Didnt Make Squad | |||
| AMIENS | Didnt Make Squad | |||
| LILLE | Didnt Make Squad | |||
| SOCHAUX | Didnt Make Squad | |||
| GUEUGNON | Didnt Make Squad | |||
| Possible Starts 28 | Actual Starts 3 | Full 90 Mintes Played 1 | On as Sub 1 | Didn't Make Squad 24 |
Jocky Scott has told the players to forget what's happening at Celtic Park and concentrate on their own business.
The front, middle and back page headlines from Parkhead have taken the gloss off tomorrow's match at Dens Park which should have been an intriguing encounter.
Now, it's turning into a media circus, but Jocky, who's seen it all before, said: "We have been preparing for this game in our normal way and I want to keep it that way right up to the kick-off. When players are criticised the way Celtic's have been you expect a reaction from them when they get on the pitch. But I have already had a talk with the players about what had gone on this week with Celtic and told them to ignore it because at the end of the day it has nothing to do with Dundee. We have to concentrate fully on what we will set out to do and hopefully not allow anything to affect our performance."
The rearranged date for the Scottish Cup replay against Ayr United has been changed from this Monday to Tuesday 15th with a 7.45pm kick off.
Long-suffering Lee Maddison, missing since October with a severe pelvic problem, rejoined te squad at training yesterday.
Italian midfielder Patrizio Billio will miss out tomorrow against Celtic as he's still not recovered from his hamstring injury.
Nicky Banger again misses out as he serves the last of his 2 match ban.
Here are a couple of songs sent to the site,
To the tune of American Pie titled Celtic Die
A long long time ago
This January made me snigger
I tell you friends I never lie
And we were singing
Did you see the papers write
And do you beleive that Barnes should go
Now I know who you would all bring in
We're all laughing here cos you are stuck
And we'll be singing
Let it Be
When I find myself in times of trouble
Celtic 1 Caley 3
Now if your're broken hearted
Celtic 1 Caley 3
lyrics by Mark Viduka!!!!!
Tonight's Scottish Cup Third Round replay clash away to Ayr United was called off with just 35 minutes to kick off, due to adverse weather conditions. The reason given was Gales and Driving Sleet.
Lets hope that either Dundee lay on free buses for the supporters clubs that ran buses through tonight or Ayr reduce the admission prices.
The game is apparently rescheduled to be played next Monday (14th February).
There was a lot of laughs on the journey home provided by the duets of McGregor and Deewok (having partly recovered from his whitee earlier in the evening) who must now have Peters & Lee and Renee & Renate quaking with fear.
The 22 year old is a versatile player who is equally happy playing at full back or in midfield.
Buchan said in an interview on friday that he doesn't care if Aberdeen don't want him to stay as plenty of other clubs are interested in signing him.
One of the clubs are believed to be Dundee.
And the reason for his statement is clear - he feels he's being left out and he's resigned himself to a move away from the club where his famous father, Martin, made his name before joining Manchester United.
He said: "Even if Ebbe Skovdahl doesn't think I'm good enough for this club I know other managers do.
"My contract is up in four months and there has been no contact from the club whatsoever, but I have other options. And I can assure you that it won't be a step down.
"The present situation is a little bit disappointing as I've been at the club since I was 12, but sentiment doesn't come into it now."
The player hasn't featured for three months and has missed out on even playing in the Under 21's recently, so he's seen the writing on the wall and is about to do something about it. But as he's under 24, the club is entitled to receive a fee for him if he stays in Britain, but not abroad.
This could be the only drawback to his signing - the size of fee Aberdeen would be looking for, and wether Dundee could afford it.
Italian midfielder Patrizio Billio was sent to hospital on Thursday to have his damaged hamstring looked at.
He certainly misses the trip to Fir Park, not that he could have played as he's suspended for Premier games, but he was available for selection for Tuesday night's trip to Somerset Park to face Ayr United. But he'll miss out on that game.
Jocky Scott said: "Billio's away to have an X-ray. Although he's had the hamstring problem a while, it could be his back that's troubling him also."
The under-21 game against Motherwell on monday night will be played at New Bayview as the pitch a Dens Park could suffer ahead of the Aberdeen v Dundee United cup match next Sunday at Dens.
Eddie Annand has admitted that he could leave the club in the summer with no new contract on offer.
Annands present deal runs out in June, is far from happy at the moment as he insists that back in September Jocky Scott said he would be offered a new contract - however that has yet to come to fruition.
The striker, who has scored 31 goals in 75 starts for the club, also says that he had a private meeting with the manager just ten days ago, but was told there were no developments.
Now he says he is having to consider his options and although he wants to stay at Dens Park, he says he has a family to look after and they come first.
"I am at an important stage of my career because I have got a family to look after," he said.
"I will have to speak to my agent and it looks as if I will have to keep my options open."
Editors Comment
If the information is correct then he may be plying his ttrade in the 1st division next season with Kilmarnock.
Jocky Scott has demanded that the players who are out of contract do all they can to keep the side in the Premier League.
And that, and only that, will ensure they get the offer of Premier League cash at the end of the season.
Scott has always said his only target remains the club stay in the top flight and it would be a financial disaster should they get relegated, and that is still a genuine possibility.
He said today: "I've told Eddie Annand, Robbie Raeside and James Grady the same as I told players like Brian Irvine, Iain Anderson and Dariusz Adamcuk that we won't be speaking about deals until everything is sorted out on the park."
That said, all three left the club for pastures new. Scott added: "If we're not in the Premier League then there's nothing I can do for them. If we don't have SPL status, then we'll have to cut our cloth accordingly."
Dundee face two away games this week that could influence the rest of the season, and the players are relishing the challenge.
The fact both games are away from Dens Park seems to be working in their favour as once again the question of why Dundee's form away from home is so good and their record at Dens Park is so poor this season. Of course, manager Jocky Scott has already pointed out this season that he's baffled as to why.
He claimed today: "Strangely, the players appear to be happier when playing away from our ground. I can't say why, but there just seems a change of atmosphere when we are away."
So it's Fir park on Saturday then Somerset Park next Tuesday in the Scottish Cup replay.
Patrizio Billio will miss Saturday's trip to Fir Park as he's suspended, but he's also injured into the bargain.
He played managed just 30 minutes of the under 21 game against Kilmarnock, and manager Jocky Scott said of his star man: "Patrizio's feeling his hamstring a little, although our physio seems to think that it could have something to do with his back problem rather than the hamstring itself."
But returning to Dundee at the weekend will be James Grady who has recovered after his recent concussion.
Meanwhile, the club have announced Tommy Gemmell and Bobby Cox will open the new 80 seater lounge, the Captains Lounge, before the game with Celtic on February 12.
Jocky Scott speaking this afternoon said that the club had enquired about taking former Scotland defender David Robertson on loan, but Jocky said that the club couldn't afford a deal to bring the Leeds United player to Dens.
There was good news on the injury front when Willie Miller and Robbie Raeside came through Monday evening's under 21 league match unscathed. Both players played the full 90 minutes as Dundee beat Kilmarnock 1-0. Graham Bayne scored Dundee's winner in the eighteenth minute, tucking the ball home from ten yards following a cut back from Michael Yates. Dundee dominated the first half but had to look to Jamie Langfield for help as the visitors came storming back after the interval. The young keeper was up to the job as he pulled off a series of excellent saves to give the young Dees a win.
Dundee: Langfield, Miller, Mair, Mackay, Raeside, Beith, Montgomery, Billio, Bayne, Yates, Clark.
Subs: Gibson (for Billio 37), Earlie (for Clark 59), Riley (for Montgomery 80)
WILLIE FALCONER has won the JMB Dark Blues January player of the month. There was a total of 132 votes cast.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote, there is now a new poll running for February.
Though I can still remember
How the Celtic used to make me cry
And I knew one day we'd get a crack
Just to get those Bheggers back
And we'd be happy all the while
Rangers lead just got much bigger
Then bad news on their own ground
When Caley Thistle came down
When I laughed so much I nearly cried
3-1 to the Caley side
The day the Celtic died
Bye bye, you've been sold down the Clyde
King Kenny and his men taking you for a ride
Them poor old Bhoys, they have got no more pride
Singing this will be the day they all died
This will be the day they all died
How Celtic played shite on the night
Laugh how the tabloids tell you so
Will sacking him save your wretched soul
We like to see you grovel real.......low
'Cos we hear you chanting out for Wim
But he's just read you the news
The Gers he'd rather choose
With a useless squad all out of luck
So Celtic you can get to fuck
The day the Celtic died
Bye bye, you've been sold down the Clyde
King Kenny and his men taking you for a ride
Them poor old Bhoys, have got no more pride
Singing this will be the day they all died
This will be the day they all died
Mother Mary comes to me
Singing Celtic 1 Caley 3
And if you sometimes get depressed
There is just one thing that fills you with glee
Singing Celtic 1 Caley 3
Celtic 1 Caley 3
Singing Celtic 1 Caley 3
Then do this thing, it works for me
Sing out Celtic 1 Caley 3
So there is only one more thing
Who will the next manager be?
Singing Celtic 1 Caley 3
Celtic 1 Caley 3
Singing Celtic 1 Caley 3
TUE 8TH FEBRUARY
SUN 6TH FEBRUARY
A new transfer rumour doing the rounds on saturday was that Dundee are interested in Aberdeen's Scotland Under 21 International Jamie Buchan.
SAT 5TH FEBRUARY
This is only to be expected from Annand who has hardly tried all season and who a large percentage of the support would like to see the back of, according to my sources he may have already lined up a move.
THU 3RD FEBRUARY
WED 2ND FEBRUARY
TUE 1ST FEBRUARY
| 1 | WILLIE FALCONER | 31 | 23% |
| 2 | BARRY SMITH | 25 | 19% |
| 3 | ROBERT DOUGLAS | 15 | 12% |
| 4 | GAVIN RAE | 15 | 11% |
| 5 | NICKY BANGER | 9 | 7% |
| 5 | STEVEN TWEED | 9 | 7% |
| 7 | SHAUN McSKIMMING | 8 | 6% |
| 7 | PATRIZIO BILLIO | 8 | 6% |
| 9 | JAMES GRADY | 6 | 4% |
| 10 | STEPHEN BOYACK | 4 | 3% |
| 11 | LEE WILKIE | 2 | 2% |