2007–08 Dundee United F.C. season

Dundee United

2007–08 season
Chairman	Eddie Thompson
Manager	Craig Levein
Clydesdale Bank Premier League	5th
Scottish Cup	Fifth round
CIS Insurance Cup	Runners-up
Top goalscorer	League: Noel Hunt (13) All: Noel Hunt (18)
Highest home attendance	13,613 (vs Celtic, 22 May)
Lowest home attendance	5,845 (vs Inverness CT, 1 December)
Home colours Away colours
← 2006–07 2008–09 →

Dundee United finished the Scottish Premier League 2007–08 season in 5th place with 52 points. Noel Hunt was the top scorer with 18 goals.

Review and events

The pre-season period began with two new permanent signings at the club, Polish goalkeeper Łukasz Załuska and Darren Dods having signed deals in June. Irishman Willo Flood also arrived from Cardiff City on a season-long loan deal. In July, former Ajax youngster Prince Buaben signed after a successful trial and was joined by a second Polish keeper, Grzegorz Szamotulski, in time for the league season. Englishman Jordan Robertson became the second long-term loan signing when he arrived from Sheffield United in late August.

A number of players who were out of contract left the club following the end of the 2006–07 season. Lee Mair signed a pre-contract deal with Aberdeen and Derek Stillie moved to England to pursue a law career. David McCracken and Collin Samuel were both released. Also leaving the club were a number of younger players who had failed to earn extensions to their contracts. These were Gregg Burnett, Barry Callaghan and Ross Gardiner. All had played at least once for the first team.

The first game of the season was home to Aberdeen in the SPL, and ended in a 1–0 victory.^[1] As the season progressed, United maintained their high league table position, ending 2007 in 4th place.

The club lost to Rangers in the CIS Insurance Cup final in March, losing on penalties. The Scottish Cup campaign was ended by St Mirren in the fifth round.

Chronological list of events

This is a list of the significant events to occur at the club during the 2007–08 season, presented in chronological order. This list does not include transfers, which are listed in the transfers section below, or match results, which are in the results section.

• 26 July: Played a pre-season friendly against Barcelona, losing 1–0 to a last-minute Thierry Henry goal. Minutes earlier, Barry Robson had seen a legitimate header wrongly disallowed.^[2]
• 4 August: United win the opening league match of the season for the first time in eight years. It was only their second opening day win since the 1992–93 season.
• 6 September: Cameroonian striker Patrick Suffo arrives on trial.^[3]
• 18 September: French midfielder Morgaro Gomis signs a two-year contract extension.^[4]
• 8 November: Craig Levein picks up the Premier League Manager of the Month award for October.^[5]
• 10 November: Lee Wilkie follows manager Craig Levein by picking up the Premier League October Player of the Month award.^[6]
• 4 December: Gary Kirk leaves Raith Rovers to replaces Tony Docherty as club coach, after Docherty moved to St Johnstone.^[7]
• 28 December: Goalkeeper Grzegorz Szamotulski delays his departure and extends his contract by a month until the end of the transfer window.^[7]
• 29 December: Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell collapses during the 5–3 win over United and is pronounced dead thirty minutes after the match.^[8]
• 7 January: United turn down a £175,000 bid from Blackpool for top scorer Noel Hunt.^[9]
• 18 January: Jordan Robertson is recalled from his loan spell by Sheffield United.^[10]
• 21 January: Manager Craig Levein's role is extended to include director of football.^[11]
• 23 January: United reject bids from Burnley and Nottm Forest for captain Barry Robson.^[12]
• 14 February: chairman Eddie Thompson appoints his son Stephen as chief executive.^[13]
• 21 March: The East Stand at Tannadice is renamed after chairman Eddie Thompson.^[14]
• 8 April: French striker Joël Thomas arrives for a ten-day trial^[15]
• 12 May: Referee Mike McCurry publicly admits that he got two decisions wrong in the match against Rangers, wrongly denying United both a penalty and goal.^[16]
• 16 May: Australian defender Scott Jamieson arrives for a fourteen-day trial
• 20 May: The club submit an official complaint to the SFA following Mike McCurry's handling of the match at Ibrox against Rangers^[17]
• 20 May: A second friendly is arranged against Barcelona with the 'rematch' scheduled for 26 July.^[18]
• 26 May: The club announce the possibility of taking legal action against George Peat after the SFA president branded manager Craig Levein's earlier comments "criminal".^[19]

Match results

Dundee United played a total of 46 competitive matches during the 2007–08 season,^[20] as well as four first team pre-season friendlies. The team finished fifth in the Scottish Premier League.

In the cup competitions, United were runners up in the final of the CIS Insurance Cup, losing on penalties to Rangers. United lost to St Mirren in the Scottish Cup fifth round, after a replay.

Scottish Premier League

Home team	Score	Away team	Additional information
Dundee United 1–0 Aberdeen
Kilmarnock 2–1 Dundee United
Dundee United 0–0 Hibernian
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0–3 Dundee United
Dundee United 2–0 Falkirk
Dundee United 2–0 St Mirren
Gretna 3–2 Dundee United
Celtic 3–0 Dundee United
Dundee United 1–0 Motherwell
Heart of Midlothian 1–3 Dundee United
Dundee United 2–1 Rangers
Aberdeen 2–0 Dundee United
Dundee United 2–0 Kilmarnock
Hibernian 2–2 Dundee United
Dundee United 0–1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Falkirk 3–0 Dundee United
St Mirren 0–3 Dundee United
Dundee United 1–2 Gretna
Dundee United 0–2 Celtic
Motherwell 5–3 Dundee United
Dundee United 4–1 Heart of Midlothian
Rangers 2–0 Dundee United
Dundee United 3–0 Aberdeen
Kilmarnock 1–2 Dundee United
Dundee United 1–1 Hibernian
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1–1 Dundee United
Dundee United 0–0 Falkirk
Dundee United 1–1 St Mirren
Gretna 0–3 Dundee United
Celtic 0–0 Dundee United
Dundee United 2–0 Motherwell
Heart of Midlothian 1–0 Dundee United
Dundee United 3–3 Rangers
Dundee United 1–1 Hibernian
Motherwell 2–2 Dundee United
Aberdeen 2–1 Dundee United
Rangers 3–1 Dundee United
Dundee United 0–1 Celtic

Source: BBC Sport website: Scottish Premier
a.e.t. = after extra time; agg. = aggregation score; pen. = decision by penalties.

Scottish Cup

Fourth round	Clyde		0–1		Dundee United	Broadwood	16 January 2008
					Robson  57'	Attendance: 1,550 Referee: C Richmond

Fifth round	St Mirren		0–0		Dundee United	Love Street	2 February 2008
						Attendance: 3,945 Referee: M McCurry

Fifth round replay	Dundee United		0–1		St Mirren	Tannadice	13 February 2008
					Dorman  48'	Attendance: 3,723 Referee: A Freeland

CIS Insurance Cup

Early stages of the 3–1 home CIS Cup win against Hamilton on 31 October

Home team	Score	Away team	Additional information
Dundee United 2–1 Ross County
Falkirk 0–1 Dundee United
Dundee United 3–1 Hamilton Academical
Aberdeen 1–4 Dundee United
Dundee United 2 – 2 (a.e.t.) 2–3 (pen.) Rangers

Source: BBC Sport website: Scottish Cups
a.e.t. = after extra time; agg. = aggregation score; pen. = decision by penalties.

Player stats

During the 2007–08 season, United used 30 different players on the pitch. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player.^[21]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Clydesdale Bank Premier League		Scottish Cup		CIS Insurance Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK		Łukasz Załuska	18	0	14	0	2	0	2	0
13	GK		Euan McLean	7	0	6	0	1	0	0	0
21	GK		Grzegorz Szamotulski	21	0	18	0	0	0	3	0
2	DF		Sean Dillon	39	2	32	2	3	0	4	0
3	DF		Christian Kalvenes	23	2	18	1	1	0	4	1
4	DF		Lee Wilkie	37	4	30	3	3	0	4	1
5	DF		Darren Dods	39	2	32	1	3	0	4	1
8	DF		Daniel Grainger	16	0	14	0	2	0	0	0
18	DF		Garry Kenneth	20	1	19	1	0	0	1	0
24	DF		Stuart Duff	9	0	9	0	0	0	0	0
24	DF		Mihael Kovačević	5	0	4	0	0	0	1	0
6	MF		Willo Flood	43	0	35	0	3	0	5	0
7	MF		Mark Kerr	37	0	29	0	3	0	5	0
11	MF		Barry Robson	24	12	21	11	1	1	2	0
11	MF		Jim O'Brien	10	0	10	0	0	0	0	0
12	MF		David Robertson	24	6	19	6	1	0	4	0
14	MF		Steven Robb	13	0	12	0	0	0	1	0
15	MF		Craig Conway	19	2	15	1	2	0	2	1
16	MF		Morgaro Gomis	43	1	35	1	3	0	5	0
17	MF		Greg Cameron	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0
20	MF		Prince Buaben	29	2	23	2	1	0	5	0
23	MF		Danny Swanson	13	2	11	2	2	0	0	0
32	MF		Fraser Milligan	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
9	ST		Jon Daly	9	0	9	0	0	0	0	0
10	ST		Noel Hunt	43	18	35	13	3	0	5	5
22	ST		Jordan Robertson	18	4	14	3	1	0	3	1
22	ST		Mark de Vries	17	3	13	2	2	0	2	1
25	ST		Eric Odhiambo	4	0	4	0	0	0	0	0
26	ST		David Goodwillie	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
30	ST		Johnny Russell	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0

Goalscorers Fifteen players scored for the United first team with the team scoring 64 goals in total. The top goalscorer was Noel Hunt with 18 goals.[21] Name League Cups Total Hunt, NoelNoel Hunt 13 5 18 Robson, BarryBarry Robson 11 1 12 Robertson, DavidDavid Robertson 6 06 Robertson, JordanJordan Robertson 3 1 04 Wilkie, LeeLee Wilkie 3 1 04 Buaben, PrincePrince Buaben 3 03 de Vries, MarkMark de Vries 2 1 03 Dillon, SeanSean Dillon 2 02 Dods, DarrenDarren Dods 2 02 Swanson, DannyDanny Swanson 2 02 Conway, CraigCraig Conway 1 1 02 Kalvenes, ChristianChristian Kalvenes 1 1 02 Gomis, MorgaroMorgaro Gomis 2 02 Flood, WilloWillo Flood 1 01 Kenneth, GarryGarry Kenneth 1 01 Own goals 1 01

Discipline During the 2007–08 season, nine United players were sent off and 15 received at least one caution. In total, the team received nine red cards and 56 yellow cards.[21] Name Cautions Dismissals Wilkie, LeeLee Wilkie 10 1 Kenneth, GarryGarry Kenneth 05 1 Gomis, MorgaroMorgaro Gomis 04 1 Flood, WilloWillo Flood 03 1 Robson, BarryBarry Robson 03 1 Robertson, JordanJordan Robertson 02 1 Dillon, SeanSean Dillon 01 1 Swanson, DannyDanny Swanson 1 Szamotulski, GrzegorzGrzegorz Szamotulski 1 Dods, DarrenDarren Dods 10 Hunt, NoelNoel Hunt 05 Kerr, MarkMark Kerr 05 Buaben, PrincePrince Buaben 04 de Vries, MarkMark de Vries 02 Robertson, DavidDavid Robertson 02 Daly, JonJon Daly 01 Grainger, DannyDanny Grainger 01 Kalvenes, ChristianChristian Kalvenes 01 O'Brien, JimJim O'Brien 01

Transfers

In United signed ten players during the season with an eleventh after the season had finished. Four players were signed on loan. Date Player From Fee (£) 11 June 2007 Załuska, ŁukaszŁukasz Załuska Korona Kielce Nominal[22] 12 June 2007 Flood, WilloWillo Flood Cardiff City Loan[23] 22 June 2007 Dods, DarrenDarren Dods Inverness CT Bosman[24] 20 July 2007 Buaben, PrincePrince Buaben Unattached (ex-Ajax) Free[25] 25 July 2007 Szamotulski, GrzegorzGrzegorz Szamotulski Unattached (ex-Sturm Graz) Free[26] 28 August 2007 Robertson, JordanJordan Robertson Sheffield United Loan[10][27] 1 January 2008 Swanson, DannyDanny Swanson Berwick Rangers £0,040,000[28][29] 1 January 2008 Grainger, DanielDaniel Grainger Gretna £0,015,000[29][30] 1 January 2008 Odhiambo, EricEric Odhiambo Leicester City Loan[31] 18 January 2008 Kovačević, MihaelMihael Kovačević Koper £0,040,000[29][32] 25 January 2008 de Vries, MarkMark de Vries Unattached (ex-Leicester City) Free[33] 31 January 2008 O'Brien, JimJim O'Brien Celtic Loan[34] 3 March 2008 Camara, KémokoKémoko Camara Unattached Free[35] 15 April 2008 Kevin Smith Unattached (ex-Aldershot) Free[36]

Out Five players left United during the season, with a number of young players spending time on loan with lower league clubs. Two player also agreed moves at the end of the season. Date Player To Fee 28 August 2007 Andreoni, MarcoMarco Andreoni Montrose Loan[27] 28 August 2007 Easton, WilliamWilliam Easton Stirling Albion Loan[27] 31 August 2007 Proctor, DavidDavid Proctor Inverness CT Released[37] 26 October 2007 Cameron, GregGreg Cameron Partick Thistle Loan[38] 2 November 2007 Goodwillie, DavidDavid Goodwillie Raith Rovers Loan[39] 2 January 2008 Andreoni, MarcoMarco Andreoni Airdrie United Loan[40] 3 January 2008 Easton, WilliamWilliam Easton Ayr United Released[41] 17 January 2008 Duff, StuartStuart Duff Aberdeen Released[42] 18 January 2008 Cameron, GregGreg Cameron St Johnstone Loan[43] 31 January 2008 Szamotulski, GrzegorzGrzegorz Szamotulski Preston Contract expiry[7] 31 January 2008 Robson, BarryBarry Robson Celtic £1,250,000[44] 15 May 2008 McLean, EuanEuan McLean St Johnstone Free[45] 27 May 2008 Robb, StevenSteven Robb St Mirren Free[46] 30 June 2008 Kalvenes, ChristianChristian Kalvenes Contract expiry Free 30 June 2008 Kerr, MarkMark Kerr Contract expiry Free

Playing kit

Home colours

Away colours

The jerseys were sponsored for a second^[47] (and final) season by Anglian Home Improvements (who again sponsored Motherwell). The sponsor logo is displayed as a simple font across the chest, with white logo for the home top and black logo on the change strip.^[48] The shorts were again sponsored by Ole International after the Spanish property firm extended the deal for a second year.^[49] The shorts logo is displayed on the right hand side, above the club badge.^[49] The expiry of both deals at the end of the season means the club will have at least one new sponsorship for 2008–09, as the option of a third year of shirt sponsorship^[47] was passed for a new one-year deal with JD Sports' Carbrini Sportswear label for 2008–09.^[50][51]

The club has no third strip, with the last third strip used in the 2002–03 season.

Awards

• Scottish Premier League Manager of the Month: 1

Craig Levein (October 2007)

• Scottish Premier League Player of the Month: 2

Lee Wilkie (October 2007), Barry Robson (January 2008)

• Scottish Premier League Young Player of the Month: 2

Danny Grainger (January 2008), Garry Kenneth (March 2008)

• Scottish Premier League Goal of the Season: 1

Willo Flood (2007–08)

References

1. "Dundee Utd 1–0 Aberdeen". BBC Sport website. 4 August 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2007.
2. "Henry strikes on Barcelona debut". BBC Sport website. 26 July 2007. Archived from the original on 28 July 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
3. "Tannadice trial for striker Suffo". BBC Sport website. 6 September 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2007.
4. "Gomis extends Dundee Utd contract". BBC Sport website. 18 September 2007. Retrieved 2 March 2008.
5. "Levein nets monthly boss award". BBC Sport website. 8 November 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
6. "Wilkie wins October player prize". BBC Sport website. 10 November 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
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20. "2007–08 – First Team Fixtures & Results". Dundee United F.C. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
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22. "Dundee Utd confirm Zaluska deal". BBC Sport website. 31 May 2007. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
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26. "Levein nets new Polish goalkeeper". BBC Sport website. 25 July 2007. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
27. "United seal Robertson loan deal". BBC Sport website. 28 August 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
28. "Dundee United agree Swanson fee". BBC Sport website. 28 September 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2007.
29. Roache, Ian (31 January 2008). "Tangerines' future bright, says Levein". The Courier. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
30. "Gretna's Grainger Tannadice bound". BBC Sport website. 27 December 2007. Archived from the original on 30 December 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2007.
31. "Dundee Utd to sign Foxes striker". BBC Sport website. 28 December 2007. Archived from the original on 31 December 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2007.
32. "Tangerines sign stopper Kovacevic". BBC Sport website. 18 January 2008. Archived from the original on 21 January 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
33. "Dundee Utd sign striker de Vries". BBC Sport website. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 27 January 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
34. "United seal O'Brien loan switch". BBC Sport website. 1 February 2008. Archived from the original on 6 February 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
35. "United conclude goalkeeper deal". BBC Sport website. 3 March 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
36. Dey, Graeme (15 April 2008). "United tie up ex-Dark Blue". The Courier. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
37. "McGuire and Proctor join Brewster". BBC Sport website. 31 August 2007. Retrieved 13 September 2007.
38. "Partick loan switch for Cameron". BBC Sport website. 26 October 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2007.
39. "Goodwillie on loan to Raith Rovers". Dundee United F.C. 1 November 2007. Archived from the original on 4 November 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
40. "Marco on loan to Airdrie United". Dundee United F.C. 1 January 2008. Archived from the original on 4 January 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
41. "William Easton leaves United". Dundee United F.C. 3 January 2008. Archived from the original on 5 January 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
42. "Duff finalises New Firm switch". BBC Sport website. 17 January 2008. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
43. "Cameron on loan to St Johnstone". BBC Sport website. 18 January 2008. Archived from the original on 3 February 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
44. "Celtic complete capture of Robson". BBC Sport website. 31 January 2008. Archived from the original on 1 February 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
45. "McLean makes switch to Saints". BBC Sport website. 15 May 2008. Archived from the original on 19 May 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
46. "Robb quits Tannadice for Buddies". BBC Sport website. 27 May 2008. Archived from the original on 30 May 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
47. "Dundee United announces new shirt sponsor". Dundee United F.C. 8 May 2006. Retrieved 26 November 2007.
48. "Adults home top". Dundee United F.C. Archived from the original on 28 November 2007. Retrieved 26 November 2007.
49. "Ole International sponsorship extension". Dundee United F.C. 8 May 2006. Retrieved 26 November 2007.
50. Roache, Ian (14 April 2008). "United unveil new sponsor". The Courier. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
51. Wood, Zoe (13 April 2008). "JD Sports scores Scots shirt deal". The Observer. Retrieved 14 April 2008.

External links

• Official site: 2007/08 Fixtures
• BBC – Club stats
• Soccerbase – Results | Squad stats | Transfers