When the Bonetti brothers arrived at Dens Park in the summer of 2000, it was at first viewed by most Dundee fans very unfavourably. Jocky Scott had been a popular boss and he and John McCormack had played their part in bringing the team up from the First Division.
Once there, Jocky took them to 5th position though without ever playing the kind of football that would please the neutrals or the purist. The following season they finished in 9th place, though 7-1 defeats from Rangers, 6-2 from Celtic, and other shoddy performances contributed to a new management team being appointed.
Jocky supporters will point out that he ran the team on a shoestring budget, whilst the newcomers were given cash to build their side, and they have a strong argument on these grounds. But it could be argued by his critics that it's unlikely Jocky would have had the contacts to build a team close to the one that was to entertain and enthrall the Dundee fans in season 2000/2001.
The news of all these players from places as far apart as Argentina and Spain, Italy and Georgia, seemed so exciting at the time. Every morning I'd tune in to Radio Tay en route to work, expecting to hear of another new signing. Thinking back it seems I was hardly ever let down. Artero was already there, but when we heard the strange sounding names like Nemsadze, Caballero, Sara, Marocco, all arriving at Dens Park it seemed like we were in for an exciting and joyful season.
My first view of the continental dark blues was on a wet evening in Kircaldy when Dundee played Raith in a friendly. I sat there open mouthed as the football on display appealed to something in my inner spirit more than anything the old up and at em Scottish approach could ever do.
As the season got underway we began with two wins, 2-0 and 3-0. Could we be forgiven for believing the good old days were returning? Then came Caniggia, the long haired God we'd watched years before, turning on the style for Argentina. Things were going splendidly for F.C. Dundee and 6th place seemed a mere formality.
But after Xmas when we lost 5 league matches on the trot, the doubts began to creep in. That we made it was mainly due a loss of form by Dunfermline, but however it was achieved few could complain about the first year in charge by the Bonetti brothers.
We looked forward to this one with great optimism, and few saw Ivano's prediction of 5th top as realistic. I believed we'd be 3rd or 4th by the end of this season. I saw nothing to persuade me differently.
So why, 9 months later, are we lying in 11th position, second bottom of the league? This is surely under-achieving by the proverbial mile.
I have several reasons to put forward, nothing unique that hasn't been said before by others, but seeing them down in print helps me to view this disastrous season more clearly. At the end of each point made, I'll give marks out of 10. The higher the mark the more I think this is a big factor in our failure to reach our true destiny. There are 10 reasons in all. Feel free to leave a message on the messageboard or alternatively email me on denspark156@btopenworld.com if you have any comments to make on this article. Also, if I have missed any serious points that you feel should be included, let me know and I'll update this report.
1. OVERCONFIDENCE
Has to be a factor. Many of our talented players give the impression that all they have to do is go on the park, play a bit of football, and bingo, the results will follow. So much faith in their own abilities can, I believe, lead to a casualness that can be mistakenly seen as lack of effort. 5/10
2. LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCOTTISH GAME.
Some of our players who have been in the SPL for their second season still give the impression they still haven't come to terms with the fact that the Scottish game is firmly based on fight and 'bottle' as opposed to back heels and neat flicks. No one more than I loves to see the subtle skills our players are capable of. But showboating should be saved until the game is definitely won. Too often we don't seem to be able to match any team who ups the battling side of their game and just get "tore right in" as Aberdeen did on Saturday. Other examples, Ross County, Ayr United, Partick, Dundee United, Dunfermline (after leading 2-0), Kilmarnock last week. The list goes on. 8/10
3. LACK OF EFFORT
This has been put forward as a reason by some Dee fans. It is not one I believe to be true. Most of these guys are here for a season or two, some much less. The plan is for them to do their stuff for Dundee, be sold on at a profit, then others brought in to replace them. Their dream is to play well enough to move on to bigger clubs on the continent and the English Premiere. No professional worth his salt would risk his career by not trying. The heads do tend to go down when things go disastrously wrong, but I feel this is more human nature than any wish to lose. Everyone goes on the park to win. 1/10
4. INJURIES
At risk of sounding like a recording of Ivano himself, no one in his right mind can deny that the long term injuries sustained last season and this has played its part in our under-achieving. Fabian Caballero last year after a horrendous knee injury that he still hasn't fully recovered from. Giorgi Nemsadze and Zurab Khizanishvili, two of our greatest hopes, experienced internationalists, and key players in the team, have been missed terribly. I firmly believe had both these players been available for longer this season we would be several positions higher. Also if Fan and Temuri had arrived earlier than they did. 10/10
5. TACTICAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE BONETTIS
A favourite with a lot of fans and the media. They were called "rookies" when they first arrived at Dens, and of course they were. Every Manager has to be a "rookie" before he can claim to be experienced. They're still at the learning stage, especially of the Scottish game. I believe they will improve next season, as this time round will have taught them much more than last. They didn't play at the highest levels in Italy without gaining tactical knowledge. It's putting it into practice that they're struggling with. Motivating players is perhaps more of a problem for Ivano and Dario than any naivety, and is another skill he has perhaps to improve on. Man management and motivation go hand in hand. 4/10
6. LANGUAGE PROBLEMS
Must play its part. As one fan suggested to me, if only they could all be taught Esperanto, things would get much better. Some of the players have good use of the English language, others barely get by in a conversation. It has to be a factor leading to lack of understanding on the park. Team tactic sessions must be very interesting, and but for Dario Magri, an expert at several languages, could be much worse. Some players, I am informed, go to English language lessons at Dundee College. 7/10
7. TEAM SPIRIT
Is it possible that a team of Scots can bond more quickly and strongly than a team with players from 4 different continents of the world? No way am I proposing we go back to an all Scottish team, that would be anathema to my beliefs about this present team. BUT, I do believe it must be harder to feel part of a unit or have a strong affinity with so many different nationalities. It would need a Manager with excellent motivational characteristics to achieve this and this is, in my opinion, still being learened by the present back room team. 5/10
8. TOO MUCH TRAINING?
Is it possible to over-train a team? I wouldn't rule it out of the equation, though I don't want to sound like I'm agreeing with Steven Boyack. Few other teams in the SPL have both morning and afternoon training sessions and when preparing for important games I've heard Dundee have been known to train until late in the afternoon. I see no evidence in matches that we are any fitter than the opposition, it is often Dundee players who look more tired in the last third of a game. I see no evidence that we are any better at set pieces or positional roles than other teams as a result of this full time training. Last season Ivano took his team to the hills of Italy in the middle of winter when all other teams had a month lay off. Result, we lost 5 straight league matches on their return. Did it have anything to do with training in the rainy Italian hills instead of spending more time with their families? 8/10
9. DID THE INTERTOTO UPSET THE BALANCE OF THE TEAM?
If modern footballers are, as some would believe, finely tuned instruments whose balance is upset by any change to their routine can it be that by entering the Intertoto Cup we upset that equilibrium? Sounds far fetched. But I do remember English fans of teams who had in the past entered the Intertoto tell us on the websites that their teams went on to have an unsettled season. The theory is that bringing players back from their holidays earlier, in this case a month, deprives them of the rest required to prepare for the new season. Mind you, it didn't seem to bother Newcastle much, did it? 4/10
10. FAILURE TO DEFEND CROSS BALLS
Ivano shocked me today by stating on Scotsport that Dundee have lost 35 goals to headers. Even although this will count cup matches also, (though I can't remember any headers against us in the cup), it is a major weakness. As we have lost 48 in the league it appears this is one of our biggest failures that no one seems to be able to do anything about. Surely it has been addressed at training, yet still the problem continues. We were still losing to headers during Fan Zhiyi's short reign and when Zurab was fit, so we can't lay the blame for this on players now unavailable. (though we lost less with Tweed at Centre Half). Interesting facts, eh! Heading the ball is as much about timing and intelligent marking than height, so the fact we have a small defence can't be used as the main excuse. Taking away even one third of the headed goals would certainly put us in a decent top 6 place. 10/10
Bearing in mind the season has still 8 games to go, I have no doubt Dundee will climb a couple of positions before the final whistle's blown. This is not intended as a moan or an excuse to have a go at the team or management. I hope I have not given this impression.
I still think we're only a few pieces short of the jigsaw. If our injured players return in time for next season and our outgoing players are replaced adequately or even bettered, there could still be great times ahead for Dundee fans.
It's in the hands of Ivano and Dario, and when Phase 3 of the Dens Revolution begins in August this year, I hope they can still turn things round in our favour, and theirs. The last two seasons is still one period of Dundee F.C. history I don't want to end and despite the results has been a privelege to be part of. I want to see Giorgi and Beto turn on their style in a team that wins many more games than they have done this season. With the talent in this team, SURELY WE AREN'T REACHING OUT FOR A BRIDGE TOO FAR.
Once there, Jocky took them to 5th position though without ever playing the kind of football that would please the neutrals or the purist. The following season they finished in 9th place, though 7-1 defeats from Rangers, 6-2 from Celtic, and other shoddy performances contributed to a new management team being appointed.
Jocky supporters will point out that he ran the team on a shoestring budget, whilst the newcomers were given cash to build their side, and they have a strong argument on these grounds. But it could be argued by his critics that it's unlikely Jocky would have had the contacts to build a team close to the one that was to entertain and enthrall the Dundee fans in season 2000/2001.
The news of all these players from places as far apart as Argentina and Spain, Italy and Georgia, seemed so exciting at the time. Every morning I'd tune in to Radio Tay en route to work, expecting to hear of another new signing. Thinking back it seems I was hardly ever let down. Artero was already there, but when we heard the strange sounding names like Nemsadze, Caballero, Sara, Marocco, all arriving at Dens Park it seemed like we were in for an exciting and joyful season.
My first view of the continental dark blues was on a wet evening in Kircaldy when Dundee played Raith in a friendly. I sat there open mouthed as the football on display appealed to something in my inner spirit more than anything the old up and at em Scottish approach could ever do.
As the season got underway we began with two wins, 2-0 and 3-0. Could we be forgiven for believing the good old days were returning? Then came Caniggia, the long haired God we'd watched years before, turning on the style for Argentina. Things were going splendidly for F.C. Dundee and 6th place seemed a mere formality.
But after Xmas when we lost 5 league matches on the trot, the doubts began to creep in. That we made it was mainly due a loss of form by Dunfermline, but however it was achieved few could complain about the first year in charge by the Bonetti brothers.
We looked forward to this one with great optimism, and few saw Ivano's prediction of 5th top as realistic. I believed we'd be 3rd or 4th by the end of this season. I saw nothing to persuade me differently.
So why, 9 months later, are we lying in 11th position, second bottom of the league? This is surely under-achieving by the proverbial mile.
I have several reasons to put forward, nothing unique that hasn't been said before by others, but seeing them down in print helps me to view this disastrous season more clearly. At the end of each point made, I'll give marks out of 10. The higher the mark the more I think this is a big factor in our failure to reach our true destiny. There are 10 reasons in all. Feel free to leave a message on the messageboard or alternatively email me on denspark156@btopenworld.com if you have any comments to make on this article. Also, if I have missed any serious points that you feel should be included, let me know and I'll update this report.
1. OVERCONFIDENCE
Has to be a factor. Many of our talented players give the impression that all they have to do is go on the park, play a bit of football, and bingo, the results will follow. So much faith in their own abilities can, I believe, lead to a casualness that can be mistakenly seen as lack of effort. 5/10
2. LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCOTTISH GAME.
Some of our players who have been in the SPL for their second season still give the impression they still haven't come to terms with the fact that the Scottish game is firmly based on fight and 'bottle' as opposed to back heels and neat flicks. No one more than I loves to see the subtle skills our players are capable of. But showboating should be saved until the game is definitely won. Too often we don't seem to be able to match any team who ups the battling side of their game and just get "tore right in" as Aberdeen did on Saturday. Other examples, Ross County, Ayr United, Partick, Dundee United, Dunfermline (after leading 2-0), Kilmarnock last week. The list goes on. 8/10
3. LACK OF EFFORT
This has been put forward as a reason by some Dee fans. It is not one I believe to be true. Most of these guys are here for a season or two, some much less. The plan is for them to do their stuff for Dundee, be sold on at a profit, then others brought in to replace them. Their dream is to play well enough to move on to bigger clubs on the continent and the English Premiere. No professional worth his salt would risk his career by not trying. The heads do tend to go down when things go disastrously wrong, but I feel this is more human nature than any wish to lose. Everyone goes on the park to win. 1/10
4. INJURIES
At risk of sounding like a recording of Ivano himself, no one in his right mind can deny that the long term injuries sustained last season and this has played its part in our under-achieving. Fabian Caballero last year after a horrendous knee injury that he still hasn't fully recovered from. Giorgi Nemsadze and Zurab Khizanishvili, two of our greatest hopes, experienced internationalists, and key players in the team, have been missed terribly. I firmly believe had both these players been available for longer this season we would be several positions higher. Also if Fan and Temuri had arrived earlier than they did. 10/10
5. TACTICAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE BONETTIS
A favourite with a lot of fans and the media. They were called "rookies" when they first arrived at Dens, and of course they were. Every Manager has to be a "rookie" before he can claim to be experienced. They're still at the learning stage, especially of the Scottish game. I believe they will improve next season, as this time round will have taught them much more than last. They didn't play at the highest levels in Italy without gaining tactical knowledge. It's putting it into practice that they're struggling with. Motivating players is perhaps more of a problem for Ivano and Dario than any naivety, and is another skill he has perhaps to improve on. Man management and motivation go hand in hand. 4/10
6. LANGUAGE PROBLEMS
Must play its part. As one fan suggested to me, if only they could all be taught Esperanto, things would get much better. Some of the players have good use of the English language, others barely get by in a conversation. It has to be a factor leading to lack of understanding on the park. Team tactic sessions must be very interesting, and but for Dario Magri, an expert at several languages, could be much worse. Some players, I am informed, go to English language lessons at Dundee College. 7/10
7. TEAM SPIRIT
Is it possible that a team of Scots can bond more quickly and strongly than a team with players from 4 different continents of the world? No way am I proposing we go back to an all Scottish team, that would be anathema to my beliefs about this present team. BUT, I do believe it must be harder to feel part of a unit or have a strong affinity with so many different nationalities. It would need a Manager with excellent motivational characteristics to achieve this and this is, in my opinion, still being learened by the present back room team. 5/10
8. TOO MUCH TRAINING?
Is it possible to over-train a team? I wouldn't rule it out of the equation, though I don't want to sound like I'm agreeing with Steven Boyack. Few other teams in the SPL have both morning and afternoon training sessions and when preparing for important games I've heard Dundee have been known to train until late in the afternoon. I see no evidence in matches that we are any fitter than the opposition, it is often Dundee players who look more tired in the last third of a game. I see no evidence that we are any better at set pieces or positional roles than other teams as a result of this full time training. Last season Ivano took his team to the hills of Italy in the middle of winter when all other teams had a month lay off. Result, we lost 5 straight league matches on their return. Did it have anything to do with training in the rainy Italian hills instead of spending more time with their families? 8/10
9. DID THE INTERTOTO UPSET THE BALANCE OF THE TEAM?
If modern footballers are, as some would believe, finely tuned instruments whose balance is upset by any change to their routine can it be that by entering the Intertoto Cup we upset that equilibrium? Sounds far fetched. But I do remember English fans of teams who had in the past entered the Intertoto tell us on the websites that their teams went on to have an unsettled season. The theory is that bringing players back from their holidays earlier, in this case a month, deprives them of the rest required to prepare for the new season. Mind you, it didn't seem to bother Newcastle much, did it? 4/10
10. FAILURE TO DEFEND CROSS BALLS
Ivano shocked me today by stating on Scotsport that Dundee have lost 35 goals to headers. Even although this will count cup matches also, (though I can't remember any headers against us in the cup), it is a major weakness. As we have lost 48 in the league it appears this is one of our biggest failures that no one seems to be able to do anything about. Surely it has been addressed at training, yet still the problem continues. We were still losing to headers during Fan Zhiyi's short reign and when Zurab was fit, so we can't lay the blame for this on players now unavailable. (though we lost less with Tweed at Centre Half). Interesting facts, eh! Heading the ball is as much about timing and intelligent marking than height, so the fact we have a small defence can't be used as the main excuse. Taking away even one third of the headed goals would certainly put us in a decent top 6 place. 10/10
Bearing in mind the season has still 8 games to go, I have no doubt Dundee will climb a couple of positions before the final whistle's blown. This is not intended as a moan or an excuse to have a go at the team or management. I hope I have not given this impression.
I still think we're only a few pieces short of the jigsaw. If our injured players return in time for next season and our outgoing players are replaced adequately or even bettered, there could still be great times ahead for Dundee fans.
It's in the hands of Ivano and Dario, and when Phase 3 of the Dens Revolution begins in August this year, I hope they can still turn things round in our favour, and theirs. The last two seasons is still one period of Dundee F.C. history I don't want to end and despite the results has been a privelege to be part of. I want to see Giorgi and Beto turn on their style in a team that wins many more games than they have done this season. With the talent in this team, SURELY WE AREN'T REACHING OUT FOR A BRIDGE TOO FAR.