On a sunny summer’s day in Kirkcaldy it was great to smell the pies and bovril and even better to taste them after a few months away from the fitba. (World Cup excepted, though that’s not the same as seeing your own team play, is it).
In a game that was never going to be much more to either side than a hard training match, Jim Duffy fielded 18 players, gave debuts to 2 kids, Dougie Cameron (youngest son of Kenny) and Steven Robb. He also played a further 5 youngsters, Lee Mair (full game), Barry Forbes, Gavin Beith (full game), Dave Mackay and Colin Boylan. None of the kids let themselves or the team down and there was much to see in the way of future promise. Mair, Robb, Beith and Mackay were the pick of the young ones in my opinion, though they were all good.
This would have been an important game for Jim, still less than a fortnight in post, to see a large section of his team pool in action. It was enlightening to me to see Jim give much in the way of advice and encouragement to these younger players, and the impression given was that here was a happy bunch of players and Manager, ready to battle in the season ahead.
Of Nacho Novo |
Before the game the arrival of Nacho Novo to a spontaneous round of applause, first by the Raith fans who chanted his name to a man, then by the Dundee fans who realised who he was. This, their first sighting of the new signing, and he was soon across signing autographs and waving to his new fan base.
My attempts to ask Julian Speroni whether or not he was signing came to nothing. His English is not good and my Spanish is, well, non existent. So no amount of hand signals, writing in the air with an imaginary pen had any effect other than that Julian thought I wanted his autograph. Oh, well, your editor isnae very good at breaking down language barriers. (Of course I didn’t know then he was already signed).
Dundee began with Jamie Langfield in goal; a back 4 of Lee Mair, Lee Wilkie, Barry Smith and Barry Forbes; midfield Gavin Beith, Gavin Rae, Giorgi Nemsadze and Beto Carranza; up front we began with Juan Sara and an almost bald Steven Milne.
Carranza was the man to catch the eye in the first half, showing some scintillating skills, dummies and nutmegs to the delight of the over 1,000 fans who travelled for the game.
Stevie Milne seemed to be operating wide on the right for most of this half and at times he was electrifying. One move, starting with a divine chipped pass by Nemsadze sent Steven free. He cut inside then released the perfect pass for Juan Sara at the far post but the big man mishit his shot when it looked easier to score.
Whilst Beto seemed to have a free role in midfield Gavin Beith was showing some neat skills on the left side and this kid once again looked like a fine prospect in the making.
Dundee score and when they do it is JUAN SARA who nets and because he’s at the other end, reveals his t shirt to the bemused Raith fans. Nemsadze starts the move with a fine pass to Carranza whose chips is almost perfect and is partly cleared as it seems net bound but only as far as Juan whose left foot drive finds the net this time.
Giorgi Nemsadze almost adds another with a fine piece of ball juggling that took him past 3 players only for his shot to be blocked for a corner.
Raith Rovers hadn’t had a shot at the Dundee goal and few at the Dundee end were pleased with the Referee when they drew level. Jamie Langfield, coming out for a through ball boots it out of the ground when it seemed easier to pick it up. From the resultant throw in Andy Smith finds himself one on one with Lee Wilkie. As both players jostle for the ball the Ref adjudged Lee to have been guilty of pulling his man back. JAMIE GARRIGAN netted from the spot.
The first half fizzled out with no more chances created by either team.
The second half saw Julian Speroni make his appearance and in the half time kick about he received a standing ovation from the Dundee fans, some of whom (unlike the editor) knew he had signed a new 3 year contract. His fist in the air followed by a punching of the Dundee badge on his jersey sholwed how pleased he was to be a Dee.
The team lined up with Julian in goal; a back 4 of Dave Mackay, Lee Wilkie, Barry Smith and Steven Robb making his first team debut, replacing Forbes; a midfield of Lee Mair, Gavin Rae, Giorgi Nemsadze and Beto Carranza; Up front Nacho Novo replaced Milne alongside Sara.
Nacho Novo once again was cheered to the hilt by both sets of fans, a very rare occurrence. It won’t happen again, as I predict opposition fans will grow to hate this little genius.
Nacho’s first touch sees him completely outfox an opponent only to be felled to the ground. He was prominent in most Dundee attacks, has amazing speed, great skills and confidence and battles like mad to win every ball. How long ago was it we could say this of any Dundee striker?
Fabian Caballero came on to replace Sara, with Colin Boylan replacing Carranza, both players leaving the field to great applause.
The partnership of Cab and Novo looked very promising at times and in one move a superb aerial cutback by Fabian was met on the volley by the new kid on the block and his shot was several inches away from being a quite spectacular goal. The Dundee fans were taking to this guy very quickly.
Dougie Cameron replaced a tiring Giorgi Nemsadze and this was the last sub to be used. Giorgi left to a great ovation and as always applauded the fans, a huge smile on his face. Mark Robertson didn’t get on, perhaps because the rule was only 18 allowed in a friendly.
A Robb nutmeg as he overlapped down the left flank was cheered by the Dundee fans as was a similar feat by Novo on the right side.
The game died the last 15 minutes, not that it had ever fully came to life. It wasn’t about winning or losing, more a chance for both Managers to see their pool in depth and try players in different positions.
Raith almost snatched it late on when a shot sneaked just the wrong side of the post and Speroni had to look smart on two other occasions. Dougie Cameron should have scored when a Novo cut back was perfect for his head but he nodded the ball straight at the keeper.
The final whistle saw a quite amazing sight. A Dundee fan runs onto the field and takes off his red Dundee top, offering it to Nacho. A bemused Nacho accepts the top but then a Raith player explains to him he was supposed to swop it with the fan. When Nacho Novo did so, to great applause from the Dundee end, the fan made his way back with his prized possession, to equal applause.
There was something to savour in the performances of the youngsters, though our defence was never really tested fully. Carranza’s magic in the first half, Nacho’s genius shown in glimpses and few who watched him can deny that here is definitely a talent that will rock the SPL once he gets to know his team mates and they him. Cab on occasion showed flickers of his greatness, and Milne looked very sharp in the first half also.
With the tour of Romania coming up this week, Jim Duffy will be pleased to see no injuries to any players and this game will have given his men the chance to get the cobwebs out of their hair.
Raith Rovers, I should add, played the game in the right spirit. They passed the ball about well and I don't think they need fear next season. They are good enough to come back up. Apart from a handful of fierce tackles by both teams, there was little in the way of dirty play. It was played like a friendly and perhaps Duffy was right when he said it should have been a closed doors game as fans who came expecting to see all out attack or players throwing themselves about in Cup Final fashion would have left disappointed.
For the chance to see what an exciting prospect Nacho Novo might yet turn out to be in the SPL, it was well worth the visit to Kirkcaldy.