First Team

EVERY WORD | JIM GOODWIN AHEAD OF NEW FIRM CLASH

25th October 2024

Dundee United Manager Jim Goodwin spoke to the broadcast media ahead of our William Hill Premiership clash with Aberdeen on Matchday Nine.

The boss discusses our dramatic victory over Hibernian, the test which faces his charges at Pittodrie, maintaining a strong relationship with the Tangerine Army and more!

ON WHETHER HE HAS RECOVERED FROM A TANNADICE TUMBLE:

"Yes, all good, all good. It was a comical moment and just got caught up in the celebrations. It was good comedy for the players to look back on in our analysis meeting and they certainly enjoyed it!"

ON THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF SATURDAY'S VICTORY:

"I think we've proven numerous times already this season about the spirit that's in the group - there's a real togetherness and a never-say-die attitude. Every manager wants their team to go right to until the end and never throw the towel in, even when the going gets tough and I think this particular group of players have shown that numerous times already.

"We will have to do it again at some point, but it's great to know that we're capable of coming from behind in games to win. We did it at Rugby Park where we were two goals behind and still managed to take a point from the game. Hopefully, we don't have to do it too often and we're not chasing the game on Saturday."

ON THE LAY OF THE LAND IN THE WILLIAM HILL PREMIERSHIP:

"We haven't really spoken a great deal about the league table, to be honest. I think it's far too early to start discussing that but winning games breeds confidence and it gave us a great sense of belief within the group that we can compete against some of the bigger teams in this league.

"I know Hibernian are going through a difficult patch just now, but you look at the strength in depth that they have available to them in that squad, some really good players and I thought we matched them at the weekend.

"This test on Saturday now is another really tough challenge against one of the form teams in the league. We know how difficult the game is going to be on Saturday but we go into it with real confidence, positivity and a good bit of momentum behind us as well."

ON WHETHER ABERDEEN ARE OUR TOUGHEST TEST SO FAR:

"All games on the road are difficult and Pittodrie is a great venue to play football in. Saturday evening, under the lights, live on the TV, I think it's got the makings of a really good game and it'll be two good teams going at it.

"Yes, they're unbeaten at the moment but those unbeaten runs do need to come to an end at some point and we've got to believe that we're capable of being that team to do it."

ON THE STRONG CONNECTION WITH THE FANBASE AND FILLING TANNADICE:

"It feels great. The fact that the supporters are turning out in such great numbers tells us that they're enjoying what they're seeing on the pitch. All football fans up and down the country want to see their team winning.

"We've won a considerable amount of games already in the season up to now and that's why we're getting so many people through the turnstiles. We've got to try and put more bums on seats and try and get as many Dundee United supporters through the gates as possible.

"We've got a really good group of players and I think the supporters are really pleased with what they're seeing right now with the good recruitment that we've done in the summer and the success of last season. We're carrying that momentum from last season into this league now and it's standing us in good stead at the moment."

ON GLENN MIDDLETON'S RETURN TO THE FOLD:

"I've been delighted with Glenn from the moment we arrived back for pre-season. He was a really key player for us last season in helping us win the league and get promoted.

"He's played a significant role up to now, even coming off the bench and making real positive impacts. On Saturday, he earned the right to be in the starting XI and justified that decision.
It was a really good performance from Glenn, and a really good team performance I felt from the whole squad.

"The important thing now for Glenn is to try and have that level of consistency for a number of games. We don't just want it on Saturday - we want it every week going forward.

"Of course, there will be little dips along the way, but it's about consistency because we know the attributes that Glenn has. He's got great pace, very hard to defend against in those 1v1s and he's got really good delivery from wide areas. He could have had a couple of assists on Saturday but for the narrowly chalked-off goal offside in the second half.

"I'm delighted with his attitude in training, even when he hasn't been playing. He's been very supportive of the players who are and he's waited patiently, got his rewards and he'll get his opportunity again this weekend." 

ON PICKING UP VICTORIES WITH A DEPLETED SQUAD:

"We knew that the squad was going to be stretched at times during the season. We average about 22 players in the squad. I think other teams have got a little bit more than that.

"We knew that we were going to be tested at times with suspensions and injuries that happen throughout the season, but I think it's a credit to the group that we've been able to go without these key players.

"Ryan Strain has made great progress and he's got a really good chance of being a part of the squad this weekend, but key players like Ross Docherty, Louis Moult, Craig Sibbald and Ross Graham were all missing last weekend.

"For the players who came in in their positions to be able to put in such a good performance and get a positive result, I think it's a credit to them."

ON THE AVAILABILITY OF THE SQUAD HEADING NORTH:

"We're light in numbers. We had to bring a couple of the younger players into the squad to try and bulk it up on Saturday, the likes of Owen Stirton and Alan Domeracki, and that'll be similar this weekend.

"Ryan Strain will come in and be that 20th man in the squad. We're delighted to have him back. He's made great progress with the injury, working really hard behind the scenes with the medical team.

"We've been led by the surgeon, obviously, given the nature of the injury. We haven't wanted to rush things. We wanted to make sure that he was completely healed before we introduced him back into the first team. It's given the whole squad a real boost just to have him available again."

ON WHETHER LATER KICK-OFF TIMES AFFECT PREPARATIONS:

"Not really. The players are used to playing evening fixtures, sometimes on a Friday evening and next week we play midweek - a 7:45pm kick-off.

"Of course, there are slight adjustments that need to be made in terms of the preparation and making sure that they're getting their nutrition at the right times, but it shouldn't have any great impact in terms of how the squad perform on the day."

ON THE MAGNITUDE OF SATURDAY'S CLASH:

"It's a really exciting game for everybody to look forward to for both sets of players and the fans, there's a bit of a rivalry there anyway between the two. Both clubs have a rich history. You go back into the 80s and 90s of competing domestically, and Aberdeen at the moment are going toe-to-toe with Celtic.

"We're sitting fourth in the table at the moment and that's probably more than what most people would have imagined we would be able to do, being the newly promoted team in the league. It's a great fixture for everybody to look forward to.

"Pittodrie is a great venue, it'll be a full house and a hostile environment for our players, but we have to use that to our advantage and try and quieten the crowd early on. Our away record has been excellent so far this season, and we want to try and maintain that.

"Hopefully, it's a game that lives up to the expectation. Two good sides going at it. Aberdeen with this unbeaten record, ourselves with a very good away record - something's going to have to give on the night."

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SQUAD EMERGING UNSCATHED FROM MATCHDAY NINE:

"Yes, we are very light in certain areas. In midfield, we've got three players available to us who can play in there, with Ševelj, Odada and Babunski. At the top end of the pitch, we're going with two strikers at the moment, Van der Sande and Dalby, because Moult is out. But every team up and down the country faces these situations at one point or another in a season.

"We're not making any excuses. We're not mumping and moaning about the situation. It is what it is. I can't focus on the injured players. I've just got to focus on the players who are fit and healthy and able to make an impact on the day. That's what we'll do.

"This group of players have performed really well without key players all season. There's no reason why we can't do the same this weekend."

ON CRAIG SIBBALD:

"Craig had surgery last Saturday, I'm glad to say that that was successful. He's now just going to start his rehabilitation process.

"It'll probably be the new year before we see Sibbs back out on the pitch competing. He's got great support from all the staff and the players here around him. We'll do everything we can to keep his spirits up."

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