FANS CAN FIRE US TO TOP SIX NEXT SEASON
CAL BUTCHER admits Dundee United’s top-half dreams are all but over but the defender is convinced fan power can fire a push up the table next term.
United need a miracle to claim a top-six spot with a three point gap to St Mirren and seven goals of a difference going in to their clash with Aberdeen before the split.
He accepts mid-table security is no bad thing on their first campaign back in the top flight but he’s looking forward to a return to a normality following a year behind closed doors.
The Arabs have not had a chance to savour being restored in the Premiership and they’ve also been denied glamour grudge matches around the country.
Butcher is counting down the days until the world is back in order and believes United will be one of the sides to benefit.
“It’s a disappointment to be out of reach of the top six because we really felt we could have been in and around it going into the last game,” he said.
“It looks like it’s gone now but this season was always going to be difficult with the circumstances. To come up and be where we are is good, we just need to finish the season strong going into the next one.”
Butcher reckons the fanless games have hit some clubs harder than others and this campaign has felt more like a year out.
He said: “I think that can be why you see some strange results, you only have to look at Liverpool, would they be like that if the Kop was full? I don’t think so.
“I like to work off the fans, good and bad, and I think I thrive off it. It gives you that little extra edge.
“Fans are the whole point of playing football, for me, especially for us getting promoted and playing in the big stadiums and having full houses at Tannadice for Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen, etc.
“You feel you’ve missed a year of your career.”
Butcher is keeping tabs on the jabs and he can see light at the end of the tunnel.
The 30-year-old is now used to the ghost games but he insisted it’s not something he’ll ever enjoy.
He said: “Hopefully things are back to normal and it’s more like football should be.
“It’s weird not having the build up to games, arriving at the stadium and not having fans in the car park or even after the games, not having family there, it’s such a different feeling.
“So the quicker it gets back to normal the better for us all. There have been times this year it’s taken me by surprise a little bit, how tough it is to get in the right place mentally without fans.
“I like the noise, the atmosphere and everything that goes with fans being in the stadiums, home and away. In the game you’re focused and don’t really think about it but the build up is tough.”