Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
I thought Ray was too nice to be a gaffer
FORMER fans’ favourite Sieb Dykstra has expressed his delight at Dundee United’s revival under old team-mate Ray McKinnon.
And the man who’s now a respected goalkeeping coach and agent back in his native Holland has also been pleased to see the Tangerines rekindle their liking for Dutch talent in the shape of Nick van der Velden and Frank van der Struijk.
But he admits of the players he played alongside at Tannadice, the current manager is not one he would have tipped to go into coaching.
Sieb is quick to stress that’s because he felt Ray was too nice!
“I remember playing with Ray for United and he was a very talented, creative player.
“He had a lot of skill and I remember at Kilmarnock when we beat them 3-2 because Ray scored a hat-trick of freekicks. It was unbelievable but that was the kind of talent he had.
“He was a great guy as well and maybe I would have said he wouldn’t go into coaching because he was too nice to shout at players like managers have to do sometimes.
“But I know he has done well as a coach in Scotland and I saw he did a good job for Raith Rovers last season. Now he’s doing the same for United, so I’m very happy for him.”
For Sieb the current manager’s decision to go double Dutch and bring in Van der Velden and Van der Struijk this season only serves to reinforce his view now that the club have the right man in charge.
“I keep in touch with how United are doing and I see Van der Velden and Van der Struijk are doing a good job for the team.
“When they signed, I knew they would because you are talking about two good players with experience of the top division here in Holland.
“I probably know more about Van der Velden and I have always liked him as a player, he has talent.
“He’s in his 30s now but he has looked after himself and I think he can play on for another year or two.
“Van der Struijk is a reliable full-back and he also played a lot of games here in Holland.