The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Defending corners not yet a worry for Dundee
Dundee’s record of conceding goals from corners was highlighted at the weekend after they lost another to Kilmarnock. For me, seven games into a league campaign is too early to call it a worrying trend, though.
When all their centre-backs are fit, they’ve got enough height in the side to deal with set-pieces and, if Neil McCann feels it is an issue, you can be sure he’ll be working on it.
The debate that never goes away at whatever level of football you’re talking about is what’s more effective – zonal or man-marking?
I must admit, I always preferred man to man.
That way, everybody knows their job and has to take responsibility for the guy they are marking not scoring.
In zonal defending there is more chance of someone getting a run on you and if that happens, I don’t care who you are, you’ve got a tough job stopping him.
As a goalkeeper, it was also easier to come out and punch or catch with man-marking because having boys lined up along the six-yard line could make it a bit congested.
There are pros and cons of both systems and it’s not an old school v modern football thing. Arbroath boss Dick Campbell prefers zonal marking, for example.
Dundee’s defence will be tested on Saturday, whatever system they use, because Craig Levein has some big lads, like Kyle Lafferty.
The 4-6-0 formation as Scotland manager will go on his tombstone but from my experience of Craig at Leicester City he was a very thorough coach who comes up with a good game plan.
Hopefully Dundee will have the answers, though. Bench call bonus
As soon as I saw Dick Campbell’s name coming up on my phone I knew what it would be about.
I’d always said that I’d be available for Arbroath if there was an emergency.
And even the fact that I’d been in Turkey for a couple of weeks enjoying a holiday didn’t seem to put him off!
The last thing I said to David Hutton before kick-off at Stranraer was ‘don’t get injured and don’t get sent off!’
It was a pleasure to watch the lads win so well.
The team is stronger than last year and deserve to be second in the table.
It was one of those matches when the score could have been something like 12-4 to Arbroath.
I think Ricky Gomes will be struggling again this weekend for the Alloa so I’m expecting a call again from Dick and if the lads put on another performance like Saturday’s, I’ll have the best seat in the house.
I’m 45 now but the Arbroath boys have been joking that I’ll still be getting a shout at 55! Sackings hard to fathom
Now that Alex Smith is back in the dugout at nearly 78, he makes Dick look like a youngster.
I wish him well because he is one of the good guys in Scottish football.
I must say, though, I don’t agree with Peter Houston and Jim McIntyre being sacked so early in the season.
Houstie is the victim of his success and Jim certainly deserved more time.
… if Neil McCann feels it is an issue, you can be sure he’ll be working on it