The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Jim Spence on Saturday
Wright knows management inside out
Tommy Wright’s managerial nous has steered St Johnstone neatly up the Premiership table after early season struggles. The Northern Irishman is the embodiment of the unfashionable manager, but he knows the game better than a dozen trendy analysts and anoraks who can discern game patterns and statistical percentages in areas of play but can’t manage.
Under Dundee United’s previous ownership before the present regime rescued the club from looming disaster, United were keen on Wright.
It would have been a sound appointment.
He has reduced the overall age of the Saints squad substantially and added vigour and vitality to the squad.
He’s also got a burgeoning special young talent emerging in Ali Mccann – an energetic box to box midfielder.
His neatly executed run and sublime chipped goal to give Saints victory in midweek at Pittodrie showed clearly why Wright was keen to secure him on a three and half year deal.
Some Saints fans would have punted Wright a couple of months back, but wiser supporters knew to be careful what they wished for.
Saints’ recent revival, as evidenced by their fine midweek win at Aberdeen, whose budget is much bigger, shows that the sensible fans and not the reactionaries understood that it was best to leave the business of managing to a man who knows his craft inside out.
Plans in place
Dundee United’s defeat to Arbroath last week gave some of their fans a chance to vent about the readiness of the squad for the Premiership, which they will undoubtedly be playing in next season.
The reaction was understandable but paid too little attention to the terrific job that Dick Campbell and his part-time squad at Gayfield have done.
The supporters are, however, correct to identify that fairly substantial strengthening will be required when they play in a league where the tempo is quicker and the skill levels are sharper.
United, though, will already be working on that with their contacts and sources.
Running a football club is a dynamic process and at any given time many plates are being spun in the air.
Players who will need to leave will be being identified, while others who are signing targets will be being prioritised.
The rate of progress made at Tannadice since the new owners and management team came in entitles them to be shown a substantial chunk of faith by fans.
At Dens meantime Dundee have slipped to sixth place.
Some useful defensive signings, including the hugely experienced Christophe Berra, have been acquired, but having lost Danny Johnson, the Dark Blues look light up front with Kane Hemmings carrying the load of lone striker.
His goal at Morton last week where he took a long pass, shielded the ball and clipped a cute shot past the keeper showed clearly the quality he possesses, but he needs more regular support and quality of supply.
It’s a squad which has underperformed and the players need to realise that they’re playing for arguably the seventh biggest club in Scotland, and find the form and hunger which playing on that stage requires.
If they can find that the supporters will back them all the way.