Alternative Maryhill has penned this preview for CTO, hardback copies available............... Dundee Utd V Inverness Caledonian Thistle, 22/8/10 – Match Preview

Caley Thistle’s challenging reacquaintance with life in the SPL continues when the team travels to Dundee to take on Dundee United at Tannadice this Sunday. The Scottish Cup holders have been tipped by many to repeat last season’s feat of finishing third in the SPL, and even narrow the gap between the Old Firm and the rest. To achieve this, however, will require better results than last week’s uninspiring offering against relegation favourites St Mirren, where a 1-1 draw was only secured by a last-minute United equaliser. This scoreline should give the Inverness players confidence that they are capable of getting something out of the game, but they should also be wary of United’s undoubted determination to improve on last week’s result and put on a good performance in their first league game in front of home support.

Past fixtures

ICT have a very respectable record against Dundee United : of the eighteen SPL meetings between the teams, United have won six, Inverness have won four and eight have been drawn, while in the three Cup ties between the teams, Caley Thistle have been victorious in two, and lost the first only after taking United to a replay at Caledonian Stadium. United, however, hold the upper hand in recent games, with two wins and two draws in the last four fixtures. Caley Thistle’s last victory against United came in December 2007, when a long-range, looping shot from Ian Black secured a 1-0 win at Tannadice, although supporters are entitled to feel slightly aggrieved that all three points were not also taken in Terry Butcher’s first, and so far only, game against Utd as Caley Thistle manager, when Eric Odhiambo’s first half goal was cancelled out by Lee Wilkie in the 79th minute, shortly after Russell Duncan had been sent off for a fairly blatant professional foul on Danny Swanson.

Undoubtedly the most memorable fixture between the teams at Tannadice came in February 2006, when Charlie Christie’s Caley Thistle side travelled to face Craig Brewster’s Dundee United just a month after Brewster had resigned his post in Inverness. Brewster had made a reasonable start to his managerial career at United, drawing with Aberdeen, Celtic and Hearts in his first three matches in charge, and despite an away defeat to Motherwell the previous week, all sorts of confident noises were emanating from Tannadice in the run-up to the game. Misguidedly, as it turned out. On the day, Caley Jags turned in a performance of real determination and flair, running out 4-2 winners after being behind twice, with the goals coming from Darren Dods, Dennis Wyness, Craig Dargo and Alan Morgan. (Incidentally, Dundee United’s goals that day both came from one Charlie Mulgrew, most recently seen in a hooped shirt being skinned by Jonny Hayes.) Oh, how we danced. Or would have done, had the United stewards not surpassed even their own hard-earned reputation for joy-killing. The game underlined Charlie Christie’s commitment to playing more expansive and entertaining football than had been seen under Craig Brewster, and also set the tone for the rest of Brewster’s brief and disastrous reign at United. Christie completed the double over his old boss when Caley Thistle beat United 1-0 in Inverness in April ‘06, and the Inverness team finished the season two places above United in the league, in seventh spot.

The Squads

It would be a major surprise if the current Dundee United side was to finish in such a lowly league position this season. Brewster’s successor, Craig Levein, began a rebuilding programme that has resulted in the club finishing in the top six in each of the last three seasons, culminating in last season’s third place finish and the 3-0 victory over Ross County in the Scottish Cup final which earned them the undying gratitude of most Caley Thistle supporters. Peter Houston, who succeeded Levein when the latter became Scotland boss in December 2009, has managed to keep last season’s squad largely intact for the start of the new season, despite various players being linked with moves, and there is talent throughout the team. Midfield is a particular area of strength, with recent Scotland caps Craig Conway and Scott Robertson, Senegalese internationalist Morgaro Gomis and Ghanaian Prince Buaben highly regarded by United fans and non-United fans alike. However, Houston has been criticised by sections of the United support for playing Gomis out of position on the wing in their opening draw against St Mirren, in an effort to accommodate all aforementioned four players in the team. Up front, United’s talisman is the comically-named David Goodwillie, a youth-team product of undoubted talent, notwithstanding his much-publicised inability to conduct himself with any decorum in nightclubs. Goodwillie’s usual partner is captain John Daly, a powerful and determined player albeit lacking slightly in pace, but they have other attacking options in the Argentine striker Damian Casalinuovo and in the much-travelled Englishman Danny Cadamarteri. If there is an area where United may be more vulnerable than they were last season, it is in central defence, with Andy Webster having returned to Rangers after a year-long loan, and Lee Wilkie having retired from the game due to his inability to recover fully from long-standing knee injury. This leaves the current incumbents as Darren Dods, a legend among Caley Thistle supporters but, at 35, inevitably beginning to suffer the ravages of time, and Garry Kenneth, another recent entrant to the international scene who impressed no-one as Scotland rolled over to Sweden on August 11th.

Terry Butcher’s Inverness squad has undergone more changes than United’s since last season, with Nauris Bulvitis, Robert Eagle, Daniel Stratford and Kyle Allison released at the end of the title-winning run, and a number of new players added over the summer. The squad arguably has more depth than at any time over the last two years, but with only one league game played this season, it is still too early to say with certainty which players will emerge as first choices in the SPL and whether all of the players will make the grade.

Jonny Tuffey, signed from Partick Thistle to challenge Ryan Esson for the number one goalkeeping position, was recently called up to the Northern Irish international squad, yet Terry Butcher stuck with Esson for the opener against Celtic and was rewarded with a superb performance that will have had Tuffey wondering if he has made the right move.

Defence is the area that has been subject to most changes. The Celtic game saw Inverness line up with two new full backs, Kevin McCann and Kenny Gillet, with Ross Tokely partnering Grant Munro in central defence. Gillet has impressed in pre-season and looked the part again against Celtic, playing fairly deep yet using the ball effectively on his occasional moves forward. Opinions among the ICT support are more divided on the performance of loan signing McCann, who had the difficult task of trying to contain Paddy McCourt, and it remains to be seen whether he will retain his place or whether Ross Tokely will move back to the right when experienced centre half Chris Innes, another new signing, returns from a two-match suspension after the United game.

The holding midfield roles against Celtic were occupied by Russell Duncan and Lee Cox, who made the positions their own in the run–in to promotion from the first division after Terry Butcher had experimented with a number of different combinations earlier in the season. Duncan brings experience and total commitment, and is often adept at breaking up attacking moves and depriving opponents of time on the ball, while Cox, still only 20 years of age and just beginning his first season in the SPL, shows enough bite in the tackle and intelligence in his passing to suggest that he could develop into a natural replacement for Ian Black. The pair began well against Celtic, but faded from the game in the second half as Joe Ledley and Scott Brown took control. This is perhaps not surprising against an expensively assembled team tipped by many to win the league this season, but if Duncan and Cox struggle to impose themselves against lesser opposition in the SPL then Terry Butcher does have the option of bringing David Proctor and even Roy McBain in to cover one or both of these positions.

Last season ICT’s greatest strengths were in the forward areas, and Terry Butcher must take credit here on two counts: firstly, for bringing in the majority of the players who made such a difference, and secondly, for settling on the system which ultimately brought the team such success. Adam Rooney, a Craig Brewster signing who was frequently left isolated and frustrated up front by the long ball system played in the club’s final season before relegation, proved himself to be a clinical goalmouth finisher when played as the spearhead of a four-man forward line, with Richie Foran and Jonny Hayes starting in the wide positions and either providing opportunities from there or moving infield to augment the attack, and either Dani Sanchez or Eric Odhiambo playing a linking role in the ‘hole’ behind Rooney. Both Sanchez and Odhiambo had their champions and their critics among the ICT support: Sanchez praised for his passing but criticised for the profligacy of his finishing; Odhiambo praised for the directness of his running but criticised for failing to impose himself on games. There was very little argument, however, about the contributions made by Jonny Hayes and Richie Foran last season. Hayes, plucked from Leicester’s reserve team, proved to be the SFL discovery of the season by virtue of his ability to terrorise opposing full backs with his pace and ball control. His fellow Irishman Foran had a better pedigree in Scotland due to his successful spell with Motherwell, but any fears that Foran had joined Inverness simply to wind down his career quietly while landing salmon on the Beauly were dispelled by the terrific workrate and passion he showed last season, driving on his team mates, winning high balls and getting round the back of opposing defences. It is little surprise that this inspirational figure has been made club captain for the new season, and his influence was badly missed in the second half against Celtic, a game he sat out through injury. The Celtic game suggested that Butcher is keen to continue employing the 3-1 forward line in the SPL, and some flashes of attacking play from Hayes, Odhiambo and Foran’s young replacement Nick Ross suggested that the tactic could be effective in opening up defences, but the team’s chances were quickly limited when Celtic imposed themselves in the midfield, and Rooney was an isolated figure vainly chasing long balls for much of the second half. Sanchez’ ability to pass through defences might open up chances for Rooney, and this is an option the manager could explore against Dundee United; a fully match-fit Jonny Hayes should also provide more support in attack for longer; but the reality is that we may not know how effective the formation that served us so well in Division 1 will be in the SPL until Richie Foran is fully fit.

Team News

At the time of writing, prior to their Europa League qualifying tie with AEK Athens, Dundee United have no new injury worries. Defender Mihael Kovacevic is a long-term injury absence, while midfielder Danny Swanson is suspended for the game.

For Inverness, Richie Foran is still at least three weeks away from fitness following minor surgery on a troublesome knee. He has been joined on the sidelines by recent signing Gil Blumenshtein, who had been viewed as a possible replacement for Foran in the wide position or as an alternative to Odhiambo in the ‘hole’, but who tore a calf muscle during a brief substitute appearance against Celtic and will now be out until the end of September. With Jonny Hayes apparently fit to play despite picking up a knock early against Celtic, Caley Thistle have declared no other injuries to first team squad players, and with Chris Innes suspended for one more game, I would expect Terry Butcher to field the same team that started so well against Celtic.

***Latest News*** Ross Tokely is struggling with a calf knock, which would force the back four into yet another change, with Proctor likeliest to cover if Rossco does not shake off the injury.

Prediction

This is a difficult game to call. United will start favourites, justifiably given the clubs’ respective standings in Scottish football at the end of last season, yet they struggled to score against St Mirren last week and also have a difficult home European tie against Athens to contend with. A good result could inspire them, but equally, the extra game could prove to be a distraction to their preparation. ICT meanwhile, will be determined to prove that they are back in their rightful place in Scottish football, and with Hayes and Odhiambo providing the opportunities going forward, I believe Caley Jags will have their first point on the board by Sunday evening.

alternative maryhill's prediction is for a scoring draw:

Dundee United 1 – Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1