Dundee United finished the Scottish Premier League 2007–08 season in 5th place with 52 points. Noel Hunt was the top scorer with 18 goals.
| 2007–08 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Eddie Thompson | ||
| Manager | Craig Levein | ||
| Clydesdale Bank Premier League | 5th | ||
| Scottish Cup | Fifth round | ||
| CIS Insurance Cup | Runners-up | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Noel Hunt (13) All: Noel Hunt (18) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 13,613 (vs Celtic, 22 May) | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 5,845 (vs Inverness CT, 1 December) | ||
Review and events
The pre-season period began with two new permanent signings at the club, Polish goalkeeper Łukasz Załuska and Darren Dods having signed deals in June. Irishman Willo Flood also arrived from Cardiff City on a season-long loan deal. In July, former Ajax youngster Prince Buaben signed after a successful trial and was joined by a second Polish keeper, Grzegorz Szamotulski, in time for the league season. Englishman Jordan Robertson became the second long-term loan signing when he arrived from Sheffield United in late August.
A number of players who were out of contract left the club following the end of the 2006–07 season. Lee Mair signed a pre-contract deal with Aberdeen and Derek Stillie moved to England to pursue a law career. David McCracken and Collin Samuel were both released. Also leaving the club were a number of younger players who had failed to earn extensions to their contracts. These were Gregg Burnett, Barry Callaghan and Ross Gardiner. All had played at least once for the first team.
The first game of the season was home to Aberdeen in the SPL, and ended in a 1–0 victory.[1] As the season progressed, United maintained their high league table position, ending 2007 in 4th place.
The club lost to Rangers in the CIS Insurance Cup final in March, losing on penalties. The Scottish Cup campaign was ended by St Mirren in the fifth round.
Chronological list of events
This is a list of the significant events to occur at the club during the 2007–08 season, presented in chronological order. This list does not include transfers, which are listed in the transfers section below, or match results, which are in the results section.
- 26 July: Played a pre-season friendly against Barcelona, losing 1–0 to a last-minute Thierry Henry goal. Minutes earlier, Barry Robson had seen a legitimate header wrongly disallowed.[2]
- 4 August: United win the opening league match of the season for the first time in eight years. It was only their second opening day win since the 1992–93 season.
- 6 September: Cameroonian striker Patrick Suffo arrives on trial.[3]
- 18 September: French midfielder Morgaro Gomis signs a two-year contract extension.[4]
- 8 November: Craig Levein picks up the Premier League Manager of the Month award for October.[5]
- 10 November: Lee Wilkie follows manager Craig Levein by picking up the Premier League October Player of the Month award.[6]
- 4 December: Gary Kirk leaves Raith Rovers to replaces Tony Docherty as club coach, after Docherty moved to St Johnstone.[7]
- 28 December: Goalkeeper Grzegorz Szamotulski delays his departure and extends his contract by a month until the end of the transfer window.[7]
- 29 December: Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell collapses during the 5–3 win over United and is pronounced dead thirty minutes after the match.[8]
- 7 January: United turn down a £175,000 bid from Blackpool for top scorer Noel Hunt.[9]
- 18 January: Jordan Robertson is recalled from his loan spell by Sheffield United.[10]
- 21 January: Manager Craig Levein's role is extended to include director of football.[11]
- 23 January: United reject bids from Burnley and Nottm Forest for captain Barry Robson.[12]
- 14 February: chairman Eddie Thompson appoints his son Stephen as chief executive.[13]
- 21 March: The East Stand at Tannadice is renamed after chairman Eddie Thompson.[14]
- 8 April: French striker Joël Thomas arrives for a ten-day trial[15]
- 12 May: Referee Mike McCurry publicly admits that he got two decisions wrong in the match against Rangers, wrongly denying United both a penalty and goal.[16]
- 16 May: Australian defender Scott Jamieson arrives for a fourteen-day trial
- 20 May: The club submit an official complaint to the SFA following Mike McCurry's handling of the match at Ibrox against Rangers[17]
- 20 May: A second friendly is arranged against Barcelona with the 'rematch' scheduled for 26 July.[18]
- 26 May: The club announce the possibility of taking legal action against George Peat after the SFA president branded manager Craig Levein's earlier comments "criminal".[19]
Match results
Dundee United played a total of 46 competitive matches during the 2007–08 season,[20] as well as four first team pre-season friendlies. The team finished fifth in the Scottish Premier League.
In the cup competitions, United were runners up in the final of the CIS Insurance Cup, losing on penalties to Rangers. United lost to St Mirren in the Scottish Cup fifth round, after a replay.
Scottish Premier League
| 4 August 2007 | Dundee United | 1–0 | Aberdeen | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 15.00 | D Robertson  90' | Report | Attendance: 12,496 Referee: M Timulty |
| 13 August 2007 | Kilmarnock | 2–1 | Dundee United | Rugby Park, Kilmarnock |
| 15.00 | Gibson 79' Nish 87' | Report | Hunt 50' | Attendance: 5,557 Referee: B Winter |
| 18 August 2007 | Dundee United | 0–0 | Hibernian | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 15.00 | Report | Attendance: 8,405 Referee: M McCurry |
| 25 August 2007 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 0–3 | Dundee United | Rugby Park, Inverness |
| 15.00 | Report | Dillon 47' Robson 58' (p), 81' (p) | Attendance: 4,178 Referee: J Underhill |
| 1 September 2007 | Dundee United | 2–0 | Falkirk | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 15.00 | Hunt 58' Robson 84' | Report | Attendance: 6,864 Referee: I Brines |
| 16 September 2007 | Dundee United | 2–0 | St Mirren | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 15.00 | Hunt 38' J Robertson 68' | Report | Attendance: 6,128 Referee: S Dougal |
| 22 September 2007 | Gretna | 3–2 | Dundee United | Fir Park, Motherwell |
| 15.00 | Cowan 14', 36' Jenkins 86' | Report | Buaben 9' Wilkie 65' | Attendance: 1,624 Referee: C Richmond |
| 29 September 2007 | Celtic | 3–0 | Dundee United | Celtic Park, Glasgow |
| 15.00 | McDonald 7', 67', 72' | Report | Attendance: 57,006 Referee: D McDonald |
| 6 October 2007 | Dundee United | 1–0 | Motherwell | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 15.00 | Dods 78' | Report | Attendance: 6,286 Referee: S Finnie |
| 20 October 2007 | Heart of Midlothian | 1–3 | Dundee United | Tynecastle, Edinburgh |
| 15.00 | Kingston 90' | Report | J Robertson 14', 25' Robson 89' (p) | Attendance: 16,661 Referee: C Thomson |
| 28 October 2007 | Dundee United | 2–1 | Rangers | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 14.00 | Wilkie 28' Robson 54' (p) | Report | Cousin 51' (p) | Attendance: 12,129 Referee: D McDonald |
| 3 November 2007 | Aberdeen | 2–0 | Dundee United | Pittodrie, Aberdeen |
| 15.00 | Aluko 45' Miller 90' | Report | Attendance: 16,661 Referee: C Thomson |
| 10 November 2007 | Dundee United | 2–0 | Kilmarnock | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 14.00 | Hunt 8' Buaben 90' | Report | Attendance: 6,065 Referee: D Somers |
| 24 November 2007 | Hibernian | 2–2 | Dundee United | Easter Road, Edinburgh |
| 15.00 | Benjelloun 77' Antoine-Curier 82' | Report | D Robertson 66', 74' | Attendance: 14,440 Referee: W Collum |
| 1 December 2007 | Dundee United | 0–1 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 15.00 | Report | Black 19' | Attendance: 5,845 Referee: I Brines |
| 8 December 2007 | Falkirk | 3–0 | Dundee United | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
| 15.00 | Moutinho 5' Barrett 41'Higdon 66' | Report | Attendance: 4,803 Referee: M McCurry |
| 15 December 2007 | St Mirren | 0–3 | Dundee United | St Mirren Park, Paisley |
| 15.00 | Report | D Robertson 49' Hunt 77'Flood 90' | Attendance: 3,490 Referee: C Thomson |
| 22 December 2007 | Dundee United | 1–2 | Gretna | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 15.00 | Hunt 29' | Report | Deuchar 12' Deverdics 42' | Attendance: 6,304 Referee: C Richmond |
| 26 December 2007 | Dundee United | 0–2 | Celtic | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 15.00 | Report | Vennegoor of Hesselink 68' McManus 74' | Attendance: 12,357 Referee: E Smith |
| 29 December 2007 | Motherwell | 5–3 | Dundee United | Fir Park, Motherwell |
| 15.00 | Hughes 11' Porter 14'McCormack 17'Clarkson 55', 56' | Report | D Robertson 36' Hunt 75', 90' | Attendance: 5,227 Referee: C Allan |
| 2 January 2008 | Dundee United | 4–1 | Heart of Midlothian | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 15.00 | Robson 23', 70' (p), 88' (p) Hunt 84' | Report | Berra 37' | Attendance: 12,100 Referee: A Freeland |
| 5 January 2008 | Rangers | 2–0 | Dundee United | Ibrox, Glasgow |
| 15.00 | Naismith 9' Ferguson 40' | Report | Attendance: 48,559 Referee: M McCurry |
| 19 January 2008 | Dundee United | 3–0 | Aberdeen | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 15.00 | Hunt 50' Robson 77', 84' | Report | Attendance: 8,579 Referee: C Thomson |
| 26 January 2008 | Kilmarnock | 1–2 | Dundee United | Rugby Park, Kilmarnock |
| 15.00 | Wales 82' | Report | Robson 31' Conway 66' | Attendance: 4,803 Referee: K Clark |
| 9 February 2008 | Dundee United | 1–1 | Hibernian | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 15.00 | Hunt 13' (p) | Report | Rankin 46' | Attendance: 6,635 Referee: E Smith |
| 16 February 2008 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 1–1 | Dundee United | Rugby Park, Inverness |
| 15.00 | Paatelainen 84' | Report | Buaben 68' | Attendance: 4,087 Referee: S Finnie |
| 23 February 2008 | Dundee United | 0–0 | Falkirk | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 15.00 | Report | Attendance: 6,835 Referee: M Timulty |
| 27 February 2008 | Dundee United | 1–1 | St Mirren | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 19.45 | Dillon 69' | Report | Dorman 88' | Attendance: 6,037 Referee: I Brines |
| 6 March 2008 | Gretna | 0–3 | Dundee United | Fir Park, Motherwell |
| 19.45 | Report | Kenneth 16' Gomis 51'D Robertson 64' | Attendance: 501 Referee: B Winter |
| 12 March 2008 | Celtic | 0–0 | Dundee United | Celtic Park, Glasgow |
| 19.45 | Report | Attendance: 45,000 Referee: M McCurry |
| 22 March 2008 | Dundee United | 2–0 | Motherwell | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 12.30 | Swanson 76' De Vries 89' | Report | Attendance: 6,779 Referee: D McDonald |
| 29 March 2008 | Heart of Midlothian | 1–0 | Dundee United | Tynecastle, Edinburgh |
| 15.00 | Kingston 27' | Report | Attendance: 16,871 Referee: E Smith |
| 6 April 2008 | Dundee United | 3–3 | Rangers | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 14.00 | Kalvenes 37' Hunt 51'Cuéllar 65' (og) | Report | Weir 44', Novo 58', Boyd 67' | Attendance: 11,214 Referee: C Richmond |
| 20 April 2008 | Dundee United | 1–1 | Hibernian | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 14.00 | Hunt 60' (p) | Report | Shiels 57' | Attendance: 7,404 Referee: E Smith |
| 26 April 2008 | Motherwell | 2–2 | Dundee United | Fir Park, Motherwell |
| 12.30 | Porter 17', 50' | Report | Craigan 45' (o.g.), Wilkie 86' | Attendance: 5,027 Referee: K Clark |
| 3 May 2008 | Aberdeen | 2–1 | Dundee United | Pittodrie, Aberdeen |
| 15.00 | Foster Touzani 48' | Report | Swanson 49' | Attendance: 13,312 Referee: B Winter |
| 10 May 2008 | Rangers | 3–1 | Dundee United | Ibrox, Glasgow |
| 12.30 | Novo 7', 18' Darchville 90' | Report | De Vries 76' | Attendance: 30,293 Referee: M McCurry |
| 22 May 2008 | Dundee United | 0–1 | Celtic | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 19.45 | Report | Vennegoor of Hesselink 72' | Attendance: 13,613 Referee: S Dougal |
Source: BBC Sport website: Scottish Premier Archived 13 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
Scottish Cup
| 16 January 2008 Fourth round | Clyde | 0–1 | Dundee United | Broadwood |
| Robson 57' | Attendance: 1,550 Referee: C Richmond |
| 2 February 2008 Fifth round | St Mirren | 0–0 | Dundee United | Love Street |
| Attendance: 3,945 Referee: M McCurry |
| 13 February 2008 Fifth round replay | Dundee United | 0–1 | St Mirren | Tannadice |
| Dorman 48' | Attendance: 3,723 Referee: A Freeland |
CIS Insurance Cup
| 29 August 2007 | Dundee United | 2–1 | Ross County | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 19.45 | Hunt 65' (p) J Robertson 86' | Report | Barrowman 78' | Attendance: 3,114 Referee: C Allan |
| 25 September 2007 | Falkirk | 0–1 | Dundee United | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
| 19.45 | Report | Wilkie 60' | Attendance: 2,804 Referee: C Thomson |
| 31 October 2007 | Dundee United | 3–1 | Hamilton Academical | Tannadice, Dundee |
| 19.45 | Hunt 10', 77', 85' | Report | Offiong 79' (p) | Attendance: 4,567 Referee: M McCurry |
| 5 February 2008 | Aberdeen | 1–4 | Dundee United | Tynecastle, Edinburgh |
| 19.45 | Considine 19' | Report | Dods 23' Kalvenes 60'Conway 65'Gomis 77' | Attendance: 12,046 Referee: I Brines |
| 16 March 2008 | Dundee United | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (2–3 p) | Rangers | Hampden, Glasgow |
| 15.00 | Hunt 34' De Vries 96' | Report | Boyd 85', 113' | Attendance: 50,019 Referee: K Clark |
Source: BBC Sport website: Scottish Cups
Player stats
During the 2007–08 season, United used 30 different players on the pitch. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player.[21]
Discipline
During the 2007–08 season, nine United players were sent off and 15 received at least one caution. In total, the team received nine red cards and 56 yellow cards.[21]
| Name | Cautions | Dismissals |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Wilkie |  10 |  1 |
| Garry Kenneth | 5 | 1 |
| Morgaro Gomis | 4 | 1 |
| Willo Flood | 3 | 1 |
| Barry Robson | 3 | 1 |
| Jordan Robertson | 2 | 1 |
| Sean Dillon | 1 | 1 |
| Danny Swanson | 1 | |
| Grzegorz Szamotulski | 1 | |
| Darren Dods | 10 | |
| Noel Hunt | 5 | |
| Mark Kerr | 5 | |
| Prince Buaben | 4 | |
| Mark de Vries | 2 | |
| David Robertson | 2 | |
| Jon Daly | 1 | |
| Danny Grainger | 1 | |
| Christian Kalvenes | 1 | |
| Jim O'Brien | 1 |
Team statistics
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation[a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Motherwell | 38 | 18 | 6 | 14 | 50 | 46 | +4 | 60 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | Aberdeen | 38 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 50 | 58 | −8 | 53 | |
| 5 | Dundee United | 38 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 53 | 47 | +6 | 52 | |
| 6 | Hibernian | 38 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 49 | 45 | +4 | 52 | Qualification for the Intertoto Cup second round[b] |
| 7 | Falkirk | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 45 | 49 | −4 | 49 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
Transfers
Out
Five players left United during the season, with a number of young players spending time on loan with lower league clubs. Two player also agreed moves at the end of the season.
| Date | Player | To | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 August 2007 |  Marco Andreoni | Montrose | Loan[27] |
| 28 August 2007 | William Easton | Stirling Albion | Loan[27] |
| 31 August 2007 | David Proctor | Inverness CT | Released[37] |
| 26 October 2007 | Greg Cameron | Partick Thistle | Loan[38] |
| 2 November 2007 | David Goodwillie | Raith Rovers | Loan[39] |
| 2 January 2008 | Marco Andreoni | Airdrie United | Loan[40] |
| 3 January 2008 | William Easton | Ayr United | Released[41] |
| 17 January 2008 | Stuart Duff | Aberdeen | Released[42] |
| 18 January 2008 | Greg Cameron | St Johnstone | Loan[43] |
| 31 January 2008 |  Grzegorz Szamotulski | Preston | Contract expiry[7] |
| 31 January 2008 | Barry Robson | Celtic | £1,250,000[44] |
| 15 May 2008 | Euan McLean | St Johnstone | Free[45] |
| 27 May 2008 | Steven Robb | St Mirren | Free[46] |
| 30 June 2008 |  Christian Kalvenes | Contract expiry | Free |
| 30 June 2008 | Mark Kerr | Contract expiry | Free |
Playing kit
       Home colours |   Away colours |
The jerseys were sponsored for a second[47] (and final) season by Anglian Home Improvements (who again sponsored Motherwell). The sponsor logo is displayed as a simple font across the chest, with white logo for the home top and black logo on the change strip.[48] The shorts were again sponsored by Ole International after the Spanish property firm extended the deal for a second year.[49] The shorts logo is displayed on the right hand side, above the club badge.[49] The expiry of both deals at the end of the season means the club will have at least one new sponsorship for 2008–09, as the option of a third year of shirt sponsorship[47] was passed for a new one-year deal with JD Sports' Carbrini Sportswear label for 2008–09.[50][51]
The club has no third strip, with the last third strip used in the 2002–03 season.
Awards
- Scottish Premier League Manager of the Month: 1
- Craig Levein (October 2007)
- Scottish Premier League Player of the Month: 2
- Lee Wilkie (October 2007), Barry Robson (January 2008)
- Scottish Premier League Young Player of the Month: 2
- Danny Grainger (January 2008), Garry Kenneth (March 2008)
- Scottish Premier League Goal of the Season: 1
References
External links
- Official site: 2007/08 Fixtures
- BBC – Club stats
- Soccerbase – Results Archived 14 September 2005 at the Wayback Machine | Squad stats | Transfers