Tekel Towers » Craig Easton Q+A - Thursday 16th April 8.30-9.30pm

Tek · 15/4/2015 4:45 pm

Been awhile in the offing this one but happy to announce that we should be joined by Eastie tomorrow night for an hour.

Thanks as always to Sieb22 for his hard work behind the scenes,and also to Trap 6.

I won't padlock the thread but as always Gents can i ask that you 'keep your powder dry' and only start asking the questions once the Q+A begins.

Thank You

TEK

european_bob · 15/4/2015 6:12 pm

Excellent work.

Gutted - going to miss this one!

Sieb22 · 15/4/2015 6:16 pm

Just a quick bio,

Craig Easton began his career at Dundee United, signing full time at the start of the 96-97 season making two league appearances while plying his trade with the youths and the reserves. The next season he fought his way into the first team and featured in 35 appearences, including playing in the UEFA cup and scoring his first senior goal, a win against Aberdeen in the league cup semi final. In the following seasons Craig was a first team regular playing the majority of the matches. In 2003-04 United's then manager Ian McCall allowed Craig's contract to expire.

Following a season at Livingston (he scored the goal to keep Livingston up and relegate Dundee that season!), Craig found further success and adventures down in England with Leyton Orient scoring against the EPL side Fulham in the FA Cup and winning promotion to League one. Swindon Town where he reunited with Paul Sturrock as boss then Maurice Malpas. Southend United where he was club captain and Torquay United (Eastie loves United!).

Overall from 1996-97 season to 2003-04, Craig made 221 appearances for Dundee United (more than double of any of his other teams) and scoring 12 times. He played in Europe, played in the League Cup Final in 1997, played under 5 different managers (Tommy McLean, Paul Sturrock, Alex Smith, Paul Hegarty and Ian McCall). Was a mainstay throughout the 'scandanavian invasion' era where we finished in 3rd with the likes of Kjell, Erik, Lars and Sieb, to teams in transition with the influx of new managers. Always a model professional on and off the park, and a player who, in my opinion, is a bit underated when we think of the United teams of the past...

Craig Easton.

Game: Dundee United 2 - 1 Celtic. Easton, Dodds.

arabugsy · 15/4/2015 11:21 pm

Great bio, Sieb, but Craig was never underrated by me. 😐

I was Billy Kirkwood's greatest fan because I know there's players that are crucial cogs in a team. Eastie was similar.

Sieb22 · 16/4/2015 6:29 am

arabugsy wrote:
Great bio, Sieb, but Craig was never underrated by me. 😐

I was Billy Kirkwood's greatest fan because I know there's players that are crucial cogs in a team. Eastie was similar.

Ditto for Lars Zetterlund as well. You don't need to beat 5 men and do a Hollywood pass every time to get appriciated, sometimes it's just the simple things and the work rate that are just as important.

Anyway, this should be good fun tonight, Craig seems like a top bloke!

doontheroadarab · 16/4/2015 6:38 am

Sieb22 wrote:
arabugsy wrote:
Great bio, Sieb, but Craig was never underrated by me. 😐

I was Billy Kirkwood's greatest fan because I know there's players that are crucial cogs in a team. Eastie was similar.

Ditto for Lars Zetterlund as well. You don't need to beat 5 men and do a Hollywood pass every time to get appriciated, sometimes it's just the simple things and the work rate that are just as important.

Anyway, this should be good fun tonight, Craig seems like a top bloke!

George Fleming was another one who didn't get the credit he deserved, gonna miss tonight unfortunately but look forward to reading it when I get in, well done to the lads who organised it

kiwiarab · 16/4/2015 7:12 am

Craig Easton was a good player for us and I wish him all the best. I think he was under rated, when you think of some of the players who followed him who arrived with big reputations, on good money and didn't have his commitment or tactical awareness.

I'll be working when this is on, can someone report my question?

From memory you started off as an attacking midfielder (two cracking goals v the sheep in first season!), played wide right under Alex Smith, and then more like a defensive midfielder under Heggie and McCall. Vague memories of a game at Ibrox when you played right back in second half. What was your preferred position and do you think playing in different positions was a good or bad thing for you?

SlatefordArab · 16/4/2015 2:20 pm

Thought Craig was a braw wee player; looking forward to his answers.

stobievulture · 16/4/2015 3:30 pm

Most memorable moment at utd?

arabugsy · 16/4/2015 7:28 pm

doontheroadarab wrote:
Sieb22 wrote:
arabugsy wrote:
Great bio, Sieb, but Craig was never underrated by me. 😐

I was Billy Kirkwood's greatest fan because I know there's players that are crucial cogs in a team. Eastie was similar.

Ditto for Lars Zetterlund as well. You don't need to beat 5 men and do a Hollywood pass every time to get appriciated, sometimes it's just the simple things and the work rate that are just as important.

Anyway, this should be good fun tonight, Craig seems like a top bloke!
George Fleming was another one who didn't get the credit he deserved, gonna miss tonight unfortunately but look forward to reading it when I get in, well done to the lads who organised it

Looks like another brother if you rate Kirkie and Cinders.

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 7:30 pm

Hi everyone! Looking forward to this...

Tek · 16/4/2015 7:30 pm

Craig,i see you're now online mate.

Welcome to the forum mate.I hope we find you in good health Sir.

My first question is what do you do with yourself these days and why did you never make the move into management do you think (and would you ever consider it in future)?

stobievulture · 16/4/2015 7:31 pm

best manager you worked under at Utd craig?...and did Jim mclean ever storm into the dressing room?

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 7:35 pm

Kiwiarab - From memory you started off as an attacking midfielder (two cracking goals v the sheep in first season!), played wide right under Alex Smith, and then more like a defensive midfielder under Heggie and McCall. Vague memories of a game at Ibrox when you played right back in second half. What was your preferred position and do you think playing in different positions was a good or bad thing for you?

I'll be honest, I felt playing everywhere as a kind of utility player, especially under Paul Sturrock, didn't really do my development any good. I was certainly willing to help out anywhere and I recall playing wide right and even wide left for a spell! Definitely wasn't going to really produce any tricks out there! I preferred playing centre midfield and I probably was a box to box player in the end, but yes, I started out more attacking under Tommy and I think future signings curbed that aspect of my game.

arabugsy · 16/4/2015 7:37 pm

Any thoughts on Utd's previous abysmal disciplinary record with goalies taking 7 seconds and scoring midfielders over celebrating?

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 7:38 pm

stobievulture wrote:
Most memorable moment at utd?

Got to be my first ever goal against Aberdeen in the semi-final of the coca-cola cup. Tommy just pulled me aside, casually said I was starting and to go and enjoy it - do what I had been doing for the Youth and the reserves. The best feeling in the world and probably my favourite goal of all time.

Tek · 16/4/2015 7:41 pm

Craig,best player you ever played with

AND

Against?

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 7:41 pm

TEK wrote:
Craig,i see you're now online mate.

Welcome to the forum mate.I hope we find you in good health Sir.

My first question is what do you do with yourself these days and why did you never make the move into management do you think (and would you ever consider it in future)?

Hi mate, all good thanks.

I'm coaching at Torquay United. Head Coach of the under 16s and the Development Squad so I'm learning my trade. My ambition is to manage at the top level and I'm getting plenty of experience working with the youth at the moment, but would certainly jump at the chance if a job arose.

PatReilly · 16/4/2015 7:43 pm

That booking against Dunfermline which led to the sending off (2000): was it the most malicious booking you ever received. I'm sure you'll remember you were booked for scoring and celebrating to the same extent as many OF players who were never booked for the same.

arabugsy · 16/4/2015 7:44 pm

Craig Easton wrote:
TEK wrote:
Craig,i see you're now online mate.

Welcome to the forum mate.I hope we find you in good health Sir.

My first question is what do you do with yourself these days and why did you never make the move into management do you think (and would you ever consider it in future)?
Hi mate, all good thanks.

I'm coaching at Torquay United. Head Coach of the under 16s and the Development Squad so I'm learning my trade. My ambition is to manage at the top level and I'm getting plenty of experience working with the youth at the moment, but would certainly jump at the chance if a job arose.

Is that following the Luggy path, on the English riviera?

Sieb22 · 16/4/2015 7:44 pm

Hi Craig, thanks again for joining us.

When you first broke into the first team, am I remembering it wrong or did you play and score for the youths, reserves and the first team all in the same calendar week?

Have a vague memory of you having to wash Both of the McLeans brothers cars on Sportscene as part of your apprenticeship and getting interviewed, and this was talked about or was I dreaming?

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 7:45 pm

stobievulture wrote:
best manager you worked under at Utd craig?...and did Jim mclean ever storm into the dressing room?

Tommy McLean.

He was the one who gave me my chance and he was an exceptional coach - so organised and his preparation for games was spot on. I was gutted when he left to be honest as I know he had massive confidence in me and that's the best feeling you can have as a player. He did give me pelters as well and I remember one time after we got beat and I had been playing oasis in the dressing room before the game, he threw my tape at me and told me to shove it up my arse!

Jim McLean was different class with the young lads and he was a cracking coach as well. Got a lot to thank them both for.

stobievulture · 16/4/2015 7:46 pm

daftest team mate at utd?

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 7:46 pm

arabugsy wrote:
Any thoughts on Utd's previous abysmal disciplinary record with goalies taking 7 seconds and scoring midfielders over celebrating?

Haha, sounds like jobsworth refs!

Players should be allowed to celebrate however they want (as long as its not causing offence)

Craig Easton · 16/4/2015 7:48 pm

TEK wrote:
Craig,best player you ever played with

AND

Against?

With - need to give you 3... Malpas (legend), Zetterland (role model), McKinnon (natural ability)

Against - No question, Gazza