Andy wrote:

Don't get this "wish we weren't in this tournament" pish.

Are we too good for it?  Beneath us maybe?

We got relegated fairly last year and are situated right where we deserve at the minute and fwiw I'm really enjoying this season and look forward to every game in every competition, and I haven't said that for a few years.

More than a touch of the Old Firm in some of our support.

 
I'd rather not be in it as I see it as a distraction from our main objective which is getting promoted.

Tek wrote:

I get where Pat's coming from. I really do.

This tournament stinks to high heaven.

The colt sides were only introduced as a precursor to introducing The Rangers and Celtic colt sides into League 2 (totally by-passing the likes of East Kilbride, FC, Spartans, East Stirling,Buckie Thistle etc who all have to win their league and then a play-off to be afforded the chance at being accepted into the SPFL.

The Welsh and Northern Irish sides entering the tournament after ALL Scottish sides really really boils my piss too. It's such an obvious ploy to get them interested in taking part in the tournament offering them home advantage and only having to win three games to make the Final. My guess is that they will next be offered the chance to enter the Betfred Cup.

All the bureaucracy stinks to high heaven. Doncaster and Co don't give a flying fuck about the provincial clubs in Scotland.

BUT.....

Dundee Utd are forced to take part in this tournament and as such I want us to do well in it.

Three good things about it are...

1.The games are a chance to give fringe men a proper game and try them out in different position's (Telfer on Saturday for instance)
2).The games are played on International weekends thus filling the tedious void they bring.
3)Can play teams we've never played before previously and have some 'different' away days.

And well of course....

4)There is a chance to win some silverware.

At the end of the day I want Dundee United to win at tiddlywinks if that's what we're playing.

 

Only downside for me is if we play a strong team and get any injuries when we have a hard job getting out the division with the squad we have.
On the other side I think it's a good distraction from the higher pressure of the league and a chance for mainly attacking players to get goals and feel the confidence boost that brings into the games that matter.