If all the out of contract players left in the next week or two and we managed to offload a few players like (Saku, Birighitti, Sadat, Mulgrew, Djoum, Watt, Glass, and Chalmers) and possibly sell Levitt and Behich then I'd like us to go for and sign:

GK - Jed Steer - was 2nd choice at Villa. You can't be a shite keeper when you're 2nd choice at Villa. He's vastly experienced and might like the chance to be No1.

RB - Wallace Duffy - out of contract at ICT. Can play CH if called upon. Big lad, good in the air, solid, also has decent pace.

CB - Jack Fitzwater - experienced CH and integral to Livi's over achievement in the past few years but it looks like he's going down south to be closer to family.

CB - Robbie Deas - reasonably experienced and solid CH, can play LB if needed and also out of contract. ICT have been fairly solid in the past couple of years, he's been key to that.

LB - Charles Dunne - 31/32, experienced, may accept a 1 year or 18 month deal. Can play CH too. Also out of contract.

RM - Josh Mullin - experienced, out of contract, brilliant delivery.
Josh Mulligan - might not fancy a 1 year jolly in the Premiership, also not guaranteed 1st team football at dens, put of contract and only 21, worth a punt in my book.

CM - Kyle Turner - 25, key player for Partick Thistle, out of contract and if they fail in the playoff final, we might be able to tempt him with the attraction of playing for a bigger club, better facilities and much bigger wage.

CM - Jamie McGrath - out of contract, won't be staying any longer at Wigan. Shown in flashes what he can do, plus the Championship will be a stroll in the park for him.

CM - Haljberg - 32, out of contract, played for Hibs and St Johnstone. Good in possession, puts the boot in, experience is vital in central midfield.

LM - Jamie Walker - experienced, good technical ability, has experience in both championship and Premiership , as well as down south. Out of contract. His quality could be the difference between picking up 3 points instead of 1.

ST - Akinyemi - still has a year left on his contract, but wants away from Ayr. Could easily be tempted to Tannadice for a bigger wage, better club with better facilities. Top goalscorer, not bad,  considering he was up top on his own for most of the season. Kind of slowed down for him in the last few games, due to Ayr playing shite and having very little service.

ST - Ryan Hardie - out of contract but possibly will be offered an extension due to them being promoted to the Championship.

ST - Ryan One - relegated with Hamilton, probably their stand out player along with Winter. At 16, has huge potential and would possibly score more if he played for us compared to Hamilton. Has pace, skill and can play anywhere across the front.

Callum Smith - out of contract, 23, banged in the goals for Airdrie this season and was vital for them securing promotion. Has a lot of potential also.

And so the clearout begins.........

https://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/news/7867/SQUAD-UPDATE--DEPARTING-PLAYERS.html

A good squad player would be Power from Kilmarnock,  nasty bastard every time we play them and the lad Armstrong was the difference a few times.

St Johnstone releasing a few players. Noticed David Wotherspoon was released, wouldn’t mind him on a 1 year deal, hard working and versatile that would suit that lower league.

Is there any truth that a lot of young playrrs have also been released and that there is no plans for a reserve squad next year.

It's something I have seen on Facebook so will take with a pinch of salt for now.

It's sad for the youngsters if so and a disappointing sign of cost cutting after relegation if so.

Whilst we're clearly going to have to manage on a self-inflicted tighter budget, it gives me the fear that we might be throwing out some of the money spent on Academy and general structuring of the club.  Undoubtedly the Asghar 'vision' was inherently unobtainable and ultimately damaging, but being a producer of young saleable talent is what a club like Dundee United should be.  In my view, if we chuck that then we will forever be behind not only the Old Firm but also Aberdeen and the Edinburgh clubs.  Being the best of the rest as a goal isn't enough as our fanbase should have us there anyway.

So, whilst an immediate return to the top league is a priority, what do people think the 5 year plan should be?  With other clubs looking at B teams in the lower leagues, is that what we should be aiming for?  We may not like it, but can we afford not to be involved?

If not a B team should we perhaps have closer links to say a team like Brechin?  Loan youngsters to one club rather than several?

If Ogren is genuinely willing to listen, there is a huge opportunity this summer to engage the fans in a way the Fat Charlatan couldn't.   We need a realistic vision to work to however.  We've got a lot of players who have been out on loan at various lower league clubs.  Collectively can they be trusted to get us promotion with a couple of shrewd older heads?  (I don't mean wage thieves like Mulgrew - more Sibbald mould).  

We need to clear out the Revolution Sport people - a totally clean break from the large Asghar shadow is required.  We probably also need to clear out those who didn't speak out against that poisonous regime (that will include some 'good arabs' by the way). 

If we can draw a line and forget the Asghar years and put a team on the pitch that we can get behind (without petulant aged popstar players) I suspect most would be up for that.  The Championship is not that strong (assuming RC don't go down).  We should have the chance to build a new team and come back up stronger.

I’d imagine we’ll definitely be in for Charles Dunne the left sided centre half from St. Mirren. He’s just left them today and Goodwin tried to bring him to Aberdeen last summer.

https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/charles-dunne-st-mirren-aberdeen-24138280.amp

Heard last night united will be back early for pre season. Hopefully Jim’s gonna kick their kuntz in.

Wants 3/4 pre season games as well as the 4 betfred cup games.

What are everyone's thoughts about Tony Watt playing for us next season?

As a players, he has shown in some moments that he has ability, and could do really well against championship level defenses.

As a personality in the dressing room, he has moved clubs so often, and apparently fell out with Jack Ross with horrible consequences, and also took the huff with Liam Fox. Is that the type of character that we need next season?

New manager so fresh start for everyone. If we signed him now from Motherwell we’d be buzzing. As for the Mulgrew bust up, if he’s not happy he can leave for free.

I think folk need to be realistic around what can be achieved squad wise this summer.  Whilst we'd all be keen to see a Premiership ready squad on 15 July that is just not going to happen.  We only need one (assuming we get back up) 15 July 2024.  What is needed is a fairly forensic assessment of cost over value.  Take Mulgrew  - if it would cost us more to ditch him than keep him, the question is does that cost of keeping him compare favourably to value?  He can probably do a job for another season at Fundesliga level and if his attitude is right could be an asset with the youngsters.  Similarly if he wants to move on and we can save his wage then the exit door swings.  With Watt we've just got to play a waiting game unless the manager has had a positive dialogue with him.  On paper, and ignoring the histrionics for now, he should be an asset in the Championship. What Goodwin must do however is to have better players earmarked for 24/25.  Fletcher is likely to be at best a bit part player by then and we know Watt and Middleton are probably not good enough.  Macleod and Fotheringham are still raw, but a good season knocking in goals might just see one of them being ready to step up next year.

There are undoubtedly players who weren't good enough last year that may be good enough this year.  The key is that, unless they markedly improve, we are shot of them pre 24/25 season when hopefully we are back up.

I haven't listened to the Goodwin video yet, but I guess this is the balancing game that he is challenged with.  For the avoidance of doubt however, Birighitti is not one of those 'may be good enough' players.  We need an experienced goalie for 23/24 who can instil some confidence in the back line.  If Goodwin goes into next season with the Aussie he'll have failed already.

I'd rather he was gone given what happened last season, It's still a raw emotion for me, I'd rather the majority of that squad never played for United again after what went on.

But as Finn says we need to be realistic, we can't afford to tear up contracts and then bring in a whole new squad this summer.(an exception needs to be made for the GK position though)
So last seasons losers, deserving or not, get a chance to redeem themselves.

If Tony isn't putting the performances in though I can see fans turning on him quickly. Personally he reminds me of Ciftci, had his purple patch in his career with us and did fuck all afterwards. I think Tony's purple patch was with Motherwell.