Tekel Towers » DUFC vs Aberdeen

Tek · 16/5/2025 3:42 am

Final match of what has felt like a long, long season (the Betfred games we lost to Falkirk and Partick feel like a few seasons ago now).

And, essentially, a 'Cup Final' at home for us against Aberdeen to end the campaign. I.e. a game we need to win on the day.

Win and we secure a Top 4 spot, something only Tam Courts has achieved for the club in the past decade. Lose and we are probably 5th, but still a slight doubt and fear over us of finishing 6th, and missing out on European qualification completely would linger, if St.mirren could pull off a shock win at Celtic Park (they are still undefeated Post-Split after all).

So, what would be the obvious benefit of 4th place?

Firstly, the prestige of finishing in 4th place, of course. United have only finished Top 4 once in the past ten years (the aforementioned Tam Courts season).

Secondly, the prize money. From 5th place to 4th place is worth roughly 150k more to the club. That's the equivalent of selling an extra 375 season tickets, which might just bring in an extra signing.

Thirdly, it would mean even if we lose our Europa League Qualifier, we would parachute down into the 2nd Conference League Qualifier. So, a minimum of 4 matches in Europe rather than possibly just two.

Very hard to predict a starting XI for Saturday, given we are like the walking wounded and two or three others seemed to go off struggling at Ibrox (Vicko and Dalby).

A few major selection calls for Goodwin to make. I just hope whatever XI get a tangerine jersey on Saturday realise what a big match this is for the club, the Manager, the support, and indeed themselves.

A match that certain players could become immortalised for years to come if they can produce a matchwinning moment.

Time for a new Rory Boulding?

Finn Seemann · 16/5/2025 9:03 am

A massive game for the club.

The Dons will have one mind on the cup final (some will be fighting to get in the cup XI, some will be nursing niggles and injuries hoping they don't miss the cup).

For us it will be some players chance to sign off in glory and for others the chance to secure their future here and get a Euro adventure on the CV.

For us fans, for the 90+ minutes and everything leading up to it, it is everything! Jim and the lads, don't let us down...

Arab87 · 16/5/2025 9:31 am

I think it will be a draw (1-1) and Celtic to put 4 or 5 past St Mirren. 5th place it will be. Major restructuring of the squad needed during the summer. Goodwin and the recruitment team have to get it spot on.

SuperMario · 16/5/2025 9:40 am

Walton
Strain SCH Gallagher ferry
Sevelj doch
Fotheringam Middleton trap
Dalby

Arabdownsouth · 16/5/2025 12:41 pm

Tek wrote:
Final match of what has felt like a long, long season (the Betfred games we lost to Falkirk and Partick feel like a few seasons ago now).

And, essentially, a 'Cup Final' at home for us against Aberdeen to end the campaign. I.e. a game we need to win on the day.

Win and we secure a Top 4 spot, something only Tam Courts has achieved for the club in the past decade. Lose and we are probably 5th, but still a slight doubt and fear over us of finishing 6th, and missing out on European qualification completely would linger, if St.mirren could pull off a shock win at Celtic Park (they are still undefeated Post-Split after all).

So, what would be the obvious benefit of 4th place?

Firstly, the prestige of finishing in 4th place, of course. United have only finished Top 4 once in the past ten years (the aforementioned Tam Courts season).

Secondly, the prize money. From 5th place to 4th place is worth roughly 150k more to the club. That's the equivalent of selling an extra 375 season tickets, which might just bring in an extra signing.

Thirdly, it would mean even if we lose our Europa League Qualifier, we would parachute down into the 2nd Conference League Qualifier. So, a minimum of 4 matches in Europe rather than possibly just two.

Very hard to predict a starting XI for Saturday, given we are like the walking wounded and two or three others seemed to go off struggling at Ibrox (Vicko and Dalby).

A few major selection calls for Goodwin to make. I just hope whatever XI get a tangerine jersey on Saturday realise what a big match this is for the club, the Manager, the support, and indeed themselves.

A match that certain players could become immortalised for years to come if they can produce a matchwinning moment.

Time for a new Rory Boulding?

What would happen to the European places if we beat Aberdeen and consign them to fifth place but they then somehow miraculously win the cup ?

SuperMario · 16/5/2025 2:02 pm

We would get what 5th would get, Aberdeen would be group stages, hibs would get the 2 qualifiers

Arabdownsouth · 16/5/2025 2:18 pm

SuperMario wrote:
We would get what 5th would get, Aberdeen would be group stages, hibs would get the 2 qualifiers

Yeah cheers bud,I actually found the information on the BBC sport site right after I asked the question. So nothing definitely decided until Celtic win the cup then? Hopefully st mirren lose and we at least get something though,although of course I'm hoping we can do better than 5th, Aberdeen just as shite as us right now so there's a glimmer of hope I suppose. They also may play within themselves given none of them will want to risk injury and missing out on the cup final.

Tek · 16/5/2025 5:59 pm

Jim Goodwin understandably keeping his cards close to his chest, team news wise, but revealing Craig Sibbald will miss out tomorrow, as will Ross Graham.

Saying Manny Adegboyega and Lewis Fiorini will come back into the squad though.

Fiorini and Babunski might actually get game time tomorrow if we throw the kitchen sink at it in the last twenty.

BMT · 16/5/2025 6:06 pm

Hoping for fourth, would take fifth and would be pissed off with sixth but I’m resined to whatever will be tomorrow. As long as everyone who puts on the tangerine goes out and gives it there all and whatever happens the team get clapped off the park as I predicted 10th at the start of the season and when it’s all said and done we are atleast top six .

Stillliving · 17/5/2025 11:12 am

A very important game for the vibe around the club over the summer months.
A defeat will see the Goodwin out brigade in full voice whereas a victory will see a very commendable 4th place finish and European football to look forward to.
An interesting 90mins coming up.

redford_must_score · 17/5/2025 11:22 am

Stillliving wrote:
A very important game for the vibe around the club over the summer months.
A defeat will see the Goodwin out brigade in full voice whereas a victory will see a very commendable 4th place finish and European football to look forward to.
An interesting 90mins coming up.

And the perfect opportunity to put his post split record to bed. Let's hope the players can summon up the energy and bottle required.

Beardy23 · 17/5/2025 2:55 pm

Was it ever in doubt ?

Morphman · 17/5/2025 3:36 pm

An incredible comeback.

A tame first half but a really high energy second half performance from every single player on that park.

Conference league assured at worst, which I think also means we avoid the group stages of the league Cup so good news on that front also.

redford_must_score · 17/5/2025 3:41 pm

Beardy23 wrote:
Was it ever in doubt ?

Indeed 😆

The manager and players deserve massive credit for turning that poor first half into a gutsy winning second half. Some standout performances in that last 60 minutes after going behind. They could easily have crumbled and lost by 2 or 3.

Frustrating when the Aberdeen keeper gave us 3 chances to score and we just didn't have the quality to punish them. But we got it right, dug deep and showed amazing grit and determination to win it.
Even Dave Richards made a wonder save near the end to deny them.

Scumbag Sheep fans injured their own player with something thrown from the stand at the end. Had stitches put in a head wound. BBC saying it was seat that had been ripped out. What a bunch of absolute knunts.

Well done Jim, well done all the players, great effort.

Last edited by redford_must_score (17/5/2025 4:41 pm)

supermariobilateworld · 17/5/2025 4:36 pm

We looked helpless in the first half and the 3-1-6/3-2-5 structure the sheep were using was pulling us apart. 2nd half started poorly also until our equaliser, Aberdeen then shat it and stopped doing everything that made them so dominant in the first half. Nice to see the "ultras" section of the aberdeen support being so gracious in defeat.
Passports out.

Arab99 · 17/5/2025 5:48 pm

redford_must_score wrote:
Scumbag Sheep fans injured their own player with something thrown from the stand at the end. Had stitches put in a head wound. BBC saying it was seat that had been ripped out. What a bunch of absolute knunts.

Well done Jim, well done all the players, great effort.

Spoke with a Utd employee who saw the player after. Said it looked "fkn brutal".

redford_must_score · 17/5/2025 5:56 pm

Arab99 wrote:
redford_must_score wrote:
Scumbag Sheep fans injured their own player with something thrown from the stand at the end. Had stitches put in a head wound. BBC saying it was seat that had been ripped out. What a bunch of absolute knunts.

Well done Jim, well done all the players, great effort.

Spoke with a Utd employee who saw the player after. Said it looked "fkn brutal".

https://x.com/aberDENs/status/1923753714256339407?t=MeFSwXMwx_D3YZWRvbY2Ug&s=09

Always_United · 17/5/2025 6:05 pm

redford_must_score wrote:
Arab99 wrote:
redford_must_score wrote:
Scumbag Sheep fans injured their own player with something thrown from the stand at the end. Had stitches put in a head wound. BBC saying it was seat that had been ripped out. What a bunch of absolute knunts.

Well done Jim, well done all the players, great effort.

Spoke with a Utd employee who saw the player after. Said it looked "fkn brutal".
https://x.com/aberDENs/status/1923753714256339407?t=MeFSwXMwx_D3YZWRvbY2Ug&s=09

United fans have to take some of the blame here. Why run up to the away fans and goad them. How about just enjoying what United have achieved.

Arab99 · 17/5/2025 6:18 pm

Always_United wrote:
redford_must_score wrote:
Arab99 wrote:

Spoke with a Utd employee who saw the player after. Said it looked "fkn brutal".
https://x.com/aberDENs/status/1923753714256339407?t=MeFSwXMwx_D3YZWRvbY2Ug&s=09

United fans have to take some of the blame here. Why run up to the away fans and goad them. How about just enjoying what United have achieved.

Na sorry, no excuse for breaking a chair up then throwing it at folk.

Last edited by Arab99 (17/5/2025 6:20 pm)

redford_must_score · 17/5/2025 6:20 pm

Always_United wrote:
redford_must_score wrote:
Arab99 wrote:

Spoke with a Utd employee who saw the player after. Said it looked "fkn brutal".
https://x.com/aberDENs/status/1923753714256339407?t=MeFSwXMwx_D3YZWRvbY2Ug&s=09

United fans have to take some of the blame here. Why run up to the away fans and goad them. How about just enjoying what United have achieved.

Nonsense. A bit of triumphant goading doesn't excuse launching a missile which lets be honest could have been deadly.

Always_United · 17/5/2025 6:40 pm

redford_must_score wrote:
Always_United wrote:
redford_must_score wrote:

https://x.com/aberDENs/status/1923753714256339407?t=MeFSwXMwx_D3YZWRvbY2Ug&s=09

United fans have to take some of the blame here. Why run up to the away fans and goad them. How about just enjoying what United have achieved.

Nonsense. A bit of triumphant goading doesn't excuse launching a missile which lets be honest could have been deadly.

It doesn't excuse it, you are absolutely right and I agree. Whoever threw it it 100% responsible for their actions.

That being said, United fans massed in front of the away fans goading them will never end well and I just don't understand the mentality. Why not just celebrate the achievement?

redford_must_score · 17/5/2025 7:11 pm

Always_United wrote:
redford_must_score wrote:
Always_United wrote:

United fans have to take some of the blame here. Why run up to the away fans and goad them. How about just enjoying what United have achieved.

Nonsense. A bit of triumphant goading doesn't excuse launching a missile which lets be honest could have been deadly.

It doesn't excuse it, you are absolutely right and I agree. Whoever threw it it 100% responsible for their actions.

That being said, United fans massed in front of the away fans goading them will never end well and I just don't understand the mentality. Why not just celebrate the achievement?

I agree it would have been better for United fans to have stayed in the stands.

Some Sheep fans also saying it's our fault because we put them in that stand. Shakes head.

GFL · 17/5/2025 7:17 pm

If anyone is looking for a cup final ticket, Jack MacKenzie has a spare ticket.

Tek · 17/5/2025 7:19 pm

Well, well, well. What about that then?

Absolutely brilliant BIG win. Players showed unbelievable character, grit, determination, fight and any other adjective you can throw at them.

That was a watershed moment for Jim Goodwin today. Lose today and with that St.Mirren result at Parkhead we would have completely blown European qualification, and that looked to be the way things were going at half time.

But a huge 2nd half seen us move from 6th to 4th and usurp both St.Mirren and Aberdeen.

He's also finally got the spectre of Aberdeen off his back. That is now gone, he has banished that ghost today, and i'm sure he must take a tremendous amount of satisfaction finishing above them and pipping them to 4th on the last day (even if he will never admit as much publicly). Time for him to not look back and only forwards now (if he hasn't already).

He's also now bought himself a bit of credit in the bank, from even his harshest critics (myself being one), because if last season's success was to be expected, this seasons certainly wasn't.

Well done Jim and the players. Even if at times the football wasn't always great, and mistakes were made (mostly recruitment wise), no one can argue that you all never gave everything you had this season and now deserve to enjoy your time off after a gruelling season.

Finally, on the Jack Mackenzie incident. This is exactly why i was amazed United didn't put their supporters in The Shed, and instead again left them on top of the dug-out's.

There needs to be a serious discussion going forward about perhaps banning their supporters for a game or two. That's three games in a row now at Tannadice that they've thrown missiles, bottles and now a plastic seat.

That could have been a child struck today and i am just glad their player isn't even more badly injured. A disgraceful incident.

I am a fan of a (happy) pitch invasion, but that is three times now in a year our supporters have encroached on the pitch. Twice at Tannadice and twice to confront rival supporters (Airdrie and today). I'm with Always, our supporters are not totally innocent in this, and it is disappointing our departing players never got to say 'goodbye' because of all this.

Anyway, enjoy your night everyone. When's the Europa League draw?

redford_must_score · 17/5/2025 7:19 pm

Watching the footage that the BBC have just put up it seems like when the seat was thrown there was hardly any United fans goading the fans above
them.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/videos/cx2jx53z4z3o