Tekel Towers » Imagine a scenario...

Tek · 20/1/2026 1:24 pm

Whereby you had to just win 4 matches to win a trophy.

Now further imagine one of those matches was a home tie against a team three divisions below you.

You may also (if you're lucky) face another team from a lower division in one of the other matches.

Lastly, you have just shy of a two week window where you have the luxury of being able to make any improvements you can to your side in preparation of this tilt at a 4 game run at silverware.

Now further imagine that in that window you sold two players for money, to boost your finances. One (likely) for fairly substantial money.

You would do everything you could to make sure you improve the squad very strongly to give it the best chance at winning a rare bit of silverware for the club.

Wouldn't you?

The next two weeks will tell us a lot about the ambition of Dundee United and Mark Ogren.

Just for once, surprise us please (in a good way).

Arabdownsouth · 20/1/2026 2:07 pm

Imagine having a yank owner who doesn't give a fuck

I prefer your imagination tbh 😋

JerryDungle · 20/1/2026 2:11 pm

I don’t think Ogren’s that interested in United nowadays. I think as long as we stay in the league and aren’t in any real danger of being relegated, he’s happy. It’s why I don’t think Goodwin’s going anywhere this summer.

Hopefully the guy Benham at Brentford revives his interest in us at some point in the near future, someone with footballing ambition above just being an also-ran.

Finn Seemann · 20/1/2026 3:12 pm

Romantic wishfulness. I don't see us with the ability to afford the type of player that guarantees us a semi-final never mind final. We could draw Celtic at Parkhead in the next round if we beat Spartans. I'd take getting to a semi at the moment and I don't think we splurge the cash to do so.

I'd like a keeper though...

Stillliving · 20/1/2026 3:56 pm

I'm in total agreement with the philosophy that football clubs should be run on a break even principle.
There are plenty of moans that JGs budget is poor but we still lost money last year.
When the next ' crises' hits the banking sector and it will come round again we need to be as stable an organisation as possible.

So agreeing with Finn really Celtic or Rangers away will end our Cup run , always has in the past and no ( realistic) amount of transfer market spending will change that.

Just remembered the 1980 LC semi 2nd leg at Parkhead but I'm sticking with my points.

Last edited by Stillliving (20/1/2026 3:58 pm)

Always_United · 20/1/2026 4:45 pm

Stillliving wrote:
I'm in total agreement with the philosophy that football clubs should be run on a break even principle.
There are plenty of moans that JGs budget is poor but we still lost money last year.
When the next ' crises' hits the banking sector and it will come round again we need to be as stable an organisation as possible.

So agreeing with Finn really Celtic or Rangers away will end our Cup run , always has in the past and no ( realistic) amount of transfer market spending will change that.

Just remembered the 1980 LC semi 2nd leg at Parkhead but I'm sticking with my points.

Rangers away didn't end the cup run in 2010. I do agree with the rest of your points though. Throwing money about won't guarantee anything in the cup. Our best hope is beat Spartans, Rangers and Celtic draw each other and Rangers win, and we get a favourable draw. I think we can beat Rangers in a one off match. It really is the luck of the draw though.

Stillliving · 20/1/2026 5:13 pm

Always_United wrote:
Stillliving wrote:
I'm in total agreement with the philosophy that football clubs should be run on a break even principle.
There are plenty of moans that JGs budget is poor but we still lost money last year.
When the next ' crises' hits the banking sector and it will come round again we need to be as stable an organisation as possible.

So agreeing with Finn really Celtic or Rangers away will end our Cup run , always has in the past and no ( realistic) amount of transfer market spending will change that.

Just remembered the 1980 LC semi 2nd leg at Parkhead but I'm sticking with my points.

Rangers away didn't end the cup run in 2010. I do agree with the rest of your points though. Throwing money about won't guarantee anything in the cup. Our best hope is beat Spartans, Rangers and Celtic draw each other and Rangers win, and we get a favourable draw. I think we can beat Rangers in a one off match. It really is the luck of the draw though.

To further dilute my argument Rangers away in the 2014 Semi as well.

Tek · 20/1/2026 6:16 pm

Stillliving wrote:
I'm in total agreement with the philosophy that football clubs should be run on a break even principle.
There are plenty of moans that JGs budget is poor but we still lost money last year.
When the next ' crises' hits the banking sector and it will come round again we need to be as stable an organisation as possible.

So agreeing with Finn really Celtic or Rangers away will end our Cup run , always has in the past and no ( realistic) amount of transfer market spending will change that.

Just remembered the 1980 LC semi 2nd leg at Parkhead but I'm sticking with my points.

We're going to sell Ferry this window. We've already sold Kucherencko.

No one is advocating for us to run at a loss.

Just that not all that money goes in Ogren's back pocket.

Genuine chances to win a Cup don't come around too often.

redford_must_score · 20/1/2026 6:24 pm

If we were to play all our remaining ties on neutral grounds surely the Cup is ours.

Arabdownsouth · 20/1/2026 6:32 pm

redford_must_score wrote:
If we were to play all our remaining ties on neutral grounds surely the Cup is ours.

Well let's win this one on our home ground first eh? 😋

redford_must_score · 20/1/2026 8:49 pm

Arabdownsouth wrote:
redford_must_score wrote:
If we were to play all our remaining ties on neutral grounds surely the Cup is ours.

Well let's win this one on our home ground first eh? 😋

Yes definitely ideally hopefully surely we will are you suggesting we won't 😀

Arabdownsouth · 20/1/2026 8:58 pm

redford_must_score wrote:
Arabdownsouth wrote:
redford_must_score wrote:
If we were to play all our remaining ties on neutral grounds surely the Cup is ours.

Well let's win this one on our home ground first eh? 😋

Yes definitely ideally hopefully surely we will are you suggesting we won't 😀

Im suggesting I fucking hope not! 🤣

redford_must_score · 20/1/2026 9:05 pm

Arabdownsouth wrote:
redford_must_score wrote:
Arabdownsouth wrote:

Well let's win this one on our home ground first eh? 😋

Yes definitely ideally hopefully surely we will are you suggesting we won't 😀

Im suggesting I fucking hope not! 🤣

I seem to recall we fought valiantly to overcome Stirling University at Tannadice, so I can't see anything other than a home win 😀
Could we maybe get Haddie #1 to stand on the 6 yard line and wait?

Macbonzo · 21/1/2026 7:38 pm

Tek wrote:
Stillliving wrote:
I'm in total agreement with the philosophy that football clubs should be run on a break even principle.
There are plenty of moans that JGs budget is poor but we still lost money last year.
When the next ' crises' hits the banking sector and it will come round again we need to be as stable an organisation as possible.

So agreeing with Finn really Celtic or Rangers away will end our Cup run , always has in the past and no ( realistic) amount of transfer market spending will change that.

Just remembered the 1980 LC semi 2nd leg at Parkhead but I'm sticking with my points.
We're going to sell Ferry this window. We've already sold Kucherencko.

No one is advocating for us to run at a loss.

Just that not all that money goes in Ogren's back pocket.

Genuine chances to win a Cup don't come around too often.

Ogren has been pretty clear that he wants to develop (younger) players and sell them on for a profit. I think he will take at least half of the proceeds to pay down some of the debt.

We all know Ogren is going nowhere. He will not engage with supporters if it means diluting his controlling interest. It is preposterous to think that he can recoup his “investment” and pay down his debt.

I see no reason why we can’t have a decent cup run. We do have some big game players, however our record in SC finals reads played 10, won 2, lost 8.