PatReilly wrote:

Pleased, on the surface, at this signing for next season.

But three slight concerns:

1) why would you sign for a club when you don't know what division they will be in next season?

2) what type of wage are United offering, again when we don't know what league we will be in next season?

3) why, each time James Keatings has been at a club which has been promoted (three times, Hamilton, Hearts and Hibs), has he promptly left to stay in the Championship (obviously, I'm hoping this changes this time)?  

I thought about it this afternoon..

Assume he has been told he will be first choice
And he will be taking a fair wage drop to join us. Alot of top earners will be leaving in a few weeks time, also imagine ray and thompson has sat down and spoke about next seasons budget for the championship and premier.

Thats my thoughts on it anyway.

The guy seems to ge a decent player which is a bonus.

I find it strange though that we're signing players before the play offs are over, is this guy good enough to play in the SPL if we fluke promotion?

As far as Murray for next season if we've got genuine ambition he cannot be 1st or 2nd choice for us he's simply not good enough.

On paper he seems like a decent player at Championship level.But is he good enough for the Premiership?Which is (of course) where we want to be again come August.

My other slight concern tbh is signing players before the season is even over.

Not trying to be a dick but there's a good chance i will want McKinnon as far away from Tannadice as possible come Friday night.I probably won't be alone in this.

I feel the club is going into yet another pivotal Summer rebuild but this time the recruitment has to be 100% spot-on.No more Toshneys,no more Nicholls,no more Van Der Veldens.

Do you really trust Ray to get that recruitment correct even with the help of his mate from Lochee Utd.

I don't,sadly.

Tek wrote:

On paper he seems like a decent player at Championship level.But is he good enough for the Premiership?Which is (of course) where we want to be again come August.

My other slight concern tbh is signing players before the season is even over.

Not trying to be a dick but there's a good chance i will want McKinnon as far away from Tannadice as possible come Friday night.I probably won't be alone in this.

I feel the club is going into yet another pivotal Summer rebuild but this time the recruitment has to be 100% spot-on.No more Toshneys,no more Nicholls,no more Van Der Veldens.

Do you really trust Ray to get that recruitment correct even with the help of his mate from Lochee Utd.

I don't,sadly.

Come friday? I know now i dont want ray anywhere near tannadice next season. Sadly he will be unless he walks.

Recruitment has been our issue. And as you say needs to be spot on this time around. And he hasnt really impressed with the majority of who he has signed but when i heard keatings name i did think thats a good player for us and didnt expect it to happen. Seems to be a mixed response on this one and hoping he does the job for us.
 

If we'd started badly but came with a run at the end I'd cut him some slack but watching him and the team since xmas I've absolutely no confidence in him either building a team or getting us up next season.

Finishing 3rd was a disgrace

Arabnophobia wrote:

Hibs forum comments on him joining us...

http://www.hibs.net/showthread.php?321505-Keatings-signed-for-the-arabs

 
Reading those comments the majority of Hibs are sad to see him go but more due to the sentiment of him being part of the cup winning side last year. Many seem to say he was inconsistent but had a spark that could change a game(something we do need)

Wasn't getting much game time at Hibs this season so likely Ray telling him he will be a regular starter was a big factor in him signing.

Think it's a good signing for us though

Ray will definitely be here next season, mind him saying that his remit was to at least make the play offs and he's done that. There's been a lot of talk about he had to rebuild after he inherited the team at the end of last season, my concern is that I don't think the club is any further forward a year later.

However heard he was saying at a ULT Q&A that he's wanting 13 players gone, chief among them was Spittal who he doesn't rate, alluded to him being signed by the previous management in the hope of selling on for a profit. Says he only wants to sign players aged between 23-28 and that any youth should be coming through from within the club. So it certainly sounds like it's going to be a busy summer at the club

SuperMario wrote:

I wouldn't keep any who are out of contract

 
I'm sure the majority of the 13 players are out of contract. Most of them should have been let go after we got relegated but obviously finances dictated otherwise.

Really don't see many of the 13 staying.

Time to get rid of high wages, fragile heads and wasters.

I'd love to keep kuate and big Phil. Obviously andreu too but highly unlikely. Wouldn't be bothered if we kept Murdoch but equally not too bothered if he goes.

Hopefully ray puts together a squad with guile pace and width - something fans love to see and we can move on from where we are.

Tough ask to motivate players who know they arent getting contracts at the end of the season. Maybe our slump in form goes back to players being told?

I heard on Friday that Phil is desperate to stay. He's proven his worth IMO. 
 

Done deals: Keatings,

Possible signings: King, Taylor-Sinclair and Devlin

Players that will be here next season (in contract): Bell, Long Ballantyne, Donaldon, Toshney, Durnan, Edge, Robson, Allardice, Fraser, Murrell

Out of contrcat Players I would like to keep: Kaute, Spittal.

On loan players I'd like to sign: Andreu and Mikkelson

Players Im happy to see the back of: Zwick, VDS, Donaldson, Toshney, Dixon, Flood, Telfer, Murray

The clear out starts.
 

Last edited by Arab87 (09/5/2017 3:26 pm)

What Dundee United are getting in Hibs striker James Keatings- from the Scotsman this evening.......





http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/dundee-united/what-dundee-united-are-getting-in-hibs-striker-james-keatings-1-4442468/amp

48 goals in 93 starts according to http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/james-keatings-i-m-sad-to-quit-hibs-but-i-had-to-put-career-first-1-4442425

Not too shabby a return.