Two weeks ago Ivano Bonetti announced he was about to change the playing formation of his Dundee side and that this would unleash on the Scottish Premier League a type of football that would take it by storm. Although he said this new plan would not be revealed for 10 days I believe he tried it at least in part against United and St Mirren. 7 goals in two games against the bottom two clubs with none against is a record most teams would envy, even against the bottom clubs. He has given Georgi a free role to attack and support Caniggia and told his full backs to get up the park as extra forwards when we’re in possession.
With Nemsadze released from the shackles of having to play a deep central midfield role he is now revealing his God given dazzling skills in all their glory and looked a threat each time he stepped near the Saints box. If he was brilliant against United I thought he was majestic against St Mirren. With Falconer and Caniggia taking the brunt of the marking he made many, many incisive thrusts at the heart of the Saints defence and only the post denied him another visit to the score sheet.
And how Claudio Number 33 is revelling in the arrival of Georgi as his main
support can be seen by his performance today. The Emperor is getting
better every game and for those who say he has slowed he looked blistering
fast at times to me. His finishing and his general passing game was
simply top class. WE MUST FIND THE MONEY TO KEEP HIM FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER
SEASON. There will never be another number 33 like this one and when he
does eventually move on I hope we honour the genius who arrived out of the
mists to wear the Dark Blue and exalt us with his presence. Surely no one
can ever wear that hallowed number again. To a Dundee fan it’s as if God
has returned to Earth in human form. Speaking as one who has just turned
50, what in the world could make an ageing man wear a blonde woman’s wig to
a football match? Only Claudio El Pajoro, (The Bird), slightly ageing
himself, but with wings on his feet and a divine football brain, could ever
have made me do it, and do!
it gladly in his honour.
Falconer who many scoffed at (I did) as being seen a fitting sheath for the sword of the Argentine maestro, has also played his part in the last two games. He’s lost his pace, some of the sharpness has gone but the old guile and cunning is still there and he has seemed to rediscover his zest for the game playing alongside such a player. He played intelligently and thoughtfully. I’m a great fan of Juan Sara and I think he has lots to offer us this season, but at times he is impetuous and shoots from impossible angles when others are in better positions. That’s why at present I think Falconer has been the option taken by Bonetti. Juan needs a goal to boost his sagging confidence and I’m sure it will come soon. As I said, he still has a lot to give in the months to come.
Perhaps the biggest roar of the day greeted the goals by Gavin Rae and Steven Milne. At one time it looked like we were to lose Gav when he wasn’t in the plans, but showing tremendous dedication and belief in himself the gutsy Gav has won his place and held on to it with some great performances. None better than today’s when he tore St Mirren apart with some great tackling and surging runs. Stevie Milne is popular with the support, though we see more of him at pre match and half time kick abouts. When he deflected home a Sara shot the roof almost came off the Bobby Cox stand and when he thundered a rocket off the crossbar he received tumultuous applause. The Scots are beginning to exert their influence.
And talking of Scots, big Steven Tweed rose high above them all in my opinion with a majestic defensive performance against St Mirren. If we are to play an attacking formation with Nemsadze and Artero pushed forward as we did today and both wing backs overlapping the entire match of course there will be holes at the back. You can’t have it both ways. But when things were looking black and we were looking vulnerable in defence big Tweedio was there, heading away, clearing his lines and also at times being very creative in playing the ball out to team mates. The mans big enough to take the jibes from the fools who can’t see the talent that has emerged from last season’s liability. He’s playing a big, big part in the team’s rise this season.
Big Marco Rocatta (probably spelled wrongly) made one serious blunder early in the game when he allowed a simple catch to squirm out of his grasp, but he got away with it. After that he turned on a super performance and his 3 stunning saves in the second half when the game was not yet won showed the true qualities he has. I never thought I’d get over big Rab’s departure so quickly but this man has quality. Punching the ball instead of catching it at times is something we have to get used to. It is the Italian way, the way he has been taught, and he is proving himself a great shot stopper and fast winning over the Dundee fans.
Barry Smith had another fine game, and is it my imagination or is he attacking much more with the ball over the past couple of games than previously? His skill and commitment has never been in doubt, but sometimes I thought his distribution and use of the ball was not up to standards. But he is getting better every game and his vote of man of the match on the official site for the United game was a fitting reward for his efforts. He is proving himself an excellent captain in what I feel is a team of captains.
Marco Di Marchi did not impress me in the early games. He looked too risky as he seemed to like pushing players off the ball or playing far too casually. But after his comeback from injury he has added a solid look to central defence and he is excellent on the ball. As I’ve said before our defence will be prone to setbacks in the games to come if Ivano persists in his new cavalier spirit, attacking approach, (and I pray he does). But with the likes of Marco and Stevanio Tweedio and great talent like Wilkie in reserve, we should survive this.
I was a fan of his the first time I saw Marcello Marocco play against Raith in the pre season friendly. Though some murmured at his lack of marking and other points I saw class shine through even then and I’m pleased he has came onto a fine game and has won over the hearts of the fans with some brilliant performances. I would go so far as to say he was one of the best signings Ivano has made as he plays the Scottish style, hard as nails, persistent, though with added skill and class in the continental style.
Javier Artero has not had it easy to date and the fans have been getting on his back. Only in flashes has he shown the rapier thrust of last season and the deadly finishing displayed against Motherwell in the first game of the season. But when he does show these flashes he’s dynamite, fast, tricky and deadly. The fact that Ivano has persisted with him with such fine talent as Carranza waiting on the sidelines shows the great respect he has for the man. And if he says Javier’s the choice, that’s good enough for me. Perhaps Beto’s dawn has yet to come and before the season’s end he will be yet another song in our Dundee F.C. hymn book. Carranza I do believe has a lot to offer us yet and will do before the season’s over. And Javier’s goal against Saints will do his confidence no harm and will, I hope, lead to his return to top form.
Alessandro Romano came on late, having just got over a stomach problem, and I must confess I didn’t rate him when he first arrived. However, he was coming onto a series of fine performances before he had to miss a few matches and I like his hardness and his commitment.
Last but not least in this rundown of players from the St Mirren game, the man himself, IVANO BONETTI. Though youth has long since left him he still has the zest for the game and a freshness about his play that you would expect of one half his age. He certainly puts himself about when he’s on the park. And let’s not forget that the Marrs excepted, this team would not be there to be seen in all it’s glory by us Dees fans who have waited years to be entertained in such fine style, but for Ivano. Apparantly he was asked to make a speech in the High Corner Bar last Saturday after the Derby. When he asked for silence he began by saying “I have only a few words for you.” Then he burst into the old DFC Song – “When I Was Walking Through the Overgait, I Met Wee Johnny Scobie.” This brought the rafters down and the entire pub burst into song and finished it for him with great gusto. That sums up our present Manager. I just couldn’t see Jocky Scott or any other Premier! Manager pulling that one off.
Thank you Ivano, for answering our prayers. We got waylaid a wee bit over the past month or so, but we’re back and the Revolution’s still on course. And we’re marching behind you (with a swagger again), in search of the land of milk and honey, with our blonde wigs on and our scarves and flags. Another 3 points closer to the Promised Land and back to 5th spot in the league.