Dundee United v Slask Wroclaw: David Goodwillie tipped to make mark on Europe
Dundee United striker David Goodwillie has been backed by team-mate Scott Severin to fire the Tannadice club into the next round of the Europa League.
David Goodwillie.
- By Eric Nicolson
- Published in the Courier : 21.07.11
- Published online : 21.07.11 @ 09.45am
Severin likened the Scotland international to Hearts legend John Robertson and insisted he will put his glaring miss in the first leg in Poland behind him and come good tonight.
United have to overturn a one-goal deficit to progress in the competition and the marksman, rated at £2 million, is their best bet.
Severin said, "When I was younger at Hearts there was John Robertson at the club who was a great finisher.
"Goodie is up there with the best finishers I've ever played with."
He added, "Goodie is so confident now that he'll find the back of the net no problem.
"If he gets one then he's more than likely to go and get another one."
United were written off in most quarters when the draw was made, but the way last week's match panned out has filled Peter Houston's men with confidence.
Severin said, "We were delighted with the way it went over there in Poland.
"Nobody really gave us much of a chance and, with such a short pre-season, everything was crammed in really quickly.
"So we've taken a lot of heart from the way we went away from home and performed as a team."
Tangerines confident
He added, "On our day we're confident of beating anybody, especially on our own pitch.
"This will be no different."
Severin said, "We need to start well and they'll probably sit in and try to hit us on the counter-attack.
"If we can get in behind them like the way we did when we created chances for Goodie and Johnny Russell then I think we'll be in with a really good shout of winning the match."
Severin (32) is happy to take on the role of seasoned veteran in a youthful United team.
He said, "I've played a few times in Europe with Aberdeen and Hearts so hopefully I can put that experience to good use.
"We're still a pretty young side so I'll be looking to help the lads and so will the likes of Jon Daly and Sean Dillon, who fall into that experienced bracket.
"European football brings different demands but I think we showed last week that we adapted well to it and hopefully we do the same again tomorrow."
He added, "Dundee United achieved a lot in Europe in the early 1980s.
"It's a long time ago now but we want to try and get back to the days when the club performed regularly on the European stage.
"I would like to think this is the first step towards having a good European run this season."
European aim
Manager Peter Houston is drawing on the glory nights under the Tannadice floodlights as inspiration.
He said, "Every single season since I came to this club five years ago our aim has always been to qualify for Europe.
"Last season we came in at a later stage and drew a quality side in AEK Athens."
He added, "This year we were hoping that, with coming in a round earlier, we would get an easier tie — but Slask definitely aren't that.
"We couldn't have picked a harder one.
"We were away from home in the first leg, which we wanted, and being one down isn't an ideal situation, let's be honest about it."
Houston said, "We want to re-enact these big European nights.
"I remember watching them on TV when I was younger and the likes of Paul Hegarty were playing."
He added, "That was a fantastic Dundee United side.
"It had more seasoned campaigners than I've got just now but Tannadice can be rocking again."
'If you don't have a go, you're out'
Houston said, "We'd like another of those nights and for the fans to get right behind us.
"If we can do our job, not lose an early goal and put them under pressure then everything's to play for."
Houston has assured the fans they won't go out of the competition with a whimper.
"We'll certainly have a go," he said.
"I'm a great believer that in cup football if you don't have a go, you're out.
"As the game goes on we'll be vulnerable to the counter-attack but that's what we'll have to do."
Getting the better of the Polish side is in itself no tougher a task than defeating the Old Firm.
But Houston said, "Rangers and Celtic don't come to Tannadice and sit behind the ball, but Slask will.
"That's what they do in their league and it's what they did against us in the first leg."
Garry Kenneth and Danny Swanson should both be in the squad.
United fans can pay at the gate at the West Stand and Polish fans in the Jerry Kerr Stand.
10.21am - 21.07.2011 I Smith - Dundee, UK Report This
If Goodwillie was even half the player he is touted to be he would already be an automatic choice for Scotland and playing in a decent league, the most obvious one being the top English one.
11.54am - 21.07.2011 Leslie - Fife, Scotland Report This
I echo the above, who is David Goodwillie? Scoring against Rangers and Celtic doesn't automatically make someone a good player. If it was Manchester City, United Chelsea, Arsenal, etc, then I'd listen.
03.57pm - 21.07.2011 WKS - manchester, Poland !! Report This
TYYYYYYYYYLKO SLASK !!!!
06.02pm - 21.07.2011 jakub - aa, USA/POLAND Report This
don't play the underdog card because Slask was/is most definitely the underdog in both legs... I mean who the hell even heard of Slask Wroclaw before? Dundee just blew it and I hope that Slask goes through! As a little history lesson, last time these two met in the UEFA Cup Dundee won 7-2...
12.30pm - 22.07.2011 Gus - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Jakub, you are, as they say in these parts, talking mince. In terms of size, honours, etc, Slask are by far the bigger side. Any self-respecting fan will have heard of them. And one other thing, this wasn't Dundee, it wiz the ither .lot ;-(
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