Courier Talking Football

On this special SJFC-focused edition of the Courier Talking Football podcast, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton are joined by broadcaster, author, all-round media giant (and St Johnstone super fan) Stuart Cosgrove to discuss Saints' 2021/22 campaign. From the highs of European action to the last-gasp relief of the play-offs , no stone is left unturned as our Perth trio ponder: "What on earth happened?!"

On this special edition of the Courier Talking Football podcast, the Courier's Dundee FC writer George Cran is joined by Twa Teams, One Street regular Graeme Finnan and former Guardian, Independent, Sunday Telegraph and Times football writer (and proud Dundee supporter) Patrick Barclay to discuss the Dark Blues' relegation season - and how they can bounce back at the first time of asking.

Dundee United are back in Europe. It hasn’t always been pretty, but rookie boss Tam Courts got the job done and the Arabs can dust off their passports for the first time in the decade. The Courier’s United reporter Alan Temple helms a look back at the 2021/22 campaign — from Courts’ contentious appointment to the incredible scenes in Dingwall — in the company of former Terrors midfielder Craig Easton and Courier columnist Jim Spence. We also have an exclusive interview with Ryan Edwards as the Tannadice skipper gives his thoughts on the past 12 months.

On this week's Courier Talking Football, Eric Nicolson, Jim Spence and Sean Hamilton discuss Dundee's relegation to the Championship, their move to promote Gordon Strachan to director of football and the first big task facing the ex-Scotland boss. The guys also hail Dundee United's return to European action after a long absence and weigh up St Johnstone's chances against either Arbroath or Inverness Caley Thistle in the play-offs.

This week on the Courier Talking Football, Eric Nicolson, Jim Spence and Sean Hamilton discuss Dundee United's four-point advantage over Motherwell in the race for Europe, St Johnstone's apparent lack of heart at JUST the wrong time and whether that means winless in 10 Dundee could yet claim the Premiership play-off place.

On this week's Courier Talking Football, Jim Spence, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss a Dundee derby with memory-making potential for Europe-chasing Dundee United and relegation-battling Dundee. Are United fans out for revenge for the "Doon Derby"? Are Dundee fans hopeful their team could deny the Tangerines a top six spot? Will "big game players" Tony Watt and Charlie Adam be central to events at Tannadice? Also up for discussion, St Johnstone's crucial victories over Motherwell and Livingston - and the season-changing influence of Callum Hendry.

Dundee United promised much and delivered little for their fans in a meek Scottish Cup exit to Celtic. In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Alan Temple, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson look back on a dispiriting Tannadice performance. Also discussed are supporter apathy towards Dundee and supporter fury towards John Nelms. And can St Johnstone take advantage of their big opportunity to pile the misery on for the Dark Blues by beating Motherwell? Or will the Saints fluff their lines?

Dundee and St Johnstone both got draws away from home at the weekend to preserve the status quo in the Tayside relegation battle. In this week’s Courier Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson analyse both clubs’ strategies for the Premiership basement head-to-head and consider whether a high risk, high reward approach should trump pragmatism. Also on the agenda are Dundee's game in hand against St Mirren and Nadir Ciftci's worrying form for Saints. Dundee United, meanwhile, are walking a tightrope, with dropping to 10th and rising to fourth both realistic possibilities.

On this week's Courier Talking Football, Eric Nicolson, Jim Spence and Sean Hamilton discuss a potentially season-defining week ahead for relegation rivals Dundee and St Johnstone. Will Callum Davidson's faith in his preferred system be vindicated by new arrivals? Should Mark McGhee have to win fans over at Dundee? Meanwhile, at Tannadice, the race is well and truly on for a European spot as Tam Courts targets a stunning first season in top flight management.

On this week's Courier Talking Football, Eric Nicolson is joined by Jim Spence, Alan Temple and Sean Hamilton to discuss the sacking of James McPake and the appointment of Mark McGhee by Dundee. Was the timing right? Was McPake hard done by? What was Gordon Strachan's role? And will it save the Dark Blues' season? Also up for discussion: St Johnstone under pressure, Dundee United's upturn and Raith Rovers' post-Goodwillie manoeuvres.

On this week's Courier Talking Football, Jim Spence, Alan Temple and Sean Hamilton discuss the motives, misjudgements and monumental fallout from Raith Rovers' signing of David Goodwillie. What were the Stark's Park club thinking, will heads roll and can the damage done be healed, both on and off the park? The lads also round up the transfer deadline day action at Dundee United, Dundee and St Johnstone and preview the weekend's fixtures.  

It’s a month when transfer ins and outs make the headlines. But at Dundee United it was a man who has been a Tannadice for a few years grabbing the glory in midweek. In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson discuss a player who, like Stephen Dobbie, is maturing into an all-round forward with several good years left in him. Also on the agenda are the baby steps St Johnstone and Dundee are taking towards potential Premiership safety, their new recruits and the next Dundee derby.

This week, Eric Nicolson, Jim Spence and Sean Hamilton discuss the nine consecutive defeats that have sent St Johnstone to the bottom of the Premiership, the six-in-a-row that have Dundee hovering just above them - and the six losses on the spin that have seen United fall out of the top six. Callum Davidson, James McPake and Tam Courts are feeling the pressure - but what can they do to ease it?

With Jim Spence busy studying for his motorbike driving test, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton are joined by special guests - and arguably the best Dundee United double act since Narey and Hegarty - Sean Dillon and Ally Heather. The guys discuss United's 'ballsy' approach to the January transfer window, St Johnstone's capture of ex-Dillon Tannadice teammate Nadir Ciftci and the ongoing Leigh Griffiths saga at Dundee.  

St Johnstone have hit the ground running in the January transfer window, as have Dundee United. In this week's Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson discuss the business both clubs have concluded and the possible transformative effect strikers Nadir Ciftci and Tony Watt may have. Possible high profile departures, Leigh Griffiths and Jason Cummings, dominate the Dundee agenda. Have Kilmarnock effectively ended the Championship title race with the appointment of Derek McInnes? And who is Dick Campbell trying to kid?

Jeando Fuchs is one of Dundee United’s key men but is there a danger of the midfielder “switching off” as speculation about his departure from Tannadice builds? In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Alan Temple and Eric Nicolson discuss his situation and the problem Calum Butcher has caused manager Tam Courts. Dundee righting the wrong of their disastrous last game against Ross County, the merits of St Johnstone signing Jamie Walker and Raith Rovers’ title credentials are among the other topics on the agenda.

The mood in the Dundee and St Johnstone camps couldn’t be more different after Wednesday night’s triumph for the Dark Blues and depressing defeat for the Perth men. In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson discuss whether the home side should be raising their sights and if the visitors can get to the January transfer window without serious damage being done. Also on the agenda is Dundee United’s squad depth, or rather, the lack of it, and Tony Asghar’s statement.

There has been the appointment of a new captain and a bit of off-field politics at Dundee United this week. On the pitch, the Tangerines are now faced with a trip to play Ross County and manager Tam Courts is expecting a “frosty reception” in Dingwall. Jim Spence and Eric Nicolson cover all the Tannadice talking points and assess a crossroads week for the other two Tayside Premiership clubs, St Johnstone and Dundee. Also on the agenda are Arbroath’s promotion credentials and a feel good factor returning to Dunfermline just in time.

St Johnstone are seeking to make it three cup finals in a row when they face Celtic at Hampden Park. In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson assess the Perth side’s chances, Callum Davidson’s team selection and the opposition weaknesses they can seek to exploit. For Dundee United, there’s a new signing from Ghana, a game against Aberdeen and the success of former players at Scotland level to discuss. John Hughes taking over at Dunfermline is also on the agenda.

The next Dunfermline manager will be going straight into a high-pressure job of keeping the Pars in the Championship. In this week’s Talking Football podcast Jim Spence, Alan Temple and Eric Nicolson assess the potential candidates and whether the club’s German owners will be pragmatic, take a risk, or find a middle road. We also discuss the seriousness of their predicament, as well as the promotion credentials of Raith Rovers and Arbroath. Also on the agenda are Dundee United’s latest off-field appointments, St Johnstone’s ability to grind out results and need for goals, and Dundee’s soon-to-be season-defining spell of fixtures.