Courier Talking Football

Tam Courts has added a new string to his managerial bow – showing he can learn from a mistake and sort it out quickly. In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson discuss what the Dundee United boss got wrong against St Johnstone and why he should be commended for the way he responded. And predictions are made for the game of the weekend at Tynecastle – Hearts v United. Also on the agenda are St Johnstone’s second half issues, Dundee’s fixture list misfortune, the Dunfermline managerial dilemma and the return of Maurice Ross.

For this special edition published on all three of DC Thomson Media’s football podcasts, Michael McEwan and author Steve Finan take a nostalgic trip over the turnstiles, up and down the terraces, and deep into the history of those most holy places: the nation’s football stadiums. Steve’s new books show 700 never-before-seen photos of everything from the giant stadiums of Glasgow, right down to the smaller but no less revered shrines of football around the country – especially on our home patches in Tayside and across the north of Scotland. Michael leads a conversation that touches on why Ibrox once had a paddling pool, and fears of forky-tailies at Tannadice, by way of Firhill vegetable patches and tips on how to find Scotland’s incredible (but secret) store of football knowledge. You can get £5 off the Lifted Over The Turnstiles 2 & 3 books using the code PODCAST5 at checkout at https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/ until November 22, 2021. For more sport podcasts from DC Thomson Media, tap the links belo

Dundee manager James McPake is facing up to the fall-out from the horror show against Ross County. Fans are calling for him to be sacked, one of his star players was substituted before the first half was over and he has a big central midfield problem. In this week's Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson reflect on a traumatic night for Dundee supporters at Dens Park and assess whether it is a retrievable situation for the under-fire boss. There is also build-up to Saturday's clash between Dundee United and St Johnstone, as well as a tribute to Scottish football legend Walter Smith.

Dundee are in desperate need of star quality against Aberdeen on Saturday, with comeback men Charlie Adam and Leigh Griffiths their two players with the highest profile. Only one of them has looked capable of providing the spark James McPake requires for such a crucial match between struggling sides - and it hasn't been the on-loan Celtic striker. In this week's Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson get stuck into the talking points ahead of the weekend Premiership clash at Dens Park. Also up for discussion are the prospect of Dundee United leapfrogging Hibs and St Johnstone picking up where they left off against Livingston.

The Dundee players aren't happy that their bonus payments haven't been settled and the Dundee fans aren't happy with what they saw at McDiarmid Park on Saturday. In this week's Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson assess the implications of the two Dens Park news-lines. Also on the agenda - have Dundee United found the missing piece of the jigsaw, are St Johnstone about to put the foot down and what on earth is happening at East End Park?

Tam Courts is putting a Dundee United team on the pitch that the fans are enjoying watching. And he's also showed the confidence to distance himself from the manager whose team he inherited at Tannadice. In this week's Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson discuss the United boss's growing stature and the exciting team he and Tony Asghar have assembled. Also on the agenda are Dundee's continuing striker crisis and the opportunity that has presented itself against a new-look St Johnstone central defence this weekend.

This isn’t a normal episode of The Courier Talking Football. Football’s been away for so long, and getting fans back into the grounds for the derby last weekend felt like an important moment to celebrate. We wanted to capture the magic of getting football back, and so we clipped a mic to a fan as he headed into the ground for this most special of city club clashes. He happens to be a United fan, and we all now know what the result was by the time the final whistle blew – but this little quarter-hour experiment is not about United, or Dundee for that matter. It’s about all of us as football fans, and about what the game means to us, to our families, our friends and to our city. Put on some headphones. Have a listen. Share with your pals. Let us know what you think. Normal service will be resumed shortly.

Can Dundee’s team of maverick attacking talents get a rare Tannadice victory? Is James McPake winning the pre-match mind games? And will Tam Courts try to take the emotion out of the occasion and turn it into a tactical battle that suits his strengths? All these Dundee city derby issues and more are on the agenda in this week’s podcast with Jim Spence, Alan Temple, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson. We also delve into the calamitous start to the season for Dunfermline and whether Peter Grant should already have been sacked. And are St Johnstone getting Aberdeen at the right time?

In Leigh Griffiths, James McPake made a signing for Dundee that has raised expectations. In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson discuss the extra pressure recruiting the division’s most talented goal scorer puts on his manager and the importance of beating bottom side, Livingston. The games before the Dundee derby for the Dark Blues and United are on the agenda, as is the price of a ticket next weekend. Also, can St Johnstone banish the deadline day depression and is Peter Grant already doomed at Dunfermline?

St Johnstone fans woke up with a footballing hangover they've not been used to for a long time. Ali McCann and Jason Kerr have been sold and many supporters reacted furiously to the combined transfer fee. In this week's Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson assess whether any damage beyond the inevitable on-pitch loss has been done. Also on the agenda is Dundee's recruitment of one of their favourite sons, Leigh Griffiths and Dundee United's refresh.

Gordon Strachan is now in the unique position of having jobs with two different Premiership clubs - Dundee and Celtic. In this week's Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson discuss whether this is a conflict of interest. Also on the agenda is Lawrence Shankland's departure and the possibility of Dundee United improving without him, St Johnstone's clash with Galatasaray and the weekend Premier Sports Cup last-16 ties.

In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson reflect on a memorable Istanbul occasion for St Johnstone, Tam Courts’ first league match in charge of Dundee United, and ask do Dundee have a perfect opportunity to beat Celtic? For 20% off the beautiful book ‘Arabs Away’, go to https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/ and use the code ARABS20 at checkout. Offer ends 8 August 2021; see https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/terms-and-conditions for full terms and conditions. 

Can St Johnstone succeed in Europe and get back to Hampden? How high should Dundee set their sights? Do Dundee United need to sell before they can buy? For 20% off the beautiful book ‘Arabs Away’, go to https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/ and use the code ARABS20 at checkout. Offer ends 8 August 2021; see https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/terms-and-conditions for full terms and conditions.

Dundee United have reshaped their backroom team as part of the Tam Courts era, St Johnstone fans deserve to see Galatasaray in Perth and it’s exciting times for Dunfermline. For 20% off the beautiful book ‘Arabs Away’, go to https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/ and use the code ARABS20 at checkout. Offer ends 8 August 2021; see https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/terms-and-conditions for full terms and conditions.

On this week's Courier Talking Football, Sean Hamilton, Jim Spence and Alan Temple talk Tam Courts giving United's top kids a chance in the Premier Sports Cup, Paul McMullan's motivation to prove himself a Premiership player for Dundee, St Johnstone's hopes of keeping their cup double-winning stars together and Dunfermline's Championship title ambitions. For 20% off the beautiful book ‘Arabs Away’, go to https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/ and use the code ARABS20 at checkout. Offer ends 8 August 2021; see https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/terms-and-conditions for full terms and conditions. 

The flip side of St Johnstone’s double success is becoming apparent now that a number of their Hampden heroes are in demand from clubs in England. Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson assess who are the likely leavers and what the implications will be next season. Also up for debate in this week's Talking Football podcast is Dundee United pulling out of the race to sign Jake Doyle-Hayes. For 15% off the beautiful book ‘We Had A Dream: Scotland Internationals in the Black & White Era’, go to https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/ and use the code DREAM15 at checkout. Offer ends 11 July 2021; see https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/terms-and-conditions for full terms and conditions. 

The European Championships are over for Scotland but the post-mortem for Steve Clarke and his players has just begun. In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence gives his rating for the national coach at Euro 2020 – and it’s a fail. Also, with Benjamin Siegrist potentially heading for the Dundee United exit for less than £500,000, what fee could the Tangerines demand for Lawrence Shankland - and is anybody likely to come in for him? For 15% off the beautiful book ‘We Had A Dream: Scotland Internationals in the Black & White Era’, go to https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/ and use the code DREAM15 at checkout. Offer ends 11 July 2021; see https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/terms-and-conditions for full terms and conditions. 

Pre-tournament optimism has evaporated and Scotland now face a daunting trip to Wembley to keep their Euro 2020 last-16 hopes alive. In the latest Courier Talking Football podcast Jim Spence, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton assess the chances of an upset in London. Also on the agenda is Tam Courts' first signing as Dundee United boss, Charlie Mulgrew, and the Premiership fixture list. Fathers’ Day campaign  For 15% off our beautiful football and rugby nostalgia titles, perfect for the sport-loving dad or grandad in your life on Father’s Day, go to https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/ and use the code GIFT15 at checkout. Eligible titles are: Celtic in the Black and White Era, Dark Blue Blood, Jim McLean: Dundee United Legend, Lifted Over The Turnstiles, Rangers in the Black and White Era, Team Game, The Red Army and We Had A Dream. Offer ends 16 June 2021; see https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/terms-and-conditions for full terms and conditions. 

Dundee United's new management team is in place. In this week's Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson discuss the risks and rewards of appointing Tam Courts to the role of head coach, new contracts for James McPake and Dave Mackay at Dundee and St Johnstone star Jason Kerr's recognition by everybody except the Scotland manager. For 15% off our beautiful football and rugby nostalgia titles, perfect for the sport-loving dad or grandad in your life on Father’s Day, go to https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/ and use the code GIFT15 at checkout. Eligible titles are: Celtic in the Black and White Era, Dark Blue Blood, Jim McLean: Dundee United Legend, Lifted Over The Turnstiles, Rangers in the Black and White Era, Team Game, The Red Army and We Had A Dream. Offer ends 16 June 2021; see https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/terms-and-conditions for full terms and conditions. 

There will be no change of mind as far as Dundee United's direction of travel and the type of manager they will be appointing, according to Jim Spence. The Courier columnist joins Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton to discuss a quiet week at Tannadice, a busier one at Dens Park, Guy Melamed's St Johnstone departure and Scotland's draw against the Netherlands. For 15% off our beautiful football and rugby nostalgia titles, perfect for the sport-loving dad or grandad in your life on Father’s Day, go to https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/ and use the code GIFT15 at checkout. Eligible titles are: Celtic in the Black and White Era, Dark Blue Blood, Jim McLean: Dundee United Legend, Lifted Over The Turnstiles, Rangers in the Black and White Era, Team Game, The Red Army and We Had A Dream. Offer ends 16 June 2021; see https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/terms-and-conditions for full terms and conditions.