Arresting developments

DUNDEE UNITED 0 RANGERS 3 Subs: Lilley for Miller 68, Gunnlaugsson for O'Donnell 80.

Not used: Jarvie, McCunnie, Paterson Booked: Easton 59 Referee: J Rowbotham.

Subs: Caniggia for de Boer 66, Konterman for Muscat 75.

Not used: McGregor, Dodds, Latapy.

Attendance: 10,013

ALEX Smith will have to hope that Dundee United's new chairman has not developed a taste for culling another of the club's old guard. On Friday it will be 33 years since Smith became a manager at Stenhousemuir. Back in 1969, when he was a young thing himself, ideas were already forming in his mind about how wee football clubs would only succeed by ploughing their energy into youth development.

Thirty-three years has not been enough for Smith. Yesterday he was asking for more time - for himself, and any manager attempting to rear young players - after watching his coltish team being dismantled by Rangers.

This was the first time since 1971 that Dundee United had played a match without having to answer to Jim McLean, as manager or shareholder. New chairman Eddie Thompson removed McLean in a bloodless coup but time will tell if his vision for a modern, reinvigorated club includes an old stager such as Smith in the manager's office.

Only 3,600 watched United at Tannadice midweek and empty seats proliferated again among the home stands yesterday. United have won only once all season and the club must battle against a perception that they possess unexceptional players.

Smith is enthusiastic and convincing on youth development but knows, more than most, that managers who devote themselves to a club's future can become victims of the here-and-now.

Having been a successful businessman since 1964 he could survive without football, he said, but the management flame still burns. "All I'm saying is, from a professional point of view, time is necessary. I will say that to the chairman, to the board, or to the supporters. The biggest thing at this club has to be the development of young players.

"We are a young side and still very much learning the game. We have a team and a squad where the majority of players came through the system here. It will require patience and will-power to allow them to develop in a way that takes Dundee United back to the levels they were at in the past."

It seemed a far distant past, yesterday, as Rangers extended their unbeaten run at a ground where they have not lost a league match since October 1997. The club with links to Harrods beat the one from Morning, Noon and Night, not that any other result was likely.

Next Sunday's Old Firm game will provide the first indication of Rangers' ability to deal with Celtic but little doubt remains over their capacity to clear any other Premierleague hurdle. They have won eight consecutive matches since their opening day draw at Kilmarnock and are within one of the SPL record of seven consecutive clean sheets.

Playing 4-3-3 leaves the side vulnerable to pressure down the wings against opposition of comparable quality, but it allows their creative players a freedom to assert themselves and stretch teams such as United.

Rangers passed their way around Tannadice with aplomb. Barry Ferguson and Mikel Arteta's elegant contributions were protected by the muscular presence of Fernando Ricksen. That enabled Ferguson and Arteta to spray passes left or right for Peter Lovenkrands or Ronald de Boer.

With de Boer bringing a strut and pomp to his game for the second consecutive match United would always find it difficult to live with them.

At long last a Rangers player is emerging who offers the side genuine menace from set-pieces. Arteta brings imagination and variety to Rangers' attacks.

Against Livingston two weeks ago, and Partick Thistle last weekend, he attempted to surprise the goalkeeper with long-range shots when crosses were by far the most obvious option. Similarly, he surprised Tannadice yesterday with a free-kick which was closer to goal but at an unpromising angle. Near the goalline, and with United's crowded penalty area anticipating a cross, Arteta instead whipped in a vicious shot which Paul Gallacher did well to push on to the underside of the bar.

By then another Arteta free-kick had provided the game's opening goal. Danny Griffin brought down Ricksen to allow Arteta a free-kick inside the United half. Rangers sent the big men forward and United failed to respond, as they had done from similar threats earlier in the match. Arteta floated a cross into the penalty area and Amoruso, his run untracked, rose to connect with a firm header.

It was hardly uncharacteristic for Amoruso to dig out a response like that after criticism. Dick Advocaat's comments about the former captain were barbed and Amoruso's willingness to appear for the press after the game was a calculated move to ensure his quotes and pictures would be prominent today. Naturally, he thought himself above the need to respond in kind. "Advocaat has his own view about what he did in his three-and-a-half years at Rangers as manager, and I have my own view." Amoruso and others mentioned by Advocaat met the former manager last week and peace was established.

Rangers were made to wait until first-half injury time for their second, but the goal signified the flowing, stylish quality with which they opened the match and controlled the first half. Ferguson began the move with a searching pass down the right wing for de Boer to chase.

It was an invitation for de Boer to demonstrate his class and he seized it. The intelligence he displayed in delaying his return pass until Ferguson had reached the penalty area was matched only by the careful accuracy of his delivery. Ferguson raced on to it to smash an emphatic side-footed shot high into the corner of Gallacher's net.

"I thought the players showed in the first five minutes that they were really up for the game," said McLeish. "If we approach every game in that state of mind and that mentality we can make life difficult for teams."

United had second half possession yet all the notable scoring opportunities were on Gallacher's goal. It was three with 18 minutes left. Arteta's sweet pass found Claudio Caniggia near the touchline and his low cross was met in the six-yard box by Shota Arveladze, who forced the ball past Gallacher at the second attempt.

Copyright 2002
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