FIXTURES ANNOUNCED

It’s a tough opening few games for United (as it always seems to be), with at home to Aberdeen (30^th July) and then away at Celtic Park on the 6^th of August. What follows though will be one of the most anticipated events in recent memory for all Arabs – a European tie!! The draw has yet to be made, but the dates for the ties are the 11^th and 25^th of August. Of course no one knows which of these days will be home or away – but a European tie, we can’t wait. We enter the competition in the 2^nd qualifying round, then, if we win of course, it’s into the first round proper, and following that, those who progress, and hopefully that’ll be Dundee United, enter the group stages and many more guaranteed European games. Pipe dreams of course at the moment, but you never know.

The standard of football across Europe has increased rapidly and enormously since United were a decent European side, whereas, it has to be said, Scottish Football has declined in quality, including the national side, and in my opinion the standard of the domestic game too. In other words, we have as much chance of winning the UEFA Cup as we do of winning the league – we won’t. But we are in it, and it has to be every non-old-firm team’s ambition to qualify for Europe at the start of each season, and last season we did that, albeit through the cups. Personally this season, I’d just like to be away from any threat of relegation, and have a decent strong season – anything else would be a bonus.

Back to the league then and the most striking point to note is of course the absence of any derbies. Everyone must now know of DFC’s dispute with Livi over the team from Almondvale allegedly fielding an ineligible player, and as far as I’m aware – this dispute is not yet settled, so all hope for derby lovers is not yet lost.

We next play Hearts on the 14^th August, then ‘Well away on the 20^th, and we don’t play Rangers, a ‘banker’ for us (!) until the 15^th October.

But we have a wee rest before then, and this Arab, is moving house, and is glad of it!!

For a full list of fixtures please check the official website. I’d print them here but due to certain copyright restrictions they can only be reproduced in full by licence. Click here to see the list in full.

Shed Rule. Bring on the Sheep.