‘There’s only two teams in Scotland.’ A chant that is proven year in year out. Rangers and Celtic rule supreme north of the border, and no matter how hard Sky Sports try to make the rest of the Scottish Premier League seem interesting, most English fans will not give anyone else a second look. That is until now. The Scots have another exciting team full of skilful continental players that isn’t from Glasgow. Dundee have arrived and are stirring the calm reassuring waters of the Scottish Premier League.
The Dundee board took a huge step forward when they appointed ex-Juventus star Ivano Bonetti as their player/manager. Bonetti, who is known in England for his spells with Grimsby, Tranmere and Crystal Palace (oh and for the black eye given to him by Brian Laws), has already managed to raise Dundee’s profile sky high. He has added his brother Dario Bonetti to the coaching staff giving Dens Park a whole new outlook.
David Young, from the Official Dundee Website, expresses how quickly the fans have taken to the Italian’s reign: “Dundee fans in general have taken to the Bonetti revolution enthusiastically. There are hundreds of Italian strips being worn amongst the support and there is a vast difference in the standard of football.” Undoubtedly, Dundee’s performances so far this season, which includes an impressive 1-1 draw with Rangers, have brightened the normally dark cavern that is the SPL.
Bonetti has brought in a number of top quality signings that have the Dundee fans salivating from the mouth. Young said: “It’s very exciting to see these players wearing Dark Blue. Caballero in particular has fitted in superbly.” Argentinean striker Fabian Caballero, who had a short spell with Arsenal during the 1998-99 season, turned down offers from Bari and Porto to sign a one-year deal with Bonetti’s men. Joining the influx of talented foreigners is Georgian international captain Georgi Nemsadze, another Argentinean striker Juan Manuel Sara and Spanish midfielder Javier Artero, who joined for Ł3000,000 from Argentine club San Lorenzo.
Bonetti has also brought in three of his fellow compatriots. Powerful centre back Marco De Marchi joined on a free transfer from Vitesse Arnhem, left back Marcello Marrocco, who played with Bonetti at Genoa, came from Modena, and most recently ex-Lazio and Verona midfielder, Alessandro Romano, was persuaded to join the Scottish outfit after a personal visit from the manager.
The enthusiasm of the Dundee crowd has not been fully shared by others in the game in Scotland. Firstly, came Alex McGleish’s infamous comment about ‘Latin temperament’, which was followed up by Hearts manager Jim Jefferies claim that the Dundee players are diving shirt pullers. The press and opposition fans seem to have latched onto these claims, which Young seems to think may have an effect on referees: “I don't think the rest of the SPL have a problem with us. They have however seen an opportunity to put pressure on referees, which is added to when the press ask the same questions pre and post match every week concerning diving.” Dundee do have a very poor disciplinary record after six red cards in seven games, but Bonetti has vowed to resolve this record.
Ignoring these minor problems, the future is still very bright for everyone at Dens Park: “If we can get around the media stuff and concentrate on the football we could be Ivano's 'third force',” said Young. “We are certainly a very dangerous team now, and Europe is probably our goal in the next couple of years. Maybe even a cup in the trophy cabinet at the end of the season.” Unrealistic? Who knows? Whatever lyes in store for Dundee, it’s refreshing to see other clubs in Scotland attempt to challenge rather than except their fate under the shadow of the Glasgow giants.
