Dundee United

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We asked you whether Dundee United should drop error-prone goalkeeper Yevhen Kucherenko.

Here's what some of you said:

Sean: We cant keep doing the same thing expecting a different result. He needs to be taken out of the firing line and allowed to reset. Perhaps a goalkeeper will be crucial in the January window?

Logan: Jim Goodwin has to drop Kucherenko for the next game against Kilmarnock. His confidence will be very low after the weekend's performance. He keeps making the same mistake every week. Just catch the ball, it's not that hard.

Oleksa: Dave Richards has never been given a chance but I don't think he is solution - Ruairidh Adams may be in the future. In the meantime there is a huge dilemma as there also is with the back three or four or five - ultimately it's down to management decisions. I would stick with Yevhen for next game.

Graeme: Got to change keepers surely? A player would be dropped for making these mistakes. However, I'm not convinced Richards is the solution unfortunately. Could be a long time until January when we surely need to get a keeper in.

Kris: I'd honestly call Adams back from East Fife. Richards isn't much better than Kucherenko so get the young lad back from East Fife and play him.

Derek: His confidence is shattered and the manager needs to bench him. Dave Richards is an able deputy as he showed last year.

Calum: I feel for Kucherenko - he's obviously not making these mistakes on purpose - but he needs a spell on the bench. Richards hasn't played a lot but that goes with the territory of being a No.2. As does stepping up when the No.1 needs a break.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Jim Goodwin has several problems to deal with at faltering Dundee United – but solving the goalkeeping issue is arguably his most pressing.

Replacing the reliable Jack Walton during the summer was always going to be a big challenge and Yevhen Kucherenko has struggled to convince.

The 26-year-old Ukrainian is the last line of a United rearguard that has been leaking goals and has kept just two clean sheets in 12 league games.

Of course that isn't all down to the keeper, but he cut a crestfallen figure following an error-strewn display in the 3-0 home defeat to Falkirk last time out.

Having punched into his own net against the Bairns, Kucherenko has the ignominy of topping the Scottish Premiership own goal chart, with three.

He has also made two errors leading to goals - only Livingston's Jerome Prior has more in the Premiership - and has the second-most drops (four) as well as the second-lowest save percentage of top-flight keepers who have made at least five appearances this season.

While not quite Mark Birighitti levels of calamity yet, is it time for Kucherenko to be taken out of the firing line?

Dropping him sounds straightforward, but what impact would that have on the confidence of a player still finding his feet in Scotland?

Alternatively, if he keeps playing and gets through this bumpy period, it could be the making of him.

The only other senior goalkeeping option United have is 31-year-old Dave Richards. However, the Welshman hasn't played a lot of football over the last few seasons.

He has played once for United B this term – in a 6-0 Challenge Cup defeat to Inverness CT – and there were only four appearances last term.

The season before that Richards was on loan at St Johnstone where he failed to make a first-team appearance.

So, stick or twist – the manager must decide.

United fans, what would you do? Persevere with Kucherenko or give Richards a chance? Let us know here.

Paul McNicoll
Fan writer

It has taken a while, and nothing is set in stone yet, but the league table is starting to look less like a mystery novel and more like an uncomfortable reality.

Unfortunately, United aren't exactly giving off top-six vibes.

Six home games played. Seven points collected. That's not a fortress, that's an open door policy with complimentary tea and biscuits for visiting teams.

When you've sold record numbers of season tickets, the last thing you want is your own stadium to feel like a neutral venue with better pies.

If we're serious about finishing top six and flirting with Europe, the home form needs fixed. Urgently, not eventually, not "after the international break", but now.

This team has shown it can be good. It has also shown it can look like it met for the first time in the car park.

Somewhere in between lies competence, and the manager's job is to find it before we collectively lose the will to live.

It might be time to give a few regular starters a well-earned rest on the bench and freshen things up, especially at the back.

Twenty goals conceded and barely a defensive tweak? At this point even the kitman deserves a run at centre-half and let's not get me started on the goalkeeper.

Next up: Kilmarnock away. A ground we hate. A manager we can't seem to outsmart. A team on a six-game losing streak. So naturally, what could possibly go wrong?

Paul McNicoll can be found at the Dode Fox Podcast, external

Watch the Sportscene panel analyse Dundee United's defensive performance in their 3-0 defeat to Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.

Watch all the highlights from Falkirk's 3-0 win over Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.

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United fans, we asked for your views on Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Falkirk.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Garry: I feel for the guy but we need to take the goalkeeper out of the team and give Dave Richards a shot. He is not filling anyone with confidence and I'm pretty sure that defence is not helping his confidence levels either.

Jim: Unfathomable that the manager should be using the same tactics employed against Hearts at Tynecastle, against Falkirk at Tannadice! Too much worrying about our opponents rather than have them worry about us. Furthermore, the defence has been leaking goals all season - coaching obviously isn't making any difference, so why hasn't there been changes to the personnel? Our young Scottish player, Sam Cleall-Harding, must get his chance alongside Ross Graham.

Scott: Poor all over from United, players and management. Yevhen Kucherenko must be dropped now, costing us too many points. As much as United were a shambles, Falkirk and their supporters were absolutely brilliant from start to finish. A credit to the league.

Niall: United's back three were awful. Out of position, chasing shadows and clueless in the transition. Ivan Dolcek needs to re-prove himself. He made far too many poor passes in midfield and was deservedly pulled.

Jamie: The Jim Goodwin out sentiment is building. He doesn't know how to set out a team unless it's against a squad who are superior to us and will dominate the ball. Has no clue how to take the game to teams without being exposed at the back on the counter. Superb from Falkirk, nine Scots in their starting team unless I'm mistaken. Very impressive.

Shaun: Goodwin talks a good game but I think he's a certain level of manager because any proper manager, at home, with some of the players we have would attack against teams like Falkirk, Kilmarnock and Livingston, yet they all coming to Tannadice and totally outplaying us. Really worried for us now because we are really bad.

Falkirk took advantage of a mistake-ridden performance by Dundee United goalkeeper Yevhen Kucharenko to claim a surprisingly comfortable Scottish Premiership win at Tannadice.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say here.

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin tells BBC Scotland: "Quite simply not good enough. It's very hard for me to put my finger on why we got that type of performance.

"The build up to the game, all week, was trying to replicate the performance at Tynecastle. We went with the same formation, the same game plan. The changes didn't weaken the team by any stretch.

"Even taking the goals out of it, Falkirk were the better team all over the park. They defended better than we did, they picked up far more second balls, they carried a real threat going forward. All things I expect from my team.

"It was nowhere near the level we expect from this group. We felt that we took a step forward at Hearts. Today, it feels like we've taken a couple of steps back.

"We've not given ourselves a chance today, to grow into the game. We know how important the opening is to any game. It's frantic and hectic but we don't give ourselves a chance due to the manner of the first two goals we concede.

"The third goal completely kills us off. Again, a shambles at the back. All over the place. Centre-back stepping into midfield when he needs to hold his position, the goalkeeper is caught between a rock and a hard place."

Dundee United midfielder Craig Sibbald, 30, will never give up on his dream of breaking into the Scotland team. (The Courier - subscription required), external

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Dundee United quartet Craig Sibbald, Ryan Strain, Ross Graham and Max Watters are all back in contention after injuries, so Isaac Pappoe (knee) is the only definite absentee.

Falkirk striker Ross McIver has had ankle surgery, while Lewis Neilson (ankle), Coll Donaldson (abdomen), Tom Lang (foot) and Aidan Nesbitt (foot) remain on the sidelines.

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Jim Goodwin is delighted his Dundee United squad emerges from the international break in stronger shape as he welcomes back three long-term absentees against Falkirk this weekend.

Defender Ross Graham could make his first appearance of the season while full-back Ryan Strain, who has played just twice, and striker Max Watters, who has been out since August, are also set to return.

"The break came at a really good time for us because going into the Hearts game we were so short on numbers with the the injuries that we had but some of them weren't serious injuries," said manager Goodwin.

"I'm glad to see that those guys have recovered now. We've Craig Sibbald back in the squad, Ross Graham, Max Watters, you know Ryan Strain is back in among it as well.

"So we've got a far healthier group of players to choose from now this weekend against Falkirk which is important because we're coming into a really busy schedule.

"In December, I think we've got seven games and you need to have the full complement of players available during those difficult moments.

"So, it's going to be real competition for places, but great options for me as a manager to have."

United play their first home match in three league fixtures and Goodwin is welcoming the return to Tannadice.

"We know that Saturday's going to be a difficult fixture but with a good home support behind us, back at Tannadice, then it always gives us a big lift," he added.

"We're the home team so the onus is on us to take the game to Falkirk, get the supported excited early doors, try and get an early goal. That would be nice because it's not something we've done of late."

Caleb Akpo-Young
BBC Sport Scotland

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Jim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before Dundee United's home match against Falkirk on Saturday.

Here are the main points from the United boss:

• The international break has allowed United's injury list to shorten, with Craig Sibbald, Ross Graham, Max Watters and Ryan Strain all back in the squad this weekend.

• Goodwin says there will be plenty of competition for places given the "busy" fixture list and return of key players.

• He knows "well-organised" Falkirk are on a good run of form and is not surprised by their league position of fifth after promotion.

• United plan to "take the game" to the Bairns and go into the match with a "positive mindset".

• Goodwin conceded his team have drawn too many matches from winning positions and says it is something they are looking to rectify.

• He's looking forward to being back at Tannadice and feels the home support will give his side a "lift".

• Goodwin says: "The players love playing at the home stadium, I can imagine the pitch is going to be immaculate given there hasn't been much football on it of late and that will certainly give the players a boost."

Rangers have started negotiations with Kazakhstan winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek, whose contract with Yelimay Semey ends next month, but clubs from eight countries are interested in the 22-year-old and the only concrete offer has come from Dundee United. (AS News), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Dundee United midfielder Craig Sibbald will be "extremely proud" to make his 500th career appearance in Saturday's Premiership tussle with hometown club Falkirk.

The Bairns academy graduate spent seven years in the Falkirk first team, playing over 250 games, before moving to Livingston in 2018.

Sibbald joined United four years later and has made 116 appearances for the Tannadice side, scoring nine times.

"It means everything," the 30-year-old told DUTV.

"It's obviously what you kind of want to do when you grow up. You just want to be a professional footballer. I'm lucky to have done that.

"To hopefully at the weekend play 500 games, I'll be extremely proud and hopefully many more to come.

"It puts it into perspective how long I've been playing, all the ups and downs, the high and lows. It's all been really enjoyable and worthwhile.

"Hopefully I'm selected or come on at some part of the game and I can make that 500th appearance against my local team, so it could be a special day."

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• Dundee United are unbeaten in eight top-flight matches against Falkirk (W5 D3) since a 3-0 defeat in December 2007.

• This will be Falkirk's first away game at Dundee United in the top flight since losing 3-0 in February 2010; the Bairns have lost four of their past five such visits (D1) since a 5-1 victory in January 2007.

• Dundee United have won just one of their past six Premiership matches (D3 L2), a 3-1 victory against St Mirren in October.

• Falkirk have alternated between winning and losing in the league in each of their five away matches this season, losing their last game on the road 4-0 to Celtic.

• Falkirk have gained nine points from losing positions this season, the most of any team in the top flight. The Bairns have gone on to win two of their past three league matches in which they conceded the first goal.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has dismissed suggestions that embarking upon contract talks with on-loan Dunajska Streda forward Ivan Dolcek led to the 25-year-old's dip in form. (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Dundee United have found it hard to keep the back door shut this season.

In 11 Premiership fixtures Jim Goodwin's side have kept just two clean sheets.

United have also faced the second-most shots - behind only Dundee - of any top-flight side and their four errors leading to goals is a joint high with Kilmarnock. United's two own goals is also a league high.

Last season they were side built on solid foundations, with their 12 clean sheets in 38 league games the highest outwith the Old Firm.

Now it is far from panic stations, such is the congested nature of the table, as United occupy seventh place but are just four points off third.

Goodwin's men have already dropped points against teams their fans expect them to beat – taking just one point from home games with Kilmarnock (lost 2-0) and Livingston (drew 1-1).

So Goodwin will be determined his side emerge from the international break with a less porous rearguard.

If United don't shore things up, hopes of a second successive top-six finish will be hit by a continued hemorrhaging of goals.

New Dundee United head of recruitment Ross Goodwin says he was brought in from Plymouth Argyle to increase the amount of money the Scottish Premiership club makes through player trading outwith their academy. (Daily Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Former Dundee United player and ex-Hearts coach Jon Daly is a candidate for the Waterford manager's job. (Irish Independent - subscription required), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip