The Spoony Chop: A St Johnstone FC Podcast

Dundee United are back in Europe.

It hasn’t always been pretty, but rookie boss Tam Courts got the job done and the Arabs can dust off their passports for the first time in the decade.

The Courier’s United reporter Alan Temple helms a look back at the 2021/22 campaign — from Courts’ contentious appointment to the incredible scenes in Dingwall — in the company of former Terrors midfielder Craig Easton and Courier columnist Jim Spence.

We also have an exclusive interview with Ryan Edwards as the Tannadice skipper gives his thoughts on the past 12 months.

On this week's Courier Talking Football, Eric Nicolson, Jim Spence and Sean Hamilton discuss Dundee's relegation to the Championship, their move to promote Gordon Strachan to director of football and the first big task facing the ex-Scotland boss.

The guys also hail Dundee United's return to European action after a long absence and weigh up St Johnstone's chances against either Arbroath or Inverness Caley Thistle in the play-offs.

This week on the Courier Talking Football, Eric Nicolson, Jim Spence and Sean Hamilton discuss Dundee United's four-point advantage over Motherwell in the race for Europe, St Johnstone's apparent lack of heart at JUST the wrong time and whether that means winless in 10 Dundee could yet claim the Premiership play-off place.

On this week's Courier Talking Football, Jim Spence, Eric Nicolson and Sean Hamilton discuss a Dundee derby with memory-making potential for Europe-chasing Dundee United and relegation-battling Dundee.

Are United fans out for revenge for the "Doon Derby"? Are Dundee fans hopeful their team could deny the Tangerines a top six spot? Will "big game players" Tony Watt and Charlie Adam be central to events at Tannadice?

Also up for discussion, St Johnstone's crucial victories over Motherwell and Livingston - and the season-changing influence of Callum Hendry.

Dundee United promised much and delivered little for their fans in a meek Scottish Cup exit to Celtic. In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Alan Temple, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson look back on a dispiriting Tannadice performance.

Also discussed are supporter apathy towards Dundee and supporter fury towards John Nelms. And can St Johnstone take advantage of their big opportunity to pile the misery on for the Dark Blues by beating Motherwell? Or will the Saints fluff their lines?

Dundee and St Johnstone both got draws away from home at the weekend to preserve the status quo in the Tayside relegation battle.

In this week’s Courier Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson analyse both clubs’ strategies for the Premiership basement head-to-head and consider whether a high risk, high reward approach should trump pragmatism.

Also on the agenda are Dundee's game in hand against St Mirren and Nadir Ciftci's worrying form for Saints.

Dundee United, meanwhile, are walking a tightrope, with dropping to 10th and rising to fourth both realistic possibilities.

On this week's Courier Talking Football, Eric Nicolson, Jim Spence and Sean Hamilton discuss a potentially season-defining week ahead for relegation rivals Dundee and St Johnstone.

Will Callum Davidson's faith in his preferred system be vindicated by new arrivals? Should Mark McGhee have to win fans over at Dundee?

Meanwhile, at Tannadice, the race is well and truly on for a European spot as Tam Courts targets a stunning first season in top flight management.

On this week's Courier Talking Football, Eric Nicolson is joined by Jim Spence, Alan Temple and Sean Hamilton to discuss the sacking of James McPake and the appointment of Mark McGhee by Dundee.

Was the timing right? Was McPake hard done by? What was Gordon Strachan's role? And will it save the Dark Blues' season?

Also up for discussion: St Johnstone under pressure, Dundee United's upturn and Raith Rovers' post-Goodwillie manoeuvres.

On this week's Courier Talking Football, Jim Spence, Alan Temple and Sean Hamilton discuss the motives, misjudgements and monumental fallout from Raith Rovers' signing of David Goodwillie.

What were the Stark's Park club thinking, will heads roll and can the damage done be healed, both on and off the park?

The lads also round up the transfer deadline day action at Dundee United, Dundee and St Johnstone and preview the weekend's fixtures.

It’s a month when transfer ins and outs make the headlines.

But at Dundee United it was a man who has been a Tannadice for a few years grabbing the glory in midweek.

In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson discuss a player who, like Stephen Dobbie, is maturing into an all-round forward with several good years left in him.

Also on the agenda are the baby steps St Johnstone and Dundee are taking towards potential Premiership safety, their new recruits and the next Dundee derby.