Blakemans View: Are You Watching Berti Vogts

By Matty Blakeman
September 12 2002

This weeks Blakemans View asks the question are you watching Berti Vogts? Since Berti Vogts cant give Lee Wilkie a game when Lee Wilkie is playing the best part of his game so far better than some defenders would in there career and he's still young.

Are you watching, Berti Vogts? I doubt it

 Okay, I might as well get straight to the point. I seriously doubt that anyone can honestly say that the Faroes would have scored their goals if Lee Wilkie had been in the centre of defence last Saturday. Basically, the man is a monumental figure and by far the best centre half that this country can produce. Sadly, Berti prefers to pick 2 spectacular diddies in the way of Weir and Dailly to let electricians, teachers etc carve our national team wide open time and time again. 

Last night, against Livingston, showed yet another example of yet another magnificent performance from “Chopper”, the man who just over 6 months ago was struggling to find his way out of footballs cruel wilderness. Skill, composure and quite remarkable strength make up only part of his game, advantaged by a physical presence to strike fear into any centre forward brave enough to take him on. His performance last night was almost capped with the mazy of all mazy’s in the first half. The fact that he used to play up front for the youth team was made all the more understandable as player after player was brushed aside before a block was finally made just outside the 6 yard box. His partner in defence, Tom Hutchinson, was again very impressive it must be said before he was taken off to a rapturous ovation in the final 20 minutes. In truth, it was hard to pick out a poor performer in Dark Blue last night as the Dee’s took control of both halves despite being one down at half time from an unfortunate o.g. from Nemsadze, which further backed my statement, that Dundee are the worst team in the world at set pieces. As you might suspect, I was slightly fuming at that goal. Their lead, though, never looked likely to last as Dundee piled on the pressure right till the end. By the way, how on earth, in a game in which physios of both sides made countless appearances, did only 2 minutes get added on at the end of each half? Mystifying. Almost as baffling as Nemsadze actually shooting in a match. No doubt he’ll say it was a pass.

Georgi more than made up for his o.g. with a dazzling run that set up a frustratingly greedy Nacho Novo for a cool equaliser on 52 minutes. More Dee pressure along with saves from Broto and a fire in the Bob Shankley stand passed before Wilkie and Novo combined to set up Gavin Rae for a goal that he badly needed. His form in recent months has taken a dive, he’ll be first to admit that but, hopefully, this goal will bring him back to his best. With team showings like this, it is a wonder to where or whether guys like Zura and Beto will fit in to the starting 11. Progress is most definitely being made under Duffy. Last night was the first time in ages that I actually had virtually no doubt in my mind that we were going to win this game.

This weekend takes us to Firhill in a game that I, sadly, will miss – only the second game I’ll have missed all season. Never the less, I still predict a win against a side that so far have impressed under the wise (four letter) words of John Lambie. 2-0 The Dees with Caballero on the score sheet.