Latest news with #BertEsselink
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Why I'm predicting bottom-six finish for Utd (but hope I'm wrong)
Where will you finish in the league and why?I have a sneaking suspicion United will finish in the bottom six this season. Yes, I know that may sound defeatist, and I truly hope I am wrong. But it looks from the outside that the top five will be all the big spenders, and then, if last season is anything to go by, there really isn't much between the rest of the Goodwin has been tasked with building a new team yet again and I suspect the law of averages will kick us in the pants at some point in that a few of players may not quite live up to our hopes and expectations.I'm going to say we'll finish seventh, but please feel free to prove me wrong lads, and by that, I do mean finish higher up the table not is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?Bert Esselink. The big, strong colossus from the Netherlands has been a standout at the back so far, albeit I'm referring to pre-season games and one Conference League match. But from the small sample size of evidence of this season's new recruits, he does look to be a class do you want from your manager this season?A great question, and tricky to answer. Most fans will say they want progress year upon year, but Goodwin managing the team to fourth place last season was probably above and beyond where he would have thought the team would finish. If he was to consolidate the team's place in the top half, I don't think any fans would be and this is a big one, we need to do better in cup competitions. A little trip to Hampden, and not to play Queen's Park, would not go will be the breakout star in your squad?I hope, and believe it can be, Owen Stirton. Owen is highly rated at United, and I'm sure by other clubs, and after a successful loan spell at Montrose last year he has come back to Tannadice in great shape and has developed physically over the last few months a goalscoring striker and also has that little selfish streak about him when it comes to 'getting a shot way' being his main focus. I like that in my strikers, and if he gets a chance in the team, I can only see him being a is your one major concern?Creativity. We have brought in a couple of wingers this summer, so perhaps that is how we hope to craft chances and goals for our strikers. But from what I have seen so far we have a very hard-working midfield that lacks someone who will put their foot on the ball, split open a defence with a pass, and change the game in the blink of an that I have typed that out and it's not just in my head, I would imagine most teams in the SPFL also have that McNicoll can be found at the Dode Fox Podcast, external
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Esselink scores as United held by Arbroath
Dundee United were held 1-1 by Championship new-boys Arbroath in David Gold's Goodwin started with a strong XI and Bert Esselink - one of five new signings in the team - headed the Premiership side in front after three minutes from debutant Dario Naamo's teasing had further chances, before making 10 changes just after the hour, and a young team would concede with 11 minutes to play when Scott Stewart levelled.
BBC News
28-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
United start pre-season with a victory
Dundee United started their pre-season fixtures with a 3-0 win over Brechin at Glebe out by Ross Graham, the captain for the day nodded in an early opener before young wing-back Scott Constable made it winger Harry Welsh got the third and final goal before the break, and Jim Goodwin made wholesale changes at the break with plenty of youngsters signing Bert Esselink, who only joined yesterday, made his non-competitive debut while Kenyan international Richard Odada made a rare United (First-half): Richards; Iovu, Shields, Graham (c); Constable, Camara, Sibbald, Ferry; Welsh, Sapsford, United (Second-half): Adams; Odada, Dewar, Esselink; Strain, Beattie, Sevelj, Gilligan; MacLeod, Stirton, O'Donnell.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cyprus move paid off as Esselink reaches UK 'target'
Dutch centre-half Bert Esselink believes his decision to ignore advice not to move to Cyprus when he was 20 has paid off after reaching his "target" of playing in the United Kingdom by signing for Dundee 25, Esselink has joined the Scottish Premiership club at the end of his contract with relegated Polish outfit Stal his first interview with United's club website, he explained that, having come through the youth ranks with De Graafschap and having just finished his university degree, he was given the chance to join PAEEK, then in the Cypriot second tier."My girlfriend and I decided to go to Cyprus even though people said don't do it and I am grateful we made that decision at the time," Esselink paid off with a move to APOEL Nicosia, with whom he got a taste of Europa Conference League football."The step to the biggest club in Cyprus was a big one - it makes you bigger as a player," Esselink said. "But there are bigger stages than playing at APOEL."I did not play many minutes, but it was good to experience how much European football can mean for a club."In addition to the chance to play in Conference League again this season, Esselink was attracted to the "history" and "warmth" he felt from Dundee United."When I was young, I always said I wanted to play in the UK," he said. Esselink is not daunted by the Premiership's tough reputation given the Polish Ekstraklasa "style of play is to be aggressive".
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
United sign 'transformative' Dutch defender Esselink
Dundee United have signed Bert Esselink after 25-year-old centre-half left Stal Mielec following their relegation from the Polish top manager Jim Goodwin expects the Dutchman, who has signed a a two-year contract with a club-held option to extend for a further 12 months, to have a "transformative impact" on his defence."His mobility and bravery allows him to engage with the opposition higher up the pitch and the statistical data reinforces his intelligence when selecting a progressive passing option," Goodwin told United's website."Bert is also comfortable defending in a deeper block, using his awareness to remain compact and defend the box both on the ground and in the air."Esselink came through De Graafschap's academy in his homeland before making his senior debut for Cypriot club PAEEK, helping the Nicosia-based club secure promotion to the top tier for the first release clause was triggered by APOEL Nicosia, but he moved to Olympiakos Nicosia in search of first-team moved to Poland in 2023 and Unied say that during his two seasons with Stal he ranked among "the division's most successful duel combatants, possession winners and forward-pass completionists".However, playing 28 times last season, 22 of them starts, he could not prevent his side dropping to the second tier after finishing 16th of 18 teams in the Ekstraklasa."Bert's arrival will have a transformative impact on our ability to regain possession in key areas and play on the front foot," Goodwin added.
