| As highly as he rates the potential of his new strike force, Ian warned they will face a battle from others for their places. Today, United beat off fierce competition from Hearts to rescue Scotland striker Crawford from his unhappy spell down south at Plymouth, and he was paraded at a Tannadice Press conference this afternoon.
Without wanting to put pressure on his new buy, Argyle are getting a five-figure fee for a player they signed for free, the United gaffer admitted the prospect of his teaming up with the free-scoring McIntyre was mouth-watering. “I knew I’d be asked to make the comparison between Crawford and Brewster and Crawford and McIntyre. I am really looking forward to seeing him team up with Jim McIntyre here,” said Ian.
“McIntyre and Craig Brewster are not identical in style, but, like Brewster he is more than just a goalscorer. He is a clever player and he and Crawford can work well together for us. I certainly see Crawford coming here as a help for McIntyre because, as well as he has done for us, he has never had a regular partner in my time here.”
Delighted as he is to have won a battle for a player who had also been linked with Aberdeen and even city rivals Dundee, with whom Plymouth were keen to do a player swap involving Steve Lovell, Ian made it clear there would be no automatic choices in his attack.
“We’ve got other strikers here who I expect to be fighting hard to be in the team. James Grady is an excellent striker and Jason Scotland is a big favourite with the fans. For me, though, I’m just happy to have added a quality player to the squad.”
On being unveiled as United player, Crawford revealed that, having taken the weekend to consider his options he was convinced this was “100% the right football move” for him. “The chairman sold United to me with his ambition for the club and we spoke about the early 80s when United won the league. I regard them as one of the top teams in Scotland.
“Obviously, the club’s current league position was a concern but, having heard at first hand the plans and ambitions for this club, I am confident that I have made the right choice.”
And he had no regrets about trying his luck in England with Plymouth. “Everyone knows my family did not settle but I’ve ended up coming back to a big club up here so maybe things have worked out even better for me.”
Tannadice chairman Eddie Thompson was delighted at getting one of his top targets. “A few weeks ago, myself and Ian McCall sat down and drew up a list of players we would like to bring here. Up near the top of it was this gentleman and I’m delighted to get him. This is without doubt a major signing for Dundee United. A few weeks ago we might have been considered to be the rank outsiders to sign such a quality player, however we were absolutely determined that once we had made our minds up to go for Stevie we were not going to lose out.” |
