Scout Report: David Goodwillie

Scouting Report – David Goodwillie

Now this lad has a name that’s not hard to forget (no pun intended). Not surprisingly he was linked to Blackpool, as was the world and his dog, during the summer but for whatever reason he remains plying his trade in the SPL.

He may play in tangerine, but that’s where the similarities between Dundee United and us end. They have had many off the field problems detracting from the team this year. Last month four players were arrested, of which Goodwillie was one.

He was dropped to the bench for the next game, how did he respond? He came off it and promptly does what he does best, scored a goal and on this occasion it was the only one of the game. The matters led to an internal disciplinary to follow and an inevitable club fine, with the player also placed under ‘house arrest’. How will that sit with the player, and despite his ability how will his continuing off the field problems sit with the club?

Goodwillie only turned 21 earlier this year, and already he has a record off the pitch to challenge his on it. He’s been arrested once a year for the last 3 years, an unwelcome hat trick.

He has represented Scotland at every level and in November he made his debut for the full national team in the friendly v the Faroe Islands.

His average so far reads a goal every 4 games, not bad for a youngster cutting it in a team outside of the big two who dominate the league year in year out.

Whilst not the tallest of players at 5’9′ he has good body strength and is hard to shrug off the ball. He’s a right footer and his coolness in front of goal is exceptional, one on one, you’d take him every time.

Now he’s well known north of the border, and was named as the SPL Young Player of the Year last year, and no doubt there’ll have been plenty of clubs down this end of the island looking at him too.

Despite his issues there’ll be no shortage of suitors willing to take a chance with this lad. That said it’d be a risk. No doubt whoever comes from north of the border towards the lights of Blackpool will always be compared to Charlie, but Holloway is known to look towards youth.

Dundee will be looking for a seven figure fee to tempt him from their grasp but with Holloway’s views on footballers and their morals perhaps this would be an opportunity to have a fresh start in new surroundings.

Ironically our 24 man squad has one place spare – Goodwillies’ current squad number is? You guessed it 25.