Dundee United's Shala embracing new defensive role
Dundee United’s Andis Shala has said the club doesn't need to sign a new central defender – because he is ready to take on the best forwards the Scottish Premier League has to offer.
The striker has been filling in at centre-half during the Tangerines’ pre-season fixtures and replaced the established Garry Kenneth in the heart of defence for the last 20 minutes of Saturday’s game against Northern Irish side Glentoran. Shala played alongside trialist Irmantas Zelmikas of Lithuania at the back as United went on to grasp a late draw as Damian Casalinouvo’s last-minute header from a Jeno Myrie-Williams cross cancelled out Daryl Fordyce’s opener in Belfast.
The 21-year-old said that he was enjoying playing in the rearguard and told the Evening Telegraph: “I think it’s Garry Kenneth, Darren Dods, me and Sean Dillon that can play at centre-half now, so, if the manager signs another one, it’ll be good for competition. But, if not, I think a few more games and I’ll definitely be ready to play there in the SPL. I really enjoy playing there and having the pitch out in front of me. It’s a different way to look at the game - especially when you’re used to playing as a striker. The movements are very different. I know all the movements a striker would make, though, which is good for me. I can tell what they’re about to do.”
Zelmikas played well as he partnered Shala and manager Peter Houston will run the rule over the Lithuanian once again as he lines up against Raith Rovers in a friendly. However, should a move for the defender fail to come to fruition, Shala said he will be delighted to move from the front to the back of the pitch on a more permanent basis. He said: “I’ll do anything to help the team. As a striker or a defender, I just want to play. I miss playing up front sometimes, like in training when we’re doing shooting practice, the strikers get to cross and finish while I have to pass the ball on from the midfield to the wide players. Scoring goals is a very good thing. The best feeling in the world, though, is I’m finding there is big satisfaction in stopping them, too, of course.”
The 1-1 draw against Glentoran sparked the manager’s wrath, with Houston criticizing his players’ “sloppiness”. The players who were in the dressing room at half-time were left with no doubts as to the manager’s feelings on their performance, but Shala feels the upcoming season will be another successful one for United, following their Scottish Cup triumph and a third-place league finish last time round.
“Glentoran had a really good team,” he said. “They were very sharp. I think we played well enough in parts. They scored a goal, but it was a bit unlucky for us. I hear the manager was angry at half-time, but I wasn’t in the dressing-room, so I escaped that. I think we dominated the second half - apart from the goal - and I know we can play even better.”
Houston described his team’s showing as the "the poorest performance of pre-season" and has demanded a "massive improvement" ahead of the SPL kick-off. He told The Courier: "Garry Kenneth's fitness levels need to be better and David Goodwillie needs to work harder. They were not the only two but I have told them exactly what I am saying to you. I was pleased with some of the substitutes and Andis Shala came on and did well."
After the friendly against Raith, the Tangerines are set to take on English Premier League team Hull City at the Premiership side’s KC Stadium, Forfar Athletic and EPL side Wigan Athletic at home ahead of the SPL kick-off against St Mirren on 14 August
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