UTD AND DEE PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS

LAST Thursday was a remarkable week for both Dundee clubs – undoubtedly the busiest ever for transfers in this city.

On early impressions, I think both clubs have come out of the transfer window stronger than when they started it.

Both Dundee and United have signed whole new teams – 11 for each.

That just shows, as much as the finances up here in Scotland are way short of the riches down south, what playing in the top flight means to clubs.

Both have thrown money at their squad over the past few weeks because the option of being in the Championship next season, whether from relegation or failing to get promoted, is evidently an unthinkable one.

Everyone expected a fair bit of change at Dens Park as Jim McIntyre swept out what he saw as dead wood and brought in players to keep the club up.

Whether they can do that, we’ll just have to wait and see but, having seen both Hamilton and St Mirren, I reckon the Dark Blues have the better squad of the three.

The question is whether the manager can gel his whole new team together before it’s too late to save the season.

And tonight’s home clash with Kilmarnock is massive, too.

Killie have been incredibly impressive all season but the defeat to Hearts on Friday showed there is a vulnerability to them when they don’t have Eamonn Brophy in the team.

Losing Greg Stewart was a big blow and that’s been added to with the injury to Brophy and Kris Boyd’s suspension.

That’s all good news for Dundee because Steve Clarke’s side look toothless right now, though Jordan Jones obviously is a major danger.

And Dundee have much more quality going forward these days, too.

Scott Wright didn’t do too much at Hamilton but fired in a classy goal while Andy Dales is a real direct threat from the wings.

Points are needed fast and improving a season home record of two wins, four draws and a massive 10 defeats is a must.

For United, they’ve brought in Premiership class for a Championship title race.

Peter Pawlett, Mark Reynolds, Mark Connolly and Calum Butcher are all a level up from what they had before.

The big hurdle, though, is that they’re already six points behind Ross County – that’ll take some catching.

Both Robbie Neilson and Jim McIntyre have transformed their squads.