The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Jim McIntyre will still make January signings despite form resurgence. Rab Douglas
The biggest measure of how far Dundee have come in recent weeks is that you wouldn’t write off any game now. A trip to Kilmarnock on Saturday would probably have fallen into that category a couple of months ago – not anymore.
The last few performances are a credit to Jim McIntyre. Climbing off the bottom of the table is better than I thought they could achieve at this stage of the season. It just shows you what hard work and organisation can bring.
Dundee look like a team that knows what they’re doing. You don’t survive with 10 men against Rangers if that isn’t the case.
They players will now have total belief in what their manager is instructing them to do because he has proved that he can set them up to get results.
And don’t downplay how big it is to have someone like Kenny Miller putting the chances away.
For defenders to know that if they do their job at the back, it is likely to be rewarded with a goal or two, is crucial.
What I would say is, don’t think Jim will have changed his mind on making a few January signings. I think it could be as many as four or five.
Getting players who aren’t in his plans to move on might be the hard part because most are on long contracts. But I’m sure convincing boys to come to Dens won’t be an issue.
And Jim has got a big advantage when he goes to the Americans looking for their backing.
He can point to the impact Martin Woods has made as a short-term signing.
So far, Jim’s strike rate is one from one. There is no such thing as a certainty in the transfer market but the manager has already earned the right to be supported.
Keeper target for Neilson
It will be interesting to see what business Robbie Neilson does in January.
I haven’t seen enough of Dundee United’s goalkeepers to make a judgment but it’s the one position that Robbie will feel he has to get right for the second half of the season.
He didn’t sign any of the keepers on the books and if he isn’t 100% convinced, he will want to bring in his own man.
If you’re pushing for a title, a goalie should be saving you nine or 10 points. That’s how high the bar has to be set. Lichties staying grounded
It’s nice to have Arbroath mentioned in the same breath as Liverpool but nobody at Gayfield is getting carried away with our unbeaten league record – or our 13-point lead.
We’re not even at Christmas and a lot can happen over the next few months.
Saturday’s win against Forfar wasn’t our best performance but it was all about digging out a result.
That man Bobby Linn came up with the goods again.
Our paths didn’t cross at Dundee, and he’s had a different to a lot of players since then after dropping into the juniors, but he’s a quality player.
The biggest thing for him is that he is loving his football. And the fans certainly love him.
Long may it continue.
Dundee players will now have total belief in what their manager is instructing them to do