Dens Park youngster has made his mark

Iwould imagine Dundee are working on Finn Robertson’s new contract as we speak. For a 16-year-old to make the impression he has so far this season is impressive stuff. I’ll be able to say a bit more about him if he plays for Dundee against Arbroath but all the reports so far are positive and the fact he is getting a regular game in the middle of the park speaks volumes.

The one game I have seen him in was Dundee’s Betfred Cup tie with Peterhead.

Neat and tidy is the phrase I would use.

Keeping it simple and not wasting a pass is key in midfield and that seems to be Robertson’s main quality.

Developing your own players is the one way clubs like Dundee can still make money.

Protecting themselves by getting Robertson tied up on a long-term deal is the next step and I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens in the next few weeks.

I don’t think he has been overburdened with expectation.

The last big prospect to come

through the ranks at Dens was Craig Wighton and maybe the hype before he got into the first team was too much.

Dundee fans are right to be excited by Robertson but, although he looks a great prospect, there is a long way to go.

Sympathies for Smith

I’m obviously really disappointed for Barry Smith that he has lost his job at Brechin.

The club has been on a constant slide for a couple of years and Barry hasn’t been able to stop it.

It’s no great shock that losing all your best players in the summer and working with a lower budget has an impact.

Money talks when you’re trying to get players through the door in the lower leagues.

I don’t like to see any of the Angus sides struggle and hopefully Brechin can turn things around under the new boss.

For Barry, he’s got enough successes on his CV to deserve another chance after taking a wee while out to refresh and take stock. He loves coaching and I’m sure he’ll be back in the game.

Developing your own players is the one way clubs like Dundee can still make money

Memories of Maloney miss

I can remember a Celtic game I played in at Tynecastle when Shaun Maloney and Simon Lynch were arguing over who should take a penalty.

Maloney won – and then missed it! There was a bit of a difference between that match when we were 4-1 up at Tynecastle in the last minute and what happened in the Wolves v Man United game the other night, though.

Everybody should know who the penalty taker is before a game starts.

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer did his best to play things down after the 1-1 draw but I bet Paul Pogba doesn’t take the next one if Marcus Rashford is playing.

Wasps game just like the rest Arbroath have got Alloa on Saturday.

We’ve already played them in the Betfred Cup and people will be talking it up as a must-win because we’re both part-time clubs in a mostly full-time league.

But we’re hoping to be competitive in every game we play, not just this one.

We held our own in our first two matches and getting our first league win is the next target.

Picture: SNS. Finn Robertson could be in line for a new deal.