The early days could not have gone much better for Gary Bowyer as Dundee boss.
Unbeaten throughout pre-season and then earning four wins from four in the Premier Sports Cup, there have been nothing but positives for the Dark Blues.
Fans are buying into the new manager, players are too, and there have been no plans to turn off the heating at home or strip naked. So far anyway.
Bowyer is the first Dundee manager since 1937 to win his first four matches in charge and excitement is building ahead of the league kick-off this Saturday.
But how do we assess the summer for the Dark Blues?
Ins and outs
Players like Charlie Adam, Liam Fontaine and Danny Mullen departed at the end of their contracts last season.
Adam was captain and Mullen top scorer, big losses, but the Dark Blues have so far moved on without a hitch.
And no player has left since Bowyer took charge, which is a positive sign.
Though he’s made it clear he wants a new striker to supplement what he’s got already, the new Dens boss has brought in just a couple of new faces.
Defender Tyler French has arrived from Wrexham, a player Bowyer knew from his time at Bradford.
Very quick, the 23-year-old has shown up well in the early matches.
Also coming in has been Rangers midfielder Ben Williamson on loan. He’s had loans at Arbroath, Livingston and Raith Rovers already and has impressed in his short time on the pitch.
He still needs to get up to speed in terms of match fitness but Dundee fans should expect to see a lot of him this season.
Takeaways from Premier Sports Cup
Dundee are on a roll.
Four wins from four, 13 goals scored and just two conceded. Everything went their way in Group H and they’ve been rewarded with a home draw against Falkirk in the knockouts.
Heading into the league campaign, players like Alex Jakubiak are already in red hot form.
Good morning 👏 👏 👏 #thedee pic.twitter.com/KZtDX6A2Iy
— Dundee Football Club (@DundeeFC) July 24, 2022
The former Watford man is full of confidence and has four goals to his name already this season after managing only one in his previous two injury-hit campaigns.
Cammy Kerr has been among the goals as has youngster Lyall Cameron from the bench.
Goalie Harry Sharp looks like he’s got the gloves at the start of the campaign after impressing once more while Paul McGowan has once more shown his importance with one goal and four assists.
And there’s still Lee Ashcroft, Cillian Sheridan and Adam Legzdins to come back as well as Jordan McGhee.
Everything has been positive but there is a warning to heed.
This time last year, Dundee went into the Premiership with four wins from four in the League Cup.
And that did not go well by any means.
Aims for season
When Dundee are in the Championship, there is only one aim – promotion.
That’s the way of things at Dens Park but the current boss and squad are well aware of the expectations.
This time around they don’t have teams with far bigger budgets like Dundee United or Hearts.
The Dark Blues are the big fish in this pond.
Prediction
Dundee will finish in first place.
If they don’t, they’ll only have themselves to blame.
They got themselves an impressive manager and the squad, though needing a couple of reinforcements, is very strong for this division.
Look throughout the Dark Blues squad and almost every player would be happily snapped up by any other Championship club.
There is quality, experience and youthful energy.
The only issue in early games was finishing chances, if they can do that then Dundee should end the season as champions.
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