When Dundee dipped their toe into the transfer market for the first time this summer, one word jumped to mind: experience.
It was lacking in the Dark Blues’ squad building last season and, reflecting on a lot of the goals conceded, they came down to a lack of shape in key moments.
Although the defence got so much stick, they were too often left exposed.
That comes down to experience, in my opinion. You can’t have boys going gung-ho and leaving big holes. Game management and decision making are key.
With the signings of Drey Wright and Paul Digby, you are seeing Dundee addressing issues from last season and that can only be positive. They are stable and reliable.
And that’s a real compliment.
With Digby’s time at Cambridge United, you can see a steady figure in the heart of midfield who is big and athletic.
I look at a team like St Mirren, who have been very successful with that physical mould.
I’m not saying the entire team needs to be built like that, but the truth is that the Premiership is a frantic, bruising league and Dundee look like they’ll be more ready for it.
Impressed by Elvis
It is a solid start to Steven Pressley’s transfer window – and I thought his unveiling was a solid start to his Dens Park tenure, too.
He came across well and, after some initial surprise about him appointment, I’m sure the Dundee fans are ready to back the man in the dugout, as they always do.
He acknowledged that he has learned a huge amount after starting his managerial career at a young age – even noting that he didn’t like aspects of his own style, on reflection. That shows plenty of humility and a hunger to develop.
And the lessons picked up working with an English Premier League club like Brentford – on the cutting edge of so much – will have taught him so much about different aspects of the game.
He will be a much better manager now that he was previously; with the right head for the role and – going back to that word again – experience in the bank.
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