PREDICTED LEAGUE FINISH: Fourth
LAST SEASON: 6th, 45pts
NOTABLE INS: Kevin Holt (Queen of the South, £40k), Kane Hemmings (Barnsley), Julen Leanizbarrutia (East Fife), Nicky Low (Aberdeen), Rory Loy (Falkirk), Daryll Meggatt (Alloa Athletic), David Mitchell (Stranraer), Nick Ross (Inverness Caledonian Thistle)
NOTABLE OUTS: Kyle Benedictus (Raith Rovers), Martin Boyle (Hibernian, loan made permanent), David Clarkson (Motherwell), Kyle Letheren (Blackpool), Kevin McBride (Airdrieonians), Jamie Reid (Arbroath), Craig Wighton (Raith Rovers, loan), Alex Harris (Hibernian, end of loan), Iain Davidson, Willie Dyer, Paul Heffernan, Jim McAlister, Stephen McGinn
LAST SEASON'S BEST XI (departed players crossed out): Bain, P. McGinn, Konrad, McPake, Irvine,
Dundee might seem like an unusual team to start the previews with, but it's because Paul Hartley did most of his summer business early. With eight players already brought in, I'd like to assume that they are unlikely to bring in some sort of galactico who transforms the team and renders all I've written irrelevant. Famous last words...
It wasn't really a surprise that, despite a sixth place finish, (their highest for thirteen years), Hartley chucked thirteen players and signed so many new ones. The ex-Celtic and Scotland player is the sort of guy who would willingly sacrifice his granny if it guaranteed three points. He doesn't do sentiment; less than eighteen months after he took over at Dens Park, there is only one senior player who was signed by a predecessor - Gary Irvine, for the record.
His sort of player - energetic and disciplined without the ball, tactically astute enough to switch formations two or even three times during a game - doesn't grow on trees. The signings are far from haphazard; he's spent plenty of time pondering his side's weaknesses - presumably whilst stroking that lovely beard of his - and looking for superior players who will still fit into his system.
It helps that Dundee's American backers have been willing to give their manager a budget that should at least rival more than half of their opponents this season. This allowed them to see off Falkirk striker Rory Loy's other suitors, to pay about forty grand or so for young left back Kevin Holt, and to convince Nick Ross to leave Europa League-bound Inverness.
When parading Ross, Hartley stated that improving his creative midfield options had been a summer priority, and he has done so by bringing in the ex-Caley Thistle man and Aberdeen's exciting but injury-prone Nicky Low. Ross fits in to the preferred 4-2-3-1 far better than Gary Harkins, who faded last season after a bright start and will be kept out of his preferred central role by Paul McGowan. McGowan seemed revitalized by a move away from Greater Glasgow and all his dodgy mates, and may be even better in 2015/16 now he is no longer physically or psychologically weighed down by an electronic tag.
That should mean more chances for the centre-forward, who will surely gobble more of them up too; either the clever, coy Loy, or the strong and powerful Kane Hemmings will lead the line, and both are a major upgrade over David Clarkson or Paul Heffernan. It's a big ask for Greg Stewart to repeat his tally of fifteen goals, but the former Cowdenbeath man was a revelation last year to the point that he was nominated for Player of the Year. He will chip in with a decent amount from the right flank.
If they are to add further reinforcements, it will surely be in the engine room. It was a surprise to see Jim McAlister turn down a new deal, and I didn't agree with those who thought Kevin Thomson did alright last year. To my untrained eye, he looked as ponderous and as injury-prone as he was at Hibs. Maybe Low will play in that area, or maybe Simon Ferry will be better after a rotten campaign blighted by illness, but I still think they could do a lot better.
A central defender wouldn't go amiss either even if James McPake can do the unthinkable and go two consecutive seasons without injury. Kostadin Gadzhalov, Thomas Konrad and Julen Lean...Julen Leaniz...oh, let's just call him Julen - are all options, but I'm not overly fussed about any of them. At least they're well set at full-back with Holt and Paul McGinn, and young goalkeeper Scott Bain is destined for far greater things.
I think there's a real possibility that Dundee could be even better this year. The one thing to watch out for is Hartley himself; his time at Alloa suggested that he's not brilliant when things start to go wrong, and if his intensity becomes too much for his squad, it might backfire. Pre-season has been marked by some interesting formations and selections, and whilst it is dangerous to read much into that there will be a concern that he overthinks and overcomplicates things. More likely, he may do so well that a bigger club comes calling. But a second top six finish is eminently achievable, and probably the least they should aim for. And whisper it, but they might be the best team in the City of Discovery this season...
THE SQUAD (players born after 1 January 1994 in italics)
Goalkeepers: Scott Bain, David Mitchell
Defenders: Kostadin Gadzhalov, Kevin Holt, Gary Irvine, Cammy Kerr, Thomas Konrad, Julen Leanizburrutia, Paul McGinn, Darryl Meggatt, James McPake
Midfielders: Andrew Black, Dylan Carreiro, Calvin Colquhoun, Simon Ferry, Gary Harkins, Nicky Low, Paul McGowan, Nick Ross, Kevin Thomson
Forwards: Kane Hemmings, Rory Loy, Phil Roberts, Greg Stewart, Luka Tankulic
THE BEST XI?
Lawrie Spence (LS) has ranted and spouted his ill-informed opinions on Narey's Toepoker since September 2007. He has a life outside this blog. Honestly.
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