The most important thing for Dundee this season is obviously staying in the Premiership.
And what happens in the team’s first Scottish Cup match on Saturday could have big implications for that.
First of all, we’re only half way through the transfer window and Jim McIntyre is doing his best to strengthen his squad.
If Dundee can beat Queen of the South and they then get drawn with Rangers or Celtic, possibly a TV game, that will be more money in the bank to help bring players in.
The other aspect is morale in the dressing room and in the stands.
You could understand why players and supporters would be feeling sorry for themselves just now.
Take the Andrew Davies injury, for example.
No sooner is he in the door than he’s picked up a serious foot injury in a closed-doors game.
These sort of things just add to the feeling that everything is going against you.
Get knocked out at home to a Championship team and that will only multiply.
There are advantages for the visitors at the weekend.
Queens will be match-sharp and they’re coming off a great win over Ayr United last Saturday.
And Stephen Dobbie just seems to get better and better.
Dundee on the other hand haven’t played since the end of December and confidence will be low after a really poor performance against St Johnstone going into the break.
Any sort of win will do. It doesn’t matter how ugly.
Things need to start moving in the right direction for Dundee and beating Queen of the South will start that process.
Don’t underestimate how important this game is.
* I’m glad to see that Dundee have brought in a winger.
I’d mentioned Daniel Armstrong at Raith Rovers in last week’s column but hopefully Andy Dales from Scunthorpe will give the team the pace and width it needs. Just get the ball into Kenny Miller would be my instructions.
It isn’t just about the new signings, though.
Roarie Deacon is a player who has shown glimpses of real talent in his time at Dens but he’s had a stop-start season with injuries.
If he can play to his best it would be just as important as any transfer business Jim manages to do.
* I’ll be intrigued to see how Dundee United’s new management structure works out.
I can see the benefits of having people other than a manager having a big input on transfers but there are pitfalls as well.
I remember when I was at Leicester we brought in a lot of players from one agent when Milan Mandaric was in charge and that didn’t work out.
* It’s good to see my old team-mate Jackie McNamara back in football.
I know that United fans won’t change their minds about him but he has plenty of experience in the game from his playing days, managing and in the boardroom at York so he’ll have a lot of advice he can pass on to a young manager like Stevie Crawford.
