Pass Or Fail? Paul Harley’s 35 Dundee Signings Under The Microscope

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Dundee boss Paul Hartley has so far signed 35 players at Dens Park.

And he’s not finished there, with two more said to be on the way imminently.

We previously featured an overall evaluation on Paul’s business season by season. Here football writer Liam Kennedy takes a look at each individual and assesses whether they’ve been flop or a success.

Greg Stewart

The best player in the Dark Blues’ squad currently. And it comes as no surprise that half the English Football League have taken a look at him over the course of the last season. He came as a striker but has been converted to play wide right. It’s a shock how his goals and assists have not seen a Scotland call come his way. Likely to leave this summer. If he does, it will be some loss.

PASS

Scott Bain

The fact he is now ranked as one of Scotland’s top keepers is testament to how much he has developed in his time in the city. Picked up from Championship Alloa, having been rejected by Aberdeen, Bain has been outstanding for the Dark Blues. A confident keeper, who rarely makes mistakes Bain may be one who Dundee struggle to hang on to as time goes on. Does have two years left on his deal.

PASS

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Phil Roberts

Signed to add pace to the Dundee attack, having torn them to pieces in the promotion season while at Falkirk. Bar one performance against Celtic at Dens he never even got close to holding down a regular spot. Problems off the park didn’t help his lack of impact on it.

FAIL

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James McPake

Club captain McPake has been the consummate professional since walking through the Dens Park doors after his release by relegated Hibs. Brought physicality to the Dundee backline. As committed as anyone. Were he fit they wouldn’t have to look in the market for another centre-half.

PASS

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Kevin Thomson

A player who divides opinion. While I get that Dundee didn’t really miss him when he left I do think they  were always a better team with their skipper in the XI. Injuries were his downfall. And for his price, given he was Dundee’s top earner, he did not play enough. A class act all the same, though, on and off the park.

PASS

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Simon Ferry

Signed to add character to the Dark Blues’ dressing room, having been with the manager while at Celtic. He certainly did that, soon becoming the squad joker, but was never close to fit enough.

FAIL

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Paul McGowan

For me ranks as one of Paul’s greatest successes in the transfer market. A tenacious midfielder with drive, passion and a real will to win. This season he seems to be adding goals to his game, which can only be a good thing for Dundee.

PASS

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Paul McGinn

Week-in, week-out a six out of ten. That’s how he’ll be remembered by the Dark Blues faithful. Solid, dependable but nothing flashy. Goalie Bain was definitely one of McGinn’s biggest fans in the Dundee squad. Gave two years of decent service before departing to Chesterfield.

PASS

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Gary Harkins

A third spell for Harkins at Dens came as a shock to everyone when he signed. Over two years the manager has found it tough to accommodate GGH, but when he’s hit form he has won games for Dundee single-handedly. Hasn’t done it nearly enough as Paul would like, though. Despite his time with the Dark Blues coming to an end, hard to argue he hasn’t had a positive contribution.

PASS

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Luka Tankulic

The German looked to have everything in the pre-season of 2014. They even stretched their tight budget to bring him in. But that’s as far as his talents wen. When the real ball came out he never quite looked suited to Scottish football.

FAIL

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Thomas Konrad

Signed along with Tankulic after a successful summer trial. Konrad, although nowhere near as flashy as Tankulic, was much more consistent. Despite the odd error in big games he was a decent signing for the Dark Blues, playing 69 games in total. All in all probably a bit wee for a central defender.

PASS

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Grant Adam

Brother Scotland international Charlie, Adam was signed purely as a quick fix after Scott Bain suffered a ruptured appendix in Hungary and Kyle Letheren was out injured. Played in the pre-season friendly win over Manchester City.

N/A

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Dylan Carreiro

Former QPR youngster Carreiro left Dundee in December last year after failing to make the breakthrough from youth football to the first-team picture. A lad who showed a lot of talent at U/20 level but failed to covert that to the senior ranks, either on loan at Arbroath or at Dens. Now plays for Canadian side Woodbridge Strikers.

FAIL

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David Clarkson

His run of form after signing, in which he scored in eight games on the bounce, was so good Scotland boss Gordon Strachan even came to have a look. It didn’t last, though. As the season wore on he found gametime hard to come by. Despite never getting close to his form of the early day he did play his part in a top six finish.

PASS

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Kosta Gadzhalov

One of the lowest earners in the whole of the Dark Blues playing staff,  that’s even including some of the youths. For that reason it’s impossible to say the comfortable on the ball defender isn’t value for money.

PASS

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Alex Harris

Signed to replace the pace of Martin Boyle, who went the opposite way to Hibs, and compete with Roberts for a place on the right-hand side. After a decent start

FAIL

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Stephen McGinn

Initially a loan from Sheffield United, which soon turned into a permanent six-month deal. An offer to stay longer was never seriously considered by player or club. While he was steady enough, did little in his short time at Dens to suggest he could bring anything fresh to the table.

FAIL

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Paul Heffernan

Bar his goal in the derby win over Dundee United did little to suggest his stay was going to be anything more than temporary.
FAIL

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Nick Ross

One of the first names on the teamsheet last season for the gaffer, he might find it tough to get back in this year. A solid player, converted to sit deeper than he ever played at Inverness, Ross is a safe pair of hands in the middle. An all-round solid addition.

PASS

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Daryll Meggatt

Never really looked at the required level. Worth a punt but didn’t work.

FAIL

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Rory Loy

Kicked off the season like he means to go on with three goals already. Almost mirrors the way he began life at Dens this time last year, also. Things did tail off for him due in no small part to injury and the form of Hemmings, but still netted nine goals, playing most of his football wide. This is his big chance to make the Dens central striking role his own.

PASS

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David Mitchell

Signed purely as a stand in for Scott Bain after the departure of Letheren. When called upon he has proved a decent deputy. A touch on the small side for a goalkeeper.

JURY’S OUT

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Nicky Low

Can, and has, played anywhere and everywhere for Dundee. That’s why the manager signed him, and likes him so much. Another player who has had a problem with injuries. Hard to see where he fits in this starting XI, but over the course of a season will no doubt be called upon.

JURY’S OUT

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Kevin Holt

Holt is definitely not one of the fan favourites. That’s not the case among the squad, though. For all the stick he gets on the park, he’s no scapegoat on the training pitch. Players respect his ability. His inconsistency has been his issue on a matchday. Dundee paid decent money to sign him but haven’t seen enough yet to suggest he was worth that figure. Has a chance of changing that this season.

JURY’S OUT

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Kane Hemmings

The Tele’s Liam Kennedy talks to Kane Hemmings during Dundee’s preseason trip to Austria

After a trick start in dark blue no one could have predicted Hemmings would go on to net 25 goals in 2015/16. The striker, signed from Barnsley, was a revelation. But, in order to get him to sign, a clause was inserted and now he’s an Oxford player. Dundee are £250,000 richer, though.

PASS

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Julen Etxabeguren

With injuries seeing the Spaniard miss large chunks of last season, we are yet to really see how good Etxabeguren can be. This season will be a massive one for him. Started it well against Ross County. Long may it continue. Although, Paul is set to add in this area.

JURY’S OUT

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Riccardo Calder

Didn’t ever show enough maturity off the pitch or in training to warrant a place in the starting XI. With just a handful of appearances the pacey loanee wideman was sent back to Aston Villa.

FAIL

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Rhys Healey

One goal on loan from Cardiff before a serious injury forced him back down the road. A little glimpse or two of talent but that was about it.

FAIL

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Darren O’Dea

Darren O’Dea

A proper leader at the back. O’Dea clearly lacks pace but when it comes to commitment and putting his body on the like the Irishman is second to none. Maybe still needs someone alongside him as a regular partner to bring out his very best.

PASS

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Yordi Teijsse

The big Dutchman is raw. But to be fair you’d expect that given that he’s only just come from amateur football. Will take time to develop.

N/A

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Mark O’Hara

I know it’s early days but already you can see that signing O’Hara from Kilmarnock was a no-brainer for boss Paul. While he was a defender in his former life at Rugby Park the 20-year-old has been a revelation in the Dark Blues’ midfield. Adds pace, movement and some perfectly timed runs from deep to the starting XI.

PASS

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James Vincent

When he came in people did wonder where he would fit. Well, it looks like he is being asked to perform the role the gaffer has hoped Harkins could fill, sitting deep and controlling the play but also able to support the frontmen. The jury was out after his first few displays but was excellent in Dingwall. Dovetailed with O’Hara and McGowan perfectly.

N/A

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Danny Williams

Danny Williams goes up for a header

If there is one thing Dundee have lacked in recent years it’s been pace. And it’s fair to say that Williams gives them that either from the right or the left. His versatility is a big plus point. So far this summer end product has been lacking so despite decent early signs we will have to wait and see on this one.

N/A

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Michael Duffy

Duffy has already shown what he can bring with his clever runs, good link up play as well as the way he finds space between the lines. Started slowly but game by game the Northern Irishman is getting better. Scored a cracker, too, against Forfar.

N/A

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Faissal El Bakhtaoui

Impossible to judge after just 20 or so minutes of football. But if his performances in the lower reaches of Scottish football are anything to do by he’s got the chance of being a crowd pleaser at Dens. Interesting to see how he deals with the step up, particularly in a physical sense.

N/A

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