Tam Courts is putting a Dundee United team on the pitch that the fans are enjoying watching.

And he's also showed the confidence to distance himself from the manager whose team he inherited at Tannadice.

In this week's Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson discuss the United boss's growing stature and the exciting team he and Tony Asghar have assembled.

Also on the agenda are Dundee's continuing striker crisis and the opportunity that has presented itself against a new-look St Johnstone central defence this weekend.

This isn’t a normal episode of The Courier Talking Football. Football’s been away for so long, and getting fans back into the grounds for the derby last weekend felt like an important moment to celebrate. We wanted to capture the magic of getting football back, and so we clipped a mic to a fan as he headed into the ground for this most special of city club clashes. He happens to be a United fan, and we all now know what the result was by the time the final whistle blew – but this little quarter-hour experiment is not about United, or Dundee for that matter. It’s about all of us as football fans, and about what the game means to us, to our families, our friends and to our city.

Put on some headphones. Have a listen. Share with your pals. Let us know what you think. Normal service will be resumed shortly. 😏

And our huge thanks to Phil, Luke and Michael for letting us share such a special day with them.

Can Dundee’s team of maverick attacking talents get a rare Tannadice victory?

Is James McPake winning the pre-match mind games?

And will Tam Courts try to take the emotion out of the occasion and turn it into a tactical battle that suits his strengths?

All these Dundee city derby issues and more are on the agenda in this week’s podcast with Jim Spence, Alan Temple, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson.

We also delve into the calamitous start to the season for Dunfermline and whether Peter Grant should already have been sacked.

And are St Johnstone getting Aberdeen at the right time?

In Leigh Griffiths, James McPake made a signing for Dundee that has raised expectations.

In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson discuss the extra pressure recruiting the division’s most talented goal scorer puts on his manager and the importance of beating bottom side, Livingston.

The games before the Dundee derby for the Dark Blues and United are on the agenda, as is the price of a ticket next weekend.

Also, can St Johnstone banish the deadline day depression and is Peter Grant already doomed at Dunfermline?

St Johnstone fans woke up with a footballing hangover they've not been used to for a long time.

Ali McCann and Jason Kerr have been sold and many supporters reacted furiously to the combined transfer fee.

In this week's Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson assess whether any damage beyond the inevitable on-pitch loss has been done.

Also on the agenda is Dundee's recruitment of one of their favourite sons, Leigh Griffiths and Dundee United's refresh.

Gordon Strachan is now in the unique position of having jobs with two different Premiership clubs - Dundee and Celtic.

In this week's Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson discuss whether this is a conflict of interest.

Also on the agenda is Lawrence Shankland's departure and the possibility of Dundee United improving without him, St Johnstone's clash with Galatasaray and the weekend Premier Sports Cup last-16 ties.

In this week’s Talking Football podcast, Jim Spence, Sean Hamilton and Eric Nicolson reflect on a memorable Istanbul occasion for St Johnstone, Tam Courts’ first league match in charge of Dundee United, and ask do Dundee have a perfect opportunity to beat Celtic?

For 20% off the beautiful book ‘Arabs Away’, go to https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/ and use the code ARABS20 at checkout. Offer ends 8 August 2021; see https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/terms-and-conditions for full terms and conditions. 

Can St Johnstone succeed in Europe and get back to Hampden? How high should Dundee set their sights? Do Dundee United need to sell before they can buy?

For 20% off the beautiful book ‘Arabs Away’, go to https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/ and use the code ARABS20 at checkout. Offer ends 8 August 2021; see https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/terms-and-conditions for full terms and conditions.

Dundee United have reshaped their backroom team as part of the Tam Courts era, St Johnstone fans deserve to see Galatasaray in Perth and it’s exciting times for Dunfermline.

For 20% off the beautiful book ‘Arabs Away’, go to https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/ and use the code ARABS20 at checkout. Offer ends 8 August 2021; see https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/terms-and-conditions for full terms and conditions.

On this week's Courier Talking Football, Sean Hamilton, Jim Spence and Alan Temple talk Tam Courts giving United's top kids a chance in the Premier Sports Cup, Paul McMullan's motivation to prove himself a Premiership player for Dundee, St Johnstone's hopes of keeping their cup double-winning stars together and Dunfermline's Championship title ambitions.

For 20% off the beautiful book ‘Arabs Away’, go to https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/ and use the code ARABS20 at checkout. Offer ends 8 August 2021; see https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/terms-and-conditions for full terms and conditions.