Excitement was the word of the day for new Hearts boss Neil Critchley as he was introduced to the club’s supporters on Tuesday.
However, based on the general reaction his Tynecastle performance has received since then, it’s safe to say the feeling hasn’t been mutual.
The Englishman will, of course, receive a warm welcome this afternoon when he takes his place on the bench for the visit of St Mirren, but his arrival has done little to spark enthusiasm in the pessimistic faithful hearts in the build-up.
It’s certainly a bit unfair for this 45-year-old. After all, he comes with the seal of approval from the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp, having worked with the duo at Liverpool before venturing into his first managerial venture at Blackpool.
He sealed promotion to the Championship at the first time of asking with the Seasiders, and then kept them in the second tier with a bit to spare.
Neil Critchley was unveiled as Hearts’ new manager earlier this week.
The former Blackpool coach (left) has already been on the training ground with his new team. Steven Naismith (right) was sacked at Tynecastle after an eight-game losing streak.
The less said about his unfortunate spell at QPR the better, but a creditable eighth-place finish in League One on his return to the Lancashire club last season was a more than decent return.
So why so much pessimism? Perhaps it could simply be attributed to Hearts fans looking for a sexier name to get their pulses racing.
Or perhaps their lack of enthusiasm stems from watching a long line of EFL managers land in Scotland with big ambitions, only to quickly find themselves crossing the border with their tails between their legs.
Just last year, former Sheffield United and Crystal Palace icon Neil Warnock found himself trying to rescue Aberdeen’s faltering campaign. His eight-game reign generated plenty of headlines.
Neil Warnock won just two of his eight games in charge last season at Aberdeen.
Lee Johnson failed to build on an encouraging start at Hibs before being shown the door.
Unsurprisingly, they had more to do with his colorful press conference than anything he could improvise on the field. After achieving only two victories, he hit the road again.
Lee Johnson, another man not shy about talking about himself, had just over a season to show what he could do at Hibernian, having arrived with a great reputation after spells at Bristol City and Sunderland.
He left with the club entrenched at the bottom of the table, with a wage bill the size of his ego and his lasting legacy in Leith.
Paul Heckingbottom also suffered the same fate at Easter Road. He didn’t even get to celebrate a Christmas dressed in green and white before he was given the order to march.
Others who swapped the EFL for the SPFL fared little better. Graham Alexander far exceeded expectations at Motherwell after earning his stripes at Scunthorpe United and Salford City.
Curiously, it was a dismal defeat to Sligo Rovers in the Europa Conference League playoffs that sealed their fate, just months after an impressive fifth-place finish in the league.
Micky Mellon did enough to keep Dundee United in the top flight in his only season in charge.
He then decided that a quick return to Tranmere Rovers was a more desirable option than staying at Tannadice.
It is important to note, however, that Critchley has a significant advantage over those mentioned above. His new club may not have won, but they are a team (at least on paper) packed with talent.
Lawrence Shankland’s form will have big impact on Critchley’s success at Hearts
Craig Gordon is, as he proved once again this week in Scotland, an excellent goalkeeper between the sticks, while Lawrence Shankland remains a significant threat at the other end, despite his frustrating start to the campaign.
Add in the likes of Frankie Kent and Beni Banimgime and we have a solid backbone to work with. And if he can get summer newcomers Blair Spittal and Yan Dhanda to replicate the kind of form shown at Motherwell and Ross County respectively, then there is real reason to be positive going forward.
But the future can wait. For now, the only thing that matters is getting three points this weekend. If you follow through with that, excitement may begin to build in Gorgie after all.
St Johnstone fans forced to wait
Fellow Premiership contenders St Johnstone are also embarking on a new chapter under a new boss. But unfortunately for Saints fans, they will have to wait to see Simo Valakari in the dugout after work permit issues put his long-awaited debut on ice.
Simo Valakari will not be on the bench for Saturday’s Premiership clash against Ross County
Disappointed by the football offered by Craig Levein, fans of the Perth side will be hoping the Finn can bring some much-needed positivity to the club as they look to avoid another campaign finishing them at the bottom of the table.
Fellow Scandinavian Jimmy Thelin could soon erect a statue outside Pittodrie if Aberdeen can maintain their extraordinary start to the season.
Valakari won’t be overseeing such a career any time soon, but his appointment has certainly already captured the imagination at McDiarmid Park.
Livingston lurks under the radar
Falkirk and Ayr United have received much of the plaudits thanks to their excellent start to their Championship campaign. Both look well placed to be in contention for automatic promotion, and each has proven they can entertain and push in equal measure.
Livingston will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run in the Championship at Ayr United this weekend.
However, they are not the only ones that attract attention. Under David Martindale, Livingston are targeting an immediate return to the Premiership and, as one of three teams in the country yet to experience defeat in the league, travel to Somerset Park this afternoon hoping to extend that record and leave a great score. to its much-heralded rivals.
