There’s a real lack of buzz for me heading into the new campaign. We’ve had another management shuffle when continuity seemed exactly what was needed, and now the club looks intent on overhauling big chunks of the squad in one window. That feels risky — especially through midfield — and it’s hard to be optimistic about a side needing time to gel while the season starts ticking.

Too much change, too soon

Replacing most of the midfield in a single summer is a gamble. Midfield is where relationships, understanding and timing matter most. You can sign the best players, but it takes matches and minutes for that midfield chemistry to form. To be fair, defence and the right wing look like more pressing problems to me. We’re short at full-back when fitness and numbers are in doubt, and the RW still needs someone who can actually change a game. Those should have been priorities to steady the spine first.

The Hearts link and recruitment pattern

There’s a noticeable trend in signings and a nagging feeling some recruits come with familiar fingerprints — players who have been at Hearts or worked under McInnes. That alone isn’t an issue if the players fit our system, but it does raise the question of identity and whether we’re recycling the same templates. Fans are right to wonder how many more signings with those links we’ll see, and whether that approach truly gives us the best chance to compete.

Can McInnes steady the ship?

I’m sceptical that McInnes is the miracle cure some hope for. People point to his record and the style he brings; fair enough. But continuity matters more than constant chopping and changing. If we keep rotating managers every couple of windows we’ll never build anything lasting. I want to be proven wrong — I’ll admit it — but I’m worried this feels too shaky to deliver silverware right away. Fingers crossed the recruitment settles the balance and we get the full-backs and right winger we actually need.

Written by DJB_Ranger: 1 August 2026

Tags: transfers spfl injury tactics