Neil Critchley has now been in charge of Hearts for four months.
The Englishman has had an up-and-down time since taking the reins at Tynecastle and had to survive early calls for his head, including from ex-Jambos captain Michael Stewart.
That was due to results like losing to a Kilmarnock side who had 10 men for most of the game and blowing a two-goal lead to Ross County. Hearts fans weren’t happy with Critchley either and demanded his sacking.
But things have stabilised and, over the piece, the Gorgie club’s record under the new manager is the third best in the league over that period of time. They remained 10th until victory over St Johnstone lifted them up to seventh in a tightly-packed Premiership.
January recruitment has been positive too and the signs are now suggesting Hearts can keep looking up the way, push for a top six spot and then build on that next season after a summer transfer window.
Critchley taken aback by size of Hearts
Players and coaches coming up from England are often surprised by the sheer size of clubs like Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen once they are on the inside.
Critchley admits that has probably been the biggest shock to him since stepping out his comfort zone of coaching and managing in England, with Liverpool, Blackpool and QPR.
But he is relishing the chance to work at a club where the demands are there to win the vast majority of your games.
He also hailed the “class” with which Hearts conducts itself as a club, and their fans.
Asked on Premier Sports Scottish Football Social Club what has surprised him since coming to Scotland, he said: “The size of the club, I’ll be honest. It’s a really big football club and there is a big expectation. Which is great, I’m enjoying it.
“Knowing you’re going into games having that pressure of having to win is completely different to when you’re the underdog or you’re not expected to win. There’s a class about this football club in the way it conducts itself, and that’s with the people behind the scenes.
“And the supporters are unbelievably passionate, really intense, travel in big numbers away from home. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. Coming up here, I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and experience a different football and culture.
“The games are so competitive, fine margins as the league is this season. You have to do the basics very well in every single game if you want a result.”
Critchley on Hearts transfers and Jamestown Analytics
Hearts signed five players during the winter window – defenders Harry Milne, Michael Steinwender and Jamie McCart, midfielder Sander Kartum and striker Elton Kabangu.
The majority of them have shown signs they can and will improve the side, with Kabangu finding the net seven times already.
Asked if the window was important to address an “unbalanced” squad, the manager said: “Any window is important, massively, but the first one as well. It has been well documented about Jamestown being involved and they’re part of the recruitment process.
“Graeme Jones the sporting director joined just after me so this was our first window together. I’d like to thing we’ve done good work. Time will tell but it looks promising.
“You always want to put your own stamp on the squad and try and bring in the players to play the style of football you want to play.
“I would agree there was an imbalance within the squad. We’ve tried to rectify that but you’re not going to do that all in one window. So far the signs have been positive with the players we’ve brought in.”
On Jamestown’s involvement, he went on: “You have to have total alignment. So they (Jamestown) have to know our style of play, that then determines the profile of player you bring in.
“So they have to know what I want, what we’re trying to develop. There’s got to be good communication, we’ve got to be clear so when they’re identifying players they know exactly what we’re looking for.
“It’s been good for me and my learning because sometimes I will look at certain players and think ‘he will bring this to the team’ but then through their system they’ll be able to say ‘he’s not the same as him, or he’s slightly different’.
“It’s not the whole process, it’s only part of the process. We still have to go away and watch the players, speak to them, do our due diligence on their character. But obviously it plays an important part.”