Billy King admits getting a manager he’s already worked for was a bonus for him.
More importantly, getting the issue of who would be picking the team on a permanent basis sorted quickly is good news for Dundee United.
King won promotion from the Championship under the guidance of new Tangerines boss Robbie Neilson and is happy to be working with him again.
“Obviously, I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes but it’s good for us as players and a team that the gaffer has come in this quickly and it’s not been lingering on,” he said.
“It means he can get in and put his input, his style of play and what he wants. We’ve seen it this week in training, you can see already things developing.
“Some of the players have got a new lease of life and it’s brought a freshness back to the squad as well and, hopefully, it will show against Partick Thistle this weekend.”
At Hearts, the Neilson way was an attractive brand of attacking football that saw them run away with the second tier, despite the presence of Rangers and Hibs in the division.
King will be happy if his boss’ time at United sees more of the same but stresses, starting today at Firhill, the emphasis will always be on getting three points.
“The main thing is finding a way to win games. It could be tweaked slightly depending on who you’re playing, if you’re away from home or at home.
“In winter time the pitches become more difficult to play passing football on, so we need to adapt, that’s the main thing. The end product is just trying to win games and what’s best for us.”
And after a below-par start to the campaign that saw previous boss Csaba Laszlo lose his job, King knows it’s time to repay fan loyalty with a run of good results.
That said, he knows nothing can be taken for granted against a Thistle team that will be hurting after their own poor start led to their gaffer, Alan Archibald, also being sacked.
“Performances this season just haven’t been good enough and we owe it to them, the ones who come to watch us play, we need to start winning games and playing some attractive football.
“But we need to be wary. They’ve not go off to a great start to the season and the manager has gone now.
“Whoever comes in at Partick, the players who are playing will be wanting to impress because they will be watching the game, probably.
“That’s what you’re thinking, or if he isn’t there he will watch it back to see who’s playing.
“They’ve got a point to prove as well and it will be a very difficult game.
“We’ll need to be playing our best stuff to come away with all three points.”
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