The main thing, of course, is that the head coach has been replaced with very little fuss. It took Hearts a little over a week to appoint Wouter Vrancken after McInnes’ departure.
He is getting the best out of members of the squad who played bit-part roles last season, with Blair Spittal going from impact sub to captain in the space of a few months.
As for the ‘Jamestown players’, the story goes that when sporting director Graeme Jones spoke to his USG counterparts, he was told new players needed six months to bed in.
Kerjota, whose winner against Dundee was his first goal for the club, has finally settled and is pushing for a starting spot.
Winger Rogers Mato, who joined in January but only played once last season, is another who seems to be a real threat off the bench.
Tomas Magnusson, a midfielder signed for around £35,000 last season, attracted interest over the summer and has seen his value sky-rocket in the year he has spent at the club.
That does not mean there won’t be players who struggle. Sander Kartum has already moved on for free, Elton Kabangu has not made a matchday squad this season, and record signing Ageu has managed just seven appearances.
But there’s been far more hits than misses, and new Vrancken certainly goes into the camp of the former.
“You don’t come to watch clean sheets, you come to watch goals, and one thing you’re going to get with Hearts is goal at both ends,” Preston added.
“I like the way [Vrancken] speaks. He’s captured the imagination of the fans, and they’re thoroughly behind him after a difficult opening. It’s great entertainment.”