The manager has had a month to get to know his squad. The players returned at the end of June and after a week they set off for the Austrian tour. From all accounts it was a successful venture and McGhee commented that he was happy with the workrate shown by the players.
He was also able to see how they interacted in 'off duty'.
Running in circles?
Porter and Mensing joined the squad and despite looking at Poles and Germans and making much of the possibility of Virgo and Hughes they remain the only new faces on the block. The transfer window remains open until the end of August so he has plenty of time to secure a target or two. But as we head into the final preparation period for the new season the squad is essentially an inheritance from the Malpas era.
Can it be that a different training regime and several sessions in front of the tactics board are all that is needed to transform the styles and habits that players have adopted over years? There is not much evidence from the recent friendlies to suggest that a revolution has happened.
Last season we had to rely on Scott McDonald to keep above the relegation spot. He scored sixteen goals and without him we would have been in real trouble. Ross McCormack has looked promising in the pre-season games but whether he can take on the role of prolific scorer remains to be seen. Porter scored often enough for Oldham last year but there is little evidence so far that the SPL will provide easy pickings -time will tell.
Attempting to guess the personnel who will form either midfield or defence appears to be guesswork. McGhee has tried lots and lots of combinations but only he knows who will take to the field on Saturday.
Let's hope he has a cunning plan!