Source: FOOTYMAD
Buddies Kick-off Against United
Danny Lennon takes on Peter Houston after both had a successful 2009-10 season. Who will come off best today? St Mirren defender David van Zanten insists all of Danny Lennon's new signings have integrated fully into the Buddies' squad in time for the game at home to Dundee United. Lennon made van Zanten his first signing after taking over from Gus MacPherson at the end of last season and has subsequently brought in another nine players. van Zanten returned to Paisley for a second spell, having previously spent five years with the club before joining Hibs in 2008. He had a short spell at Hamilton last season but the Irishman insists he has fitted straight back in the fold, along with all the other new boys. He said: "We went away to Ireland for four nights and were in each other's company non-stop so everyone got to know each other and bonded. It's different in January if you're changing team, it's more difficult to get to know each other. But we've done it in pre-season and it brings to a freshness to the squad. They have settled in great in training and pre-season games and I'm sure they will do well. I think everyone at the club is prepared to muck in and help each other out. There are a lot of experienced boys in there. We just all want to do what's best for the team and help each other out.'' Dundee United manager Peter Houston has told his players to enjoy the pressure of trying to emulate last season's success. The Tannadice side finished third and also picked up the Scottish Cup last season, so go into the new campaign with a weight of expectation upon them. They have been tipped in some quarters to challenge the Old Firm for the SPL title and the players themselves have set a target of splitting the Glasgow giants at the head of the table. Houston, who replaced Craig Levein last December, believes his men can handle the pressure and reckons they can get their season off to a positive start against St Mirren this weekend. He said: "Expectations will go up because of last season, but what we've got to remember is these players think they can do it. They have had a taste of success and they want more and I certainly believe they can get it. It was a fantastic year for us, so we are looking forward to starting again. We've got a very tough game, but it will be the first of many and we are up for it. The performance levels have been improving, I believe, and the boys are ready for what's ahead. There is a bit of the unknown about St Mirren tomorrow because they have brought in quite a number of players over the summer. They also had a closed-door game last weekend, I don't know why, but it meant we couldn't watch them. We don't know a lot about them but we know enough to prepare properly and what I do know is they have brought in one good manager in Danny Lennon to replace another good manager (Gus MacPherson). Danny has brought Cowdenbeath up from the Third Division to the First in back-to-back seasons and that's something you have to respect. He will want to prove himself at SPL level and I'm sure he will. But we've got to focus on ourselves and go about the job the way we did the majority of last season. We've a good set of players and we've kept most, almost all, of them over the summer so it's up to them to continue their good work. If they do that it will be up to St Mirren to worry about us rather than the other way round.'' Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba.net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba.net)This is Scottish-Fitba.Net
