Lennon's comments have been a breath of fresh air, with his positive outlook and general talking up of the club. After several years of complaining about budget, under-21 rules and the like from Gus MacPherson, it's refreshing to here someone talking about the club in such a good way. However, it's a doddle to put out some statements that can improve the mood of some cheesed off fans. It's quite another backing up those remarks with results. There's a good vibe around the place at the moment, but that will disappear if it turns out Lennon isn't that good a manager. Tomorrow is when he can start showing us just what he's made of.
There could arguably be no better opponent than with which to show just how different things will be. Our record against United under Gus was atrocious. We beat them just twice during his time in charge - one of those in the Scottish Cup - and over the past four years we only managed to avoid losing to them at home on two occasions. All too often we lost late goals to them, a key problem last season, and so for numerous reasons this is the perfect chance for Lennon to show what changes he has made to the squad, tactics and so on over the last few months. We drew 0-0 with United in our first home game last season - would a same result this season be a good start?
I'd say it would. United have a pretty good squad and have won the Scottish Cup. We seem to be missing a number of players and the ones we have brought in will still be gelling, so a draw wouldn't be the worst result. Michael Higdon is suspended and David Barron is definitely injured, while there are doubts over Steven Robb and Craig Dargo (no surprises there). There's also a chance Lee Mair and even Paul McQuade could miss out, although the latter should be OK. If Dargo joins Higdon in the stands, then McQuade will almost certainly start up front with Gareth Wardlaw, with Paul McGowan slotting into the midfield. I genuinely have no idea how we'll line up, although it will probabably be aback four with David van Zanten and Jure Travner occupying the full-back slots and Paul Gallacher in goals. John Potter will occupy one central defensive role with Mair, Marc McAusland or Darren McGregor taking the other. Hugh Murray, Gray Brady and Steven Thomson could take the midfield slots if McGowan plays there, but there's also McGregor and Sean Lynch to consider. It really will be interesting to see just how we line up.
United have no such issues. They've only lost Andy Webster since last season and still have Peter Houston in charge after he was handed the job on a permenant basis following their Scottish Cup win last summer. It's a good appointment. After a horror show at Ibrox while he was still caretaker, Houston did well last season and looks set to continue the good work Craig Levein was doing at Tannadice before he took the Scotland job. Whether it was merely a case of continuing momentum or showing he is talented in his own right is something we'll find out in the coming weeks and months, but I have a feeling it will be the latter. The only thing I'd say against him is that the signings this summer have been few and far between, although with only one player leaving a cup winning side that also finished third last season you can understand why Houston wasn't making the sort of changes we saw in Paisley.
United are strong in every department. Dusan Pernis is a great keeper while the likes of Garry Kenneth, Sean Dillon and Paul Dixon are good in defence. They have an embarrassment of riches in midfield, including Danny Swanson, Morgaro Gomis - who played alongside Lennon at Cowdenbeath - Prince Bauben and Craig Conway, who scored twice at Hampden in May. Up front, David Goodwillie looks as if he's maturing into a great striker and he should form a good partnership with Jon Daly.
Taking anything from United would be a good result, but Lennon and his assistant Iain Jenkins have said they won't be happy with draws from home games against teams outwith the Old Firm. We'll see if they still believe in that, and their other remarks, come 5pm tomorrow.