Jim Goodwin has been studying footage of Beveren to get a measure of new Hibernian manager Marink Reedijk. The Dutchman will take his team to Tannadice on Saturday, as he prepares to make his managerial debut in Scotland. Reedijk led Beveren to the Second Division title without losing a game last season before he stepped down.
Researching the new Hibs boss
Goodwin and his team have been reviewing that footage while also keeping an eye on the Hibs players who had started the season under David Gray. The Dundee United boss said: “It will be an interesting one because obviously they have a new manager in now.
“We will definitely look back at how he played at Beveren and other previous clubs. It would be naive of us not to look at the footage of his previous teams. We can get his style of play and the characteristics of his teams.
“Sometimes managers inherit a group that are used to playing a certain way. There might only be a certain style that suits a group, so we can’t take it for granted that he is going to automatically play the same way he has done in the past.
Focus on United's own performance
“We are very familiar with all the players at Hibs. We will plan and prepare for a number of different scenarios within the game. Hopefully, we can reach the levels we reached against St Mirren, that is the important thing for us.
“We will respect the opposition and will do our research and give all the detail that the players need, but we really want to focus on our own performance. We want to be consistent in our own performance and if we can do that we are a far better team.
“Doing that we also give ourselves a good chance of kicking on and carrying on where we left off against St Mirren.”
Turning Tannadice into a fortress
United’s win over the Buddies was a big one. Goodwin is looking for his team to go out and be more ruthless after the break. He also wants his team to start turning Tannadice into a home banker. Goodwin said: “Our away form has been good. Our home form hasn’t been as good.
“A lot of people make a lot about that sort of stuff. Ultimately some of our fixtures at home have been very challenging against some tough opponents. It all balances itself out over the course of a campaign.
“Players enjoy being on the road and have picked up points. I also know how much they love playing at Tannadice, with the atmosphere created by the supporters who always turn out in big numbers.
“It is up to us to go and replicate the St Mirren performance at home to Hibs. It is going to be very, very difficult. Hibs are a good team but we need to back ourselves.
“We have to make Tannadice a fortress. That is what every manager and support wants.”
