Tynecastle was emptying long before full-time on Tuesday as Hearts suffered a crushing 6-0 aggregate defeat to Sturm Graz in Champions League qualifying, ending an unbeaten home run that stretched 22 games across all competitions last season. The Gorgie roar at kick-off gave way to silence, broken only by the celebrating Austrian fans.
Calvin Miller, one of 10 new signings this window after moving from Falkirk while Derek McInnes was still manager, now finds himself under Wouter Vrancken. The Belgian has introduced a brave, possession-based attacking philosophy, but so far it has yielded two legs of possession without the desired results in Europe.
System needing time to bed in
Miller knows Hearts fans want positive signs as they prepare for Saturday's Premiership opener at Aberdeen. But he draws a parallel with Motherwell under Jens Berthel Askou, who revolutionised their style and reached Europe despite winning only one of their first eight league games.
"Of course, we believe and everybody's believing in the system. So we'll be going to Pittodrie to win the game, there's no doubt about that," Miller said. "It was almost going to be tough against Sturm Graz, coming here with a horrible deficit, but I think we had the belief and we started the game really well. Probably our biggest fault was not taking our chances over the two legs. So that's really disappointing."
Motherwell example
"I think you've seen there's moments there, there's definitely moments, it's just building on it," he added. "It does take time and I know maybe you don't get time up here but a good example, you look at Motherwell last year, how long did it take them to actually get going because I'm sure at the start they didn't really do too well. But they stayed with it and they were drilled and look what they've did over the rest of the season. So I'm hoping that's the same aspect for us but trying to hit it as quickly as possible."
Hearts' fitness may have been affected by Vrancken's late arrival, with Miller noting: "Sturm looked really fit and so maybe us coming in a bit later due to the manager coming in later could have been a wee bit of a problem in terms of fitness because we've got a big squad so everybody really needs to play minutes. Plus trying to play a different system, a different style and trying to get everybody drilled to doing the same thing."
Finishing needs sharpening
The team missed several big chances across both legs, raising concerns about Lawrence Shankland's departure to Rangers. But Miller is confident the goals will come: "The attackers just need a few goals, we've been in great positions in the away leg, we actually could have been leading the first half. I would say we probably had more clear-cut opportunities. It's just a pity we've not taken our chances and there were moments on Tuesday where we maybe could have got in front. So the goals are still to come."
He also acknowledged defensive issues: "You absolutely need control and there's maybe a couple of times that we seem very open. But that's something that we need to work on and I'm sure the gaffer will see that and rectify it. There's so many staff here now, we get set-piece analysis, we get sent videos on opponents. So I think that will all come and it will all get tidied up."
Miller adjusting to right flank
Miller, who topped the Premiership assists chart last season at Falkirk, has been deployed on the right by Vrancken, with Alexandros Kyziridis on the left. He explained: "I played left, right and number 10 last season so when I get into a position I kind of want to stay there and build on it and get consistency. I can do that on the right and if that's what the gaffer wants then I'll go drill myself to do that. You can go both ways when you're on the right as well and the way he wants to play, he wants me in the pocket, so essentially you're coming in and having shots and I think that could be another side to my game that could really excel. For a winger consistency is key."
