Malky Mackay able to step tactical instructions up a level in second season in charge of Ross County ahead of trip to Paisley to take on St Mirren in Scottish Premiership
Malky Mackay says he is able to give more specific tactical instructions in his second year at Ross County.
Taking charge last summer with a huge turnover of players, Mackay believes his first season focused on establishing broad principles.
That was still effective, as the Staggies secured a top six finish in the Premiership, but in year two he is able to take things a step further.
Mackay set his side out very differently against Hearts and Celtic in recent weeks, looking to take the game to their hosts at Tynecastle while adopting a more cautious man-marking system last weekend.
Such flexibility could be a sign of things to come, with Mackay saying the work done last year will allow him to focus on the finer details more often this season.
“Initially, there was that need for an understanding of what I want as an identity for the club,” Mackay said.
“We’ve got a core group of players now who understand the structure, albeit the huge influx this summer has meant us laying that down again.
“But we have a group there who are already doing that, so it is easy for others coming in to follow that.
“There is an understanding of how I want to play and, now, it is all about dialling that up and looking at finer detail – being more intricate and trying to improve what we did last year.
“I don’t want to stand still or go backwards, I want to push everything forward so we have a group here that continues to challenge everyone in the league.”
County’s sixth place finish last season will undoubtedly have made their Premiership rivals sit up and take notice, and Mackay suspects clubs will look at the Staggies as more of a threat.
“I do think people might have a perception change, slightly – why wouldn’t you?” he asked.
“Livingston made that top six and the following season people don’t think ‘little Livingston’, they think ‘be careful’.
“There will be that perception of ‘be careful’ against Ross County.”
