Michael Smith watched Daniel Stendel's Barnsley play a high-pressure style of football last season.
And the defender is hopeful his new manager can get the same intensity out of Hearts' players after being announced on Saturday afternoon.
The Jambos lost 1-0 to Motherwell in another woeful showing but the frustration of defeat was quelled somewhat by the confirmation that German Stendel would start his new job this week.
Barnsley demand compensation for Daniel Stendel
Smith, 31, admitted he and his teammates were poor at Fir Park and didn't create even close to the number of opportunities they should have.
But with some more hard work and graft under a new boss with fresh ideas will provide the impetus to shoot up the Premiership table.
"There's not a lot of positives from getting beat every single week," he said.
"We never really looked like creating a lot. There were little chances around the box but we never really hurt them.
"When you're in the position we're in, it's hard to put your foot on the ball and pass it a bit more but we tried to do it a bit today.
"We need to do it a lot more and take a long, hard look at ourselves.
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"A new manager brings with him new, fresh ideas and changes it up a bit.
"We'll see what that has to offer and I'm looking forward to that challenge.
"We're excited to see what [Stendel] brings.
"I've seen a few games of Barnsley's last season when they got promoted and they looked a good side who had a high-press all over the pitch.
"Hopefully he can instil that in us and we'll go out there, perform and pick up results.
"Things can change and we could go and pick up some wins if everyone buys into his philosophy and we get it going.
"We'll be working hard to get those ideas into place."
Motherwell sealed all three points through Chris Long who swept home a stunning finish from a Jermaine Hylton cross in the first-half.
The die-hard Everton fan revealed it could not have been a better day for him after watching his beloved Toffees beat Chelsea 3-1 before kick-off.
His hero, Duncan Ferguson, led the players to the impressive victory in his first game in interim charge following the sacking of Marco Silva.
And Long hopes his former coach - whom he worked alongside with the Everton kids - is given the role on a more permanent basis.
"It's been a good day. I had the [Everton] game on in [in the changing room] when I was putting my gear on.
"Big Dunc is a legend, isn't he? I worked with him in the FA Youth Cup, he helped me a lot to be fair. I love him, he's a legend.
"I hope [he gets the job permanently]. I think he should do, in my eyes. I actually dropped him a text - though I'm still waiting on the text back, I must have his old number."
Long grabbed his fifth goal in 19 appearances for the Steel Men this season.
And with his side now sitting third, he admits European football could be on the horizon.
He added: "The team won which is the main thing but it's nice to be back in after a bit of an injury.
"The manager has been unbelievable with me and the staff as well.
"It's nine points from three games which is outstanding, you can't really ask for any more.
"Europe is obviously at the back of our minds but we have to go out in every game we play to get the three points."
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