Simo Valakari, the Finnish manager at St Johnstone, has laid out a clear directive for his squad as they prepare to re‑enter the Scottish Premiership: they must be "solid and streetwise" if they hope to make a meaningful impact at the top level. Valakari took over the Perth‑based club in October 2025, inheriting a side that, despite his efforts, was relegated to the Scottish Championship at the end of that season. The experience of that demotion has shaped his approach to the upcoming campaign, and he is determined that the club will not simply repeat the same pattern of naïve, overly genteel football that might have worked in the lower division. St Johnstone earned promotion back to the Premiership at the first attempt, losing only three league matches during their title‑winning run in the Championship.
Their return to the top flight is scheduled for Sunday, when they face Kilmarnock in a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. While the promotion was a cause for celebration, Valakari is quick to point out that the challenges ahead are markedly different from those faced in the second tier.
In an interview with Sky Sports News, he emphasized the need for a pragmatic, hard‑nosed mentality: "We know what we are, but we cannot be this naive, beautiful, nice team coming out of the Championship playing nice football. If we are not hard to beat, if we are not solid, if we are not ruthless about ourselves, it will be difficult. Yes, it's our way of playing and we want to do these things, but we need to be ready for this challenge and sometimes be streetwise." The manager's remarks underline a philosophy that balances the club's traditional style of play with a more physical, resilient approach required to survive against the league's established powers.
Valakari believes that while St Johnstone can retain its identity, it must also adapt to the speed, intensity, and tactical sophistication that define Premiership football. This adaptation, he suggests, will involve not just a shift in tactics but also a mental adjustment, where players become more aware of the nuances of each opponent and the broader demands of the competition.
In preparation for the season, Valakari has managed to keep the core group of players who secured promotion, while also bringing in eight new signings to bolster the squad's depth and quality. Among the departures, forward Josh McPake has left for Hearts after signing a pre‑contract in January, a move that reflects the fluid nature of squad building at this level.
Valakari explained that the recruitment process began well before the end of the Championship campaign: "It was important that we started this process already before our Championship season. We got the players in and we made them two, three‑year contracts. So we knew that we never wanted to be in that situation as we were after the Premiership season. So that's why I'm very, very happy.
And then, of course, these new additions have added their own personality, their qualities in our squad." He went on to stress the balance within the team: "We have a very balanced squad. But when these real games start happening, maybe there will be injuries, there will be some injuries on some of our players, or things like that.
We have a foundation, we have good players, we have enough depth in our squad as well. We are as ready as you can be after pre‑season to start the Premiership campaign." This statement highlights the manager's confidence that the squad possesses both the talent and the structural depth to navigate the inevitable rigors of a top‑flight season, including the inevitable injuries and suspensions that test any team's resilience. Beyond the tactical and personnel considerations, Valakari's call for a "streetwise" approach can be interpreted as a plea for the team to develop a sharper footballing intelligence—reading the game better, making quicker decisions under pressure, and exploiting opponents' weaknesses with a degree of pragmatism that may sometimes run counter to a purely aesthetic style of play. In the modern game, where data analysis and opponent scouting are integral, being streetwise also implies a willingness to adjust formations, press patterns, and defensive structures on a match‑by‑match basis.
St Johnstone's fans will be eager to see how this blend of continuity and fresh talent translates onto the pitch. The club's promotion was built on a solid defensive foundation, a work‑rate ethic, and a collective spirit that outperformed many larger clubs in the Championship. Translating those attributes to the Premiership will require the players to be more disciplined in their positioning, more aggressive in their duels, and more efficient in converting chances.
The manager's emphasis on being "hard to beat" suggests a focus on defensive solidity, perhaps employing a compact back line and a disciplined midfield that can shield the defense while still supporting the attack. The upcoming fixture against Kilmarnock will serve as an early litmus test for Valakari's ideas. Kilmarnock, a club with its own recent experience of promotion and relegation, will present a challenge that tests St Johnstone's readiness to compete at this level.
A strong performance could set a tone of confidence, while any early setbacks will provide valuable lessons for the squad to refine their approach. In summary, Valakari's message to his players is clear: retain the core identity that earned promotion, but augment it with a tougher, more street‑savvy mindset.
By securing key contract extensions before the season ended, adding eight new players to complement the existing core, and emphasizing a balance between style and substance, the manager believes St Johnstone is as prepared as possible for the rigors of the Scottish Premiership. The club's supporters, the players, and the coaching staff will all be watching closely as the season unfolds, hoping that the blend of continuity, fresh talent, and a hardened mental approach will enable St Johnstone not only to survive but to thrive in Scotland's top football division.