Simo Valakari has made it clear to his St Johnstone squad that they must be "solid and streetwise" if they hope to leave a mark in the Scottish Premiership this season. The Finnish manager, who took over the Perth club in October 2025, could not prevent the team’s drop to the Scottish Championship after a difficult campaign, but he has now guided them back to the top tier at the first attempt. Their return to the Premiership is set for Sunday when they face Kilmarnock in a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
St Johnstone’s promotion campaign was impressive: they suffered only three defeats in the league and secured the title with a blend of determination and consistency. Yet Valakari is realistic about the step up in quality and intensity that the Premiership demands. "We know what we are, but we cannot be this naive, beautiful, nice team coming out of the Championship playing nice football," he told Sky Sports News. "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 message is essentially a call for a more pragmatic, physically robust style of play. He wants his players to retain the attractive football that earned them promotion, but also to add a layer of grit and tactical awareness that can withstand the pressures of facing established Premiership sides. In his view, the team must combine technical skill with a willingness to battle for every ball, to be difficult to break down, and to keep a clear head in high‑stakes situations. Valakari has been proactive in preparing the squad for the rigours ahead.
He managed to retain the core group that won the Championship while also bringing in eight fresh faces to strengthen key areas. This blend of continuity and new talent, he believes, gives St Johnstone a balanced roster capable of coping with the inevitable challenges of top‑flight football, including injuries and fixture congestion. One notable departure during the off‑season was forward Josh McPake, who signed a pre‑contract with Hearts in January. Valakari explained that the club had anticipated such moves well before the end of the Championship season.
"It was important that we started this process already before our Championship season," he said. "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." By securing longer‑term deals for his retained players early, Valakari avoided the scramble that many clubs face when contracts expire at the end of a promotion campaign. This foresight allowed him to focus on adding new signings who bring distinct qualities and personalities to the squad. "These new additions have added their own personality, their qualities in our squad," he noted, emphasizing the importance of depth and versatility.
The manager is confident that the team is as prepared as possible heading into the new season. "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," Valakari affirmed. Looking ahead, the challenge for St Johnstone will be to translate their Championship dominance into consistent performances against clubs with larger budgets and deeper squads.
The manager’s emphasis on being "hard to beat" and "streetwise" suggests a tactical plan that prioritises defensive solidity, disciplined pressing, and opportunistic attacking play. He wants his side to be resilient, to fight for every point, and to avoid the complacency that can sometimes follow a rapid promotion. Fans can expect a team that still plays attractive football but with a heightened sense of urgency and physicality. The upcoming clash with Kilmarnock will serve as an early barometer of how well Valakari’s philosophy has been absorbed.
A solid showing could boost confidence and set the tone for a season where the club aims not just to survive, but to establish itself as a competitive Premiership outfit. For supporters eager to follow the action, the Scottish Premiership will be streamed live on NOW and Sky Sports, offering ample opportunity to watch St Johnstone’s progress.
The club’s ambition, combined with Valakari’s clear directives, provides a compelling narrative for a team determined to prove that they belong at this level. As the season unfolds, the balance between technical flair and street‑smart toughness will be the key determinant of their success in Scotland’s top division.