Heart of Midlothian return to action on Saturday and the feeling after the first international break could not be more stark than the feeling six weeks ago going into the first game of the season.

There was confidence, enthusiasm and even excitement during the summer as fans as saw new signings arrive early and looked forward to European trips. It was somewhat dulled by a less than fruitful pre-season, certainly in terms of results and performance in friendlies, but the opening day performance against Rangers in a game Hearts should have won restored that enthusiasm.

In the intervening weeks, it has been eroded culminating in the sixth successive defeat and seven without a win in the final fixture before the international break. Familiar problems were evident in that defeat to Dundee United. Plenty of the ball, progressing it into the opposition's half but then nothing. At the other end, a concession of a cheap goal.

Jim Goodwin articulated how many Hearts fans feel about how easy it can be to nullify Steven Naismith's side.

"We were quite happy to sit there in our low block and try and hit them on the counter-attack," he said.

Speaking to fans, listening to supporters on podcasts and taking in the anger and frustration of social media there have been a variety of complaints considering the form. Everything from rotation and the back three, both of which were aspects of last season's success, to players playing out of position and the lack of opportunities for young players. 

A bigger picture complaint surrounds how the team play and how this version of Hearts doesn't resonate with how many fans view a typical Hearts side. Namely, aggressive and confrontational without the ball, direct and high tempo with the ball.

The form and nature of performances have resulted in Naismith coming under a lot of pressure from the club's support. A support that points to Robbie Neilson's removal after a run of six defeats two seasons ago.

Between now and the next international break, Hearts have five fixtures of varying difficulty levels. After the trip to Celtic on Saturday, Hearts travel to Paisley to face St Mirren before a home fixture against Ross County followed by back-to-back away games against Dinamo Minsk and Aberdeen. Visible progress and better results are a must.

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So, what is required for that to be achieved?

The rotation question

This is an element that will be explored in greater detail on Hearts Standard tomorrow but rotation is common place. In fact, to manage a squad, to keep everyone healthy and ensure they don't get pushed too far, it is required.

There are clear drawbacks, however.

Naismith has spoken of players not earning their place within the team and therefore not becoming immune to being rotated in and out. Yet, it is hard for players to find a rhythm, build momentum and create strong on-pitch relationships if they are in and out of the team and then playing in front of a different full-back or beside a different midfield partner or seeing a different forward each time they do play.

Especially with new additions, there requires time and patience on the fans' side to allow players to settle and build their way into being a Hearts player. And Naismith is right in what he said about Yan Dhanda and Blair Spittal. Playing for Hearts is so much different than playing for Motherwell and Ross County. But there needs to be time and patience on Naismith's side as well to allow them to build relationships and settle into the team.

When you look at the schedule for September, it is similar to August. It is not a case of games every few days.

Add in the fact you can make five substitutions – which remains nonsensical – that in itself provides an opportunity to keep players fresh.

Best position

When performances are poor and form is poor, sometimes the best thing to do is simply get the basics right. On the field and off the field. One of those is ensuring players are playing in their best position. Simplifying matters.

Stephen Kingsley could be trusted to play most positions. He is dependable and reliable. But after a summer in which the right-back position was upgraded, it was not a great look for him to be playing there against Dundee United. At best it is clunky and can narrow the pitch for Hearts, especially when Yutaro Oda was so ineffectual in front of him.

Dhanda and Spittal are others who have seldom played in their 'best' position. Naismith, speaking to Hearts Standard, was correct in saying both have played different roles and positions for their previous clubs but they arrived at Hearts on the back of a season where they posted very good creative numbers as No.10s. A No.10 for Hearts is different to County and Motherwell because of space but the only way they can get used to that is playing in there.

System and style

The sight of a three-man backline has the same effect on Hearts fans as garlic and crosses does to vampires or Kryptonite to Superman. Yet, there are games where it is required. Different opponents and situations warrant it. It would be naive to disregard a formation that was effective last season.

For example, away to Viktoria Plzen saw a professional performance in a back three. Could Hearts have posed more of a threat? Absolutely. The Czechs were far from impenetrable. But as far as away performances go in Europe, it was good. But it isn't a set-up that is suitable domestically aside from away to the Old Firm.

The best all-round performance this season came against Rangers in a back four. The team had a nice balance, posed a threat and defended relatively well. Yes, the dynamic is different from playing away to Motherwell or home to Dundee United who are happy to surrender the ball. But that XI or set-up has not been seen since.

The personnel and what's being asked of the team within any system are most pertinent when it comes to the shape. And the far bigger issue is the output. While there are elements of the game Hearts have done well and been fine with this season, they have not been fun to watch.

Perhaps the biggest frustration and concern is the regression back to 12 months ago when the team were having difficulty breaking down teams who sit deep and compact. The hope was that had been solved and this season was about evolution and kicking on from there. It can't and shouldn't be a cyclical issue. But that's where Hearts are.

Fix the attack

Easy thing to say, difficult thing to do.

Statistical evidence very much backs up the eye test. Just two goals from seven games. In the league, no team creates worse chances than Hearts. As for the xG of the four Premiership fixtures played, it has been trending in the wrong direction. The two Hearts players who have been most creative from open play? Lawrence Shankland and Frankie Kent.

Some of the factors we have explored play their part. For example, the attackers need time to settle and develop their relationships playing with one another.

Individual responsibility comes into it. Players simply need to be braver and better. Whether it be taking the ball, turning and playing forward more regularly or getting the ball, turning and taking on an opponent. Both elements will help the team as a whole play quicker, more directly, more instinctively. In turn, it doesn't allow the opposition to settle into a shape.

Hearts fans don't come to Tynecastle Park to see a team control 60 per cent of the ball. They want the ball to be played forward, to be put in the box (it should be noted only Motherwell cross the ball more than Hearts).

Having more speed in the final third always helps. No matter what level you are at, it causes the opposition team issues. And it is exciting to watch. Too often Oda doesn't utilise the pace he has. Kenneth Vargas is keen to use his. It should only be a matter of time before Musa Drammeh and Finlay Pollock are witnessed in a first-team setting.

Lawrence Shankland

It's not been a good start to the season for last season's top scorer. Seeing him stop to shout at James Penrice while play was going on in the United game wasn't a great thing for the Hearts fans to witness. But frustration is understandable.

Hearts want Shankland to be involved in the team's build-up play. He is an intelligent and technically very good football player. But there are times when he has been too deep, namely in the defeat to Motherwell. It's almost as if there should be an exclusion zone to ensure he doesn't drop so deep.

That is also a responsibility of his team-mates, referring back to the point before. The ball needs to be worked more quickly into the final third.

Eradicate errors

This is just stating the obvious. Hearts have been guilty of shooting themselves in the foot. The second goal conceded at Falkirk probably sums up the season so far. It was very messy and featured some very poor decision-making.

Individual errors are something the players can take responsibility for before Naismith has to then remove any of those who are making the same mistakes over and over again.

Just beat Celtic

Parallels can be drawn to the trip to Celtic Park last year. Hearts went into the game on a low after back-to-back defeats to Rangers and then Aberdeen. There was frustration at the AGM held a couple of days before. No one expected Hearts to go to Glasgow and win. Yet, they did. And they did it quite convincingly.

No better way to finish that a reminder of how that was achieved: The key Hearts tactics behind win at Celtic Park.