Dick Advocaat will have Sunderland firing on all cylinders in their bid to avoid relegation, according to England and Rangers legend Terry Butcher
The Dutchman will take charge of his first Premier League game at the age of 67 when the Black Cats face West Ham at Upton Park on Saturday.
And according to Butcher, long-suffering Mackems will notice an instant change in a Sunderland side, whose goals tally under Gus Poyet was the second worst in the top flight.
"He'll loosen the shackles and allow the players to express themselves," said Butcher, who had a brief spell in charge of the Black Cats in the early-90s.
"Don't get me wrong, he's a strict disciplinarian, who has his own regimented style and woe betide any player who steps out of line.
"But on the pitch, he's very attack-minded and I expect to see a more positive approach from Sunderland than we've seen recently.
"Advocaat worked alongside Dutch master Rinus Michels, who introduced Total Football to the world and that's influenced his whole coaching career.
"He has his teams very well organised and hard-working but the emphasis is always on getting bodies into the box and scoring goals .
"Under Gus, Sunderland struggled for goals all season, even when Jermain Defoe arrived but I'm expecting to see a big improvement on that front."
"Advocaat worked alongside Dutch master Rinus Michels, who introduced Total Football to the world and that's influenced his whole coaching career.
"He has his teams very well organised and hard-working but the emphasis is always on getting bodies into the box and scoring goals.
"Under Gus, Sunderland struggled for goals all season, even when Jermain Defoe arrived but I'm expecting to see a big improvement on that front."
Advocaat had four years in charge of Rangers between 1998 and 2002 where he enjoyed a fierce rivalry with Celtic's Martin O'Neill, another manager who has occupied the Black Cats' hotseat.
Butcher admits his legacy north of the border is a mixed one.
He added: "Dick spent around £40m and a lot of fans believe that was the start of Rangers' financial troubles.
"He arrived at a time the famous nine-in-a-row side, including Ally McCoist, was breaking up and he had to find suitable replacements.
"Dick signed Andrei Kanchelskis, Colin Hendry and Dutch stars like Arthur Numan and Giovanni van Bronckhorst all of whom were big successes but cost a lot of money.
"The Premier League transfer window is shut so he won't be able to spend his way out of trouble but as a coach he's first class.
"He'll command the players' respect immediately because of his CV and I think they'll enjoy listening to what he has to say, especially when he tells them the way he wants Sunderland to play.
"But they will have to conform to his methods. He's a stickler for good time-keeping and will want everyone to eat together. Dissent won't be tolerated."
Sunderland, just one point above the drop zone, have just nine games to save their Premier League skins and Butcher predicts with Advocaat in charge, they'll succeed.
"He's known as "the little General" and this is one of the biggest battles he's ever faced," said Butcher, who now lives in Suffolk, having spent the vast majority of the past three decades north of the border.
"But if the Sunderland squad take in what he says and follow his orders, I'm taking Sunderland to stay up."
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