Queens Park Rangers' big signing of the summer was new manager and former England boss Steve McClaren, one of the most experienced and respected coached in the game.
Speaking to his club's official website - qpr.co.uk - ahead of their trip to Deepdale, the new Rs boss feels he knows what to expect ahead of the opening EFL Championship clash in PR1.
"He [Alex Neil] has good experience of the Championship now," said the Rangers chief. "He did it with Norwich and he's doing it with Preston. Last season they very nearly got into the Play-Offs and many are tipping them for it this season.
"They have a very organised system of play they've adopted for a number of years and Alex has developed that. They are very good defensively and are strong at set-plays at both ends."
And the man who came through the coaching ranks with some of the country's biggest clubs, is impressed with the work done off the field in Lancashire as well.
"There are quite a few clubs in this division who have done well without spending a fortune," he continued. "Preston are one, Bristol City, Millwall and Sheffield United also.
"As long as you have a squad of players that believe and buy into what is being done and work as a team - Leicester achieved a miracle winning the Premier League by doing that - it shows what can be achieved."
And in terms of his own side, he is delighted with what he has seen during his first few weeks at Loftus Road: "It's been a long six weeks, finally what we call the real ball comes in.
"The season begins and the work and results in pre-season mean nothing now and it's all about getting off to a good start. I'm very pleased with the preparation.
"I've been delighted with the attitude of the players, they want to learn. It's been more focus on the process rather than the results because if they get that process right we have a chance of winning games," he added.