Willie Colum 1 v 0 Hearts (oh and Hamilton 3 v 2 Hearts)

Every now and then various sections of our press and tv ask the question “what is wrong with our game?” On some occassions it is asked as a knee jerk reaction to Celtic missing out on playing the european elite after another summer of keeping the biscuit tin shut. More often and not though the question is raised and various answers are offered. “It’s the prices”, “it’s poor youth development” the list of variables is endless. Todays match brought to light another issue which seems to be play a huge part in the lack of a feelgood factor surrounding the game. How can a game with five goals and entertaining if keystone cop defending be overshadowed by one man who seems to able to attract criticism and controversy across a whole continent in spades yet still find himself the go to guy? Let me make this clear I do not believe in a witch hunt against my side nor do I know Willie Colum personally so cannot subscribe to claiming foul play due to any football or religious tendancies he may or may not have but there is clearly a case to at least question a subconscious bias on his part whenever the men in maroon play. I am sure a few other clubs could very well feel entitled to ask the same question and to me the only concrete judgement I can offer is that Mr Collum displays an egotistical desire to be the centre of attention in almost every match I have watched him referee with his fussy error strewn performances fueling derision from various clubs down the years. His lack of football knowledge shines through – take today for example. Like most referees he basis most of his decisions on contact made rather than have an understanding of the game and how it is played. Anyone who plays and understands the game can clearly identify these fouls but for a referee to pick up on it there needs to be contact it seems.

The biggest talking point of today will be the paterson dismissal which looked very harsh at first viewing and the reaction of the accies players certainly did not help the matter and helped sway a game that at this stage was looking like being a smash and grab victory for the league leaders. Credit where its due to Hamilton. They played a smart game which involved sharing fouls amongst the team (a tactic we used to good effect during a 2-1 win at Ibrox last season) and when the time was right they had the guile of Motm Crawford to rely on. There are certainly question marks over the two centre halves who both looked to be towing caravans everytime they were turned but in general Hamilton showed enough to suggest they should pick up enough points at home this season. But there were certainly a lot of poor choices taken by the Edinburgh side both in the dugout and on the park which brought about our own downfall. All three goals and the red card could have been avoided with better concentration from those involved. Our captains flaw aerially brought about two goals which sandwhiched poor ball control from Paterson and Buaben which led to the red card and second goal. In defence of Buaben he is clearly a player still looking to gain peak fitness and he along with Jamie Walker it be could be argued should have been replaced earlier in the match.

Now lets focus on the positives – 5 wins out of 6 and a point shy of the league leaders with a 5 point gap over 4th place and achieved with a squad struggling with fitness issues and the usual early season bedding in period for the new aquisitions. I still believe that this squad are top 3 material with room to grow under this current management team and will more often than not continue to entertain us with our mixture of players who bring an element of chaos to their game.

I would like to finish this little recap with a plea to the blazers sitting in the hampden offices. As we all know Hearts Celtic matches have developed a nasty and toxic atmosphere during the last few years and we need to ensure the man responsible for keeping a lid on things needs a level head. Can I please ask you take those comments on board before deciding on the officials for these matches.

The season starts now!

Since our Friday night fitba podcast from a couple of weeks ago I have had many conversations with a similar thread of comments regarding the “suicidal” tone used by my hibs colleagues from the show Craig and Connor. To be fair to both the show was recorded on the night that Talisman Scott Allan looked to be sealing a switch to the only club he ever wanted to play for ………………….Celtic?

That on top of a disappointing first league result to Dumbarton was surley going to test the patience of most supporters but I felt that there were reasons to be optimistic this season and can see no reason to think that the trip to Snake Mountain tomorrow cannot be the stage for our neighbours to set a marker for the remainder of the campaign.

A lot of the negative points have been exhausted and discussed to death by all but one big potential positive is  how the whole team could become a stronger unit without the talented Allan. A silly prediction some would say given the number of assists provided last season by the playmaker but focusing the spotlight away from one mecurial player could allow the likes of fyvie and mcginn the opportunity to forge partnerships whilst also give Stubbs the impetus to work on a number of different variations of breaking down teams. It has to be said that too often last season, certain hibs players would stop moving when Allan received the ball and allow him to carry the ball 20-30 yards up the work.

The summer transfer activity from the club has brought about mixed feeling amongst the Easter Road faithful. The pedigree of player brought in seems to be of a sufficent quality to help drag the club back to the Scottish Premiership and in Henderson they arguably have the best young player in the division now but injury problems have not been in short supply since pre season started which has affected the chances of Alan Stubbs to work on getting a settled team to gel and avoid the the slow start that curbed the progress of the club this time last year.

When you look at the comings and goings over the summer though you can argue that the squad is stronger albeit a bit of cover at left and centre back would still be handy in my eyes. Tomorrows opponents have been lauded for their great start but under the surface the Ibrox club are going to need a lot of luck on the injury front to avoid a slump in form.

And what crumbs of comfort can I offer my friends making the trip on the M8 tomorow? Well Its simple stop the rampaging full backs and ensure that you set up with a midfield 5 that stiffles the clever movement of Holt and Law. There is the small issue of asking Malonga to put in a shift up top on his own but he does has that in his locker in the right enviroment and has been a thorn to Rangers in the past. Rangers will try and set a fast tempo from the start but if Stubbs can get his side to slow it down through a mix of astute defensive work and gamesmanship then it will all come down to whether Hibs can take the chances that come their way. A similar display to that of Hearts during our first trip last season to Ibrox would be perfect (minus the casual stuff in first 30 minutes)

And my prediction for tomorrow? 2-1 to the Hibbees with Fontaine grabbing the first goal

Behind Enemy Lines

As a regular guest on the Monday Night Fitba show I have been accustomed to trying to be as non partizan as I can be when discussing the fortunes of both Hearts & Hibs. Most weeks it’s managable and I reckon that is down to the company I keep during the recordings. Yes everyone on the show has their chosen side but on the whole we share the common ground of just wanting to chat all things football related with a small helping of Alan Partridge & WWE wrestling banter along the way. When receiving any negative feedback on the shows it tends to be listeners not feeling that we are backing our own team enough or trying too hard to appear neutral. These points are all valid and led me to seriously wanting to test my credentionals this weekend by attending the Hibs Falkirk semi final at hampden as a honoury hibby. My reasons were two fold, I wanted to gauge the real mood of my rivals thoughts towards their team and I also was attending the match as a family gesture. My father in law’s dad had recently passed away and I felt it only be right that my father in law had some company for the trip and game yesterday.

I did have some concerns in the week leading up to the match. My rules for the game was as follow:

1. Dispense with any maroon clothing

2. Wear a long sleeved top to hide hearts tattoo

3. Dont do the twirlie with my scarf

4. Make no requests for “Hey Jude” or “Seven Nation Army”

It was a pleasant drive through to the game and the mood amongst the fans prior to kick-off seemed to be that of quiet expectation and confidence. A lot of the talk seemed to centre around who was going to fill the massive void left by the injury to David Gray and fans pointing at other sections in the ground and saying to their friends and family ” thats were we sat during the last semi or cup final”.

Hibs were quick out the blocks early on with Jason Cummings in particular setting the tempo with some decent runs into the channels and the bulk of the game being controlled by the Edinburgh side with Scott Allan dropping deep and involved in everything positive that Hibs were producing. Both forwards were pulling the centre halfs out of their comfort zone which seemed to highlight the need for a Handling type number ten to included in the side. Too often the midfield three were too deep and most possesion in the first half stemmed from Falkirk allowing Hibs time on the ball rather than Hibs getting in behind the Falkirk midfield 5. It was during the first half that we got to bear witness to the first couple of examples of bad luck which seemed to hang over Hibs during the whole match with Jamie Macdonald in fine form but also leading a charmed life when collecting Fyvies shot with Cummings sniffing for an opportunity. My emotions during the first half were pretty relaxed. I was enjoying the match as a neutral as there was interesting little battles appearing all over the park. Hibs playing some decent stuff althought maybe not at the right tempo with Falkirk proving to be very useful at pressing the ball high up the park similar to their performance at Tynecastle back in January.

As the second half began, it looked clear that Falkirk would settle for a penalty shoot-out using any opportunity to slow the pace of the game to their advantage. Hibs meanwhile looked keen to inject some energy in proceedings but Allan aside looked unable to unlock the stubborn Falkirk back line. Mcgeouch in an unfamiliar wing back role was always providing a good outlet but at times his final ball was a big let down. Chance after chance was now being squandered with Stevenson & Mcgeouch the main culprits. It was at these stages of the game that I began to let the frustration from those sitting around me to affect my outlook on the game. I was now referring to the team in green as “We” and laughing in disbelief as Allan attempted his disguised pass for the 50th time. You could sense there was the feeling of “here we go again” from the travelling hoards in green and white. The inevitable struck in the 75th minute. Scott Robertson who looked to be struggling for match fitness was unable to prevent Blair Alston from lobbing in a decent cross for Craig Sibbald to head home from 6 yards. Questions could be asked of the hibs makeshift wing back but it was a well worked move from Falkirk.

Further frustration and desperation began to creep into Hibs game and the substitutions of Malonga and Dje Dje did little to pile on the pressure for the bairns. Every misplaced pass from a man in green was being met with groans and the fickle nature of football fans was beginning to show with Allan,Fyvie and Stevenson taking the brunt of the howls of derision from the Celtic end of Hampden with shouts of “Orange C**t” being aimed towards to main focal point and MOTM Allan. It was hard not to have the Thought of “you need a touch of fortune with the draws and a further slice of luck on the field to win a cup”as I walked out the ground yesterday. It’s fair to say Hibs journey to the semi final had involved a relatively easy run of games but the luck you need on the park seemed to desert them on a number of big moments yesterday. The result in the Inverness Celtic match probably bringing further thoughts of “what if” to the masses from Leith but if the positivity that Stubbs displays in his post match interview can filter down to his players then the season can still end on a very rewarding note.

Player Ratings

Oxley 6 – had very little to do. Looked slow to get down to Sibbald effort during second half.

Forster 6 – Solid but not a great outlet for cross balls when chasing equilizer late in the game.

Hanlon & Fontaine 6 – Not overly troubled by the cumbersum Morgan

Stevenson 6 – Never hid even though he was having a poor day going forward

Mcgeough 6 – Always looking to drive team forward but lacked a final ball all day

Robertson 5 – Did not look fit and was sacrificed after Falkirk took the lead

Fyvie 5 – Jack of all trades – master of none – not sure what his strongest position is. Very casual at times in possession

Allan 8 – Very exciting player to watch and has a real hunger to get on the ball and dictate a match. The disguised pass is used too often however.

Cummings 5 – Really bright start but faded quickly

El Alagui 6 – Good movement but on another day could have bagged a double

“A ludicrous situation entirely of the SPFL’s making”

For the first time in my life, I was inspired to write an angry email and subsequently formulate a blog post on events within Scottish Football. This weeks’ farcical Championship fixture saga has stirred up feelings of bemusement, hilarity and despair at how our game is governed, and how even the most simple exercises in public relations are mishandled by the SPFL.  My initial ire covered a number of topics, primarily concerning:

1. The clear favouritism that seemed to be held towards Rangers.
2. The utter disregard for the remaining fans who have decided to invest in football tickets, rather than in the latest BT Sport or Sky Sports package.
3. The utterly arrogant and detached approach from the SPFL to the dismayed reaction of clubs and fans, seemingly indicative of a moribund establishment, incapable of portraying the Scottish game in anywhere near a positive light.

As it is, my original diatribe is now largely irrelevant, with the debacle reaching a relatively satisfying conclusion a mere 24 hours after its initial eruption. The topic has now been thoroughly covered throughout the Scottish media, with Wednesday’s Sportsound podcast providing a particularly comprehensive and entertaining ‘as it happened’ account of events. However, a number of concerning issues remain pertinent in the aftermath of the SPFL’s embarrassment, as well as a potential ray of hope from how both Edinburgh clubs reacted to it.

Looking back on my writing from Wednesday, I can now say with hindsight that any accusations of out and out bias towards Rangers are probably overheated. It would seem in this instance that severe incompetence was the driving force; when a Sevco-friendly decision is lambasted by both Chick Young and Stuart McCall, it’s unlikely that the machinations of a grand conspiracy are afoot. Nevertheless, the issue highlighted the fears held by many fans that the establishment will take whatever steps they think can get away with to help Rangers over the line. There seems to be a tacit acceptance amongst many (from governing bodies, to Sky, to the manager of the national team) that the SPFL should ‘do what they can’ to ensure that Rangers are back in the Premiership next season. Particularly notable has been Celtic’s silence on the matter. As a team who have bored themselves to death through their stifling of competition, their board and fans are as restless for a return to Old Firm status quo as any TV network executive.  With this being the case, a certain level of paranoia can be expected when fixtures are changed in such a fashion which would seem to explicitly tip the balance in Rangers’ favour.

Nevertheless, whilst accusations of out and out corruption might be wide of the mark, surely the charge of utter incompetence is far more damaging. Many have questioned whether Neil Doncaster’s position is at all tenable after this week’s public humiliation; sadly, I can see him remaining in his posts for the foreseeable future.  When STV can effortlessly summon a list of his most memorable blunders, most of which have occurred in the space of a couple of years, it seems unlikely that his latest fankle will be the straw to break the camel’s back. In general, I am deeply concerned about the sway with which TV networks hold over football in general today; however, in this instance I can only imagine the bemusement from Sky executives as Doncaster dithered between submission and confused indecision about this fixture change in the space of a day. Although the correct resolution was eventually made, the tone of its announcement was embarassing in its simpering gratitude towards Sky for providing the SPFL with something approaching coherent decision making.

Most concerning was Doncaster’s earlier offer for Championship clubs to sort the mess out themselves by deciding amongst themselves when they’d like to play. Aside from an absolutely impotent lack of leadership, this suggestion had the potential to exacerbate this fixture absurdity to a whole new level. Publicly implying that Hibernian were out to cause trouble through their complaints, and hiding behind the fact that an unnamed club had registered their preference to play on Saturday was a clear attempt to shift the blame from the SPFL’s deficiencies towards potential bickering between clubs. If Falkirk (for example) had decided that the provisions they had made for fan hospitality on Saturday May the 2^nd were unalterable, then they would have been well within their rights not to partake in the circus of other teams shifting fixtures to suit their own needs. One can imagine a scenario whereby Hibs could request their fixture to take place an hour after Rangers and Hearts had concluded their game, putting the advantage in their court. As petty as it sounds, this seemed to be the situation which Doncaster was inviting.

As it stands, both Leeann Dempster and Ann Budge played an absolute blinder with their statements throughout the week. It would seem largely in thanks to these two that the situation has reached such a quick and sensible conclusion. Hearts in particular are to be commended for registering their disapproval on a decision which didn’t actually have a great effect on their playing staff (although, as always, the spectre of fans being treated as a secondary consideration raised its ugly head). Amongst the various press releases and interviews which took place throughout the week, Dempster’s final word on the matter’s resolution is worthy of particular praise. In no uncertain terms, the SPFL are lambasted for their absolutely cack handed conduct and transparent attempt to absolve themselves from responsibility. It is here, in the actions and words of Hibs and Hearts’ figureheads, where some positivity can be garnered.

Without wishing to amplify any patronising emphasis on gender, there would seem to be a clear parallel between a new balance of power amongst Edinburgh teams, and the political shift in popularity towards progressive voices in the run up to the General Election. The clear headed, determined voice of progressive reason is a stark contrast to the bumbling entitlement amongst ‘the blazers’ at Hampden; one can imagine Doncaster’s furrowed brow as he attempted to digest the public support for this series of condemning broadsides. Previous critics of the Old Firm and footballing establishment have been painted as opportunistic troublemakers, keen to take advantage of controversy to curry favour with fans. At best, chairmen of smaller teams who have spoken out against the Old Firm duopoly have been disarmingly portrayed in the media as lovably cantankerous eccentrics, such as in the case of the sadly departed Turnball Hutton. It is refreshing for both Edinburgh clubs to have executives who will protect their clubs’ interests in an eloquent and veritable manner, particularly when dealing with an old boys’ network which seems to have drained the Scottish game of any self confidence or marketing potential.

Some Hibs fans have expressed unease at the potential for Edinburgh teams to stand united in such off field manners, with any perceived ‘cosying up’ to Hearts seeming particularly uncomfortable after the events of the last five years. I, for one, hope that our on-field rivalry will remain as determinedly vicious, ill tempered and petty as always – and can’t see this changing in a month of Sauzees anyway.However, it is off the field where both teams can be seen as pioneering the cause for a brighter and more competent management of the game as a whole. Over a short period of time, both Budge and Dempster have attempted to ensure that their clubs are institutions which are a benefit to their wider communities, and which can be a source of pride amongst their fans again. A willingness to set aside footballing rivalries in the face of a lumbering and self destructive bureaucracy can only be seen as a positive, not just for Hibs and Hearts, but for the Scottish game as a whole.

Connor Heaney

Normal service resumed

Twelve minutes into the evening kick off at Recreation park last night and all the knee jerk comments made in the aftermath of the defeat to Falkirk last week seemed to have been forgotten about by the travelling support. Normal service had been resumed and the feel good factor had returned. Only a couple of hours earlier I had been sharing jokes with fellow fans on our bus regarding e-mails sent to Anne Budge asking for the removal of our head coach over the past few days. How stupid must those fans be feeling today when they look at the championship table?

As we found our seats in the east stand news had trickled through that our often maligned ex frontman Christian Nade had given his Raith side a precious if not deserved point at Easter Road. After a solid ten minutes laughing at that news I eventually got round to looking at the team we were putting out and trying to make sense of the shape of the side. Jamie Walker would be given a free role playing infront of Gomis, Buaben and Pallardo. A narrow midfield but one which would offer more protection to our two centre halfs compared to last week. The other notable change was Keatings being given the nod upfront instead of Zefuik which allowed us a good option to stretch the Alloa backline.

We started the game at a brisk pace with Wilson finding the feet of Sow on a regular basis which allowed Walker and Keatings time to provide support. Alloa seemed reluctant to push the play early on which would allow Pallardo the time to carry the ball forward and strike a sweet right footed effort from twenty yards out which flew into the top corner. It was the early breakthrough that we craved to steady the team off the back of the defeat last week and helped set the tone for the rest of the first half. Seven minutes later Keatings would jinx past two Alloa players before finding the bottom corner with a tidy finish just moments after Simmons had broke through a static hearts defence only to see his effort hit the post. The remainder of the first half saw Hearts dictate play with Pallardo impressing and Sow looking sharp uptop but we were unable to strengthen the scoreline with Keatings smacking the bar from a free kick.

As with any game of football at any level 2-0 is a precarious scoreline and I was not impressed with some of the slack casual play in the final third at the beginning of the second half. Alloa made two changes on the hour mark introducing their two new loan signings and they would both be involved in the build play to the Spence goal which offered the home side a chance to repeat their heroics from the challenge cup semi final. The goal was a poor one to concede with Ozturk and Alexander possibly needing to have a look at themselves. The goal aside it was good to see the big Turk back in the side and he along with Danny Wilson can be pleased with their distribtuion from the back in this game.

The goal represented another test for the champions elect and they responded within a matter of minutes. Slack play from Simmons presented Walker with the opportunity to run through on goal and he slid the ball low and to the keepers right to restore the two goal advantage. The match played out at an exhibition game pace with Hearts playing within themselves and keeping the ball in an efficent manner with Paterson adding a fourth goal in the final moments of the match to add a touch of gloss to the final score.

All in all a routine match with the shape of the team utilizing the skills of Jamie Walker well in his prefered number ten role.

Match Ratings

Alexander -6

Paterson -7

Eckersley -7

Ozturk -7

Wilson -7

Pallardo -8

Gomis -7

Buaben -7

Walker -8

Sow -7

Keatings -7

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Scott

Time for some perspective not panic!

Season 2014-15 as a Hearts supporter has been an exciting one. A mix of proven SPL players and unknown overseas talents have been brought in to help compliment the local talent already at the club and the squad now have a depth and balance not seen since the early Romanov years which has helped steer the club to a 10 month unbeaten league run which was brought to a frustrating but entertaining end yesterday at the hands of a Falkirk side brimming with confidence off the back of their own good run of form. This run has seen supporters flock back to the ground and bask in the joy of watching their side play with swagger and vigour whilst also showing a good portion of grit and steel at the back.

This is all in stark contrast to the previous couple of seasons watching the team struggle against the backdrop of administration with what was a commited squad but lacking the experienced quality needed to get the best out of the youngsters at the time. As we all dragged ourselves along Gorgie Road after the game yesterday we should as fans have the long term forsite to look at the bigger picture and ask would we have taken this position at the start of the season? Of course that answer is yes but I feel that most non old firm fans struggle with the expectation of seeing their team in such a lofty position and with an unbeaten record to boot. Behind all that bravado displayed in the pubs and on social media recently I think has been a struggle to enjoy the championship battle and instead get caught up in all the stats and headlines brought on by the unbeaten run.

Today is not the time to take the mantle of keyboard critics and lambast consistent performers for one poor game or to question a style of play which has served us well this season and instead focus on the next five matches which include four against the bottom three sides. It’s all fine and well earning praise as fans for our efforts during the last couple of years but it is vital that we show patience and encouragement during these next couple of months to ensure our lads make it over the finish line. The league is still ours to throw away and our main challenger have a very congested fixture list to contend with using an ageing squad lacking proper leadership on and off the park.

Onwards and upwards still for the jambos these days. HHGH!

Thank you for reading this and please feel free to comment below.

You can add us on twitter @mnfitba or type in monday night fitba on facebook and like our page.

Scott

Wont somebody please think of the children?

13.08 Saturday 3rd January 2015 Tynecastle. Jason Cummings has just opened up another tin of beans and deservedly put Hibs one up in the derby. The one time hearts youth player and supporter lets out two years of frustration during his celebration and proceeds to let the home support know where his allegiences lie now. I lept out of my seat in the main stand along with thousands of jambos and instead of giving some “banter” back to the teenager decided to shout and moan for a yellow card to be handed out for the over zealous but harmless celebration. I immediately felt dirty and in need of a wash. At that moment I had become the very harbengour of fake offence that I cannot abide.

Why does it feel like our lives are full of Maud Flanders proclaiming to be offended by everything they encounter in life whilst secretly crave the same black humour or lads banter that was deemed acceptable not so long ago. There was a time I could watch the attitude era WWE full of adult content And sexual innuendo every Friday night and laugh out loud at the antics of shows such as Bottom and Men Behaving Badly. Now such shows and characters seem to be deemed relics and studio executives seem hell bent on taking action based on the angry letters of a handful of people so what we get left with for comedy these days is Miranda.

Surely people dont change to that extent. It would just seem that most of us like nothing more these days than to take to social media and take offence at the latest antics of internet trolls.

This behaviour is common place amongst football fans these days. Take the Leigh Griffiths incident in the Roseburn bar last year for example. Yes the lad is in the public eye and needs to show a bit more intelligence in situations like the one he was involved in but his comments were more ignorant than offensive. Rather than ask Rudi Skacel if he was offended most of us decided to be offended in his absense and take to twitter to to vent our fury. CHOO CHOO! All aboard the fake outrage train.

It would seem that we football supporters want it all our own way. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I have sat behind fans berating the likes of Derek Riordan for the majority of the game only for the player to respond which in turn causes the same people to complain to stewards and policeman looking for action to be taken.

Why can’t we all accept that it’s give and take and let our players enjoy themselves during the games. No more yellows for celebrating and when we all cry out for characters in the game like Cummings and Walker, lets not publicy hang them for expressing themselves in the way they do. A bit of swagger and cockiness in a player should be embraced and taken for what is in the theatre that is a football game. We want our heroes and our villians on matchday but there should be less scrutiny on the behaviour of most good natured fans and players in the papers and on social media in the aftermath of a game.

Thanks for reading and please leave any feedback below. Scott.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing

Hindsight is a frustrating tool in life. In hindsight I would never have bought those cinema tickets to see any of the Transformers movies or proclaim that Ramon Pereira would be a hit at Tynecastle. I wondered if any of the contingent of ex-Hearts players employed with Rangers were starting to think what if after another fustrating week on the park coupled with the circus show behind the scenes which now seems to include a mexican stand-off between the manager and the board. Obviously these players have been taken care of in a financial sense but what of their legacy as Rangers players? Instead of being heralded as the heroes that pulled a Scottish football institution from the basement of the football league to the upper echolons of the Premiership, they will now probably be remembered with the same fondness as greats such as Karl Svensson and Egil Ostenstad. Consecutive league championships will now forever be overshadowed by the defeats to Stirling, Forfar and Alloa.

Marius Zaliukas was a strange summer signing but predictable given the signing policy of this Rangers regime over the past three years. A talented individual but with lapses in concentration that seemed to be more visible when playing lesser known sides during his seven year spell in Gorgie. It would seem that his number is already up at Ibrox after unimpressive displays and injury problems have littered his first few months at the club. He will no doubt be content to stay out the limelight and receive his wages until his contract expires.

I don’t know where I stand when it comes to Lee Wallace. I admire him for his loyalty to Rangers at a time when most were fleeing the sinking ship and it is obvious that he craves a stable life with his young family over chasing a big move away from Ibrox. On the otherhand it is frustrating to see him struggle to maintain a high level of consistency after playing against part time sides during the past 24 months. As others have struggled to maintain a professional attitude during these turbulent times, Wallace has proved himself worthy of praise for never letting the surrounding atmosphere get to him on the park. I’m still hopeful that he gets a crack down south in the near future.

Rewind back to August 2012. Off the back of a couple of decent performances playing in the number ten role against Liverpool, David Templeton found himself on the brink of international recognition and was even gaining glowing reports from scouts from the English Championship. We will never know if those clubs down south were willing to make a concrete offer that summer and it would seem given the financial meltdown at Tynecastle there was probably a bit of pressure on the young lad to take the offer from the Glasgow side but surely in hindsight it would appear that the move has only benefited Hearts thus far. Given Templeton’s inconsistent performances during the previous season the money made on the deal was a great piece of business for Hearts. On the downside it has been frustrating to watch Templeton struggle to hold down a place in a team of long ball merchants while looking like he has aged considerably in the process. Rumours of a bad social lifestyle have circulated recently and it would be a shame to see the young man turn into a classic Scottish football cliche.

Given it’s christmas it seems fitting to finish this blog by focussing on our favourite panto villian Ian Black. Again a signing that is indicitive of a poor signing policy at Ibrox. It seems that the thought process behind the majority of transfers revolved around looking at who was a player of the year at various SPL clubs and snapping them up on inflated wages without giving any thought on how these players would compliment the rest of the squad. When paired with a ball winner at Hearts under Paulo Sergio, Black was allowed to focus on dictating a match and when given time on the ball would prove to be an effective playmaker. His time with Rangers has only seemed to highlight the flaws in his ability and attitude with his gamesmanship and snide tackling a constant during this season. Again like the others, he will look at this spell in his football career as a productive one in terms of the health of his bank balance but when the boots come off and he has time to take stock later in life, I would imagine he will not look back at the memories of wet and windy nights at Central Park with any fondness.

What are your views on these former Gorgie favourites? Do you agree on how I feel their careers have panned out? Please leave any comments below and thank you for taking the time to read this blog.

Scott

The Loan Rangers – 2000 onwards

Trawling through various media reports on the latest news coming from Tynecastle over the past 24 hours got me getting all nostalgic and misty eyed over the many loan signings the club have made since the turn of the century. It’s fair to say we have had varying degrees of success with this modern aspect of football and at one time during the Romanov era it’s not wrong to suggest that we took advantage of some very relaxed laws surrounding the loan policy. Today I will back at a selection of loan signings and comment on the impact small or big that they had on the club during their brief time pulling on the maroon jersey.

*I am not going to include the lads loaned from Kaunas purely because the signings were more or less permanent fixtures over a number of seasons*

Kieran Mcanespie – Who? Some of you may wonder. Kieran was signed along with Steven Boyack & Austin Mccann at the start of the Levein era and struggled to force his way into a hearts team that were crying out for decent width at the time. Went on to forge a decent career in the lower leagues but seemed to struggle for fitness and form during his brief stay at the club.

Ricardo Fuller – Very un-authordox gangly centre forward with a great burst of pace and a bag of tricks that would take him to the very top of the english game, plying his trade with Stoke City for a number of years. But do you remember him being written off after a disappointing first couple of showings at Easter Road & Pittodrie? I certainly do but most of all I remember him for that goal against Motherwell at Tynecastle, winning a late penalty in our first win at Easter Road for five years and for the cringe worthy bowling celebration during the boxing day clash at Tannadice. A huge shame that Chris Robinson wouldn’t prize open the biscuit tin at the end of the season to sign the lad permanently for £800,000.

Tommi Gronlund – You can keep your Julien Brellier! Tommi Gronlund was a proper midfield enforcer who didn’t need to enhance his hard man image by clattering into team mates during training. The Finish international spent just under a season at the club and helped stabilise the club on the park during a transitional phase where many legends of the 98 cup winning team were moving onto new challenges.

Andy Tod – Very strange signing given you would think Craig Levein would be able to stop a cart-horse centre back a mile off, even if it was just a short term emergency loan to cover injuries and suspensions. Remember him scoring a looping header in a 3-2 win away to Aberdeen but overall did not impress.

Michael Stewart – I remember being at a friends 21st party when the news broke out that Michael was going to sign a one year loan deal with his boyhood heroes. This is one of the most exciting signings we had made at the club for a few seasons and huge expectations were placed on the shoulders of a player who was still finding his feet at 1st team level. Injury and changes on and off the field hampered the one year loan spell but there were two notable performances both in europe against Basle and Ferencvaros. Would re-sign with the club a couple of years later and enjoy a more consistent run of form over three seasons.

Lee Miller – Enjoyed a very consistent scoring spell with the club after signing on loan from Bristol city at the start of 2005. Had a great mix of attributes for a big lad but was deemed not suitable for the Romanov revamp that was to take place that summer.

Mike Tullberg – sick note and a list of injuries that would make Darren Anderton cry. I remember a number of fans having an orgasm watching endless clips of the same goal this lad scored in a game in Denmark earlier in his career.

Michael Ngoo – A forward with potential to improve who has unfortunately just suffered a serious injury playing for new employers Kilmarnock. Had a productive spell with Hearts playing as a lone front man but seemed to digress slightly when paired upfront with John Sutton. Unfairly singled out for abuse during the league cup final and had too much expectation placed upon him after a positive start to his spell with the club.

Paul Mccallum – Very desperate move made by our management team to include him in the squad for the semi-final against Inverness earlier this year and their decision to let him take the first penalty in the shoot-out will always baffle me. Paul looked short of fitness and confidence during his brief stay and I would imagine will look back at his time at the club as a frustrating learning experience in his career.

Hope you all enjoyed that trip down memory lane. Please leave any comment below.

 

Scott

 

Hearts 4 vs 1 Qots – December 6th review

Character to come out of a sticky spell to win well in the end? CHECK

Win another game without a string of first team players? CHECK

Win in spite of another questionable decision by the officials? CHECK

Pressure? WHAT PRESSURE?

There was a more relaxed “family” atmosphere as I headed the short distance from my Gorgie flat to Tynecastle. Copious amounts of free bread were being handed out to bemused but grateful supporters as we squeezed our way through the main stand turnstiles to take our seats. The visitors brought a very respectable and noisy following with them and they were given plenty encouragement to be in fine voice given the positive performance from their team in the first 20 minutes. It was clear from the start that James Fowler had dispensed with the defensive minded set-up that successfully earned Queens a point at Easter Road last month but would not have earned them many friends.

Hearts had also tried to start brightly and good link-up play between Patterson and Buchanan nearly provided the first goal of the game on 13 minutes. Buchanan was one of three changes which saw the injured Holt, suspended Gomis and unlucky Brad Mckay make way for Buchanan, Buaben and Danny Wilson. The Captain had been trying to mix up his distribution and it was one of his less impressive efforts that led to the first goal. A searching long ball seemed to catch Durnan slightly under the ball and he could only head the ball into the path of James Keatings who lashed the ball home with great technique that was warmly appreciated by a home support who have been forced to watch their fair share of shot shy frontmen over the last decade or so.

That goal sparked Hearts into life and it should have been two only a few minutes later. A slight tussle in the box resulted in the softest of penalties being awarded. Prince Buaben stepped up confidently and was unlucky to see his effort strike the outside of the keepers right hand post. That near miss didn’t seem to knock Hearts off their stride as they continued to press well all over the park, Jamie Walker in particular showing an attitude and fitness level rarely seen under previous regimes at the club. Walker and Paterson both came close as the first half drew to a close. As pleasing as it was to be a goal up at the break, you knew that Queens were going to continue to make a good fight of it in the second half until we scored the killer second goal.

James Fowler was quick to realise that the pace of this young Hearts side was proving too much for Championship Manager 2001 favourite Mark Kerr and made the decision to withdraw him at half time. This proved to be an inspired move as Queens started to move the ball about quicker and had the Champions elect on the back foot with McShane and Russell in particular standing out during this spell. The aforementioned Russell would level the score with a well executed penalty after a very debatable penalty was awarded in the 55th minute before sub Scott Robinson would make a timely clearance off the line moments after replacing the youngster Buchanan.

The introduction of Robinson proved key as it enabled Buaben to push forward and help dictate proceedings further up the park and provide support for the tiring Keatings who was showing the effects of the bug he had been trying to shake off all week. The change was another indication that Robbie Neilson is very proactive with substitutions rather than reactive and has already shown a similar trait to Craig Levein in terms of his awareness of when changes are needed to be made during a football match.

The tide was beginning to shift back in the home side’s favour and soon after a tempting cross from Eckersley, the resulting corner from Keatings would kindly ricochet off the head of Danny Wilson, take a nick off the post and into the back of the net for 2-1. I doubt I’ve celebrated a goal like that this season bar the Ozturk strike at Easter Road due to the significance and timing of the goal. For me that goal was another sign that this Hearts team have the stomach to go the distance this season.

That goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of the away side and their eagerness to get back level again would leave gaps for Buaben and Eckersley to exploit with two well taken goals. It was especially pleasing to see Eckersley get the reward for a string of solid displays since his arrival.

In the end a slightly flattering scoreline in a very enjoyable encounter that highlighted the footballing capabilities of the impressive men from Dumfries who have a couple of ready made SPL stars in Holt & McShane.

MOTM – Keatings – put in a great shift and has superb movement off the ball to add to his sweet left peg.

Bit of trivia – Hearts defenders have contributed 12 goals this season (6 players on 2 goals apiece)

Ratings

Alexander – 7

Patterson – 7

Eckersley – 7

Wilson – 6

Ozturk – 6

King – 7

Walker – 8

Pallardo – 7

Buaben – 7

Buchanan – 6

Keatings – 8

Scott