All is not well at Tynecastle

July 22, 2016

NeilsonMoments. Moments effect momentum. Moments alter the future. Moments drastically change the present. Moments blurry the past. Heart of Midlothian have witnessed a lot of moments in the last six months.

In February Chinese money whipped away Osman Sow with a ludicrous offer the club could not refuse for a player whose contract was expiring at the season’s end. On February 7 Hearts were leading 2-0 in the Edinburgh Derby when Alim Ozturk exited with an injury. Paul Hanlon scored an injury time equaliser. An insipid performance in the replay saw Hearts bow out of the cup to their lower league rivals. With a top three place all but secured the defeat had the same effect as a pin piercing a balloon for the remainder of the season.

Only last week Connor Sammon appeared to give the Jam Tarts a crucial away goal only to be harshly ruled offside. Ozturk rattled the woodwork late on. A week later the woodwork was hit twice more and a penalty meekly missed. Moments. Hearts were out of the Europa League to a Maltese side.

I have been among many tense Tynecastle atmospheres dating back to protests against Chris ‘the Pieman’ Robinson; Andy Davis and Saulius Mikoliunas; a leader-less ship at the nadir of the Romanov regime; numerous Celtic and Hibs games. But last night was different. There was an edge. Not only to proceedings on the pitch but to the fans’ attitude.

The crossed free-kick went to one Birkirkara player. A second and a third. The fourth thrashed the ball into the top corner. Hearts 0 Birkirkara 1. Moments.

The edge.

A quick and incisive break after Hearts were caught in midfield. Hearts 0 Birkirkara 2.

The edge was reached and surpassed. Venom and boos rained down from the stand. Walls punched, chairs kicked, fury aimed at Robbie Neilson.

All is not well at Tynecastle.

For many outside the Hearts bubble and for a fair few inside it is quite a statement. It was only three seasons ago that the club was on the precipice, going only one way off the pitch, nowhere on it. The transformation since then has been quite startling and well documented. Fans rallied and backed the club. Allied with the incomparable help of Ann Budge the club took large strides forward on and off the pitch. The whirlwind start to the Championship season with a number of vibrant, dynamic, pacey performances fed into the feel good factor. Everyone was happy, pulling in the right direction.

That is no longer the case. There were murmurings after the defeat to Hibs – Hearts fans take defeats to the Easter Road side as an affront to their existence – then came the nonsensical plane over Tynecastle with the banner ‘No Style, No Bottle’. Not long after, I wrote an article vehemently backing Neilson. I still believe he should be the man to lead us forward but I have my criticisms of him and those above him, but those will come.

First of all, the fans. There is a chasm forming between sets of fans not seen since the days of ‘Vlad Sheep’ (pro-Vladimir Romanov) and ‘Hat Kickers’ (anti-Vladimir Romanov). As an aside, grown men actually coined those phrases. Grown men.

There is a real sense of entitlement from fans as a ‘whole’, bordering on delusion among some. They are a demanding rabble. If the ball is going forward and the team is playing with verve, energy and working their arse off then the backing and noise is second to none. The support can become rabid, in a good way. When the play is tepid, things are not going the team’s way any liveliness is sucked out of the crowd and only players with Diego Simone-esque cojones will thrive.

The fans can not be criticised for being demanding. It is simply an indictment of football fans in general. They want their team to do well. When the team are doing well the fans want better. Always striving for perfection. What the fans should be criticised for is being unreasonable. I heard boos for Tony Watt when he was announced at half time. A mixture of boos and laughter greeted Sammon’s man of the match award. Some of the venom spilling from the stands towards Neilson, Craig Levein and Budge was incomprehensible. It was more than dissatisfaction. It was personal. For those fans, unfortunately, it appears there is no way back. They are set in their ways, their views.

Among some Levein is still tarred with his unimaginative, albeit effective, football during his time as manager – fans point to him having too much of an influence. For others Neilson’s face doesn’t fit and numerous fans charge him with not getting ‘it’. Budge’s apparent cosy relationship with those at Hiberninan Football Club (Club) and sanitising of the Hearts crowd has not gone down well with elements. Understandably she wants the ground to be a welcoming place, which goes against fans’ wishes of it being as intimidating as possible to opposition fans, players and coaching staff (within reason). Despite the success, improvements and progress none of the three are above criticism.

From the turn of the year it was quite clear that Hearts were going to be top three and it wasn’t long before those at the club were mentioning preparation starting for next season. There has been absolutely no sign of anything close to competent preparation with regards to the squad.

The scene from The Simpsons where Sideshow Bob constantly steps on rakes. That was Hearts’ approach to the goalkeeping situation. First of all Neil Alexander is signing a new contract and Jack Hamilton is going out on loan. Alexander has his contract offer revoked and it appears Matt Gilks is the favoured option with Paul Gallacher taking on the role as goalkeeping coach. Gilks signs for Rangers and the fans are fed some bullshit about Hamilton impressing with Scotland and all of a sudden he is going to be number one. Victor Noring is signed to challenge for the number one spot.

Neilson, a pathological liar infront of the media, confirms that Morgaro Gomis and Billy King will be back from their respective loan spells to add to the squad for the season ahead. Meanwhile, Juwon Oshaniwa claims he has interest from Turkey. Neilson says he is going nowhere. Gomis has left, King has been sent on another loan and Oshaniwa is nowhere to be seen.

It is understandable that teams can’t have a fighting fit squad before the season starts with all the necessary players signed up. But the club knew how early the games were coming, yet even from the first-leg of the FC Infonet game something seemed off. There was not one left-footed player in the starting XI. The following three games only confirmed that the current squad is unbalanced, unready and not much better than the two previous squads Neilson has worked with. Admittedly the club’s best transfer work has been once the transfer window has closed. The recruitment strategy was rightly lauded but it is becoming increasingly random – that is how it certainly looks.

While I do not think it is the case that players are being signed above Neilson’s head it has not stopped fans speculating and sneering at Levein’s influence. And those views have fed onto the product on the pitch. Since Sow left for his cash bonanza Hearts have been functional, a word synonymous with Levien.

More concerning are the accusations that Neilson is weak and scared. It is easy to see why such words have been thrown at the team and in particular the performances. You only have to listen to Neilson’s post-match interview in Malta. This was a manager more concerned with what the opposition would inflict on Hearts than the other way around. I saw an array of comments of surprise that Hearts didn’t put the team to bed following on from the first-leg performance. Hearts, as they were at home to Infonet, were insipid with few clear cut chances created. Even last night, the woodwork was hit twice, one from range, but other than the penalty what was required of Birkirkara’s goalkeeper?

The Hearts team played very simply and we read how they played. They played with long balls. When we scored, we put one more defender on the pitch and they only wanted to play with long balls. We like this. We have players who can answer this, it is very simple,” Birkirkara’s manager Josef Mansueto.

What happened to swashbuckling, inventive, proactive football from Neilson’s first season in charge? There was a plan going forward, there were different angles and avenues of attack. The last word you could use to describe the football was simple. It was exciting. Is it as simple as losing a player like Osman Sow? Or is it a case of coming up against better opposition and urging caution?

It is that last word which provokes fans to suggest Neilson doesn’t get ‘it’. ‘It’ being – pass the sick bucket – the Hearts way. But there is a style that Hearts fans enjoy: pace and power, aggression and pressing, the ball going forward, the ball going into the box. Hearts fans want to see their team suffocate the opposition, especially from the start at Tynecastle. All too often the team have been passive in the way they start games which effects the mood and attitude of the crowd. Indifference builds into frustration.

Saying all of that this is a 36-year-old manager with a young team. He is very different to Hearts managers of the past and has different methods. He tries to take emotion out of big games and decisions. He is level-headed – a far cry from many of his team’s support base. He has delivered the most pleasing style I have had the pleasure of watching, albeit in the Championship. He won a competitive league and finished third in his first season back in the top flight. There is enough coin in the bank, in my opinion, for him to be given ample time to improve on the latest showings.

However, I fear for him. There is a vocal portion of fans who have lost patience and in a little over two weeks Neilson has two of his biggest games as a manager. Celtic at home followed by Aberdeen away.

This is a two-way plea. First of all for fans to get behind the team and the manager, who delivered big moments. We could be on the verge of pushing out a talented manager. But equally there could come a time where the powers-that-be have to make a tough decision. If there is the opportunity to make a change for further, better progression it has to be taken. Akin to Southampton’s unceremoniously appointment of Mauricio Pochettino to replace Nigel Adkins.

Keep your eyes on Gorgie. After two years of progression, improvement and stability all is not quite right. Robbie Neilson is in need of a positive moment.

Written by Joel Sked


Comments

  1. Jamie Sim - July 22, 2016 at 4:39 pm

    Should be a three way plea. There were and have been some painfully below par performances since last spring from players who should take responsibility for letting down their manager and the fans. Prince is astonishingly inconsistent, big Djoum seems to have lost something (or is out of position) And we never know which Juanma we’re gonna get, the handful for any defender or the constantly offside ugly player. They need to take responsibility too. I’m still a Robbie fan but playing one up should be one of a series of options not default #HHGH

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  2. Marto - July 23, 2016 at 3:38 am

    what neilson doesn’t ‘get’ is nothing to do with our style of play. it’s everything to do with besting hibs. I’ve been watching hearts since 1984 abs barring a stage in the late 90’s we’ve had the upper hand. neilson, in my opinion, couldn’t care less if he beats hibs or not. you only have to listen to his post match interviews after the games in February. a ‘good money spinner’ was his thoughts on the replay. he should have been chased out the door after that debacle at Easter road. if fans think that the football we’ve already seen this season, which is a continuation of the crap served up last season, is going to improve then they’re deluded. the sooner neilson and his boss are out the door the better.

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  3. Vic - July 23, 2016 at 4:31 am

    Good read
    The negativity at the moment is cancerous. Sense if reality would help and some response from the top wouldn’t go amis. Never heard the expression ‘Hearts way’ in all my (numerous) days though and if I did I would struggle to recognise it.

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  4. Alan Brown - July 23, 2016 at 8:24 am

    The principles set by Potter are too rigid and impractical.All teams from kids to first team taught to play same way💤 as a consequence coaches promoted up the ranks 💤.So who is in line just now Stevie Crawford jings.Opposition know easily how to combat us we have no plan B and give the new giant up front a chance but he’s been playing at a level similar to Spartans.He looks slow and obvious.Why don’t we spend a few quid on 3 established guys for SPL level rather than wasting money on 6 duds that are always hopefuls.Sow wouldn’t have gone anywhere for that money if it wasn’t for the daft Chinese league.The worry is the more those two bores are slated the more they will dig their heels in.Ann Budge unfortunately knows no one in the game so listens to the snore twins.Results business they point to promotion then 3rd so when we are struggling the same principles apply get out,the structure is tainted at first team level.Rant over pal

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  5. Keith G. - July 23, 2016 at 1:28 pm

    Player recruitment and releasing has baffled many. Jason Holt being released because he wanted to play each game, Getting rid of McHattie and Eckersley and replacing them with Oshaniwa who’s no better, loaning out King to Rangers2012 while Nicholson and Walker were in and out the team with injuries, not offering Zeefuik a contract when he he’d hit double figures, ripping up Keatings contract, another who scored goals and replacing him with Reilly, loaning out Gomis to Motherwell and wasting money on a has-been like Cowie, 32 years old to play his position, thought Robbie said he didn’t want anyone over 28 playing? Signing yet another defensive midfielder in Kitchen when we had an abundance of them, not signing an attacking midfielder to link with forwards, offering Alexander a new contract then taking it back again, saying that King and Gomis returning will be like signing 2 new players then farming him out to Inverness and moving Gomis on, signing a huddy like Sammon…it goes on and on. He’s too defensive, opposition managers can suss him out, stop the width of Hearts team they’ve nothing else to offer, plan B, hit a long ball to a one man forward line and watch opposition defenders win just about everything. He has to go, the “learning curve” and “young players” chat is dull and untrue and as predictable as his team selections. Time to go, what’s Paulo doing these days?

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  6. charles holmes - July 23, 2016 at 7:07 pm

    I have been a Hearts fan for many, many years. I have seen the ups and downs many times. Patience is the name of game here at this time. The club will pull together, given time, and things will improve. I am sure of this .The people at the helm have steady heads and are there on merit and by choice. Please be patient and continue to support a great club…

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  7. Alexander Scott - July 25, 2016 at 3:19 pm

    Expectations are far too high by some elements of our support, by our very size and budget (or lack of it), we are a development club (Selling Sow on and depending on part season loans of players proves this). We did over achieve last season finishing 3rd and qualifying for Europa League well before end of last season gave us a false sense of belief in our “superiority”, brought crashing down to earth by Maltese side. We have a disparate group of players forwards who are misfiring no real attacking midfielder on form and setting up 451 at home against the Maltese, lobbing hopeful long balls that were lapped up by a good organised defence proved our undoing. As for facing Septic and The Sheep in our first 2 games of next season, unless our new signings gel together quickly, I cannot see points being won and we are then struggling to catch up. All well and good building a new stand but we need to fill it playing quality attacking football, if we don’t support will soon drift away!!

    Reply

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