Levein *POLL*

[Enzo Chiefo]

13 minutes ago, Ryder said:

“... No matter what I say, people will judge me how they want to judge me. I’m not asking to be judged or not judged – that’s not my thing. There are a lot of people who do know how things work, and there are others who just want to keep regurgitating the same old rubbish.”

(Craig Levein)

 

Very profound Ryder.  However, I would point out to him that the goals for column and points total, along with our league placing, don't lie. That's what he will be judged on whether he likes it or not. His post match comments after last Friday were, quite rightly, ridiculed on Sportsound last night and i would rather he started acknowledging some of the tactical mistakes rather than play the paranoia card.

[cuddledoon]

From “The Football Life” today :

 

“When asked how many players he thought he would need to bring in, Levein said: “It can change, (but) somewhere between seven and 10.”” (From The Scotsman)

 

The Great Tynecastle Experiment is fizzling out. From fan acclaim and promotion under Neilson causing great changes in the squad to, well, Ian Cathro and everything that that involved to the current inhabitant of the Tynecastle hotseat, Craig Levein, things have steadily gotten worse at the club.

 

That’s a hell of a statement to be making considering how poorly things went for Ian Cathro but where Cathro was, ultimately, hopeless, Craig Levein sits in an altogether less satisfactory position - not looking a great deal better than Cathro on the park and ultimately being the man to catch the can for everything. For the majority of Hearts fans, this season is already done - out of the cup, out of contention for Europe in the league and, arguably, heading out of the top six.

 

This is altogether unsurprising for anyone paying attention. Hearts have a great squad on paper - the likes of Naismith and Lafferty are in the upper tier of attacking talent in the league based on reputation and the central defensive unit that is Berra, Souttar and goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin are as formidable as they come. What Hearts lack, however, is drive. In their game against Hibs on the recent “Rivals Weekend”, they played a solid first half that refused to tempt them into anything approaching providing entertainment. After half time, however, Hibs did something that Hearts were incapable of - they found another gear.

 

Hearts are by no means a bad side - their form since the November International break prior to their game against Rangers last had been admirable from a “not losing games” perspective (1 loss in 14 League games) but less so from a winning games perspective (5 in 14). Hearts went on that run by not conceding but managed it while also not scoring - 4 0-0s, and 4 1-1s - which made a mockery of their shock 4-0 win over Celtic which looks like both a fluke and like Hearts used up all their attacking verve for the season in the space of 90 minutes.

 

That run lulled Craig Levein into, perhaps, a false sense of security. The witty, confident Levein of February made some nice soundbites about Celtic and, most famously, the “natural order”. Hibs certainly put any notions of that firmly back in their place at Easter Road.

 

Hearts are Diesel. They are like racing a Grand National stayer in the Champion Hurdle. They are perhaps the most one paced side to have graced the Premiership in some time and that pace is “plodding”. This does not put them as a bad side, merely one which does not perform to the potential it has and also one which does not have another gear or, perhaps more damningly, another step up in intensity that it takes to hang with the better sides in this league like, naturally, Hibs.

 

And to say that the club needs an injection of new blood to the level of nearly having an entirely new side isn’t an exaggeration. Connor Randall, Joaquim Adao, Manuel Milinkovic (perhaps the one player at the club who seems occasionally capable of providing a bit of Chaos Factor), Steven Naismith and Demetri Mitchell all see loans expire in the summer. Add to that contract expiries for Aaron Hughes, Prince Buaben and Jon McLaughlin then Hearts’ squad looks very thin on the ground when it comes to experience for next season with only Jack Hamilton in goals, no recognised left back, 5 senior midfielders over 18 (one of whom is Malaury Martin so doesn’t really count) and a recognised strike partnership of Conor Sammon and Kyle Lafferty.

 

It’s not exactly a good situation and, given Craig Levein has been in control of recruitment throughout the Ann Budge era, reflects poorly on the man who will be looking after recruitment this summer. OK, few could have predicted what a disaster Ian Cathro would have been but this Levein incarnation aren’t light years better. They have the budget to compete at a far higher level than merely squeaking in the top six, maybe, but it has not been moulded into something approaching an effective attacking unit.

 

There is good news in so far as two players kept on for next season are Souttar and Berra and, assuming Hearts don’t sell either, that will remain one of the best central defensive partnerships in the entire division. Craig Levein simply has to build a team around them and do it without relying on the odd failed tactics of the past couple of seasons of, bluntly, building a side that looks less like a functioning football team and more like a mercenary legion of journeymen looking out of a quick payday. In charge, Levein has provided more in the way of long term thinking but only in the sense that if he’s seen a gap in the side, he’s thrown a youngster into the breach. Most of these youngsters have endured this trial by fire and in Harry Cochrane and Jamie Brandon, they have players who have been able to maintain a place in the side.

 

But Hearts should not be in that sort of position in the first place. This is season four of Levein being at the club either directing recruitment or outright managing the team and Hearts seem as far away from having any sort of joined up thinking as they ever have been and, quite rightly, it was pointed out that player turnover has matched and exceeded that of the Romanov era with 19 more players used. That era, too, started out with a heck of a lot of hope but ended in acrimony and quickly saw the side run out of puff. Much the same appears to be happening in the Budge era.

 

Right now, that situation is easily sortable but it needs something approaching a total rethink of how the club recruits players - be it to move out of the established markets they have worked in recently and into new markets or just to get some new blood in the scouting team or, perhaps, to put someone alongside Craig Levein to say things like “Craig, is giving Malaury Martin a three year deal really a good idea?” just to have a balance against all the decisions being taken by one person in the club’s set up.

 

Sort that out and there’s no reason why the club won’t get this summer’s reboot correct and move forward with a good team. Continue without changing a thing and the bottom six will be a less than temporary home for a club who should expect much better.

[Bazzas right boot]

The fact this thread has dropped to the bottom of page two, highlights that certain posters are only active after a defeat.

 

 

 

 

[Enzo Chiefo]

On 16/03/2018 at 21:02, cuddledoon said:

From “The Football Life” today :

 

“When asked how many players he thought he would need to bring in, Levein said: “It can change, (but) somewhere between seven and 10.”” (From The Scotsman)

 

The Great Tynecastle Experiment is fizzling out. From fan acclaim and promotion under Neilson causing great changes in the squad to, well, Ian Cathro and everything that that involved to the current inhabitant of the Tynecastle hotseat, Craig Levein, things have steadily gotten worse at the club.

 

That’s a hell of a statement to be making considering how poorly things went for Ian Cathro but where Cathro was, ultimately, hopeless, Craig Levein sits in an altogether less satisfactory position - not looking a great deal better than Cathro on the park and ultimately being the man to catch the can for everything. For the majority of Hearts fans, this season is already done - out of the cup, out of contention for Europe in the league and, arguably, heading out of the top six.

 

This is altogether unsurprising for anyone paying attention. Hearts have a great squad on paper - the likes of Naismith and Lafferty are in the upper tier of attacking talent in the league based on reputation and the central defensive unit that is Berra, Souttar and goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin are as formidable as they come. What Hearts lack, however, is drive. In their game against Hibs on the recent “Rivals Weekend”, they played a solid first half that refused to tempt them into anything approaching providing entertainment. After half time, however, Hibs did something that Hearts were incapable of - they found another gear.

 

Hearts are by no means a bad side - their form since the November International break prior to their game against Rangers last had been admirable from a “not losing games” perspective (1 loss in 14 League games) but less so from a winning games perspective (5 in 14). Hearts went on that run by not conceding but managed it while also not scoring - 4 0-0s, and 4 1-1s - which made a mockery of their shock 4-0 win over Celtic which looks like both a fluke and like Hearts used up all their attacking verve for the season in the space of 90 minutes.

 

That run lulled Craig Levein into, perhaps, a false sense of security. The witty, confident Levein of February made some nice soundbites about Celtic and, most famously, the “natural order”. Hibs certainly put any notions of that firmly back in their place at Easter Road.

 

Hearts are Diesel. They are like racing a Grand National stayer in the Champion Hurdle. They are perhaps the most one paced side to have graced the Premiership in some time and that pace is “plodding”. This does not put them as a bad side, merely one which does not perform to the potential it has and also one which does not have another gear or, perhaps more damningly, another step up in intensity that it takes to hang with the better sides in this league like, naturally, Hibs.

 

And to say that the club needs an injection of new blood to the level of nearly having an entirely new side isn’t an exaggeration. Connor Randall, Joaquim Adao, Manuel Milinkovic (perhaps the one player at the club who seems occasionally capable of providing a bit of Chaos Factor), Steven Naismith and Demetri Mitchell all see loans expire in the summer. Add to that contract expiries for Aaron Hughes, Prince Buaben and Jon McLaughlin then Hearts’ squad looks very thin on the ground when it comes to experience for next season with only Jack Hamilton in goals, no recognised left back, 5 senior midfielders over 18 (one of whom is Malaury Martin so doesn’t really count) and a recognised strike partnership of Conor Sammon and Kyle Lafferty.

 

It’s not exactly a good situation and, given Craig Levein has been in control of recruitment throughout the Ann Budge era, reflects poorly on the man who will be looking after recruitment this summer. OK, few could have predicted what a disaster Ian Cathro would have been but this Levein incarnation aren’t light years better. They have the budget to compete at a far higher level than merely squeaking in the top six, maybe, but it has not been moulded into something approaching an effective attacking unit.

 

There is good news in so far as two players kept on for next season are Souttar and Berra and, assuming Hearts don’t sell either, that will remain one of the best central defensive partnerships in the entire division. Craig Levein simply has to build a team around them and do it without relying on the odd failed tactics of the past couple of seasons of, bluntly, building a side that looks less like a functioning football team and more like a mercenary legion of journeymen looking out of a quick payday. In charge, Levein has provided more in the way of long term thinking but only in the sense that if he’s seen a gap in the side, he’s thrown a youngster into the breach. Most of these youngsters have endured this trial by fire and in Harry Cochrane and Jamie Brandon, they have players who have been able to maintain a place in the side.

 

But Hearts should not be in that sort of position in the first place. This is season four of Levein being at the club either directing recruitment or outright managing the team and Hearts seem as far away from having any sort of joined up thinking as they ever have been and, quite rightly, it was pointed out that player turnover has matched and exceeded that of the Romanov era with 19 more players used. That era, too, started out with a heck of a lot of hope but ended in acrimony and quickly saw the side run out of puff. Much the same appears to be happening in the Budge era.

 

Right now, that situation is easily sortable but it needs something approaching a total rethink of how the club recruits players - be it to move out of the established markets they have worked in recently and into new markets or just to get some new blood in the scouting team or, perhaps, to put someone alongside Craig Levein to say things like “Craig, is giving Malaury Martin a three year deal really a good idea?” just to have a balance against all the decisions being taken by one person in the club’s set up.

 

Sort that out and there’s no reason why the club won’t get this summer’s reboot correct and move forward with a good team. Continue without changing a thing and the bottom six will be a less than temporary home for a club who should expect much better.

Excellent article. Can't disagree with anything there.

[sairyinthat]

6 minutes ago, BigDave'sHeed said:

The fact this thread has dropped to the bottom of page two, highlights that certain posters are only active after a defeat.

 

 

 

 

Yup.

[Bazzas right boot]

Just now, sairyinthat said:

Yup.

 

Active non stop for a week, multiple threads.

Win........

[i wish jj was my dad]

On 16/03/2018 at 20:02, cuddledoon said:

From “The Football Life” today :

 

“When asked how many players he thought he would need to bring in, Levein said: “It can change, (but) somewhere between seven and 10.”” (From The Scotsman)

 

The Great Tynecastle Experiment is fizzling out. From fan acclaim and promotion under Neilson causing great changes in the squad to, well, Ian Cathro and everything that that involved to the current inhabitant of the Tynecastle hotseat, Craig Levein, things have steadily gotten worse at the club.

 

That’s a hell of a statement to be making considering how poorly things went for Ian Cathro but where Cathro was, ultimately, hopeless, Craig Levein sits in an altogether less satisfactory position - not looking a great deal better than Cathro on the park and ultimately being the man to catch the can for everything. For the majority of Hearts fans, this season is already done - out of the cup, out of contention for Europe in the league and, arguably, heading out of the top six.

 

This is altogether unsurprising for anyone paying attention. Hearts have a great squad on paper - the likes of Naismith and Lafferty are in the upper tier of attacking talent in the league based on reputation and the central defensive unit that is Berra, Souttar and goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin are as formidable as they come. What Hearts lack, however, is drive. In their game against Hibs on the recent “Rivals Weekend”, they played a solid first half that refused to tempt them into anything approaching providing entertainment. After half time, however, Hibs did something that Hearts were incapable of - they found another gear.

 

Hearts are by no means a bad side - their form since the November International break prior to their game against Rangers last had been admirable from a “not losing games” perspective (1 loss in 14 League games) but less so from a winning games perspective (5 in 14). Hearts went on that run by not conceding but managed it while also not scoring - 4 0-0s, and 4 1-1s - which made a mockery of their shock 4-0 win over Celtic which looks like both a fluke and like Hearts used up all their attacking verve for the season in the space of 90 minutes.

 

That run lulled Craig Levein into, perhaps, a false sense of security. The witty, confident Levein of February made some nice soundbites about Celtic and, most famously, the “natural order”. Hibs certainly put any notions of that firmly back in their place at Easter Road.

 

Hearts are Diesel. They are like racing a Grand National stayer in the Champion Hurdle. They are perhaps the most one paced side to have graced the Premiership in some time and that pace is “plodding”. This does not put them as a bad side, merely one which does not perform to the potential it has and also one which does not have another gear or, perhaps more damningly, another step up in intensity that it takes to hang with the better sides in this league like, naturally, Hibs.

 

And to say that the club needs an injection of new blood to the level of nearly having an entirely new side isn’t an exaggeration. Connor Randall, Joaquim Adao, Manuel Milinkovic (perhaps the one player at the club who seems occasionally capable of providing a bit of Chaos Factor), Steven Naismith and Demetri Mitchell all see loans expire in the summer. Add to that contract expiries for Aaron Hughes, Prince Buaben and Jon McLaughlin then Hearts’ squad looks very thin on the ground when it comes to experience for next season with only Jack Hamilton in goals, no recognised left back, 5 senior midfielders over 18 (one of whom is Malaury Martin so doesn’t really count) and a recognised strike partnership of Conor Sammon and Kyle Lafferty.

 

It’s not exactly a good situation and, given Craig Levein has been in control of recruitment throughout the Ann Budge era, reflects poorly on the man who will be looking after recruitment this summer. OK, few could have predicted what a disaster Ian Cathro would have been but this Levein incarnation aren’t light years better. They have the budget to compete at a far higher level than merely squeaking in the top six, maybe, but it has not been moulded into something approaching an effective attacking unit.

 

There is good news in so far as two players kept on for next season are Souttar and Berra and, assuming Hearts don’t sell either, that will remain one of the best central defensive partnerships in the entire division. Craig Levein simply has to build a team around them and do it without relying on the odd failed tactics of the past couple of seasons of, bluntly, building a side that looks less like a functioning football team and more like a mercenary legion of journeymen looking out of a quick payday. In charge, Levein has provided more in the way of long term thinking but only in the sense that if he’s seen a gap in the side, he’s thrown a youngster into the breach. Most of these youngsters have endured this trial by fire and in Harry Cochrane and Jamie Brandon, they have players who have been able to maintain a place in the side.

 

But Hearts should not be in that sort of position in the first place. This is season four of Levein being at the club either directing recruitment or outright managing the team and Hearts seem as far away from having any sort of joined up thinking as they ever have been and, quite rightly, it was pointed out that player turnover has matched and exceeded that of the Romanov era with 19 more players used. That era, too, started out with a heck of a lot of hope but ended in acrimony and quickly saw the side run out of puff. Much the same appears to be happening in the Budge era.

 

Right now, that situation is easily sortable but it needs something approaching a total rethink of how the club recruits players - be it to move out of the established markets they have worked in recently and into new markets or just to get some new blood in the scouting team or, perhaps, to put someone alongside Craig Levein to say things like “Craig, is giving Malaury Martin a three year deal really a good idea?” just to have a balance against all the decisions being taken by one person in the club’s set up.

 

Sort that out and there’s no reason why the club won’t get this summer’s reboot correct and move forward with a good team. Continue without changing a thing and the bottom six will be a less than temporary home for a club who should expect much better.

Awful article. The sort of unbalanced pish the usual usual suspects on here have been trying to generate for weeks now

[Elmore]

1 minute ago, BigDave'sHeed said:

 

Active non stop for a week, multiple threads.

Win........

A brilliant three points today. Better football and maybe gets us top six at the split. Decent football isn't asking for much. A lot if posters have been saying the same.  We'll have to agree to disagree about the power levein has at the club.  I said that he had to earn the benifit of the doubt for next season.  Football wise this is a start.  Recruitment wise we will have to wait and see.  Let's just enjoy a good three points.    

[The Future's Maroon]

11 minutes ago, i wish jj was my dad said:

Awful article. The sort of unbalanced pish the usual usual suspects on here have been trying to generate for weeks now

It comes across as something mix-matched from here from various posters.

[i wish jj was my dad]

19 minutes ago, The Future's Maroon said:

It comes across as something mix-matched from here from various posters.

Indeed. I am sure they are very proud.

[McCrae]

1 hour ago, Enzo Chiefo said:

Excellent article. Can't disagree with anything there.

 

Zzzzzzzz

 

Edited March 17, 2018 by McCrae

[Hearts1975]

On 3/16/2018 at 20:37, Enzo Chiefo said:

Very profound Ryder.  However, I would point out to him that the goals for column and points total, along with our league placing, don't lie. That's what he will be judged on whether he likes it or not. His post match comments after last Friday were, quite rightly, ridiculed on Sportsound last night and i would rather he started acknowledging some of the tactical mistakes rather than play the paranoia card.

See in regards to the above statement, yes, if you take that view only then you aren't opening your eyes to the whole thing. This season's been pish, don't think anyone will argue that but unfortunately CL is trying to overhaul a whole squad in the same season you are just judging it on points and league placings. Bottom line is he backed Cathro in the transfer market and fair play to him - I was one of the original posters who was venemently against the DOF role and I did think at the time that CL was getting involved, first hand, which I didnt want to see - I wanted it to be Cathro's place only. 

 

However, I and probably a lot of others have since been proved wrong - Levein has admitted as such his only mistake was to back Cathro in the market when it came to signing players etc but some just refuse to forgive this, even although an honest mistake was made. If I think back to all of the debate around Cathro toward the end I wanted him out, and hoped it would be sooner but if I'm being honest with myself, I was one who initially was in favour of Cathro taking over. I saw him as a dynamic young coach with new ideas, new innovation, and someone who I thought would getting us to play a way that would excite the support and really make his mark. I and probably others were wrong, along in hindsight with Craig Levein. But that's been and gone now - The same CL is ripping up Cathro's squad, not all at the same time for obvious reasons that I think most of us recognise, but this tells me that He only backed his Manager in the Transfer Market but these same players are not the players he wants to run with as Manager himself.

 

We are going to be introducing a further 7-10 players to the club in the Summer which is a serious statement - CL has already said that ideally he would like it to be over 4 transfer windows but he is doing it in 2 so to try and get the base of the side balanced asap which will help for consistency purposes - I have no doubt in my mind that some of these said players who will be coming in will be in player positions which we are weak and will be coming in to strengthen the weaker areas which will make us a different proposition next season - I have said this before, and I will say it again, - I have a feeling that some of the signings will go down really well with our support - I have heard other posters on this forum saying the same, they may be ITK, I'm certainly not but this one is just a feeling 

 

Finally if you troll rag papers and media articles most will tell you that Hearts are heading for armageddon etc, Budge needs to act, CL needs to go and the coaching staff need to go etc .... I am not saying I was always like this, but in my view, we are heading for a necessary summer of change and this will help and benefit us next season no end 

 

Give CL time, and give him the summer to get this right - he might just even surprise you 

 

In the meantime enjoy your weekend and the 3-0 result, a team we have failed to beat in the last 11 fixtures? - Im not saying this means it is all right but you can still take satisfaction from one result - right?

 

Oh, and another thing, see when things aren't right behind the scenes at a football club IE Players unhappy at the way things are being played/trained etc then you tend to hear noises and unrest coming from the dressing room. We are hearing none of this at the moment, and it appears that players like Berra/Naismith/Lafferty/Souttar/ - big names - want to play for the club and believe in the future of what we are doing 

Maybe as a support we should be looking to do the same and judge CL on next season at least then we have gave him time to put into practice what he knows that he needs to do 

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

35 minutes ago, Hearts1975 said:

See in regards to the above statement, yes, if you take that view only then you aren't opening your eyes to the whole thing. This season's been pish, don't think anyone will argue that but unfortunately CL is trying to overhaul a whole squad in the same season you are just judging it on points and league placings. Bottom line is he backed Cathro in the transfer market and fair play to him - I was one of the original posters who was venemently against the DOF role and I did think at the time that CL was getting involved, first hand, which I didnt want to see - I wanted it to be Cathro's place only. 

 

However, I and probably a lot of others have since been proved wrong - Levein has admitted as such his only mistake was to back Cathro in the market when it came to signing players etc but some just refuse to forgive this, even although an honest mistake was made. If I think back to all of the debate around Cathro toward the end I wanted him out, and hoped it would be sooner but if I'm being honest with myself, I was one who initially was in favour of Cathro taking over. I saw him as a dynamic young coach with new ideas, new innovation, and someone who I thought would getting us to play a way that would excite the support and really make his mark. I and probably others were wrong, along in hindsight with Craig Levein. But that's been and gone now - The same CL is ripping up Cathro's squad, not all at the same time for obvious reasons that I think most of us recognise, but this tells me that He only backed his Manager in the Transfer Market but these same players are not the players he wants to run with as Manager himself.

 

We are going to be introducing a further 7-10 players to the club in the Summer which is a serious statement - CL has already said that ideally he would like it to be over 4 transfer windows but he is doing it in 2 so to try and get the base of the side balanced asap which will help for consistency purposes - I have no doubt in my mind that some of these said players who will be coming in will be in player positions which we are weak and will be coming in to strengthen the weaker areas which will make us a different proposition next season - I have said this before, and I will say it again, - I have a feeling that some of the signings will go down really well with our support - I have heard other posters on this forum saying the same, they may be ITK, I'm certainly not but this one is just a feeling 

 

Finally if you troll rag papers and media articles most will tell you that Hearts are heading for armageddon etc, Budge needs to act, CL needs to go and the coaching staff need to go etc .... I am not saying I was always like this, but in my view, we are heading for a necessary summer of change and this will help and benefit us next season no end 

 

Give CL time, and give him the summer to get this right - he might just even surprise you 

 

In the meantime enjoy your weekend and the 3-0 result, a team we have failed to beat in the last 11 fixtures? - Im not saying this means it is all right but you can still take satisfaction from one result - right?

 

Oh, and another thing, see when things aren't right behind the scenes at a football club IE Players unhappy at the way things are being played/trained etc then you tend to hear noises and unrest coming from the dressing room. We are hearing none of this at the moment, and it appears that players like Berra/Naismith/Lafferty/Souttar/ - big names - want to play for the club and believe in the future of what we are doing 

Maybe as a support we should be looking to do the same and judge CL on next season at least then we have gave him time to put into practice what he knows that he needs to do 

Agree with this.

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

3 hours ago, BigDave'sHeed said:

The fact this thread has dropped to the bottom of page two, highlights that certain posters are only active after a defeat.

 

 

 

 

I think some are currently on the naughty step.

[BRAVEHEART1874]

amazed to see such a positive outcome compared to the wee numpties  on facebook page  still thought the second half was boring today and still think we can get better than smith and cowie next year surely - still at least we haven't blown next years budget like sevco ahahahahaha

[Thomaso]

On ‎14‎/‎03‎/‎2018 at 17:41, King Of The Cat Cafe said:

 

Hmm, if Hibs fans want him to stay, is that because they think he is a poor, weak manager and that is to their advantage; and is that not enough for all PHM to vote for him out?

 

Unless I am getting my logic in a twist.

 

 

 

 

You can have varying opinions of Levein and still be a PHM.

[All Out Attack]

On 16/03/2018 at 20:02, cuddledoon said:

From “The Football Life” today :

 

“When asked how many players he thought he would need to bring in, Levein said: “It can change, (but) somewhere between seven and 10.”” (From The Scotsman)

 

The Great Tynecastle Experiment is fizzling out. From fan acclaim and promotion under Neilson causing great changes in the squad to, well, Ian Cathro and everything that that involved to the current inhabitant of the Tynecastle hotseat, Craig Levein, things have steadily gotten worse at the club.

 

That’s a hell of a statement to be making considering how poorly things went for Ian Cathro but where Cathro was, ultimately, hopeless, Craig Levein sits in an altogether less satisfactory position - not looking a great deal better than Cathro on the park and ultimately being the man to catch the can for everything. For the majority of Hearts fans, this season is already done - out of the cup, out of contention for Europe in the league and, arguably, heading out of the top six.

 

This is altogether unsurprising for anyone paying attention. Hearts have a great squad on paper - the likes of Naismith and Lafferty are in the upper tier of attacking talent in the league based on reputation and the central defensive unit that is Berra, Souttar and goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin are as formidable as they come. What Hearts lack, however, is drive. In their game against Hibs on the recent “Rivals Weekend”, they played a solid first half that refused to tempt them into anything approaching providing entertainment. After half time, however, Hibs did something that Hearts were incapable of - they found another gear.

 

Hearts are by no means a bad side - their form since the November International break prior to their game against Rangers last had been admirable from a “not losing games” perspective (1 loss in 14 League games) but less so from a winning games perspective (5 in 14). Hearts went on that run by not conceding but managed it while also not scoring - 4 0-0s, and 4 1-1s - which made a mockery of their shock 4-0 win over Celtic which looks like both a fluke and like Hearts used up all their attacking verve for the season in the space of 90 minutes.

 

That run lulled Craig Levein into, perhaps, a false sense of security. The witty, confident Levein of February made some nice soundbites about Celtic and, most famously, the “natural order”. Hibs certainly put any notions of that firmly back in their place at Easter Road.

 

Hearts are Diesel. They are like racing a Grand National stayer in the Champion Hurdle. They are perhaps the most one paced side to have graced the Premiership in some time and that pace is “plodding”. This does not put them as a bad side, merely one which does not perform to the potential it has and also one which does not have another gear or, perhaps more damningly, another step up in intensity that it takes to hang with the better sides in this league like, naturally, Hibs.

 

And to say that the club needs an injection of new blood to the level of nearly having an entirely new side isn’t an exaggeration. Connor Randall, Joaquim Adao, Manuel Milinkovic (perhaps the one player at the club who seems occasionally capable of providing a bit of Chaos Factor), Steven Naismith and Demetri Mitchell all see loans expire in the summer. Add to that contract expiries for Aaron Hughes, Prince Buaben and Jon McLaughlin then Hearts’ squad looks very thin on the ground when it comes to experience for next season with only Jack Hamilton in goals, no recognised left back, 5 senior midfielders over 18 (one of whom is Malaury Martin so doesn’t really count) and a recognised strike partnership of Conor Sammon and Kyle Lafferty.

 

It’s not exactly a good situation and, given Craig Levein has been in control of recruitment throughout the Ann Budge era, reflects poorly on the man who will be looking after recruitment this summer. OK, few could have predicted what a disaster Ian Cathro would have been but this Levein incarnation aren’t light years better. They have the budget to compete at a far higher level than merely squeaking in the top six, maybe, but it has not been moulded into something approaching an effective attacking unit.

 

There is good news in so far as two players kept on for next season are Souttar and Berra and, assuming Hearts don’t sell either, that will remain one of the best central defensive partnerships in the entire division. Craig Levein simply has to build a team around them and do it without relying on the odd failed tactics of the past couple of seasons of, bluntly, building a side that looks less like a functioning football team and more like a mercenary legion of journeymen looking out of a quick payday. In charge, Levein has provided more in the way of long term thinking but only in the sense that if he’s seen a gap in the side, he’s thrown a youngster into the breach. Most of these youngsters have endured this trial by fire and in Harry Cochrane and Jamie Brandon, they have players who have been able to maintain a place in the side.

 

But Hearts should not be in that sort of position in the first place. This is season four of Levein being at the club either directing recruitment or outright managing the team and Hearts seem as far away from having any sort of joined up thinking as they ever have been and, quite rightly, it was pointed out that player turnover has matched and exceeded that of the Romanov era with 19 more players used. That era, too, started out with a heck of a lot of hope but ended in acrimony and quickly saw the side run out of puff. Much the same appears to be happening in the Budge era.

 

Right now, that situation is easily sortable but it needs something approaching a total rethink of how the club recruits players - be it to move out of the established markets they have worked in recently and into new markets or just to get some new blood in the scouting team or, perhaps, to put someone alongside Craig Levein to say things like “Craig, is giving Malaury Martin a three year deal really a good idea?” just to have a balance against all the decisions being taken by one person in the club’s set up.

 

Sort that out and there’s no reason why the club won’t get this summer’s reboot correct and move forward with a good team. Continue without changing a thing and the bottom six will be a less than temporary home for a club who should expect much better.

Sums up the reality of where we have been and where are are, very well. 

 

The one think that is crucially missing here though, is the fact that even if replaced the duds, loans and kids with quality players, we would still have the Levein and the safety first mindset, to deal with. 

 

No one can deny this. He did it the last time and everywhere else he had been. He simply knows no other way. 

 

As long as he is here, an inferiority complex will exist in Glasgow, we will try not to any lose away games and we will win absolutely nothing. 

 

 

 

Edited March 19, 2018 by All Out Attack

[Nookie Bear]

On 17/03/2018 at 21:06, i wish jj was my dad said:

Awful article. The sort of unbalanced pish the usual usual suspects on here have been trying to generate for weeks now

 

Seems balanced enough - praise and criticism where it is due.

 

Unlike you, with your autosig: " On The 8th Day The Big Guy Upstairs Made Craig Levein "

 

Cringe, tbh.

[tcjambo]

On 17/03/2018 at 21:06, i wish jj was my dad said:

Awful article. The sort of unbalanced pish the usual usual suspects on here have been trying to generate for weeks now

Agreed playing to the gallery of headless chickens on our Forum and all the Hobos out there

[McCrae]

15 minutes ago, All Out Attack said:

 

 

As long as he is here, an inferiority complex will exist in Glasgow, we will try not to any lose away games and we will win absolutely nothing. 

 

 

 

 

How does the 4 nil pumping of Celtic fit into your theory?

[All Out Attack]

Just now, McCrae said:

 

How does the 4 nil pumping of Celtic fit into your theory?

Incredible. 

 

We are sixth in the league, no trophies or even Hampden, yet again and we are bottling it in Glasgow. Our manager is publicly stating that the old-firm need to move to England before we can compete and you are basing a season on one game.

 

The inferiority complex is there in all away games and especially in Glasgow.  

[Thomaso]

16 minutes ago, McCrae said:

 

How does the 4 nil pumping of Celtic fit into your theory?

 

Fantastic result and one that I really enjoyed - big credit to the team and CL on that one.

 

You do have to temper that by the fact that Levein said he could not defend for 90 minutes with the injuries he had - so he "was going to have a go!"   Something we now rarely see from him unfortunately.

[kila]

10 minutes ago, All Out Attack said:

Incredible. 

 

We are sixth in the league, no trophies or even Hampden, yet again and we are bottling it in Glasgow. Our manager is publicly stating that the old-firm need to move to England before we can compete and you are basing a season on one game.

 

The inferiority complex is there in all away games and especially in Glasgow.  

 

Ce la vie.

[Morph]

On 18/03/2018 at 00:58, BRAVEHEART1874 said:

amazed to see such a positive outcome compared to the wee numpties  on facebook page  still thought the second half was boring today and still think we can get better than smith and cowie next year surely - still at least we haven't blown next years budget like sevco ahahahahaha

The booing and groaning in the second half was one of the weirdest things I’ve seen this season. 

 

I am one of the first to criticise levein and individuals in the team but what are folk expecting when we’re 3-0 up and cruising at home?  Especially when we seem to have been so injury prone recently and Lafferty/Adao seemed to take wee knocks earlier in the game. 

[redm]

On 3/16/2018 at 20:02, cuddledoon said:

From “The Football Life” today :

 

“When asked how many players he thought he would need to bring in, Levein said: “It can change, (but) somewhere between seven and 10.”” (From The Scotsman)

 

The Great Tynecastle Experiment is fizzling out. From fan acclaim and promotion under Neilson causing great changes in the squad to, well, Ian Cathro and everything that that involved to the current inhabitant of the Tynecastle hotseat, Craig Levein, things have steadily gotten worse at the club.

 

That’s a hell of a statement to be making considering how poorly things went for Ian Cathro but where Cathro was, ultimately, hopeless, Craig Levein sits in an altogether less satisfactory position - not looking a great deal better than Cathro on the park and ultimately being the man to catch the can for everything. For the majority of Hearts fans, this season is already done - out of the cup, out of contention for Europe in the league and, arguably, heading out of the top six.

 

This is altogether unsurprising for anyone paying attention. Hearts have a great squad on paper - the likes of Naismith and Lafferty are in the upper tier of attacking talent in the league based on reputation and the central defensive unit that is Berra, Souttar and goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin are as formidable as they come. What Hearts lack, however, is drive. In their game against Hibs on the recent “Rivals Weekend”, they played a solid first half that refused to tempt them into anything approaching providing entertainment. After half time, however, Hibs did something that Hearts were incapable of - they found another gear.

 

Hearts are by no means a bad side - their form since the November International break prior to their game against Rangers last had been admirable from a “not losing games” perspective (1 loss in 14 League games) but less so from a winning games perspective (5 in 14). Hearts went on that run by not conceding but managed it while also not scoring - 4 0-0s, and 4 1-1s - which made a mockery of their shock 4-0 win over Celtic which looks like both a fluke and like Hearts used up all their attacking verve for the season in the space of 90 minutes.

 

That run lulled Craig Levein into, perhaps, a false sense of security. The witty, confident Levein of February made some nice soundbites about Celtic and, most famously, the “natural order”. Hibs certainly put any notions of that firmly back in their place at Easter Road.

 

Hearts are Diesel. They are like racing a Grand National stayer in the Champion Hurdle. They are perhaps the most one paced side to have graced the Premiership in some time and that pace is “plodding”. This does not put them as a bad side, merely one which does not perform to the potential it has and also one which does not have another gear or, perhaps more damningly, another step up in intensity that it takes to hang with the better sides in this league like, naturally, Hibs.

 

And to say that the club needs an injection of new blood to the level of nearly having an entirely new side isn’t an exaggeration. Connor Randall, Joaquim Adao, Manuel Milinkovic (perhaps the one player at the club who seems occasionally capable of providing a bit of Chaos Factor), Steven Naismith and Demetri Mitchell all see loans expire in the summer. Add to that contract expiries for Aaron Hughes, Prince Buaben and Jon McLaughlin then Hearts’ squad looks very thin on the ground when it comes to experience for next season with only Jack Hamilton in goals, no recognised left back, 5 senior midfielders over 18 (one of whom is Malaury Martin so doesn’t really count) and a recognised strike partnership of Conor Sammon and Kyle Lafferty.

 

It’s not exactly a good situation and, given Craig Levein has been in control of recruitment throughout the Ann Budge era, reflects poorly on the man who will be looking after recruitment this summer. OK, few could have predicted what a disaster Ian Cathro would have been but this Levein incarnation aren’t light years better. They have the budget to compete at a far higher level than merely squeaking in the top six, maybe, but it has not been moulded into something approaching an effective attacking unit.

 

There is good news in so far as two players kept on for next season are Souttar and Berra and, assuming Hearts don’t sell either, that will remain one of the best central defensive partnerships in the entire division. Craig Levein simply has to build a team around them and do it without relying on the odd failed tactics of the past couple of seasons of, bluntly, building a side that looks less like a functioning football team and more like a mercenary legion of journeymen looking out of a quick payday. In charge, Levein has provided more in the way of long term thinking but only in the sense that if he’s seen a gap in the side, he’s thrown a youngster into the breach. Most of these youngsters have endured this trial by fire and in Harry Cochrane and Jamie Brandon, they have players who have been able to maintain a place in the side.

 

But Hearts should not be in that sort of position in the first place. This is season four of Levein being at the club either directing recruitment or outright managing the team and Hearts seem as far away from having any sort of joined up thinking as they ever have been and, quite rightly, it was pointed out that player turnover has matched and exceeded that of the Romanov era with 19 more players used. That era, too, started out with a heck of a lot of hope but ended in acrimony and quickly saw the side run out of puff. Much the same appears to be happening in the Budge era.

 

Right now, that situation is easily sortable but it needs something approaching a total rethink of how the club recruits players - be it to move out of the established markets they have worked in recently and into new markets or just to get some new blood in the scouting team or, perhaps, to put someone alongside Craig Levein to say things like “Craig, is giving Malaury Martin a three year deal really a good idea?” just to have a balance against all the decisions being taken by one person in the club’s set up.

 

Sort that out and there’s no reason why the club won’t get this summer’s reboot correct and move forward with a good team. Continue without changing a thing and the bottom six will be a less than temporary home for a club who should expect much better.

 

Of course he'd say that. He's a Celtic fan. 

 

 

[Boab]

4 minutes ago, redm said:

 

Of course he'd say that. He's a Celtic fan. 

 

 

 

Maybe it needs a perspective from outside, Red.

I don't detect any hooped demoness in that to be fair !

[kila]

11 minutes ago, Boab said:

 

Maybe it needs a perspective from outside, Red.

I don't detect any hooped demoness in that to be fair !

 

"...intensity that it takes to hang with the better sides in this league like, naturally, Hibs."

 

Naturally?

[Boab]

1 minute ago, kila said:

 

"...intensity that it takes to hang with the better sides in this league like, naturally, Hibs."

 

Naturally?

 

Well, maybe that I suppose !

Overall though, read a lot worse from supposed Hearts men.

[redm]

16 minutes ago, Boab said:

 

Maybe it needs a perspective from outside, Red.

I don't detect any hooped demoness in that to be fair !

 

You could be right, I'm just very wary of expecting fairness or balance from supporters who traditionally despise us. That's all.

Don't have to be a hooped demon to be totally partisan and to see everything else through a tinted filter. I don't expect Hearts fans to write completely sensibly or fairly about Celtic either, mind.

 

It's always good to read other people's thoughts, I just like to also apply the right amount of cynicism to it....   

[Mikey1874]

24 minutes ago, redm said:

 

Of course he'd say that. He's a Celtic fan. 

 

 

 

It included another "how dare Hearts beat Celtic when they are usually so shit"

 

Loses it and any credibility there 

 

[Boab]

3 minutes ago, redm said:

 

You could be right, I'm just very wary of expecting fairness or balance from supporters who traditionally despise us. That's all.

Don't have to be a hooped demon to be totally partisan and to see everything else through a tinted filter. I don't expect Hearts fans to write completely sensibly or fairly about Celtic either, mind.

 

It's always good to read other people's thoughts, I just like to also apply the right amount of cynicism to it....   

 

Cynicism should be mandatory on social media !

?

[redm]

2 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

 

It included another "how dare Hearts beat Celtic when they are usually so shit"

 

Loses it and any credibility there 

 

 

They're still so sore. Still reguarly see many of them yapping on about it on social media. Total mentionitis. It's going to take them a while to get over that one.  

[redm]

27 minutes ago, Boab said:

 

Cynicism should be mandatory on social media !

?

 

Amen to that     

[Thomaso]

1 hour ago, Morph said:

The booing and groaning in the second half was one of the weirdest things I’ve seen this season. 

 

I am one of the first to criticise levein and individuals in the team but what are folk expecting when we’re 3-0 up and cruising at home?  Especially when we seem to have been so injury prone recently and Lafferty/Adao seemed to take wee knocks earlier in the game. 

 

I certainly did not boo, but a did groan on numerous occasions in the second half when the pass forward was on, but the players invariably passed the ball back.

[Jamboelite]

20 minutes ago, Thomaso said:

 

I certainly did not boo, but a did groan on numerous occasions in the second half when the pass forward was on, but the players invariably passed the ball back.

Yup I agree while I wasnt foaming at the mouth I did wish we had a reason to have a bit more cheer in the 2nd half considering it was -4 and I was freezing my ass off however I would never dream of booing a Hearts team 3-0 up against anyone.

 

There was times we could have pushed on more when we had the chance.

[i wish jj was my dad]

7 hours ago, Boab said:

 

Well, maybe that I suppose !

Overall though, read a lot worse from supposed Hearts men.

Indeed.

[Lord Beni of Gorgie]

Anyone moaning about the home form is clueless. 

 

Anyone defending the away form is clueless 

 

 

[Mikey1874]

I would say Saturday was an archetypal Levein performance. Strong all over, mobility especially in midfield and more attacking than might be given credit for. 

 

See what happens. 

[All Out Attack]

2 hours ago, Mikey1874 said:

I would say Saturday was an archetypal Levein performance. Strong all over, mobility especially in midfield and more attacking than might be given credit for. 

 

See what happens. 

We were very good in the first half in Saturday. We dropped the kids and played an experienced team. Mind you, Partick came for the draw and got exactly what they deserved.

 

You now have to ask, why don't we do that away from home and why is Glasgow such a problem for our manager. 

 

 

 

 

[EH11]

On 3/17/2018 at 23:56, Hearts1975 said:

See in regards to the above statement, yes, if you take that view only then you aren't opening your eyes to the whole thing. This season's been pish, don't think anyone will argue that but unfortunately CL is trying to overhaul a whole squad in the same season you are just judging it on points and league placings. Bottom line is he backed Cathro in the transfer market and fair play to him - I was one of the original posters who was venemently against the DOF role and I did think at the time that CL was getting involved, first hand, which I didnt want to see - I wanted it to be Cathro's place only. 

 

However, I and probably a lot of others have since been proved wrong - Levein has admitted as such his only mistake was to back Cathro in the market when it came to signing players etc but some just refuse to forgive this, even although an honest mistake was made. If I think back to all of the debate around Cathro toward the end I wanted him out, and hoped it would be sooner but if I'm being honest with myself, I was one who initially was in favour of Cathro taking over. I saw him as a dynamic young coach with new ideas, new innovation, and someone who I thought would getting us to play a way that would excite the support and really make his mark. I and probably others were wrong, along in hindsight with Craig Levein. But that's been and gone now - The same CL is ripping up Cathro's squad, not all at the same time for obvious reasons that I think most of us recognise, but this tells me that He only backed his Manager in the Transfer Market but these same players are not the players he wants to run with as Manager himself.

 

We are going to be introducing a further 7-10 players to the club in the Summer which is a serious statement - CL has already said that ideally he would like it to be over 4 transfer windows but he is doing it in 2 so to try and get the base of the side balanced asap which will help for consistency purposes - I have no doubt in my mind that some of these said players who will be coming in will be in player positions which we are weak and will be coming in to strengthen the weaker areas which will make us a different proposition next season - I have said this before, and I will say it again, - I have a feeling that some of the signings will go down really well with our support - I have heard other posters on this forum saying the same, they may be ITK, I'm certainly not but this one is just a feeling 

 

Finally if you troll rag papers and media articles most will tell you that Hearts are heading for armageddon etc, Budge needs to act, CL needs to go and the coaching staff need to go etc .... I am not saying I was always like this, but in my view, we are heading for a necessary summer of change and this will help and benefit us next season no end 

 

Give CL time, and give him the summer to get this right - he might just even surprise you 

 

In the meantime enjoy your weekend and the 3-0 result, a team we have failed to beat in the last 11 fixtures? - Im not saying this means it is all right but you can still take satisfaction from one result - right?

 

Oh, and another thing, see when things aren't right behind the scenes at a football club IE Players unhappy at the way things are being played/trained etc then you tend to hear noises and unrest coming from the dressing room. We are hearing none of this at the moment, and it appears that players like Berra/Naismith/Lafferty/Souttar/ - big names - want to play for the club and believe in the future of what we are doing 

Maybe as a support we should be looking to do the same and judge CL on next season at least then we have gave him time to put into practice what he knows that he needs to do 

 

Excellent post.

[FarmerTweedy]

On 13/03/2018 at 16:51, Enzo Chiefo said:

Are you for real? We've scored less goals than last season and are one place lower....despite signing 3 experienced full international players. These are facts, not opinions, spin, observations or anything else. Not what I would consider an improvement. 

We were the worst team in the league based on results under the previous manager. We're the 6th best over the current season despite the previous manager doing (badly) all of the preparation for the current season. Now you can think what you like about the decision to appoint the previous manager in the first place and the timing of the decision to end his fairly disastrous tenure, but it's utterly ludicrous to try to claim that there hasn't been significant improvement since Levein took over as manager. 

 

Utterly ludicrous. 

[merseyjambo]

I’ve deliberately stayed off this thread for a while.

 

I’ve always believed that he would get next season whether we wanted it or not so there is no point in speculating about who we would like next season as it’s a done deal who we have.

 

Was Saturday a pick me up yes, but you can’t help but still have issues with the man. His post match comments about the team starting slowly over the last couple of games, quite frankly stinks.

 

He is the man who sets the team up, so therefore he is the man that set them up to start slowly. 

 

Saturday proved that that we have the ability, yet we are continually set up not to lose. I wouldn’t have half the worries I have about him if he went out and actually gave it a go. Most fans who have concerns about CL would feel better about him if he changed his mindset and gave it a go in games. 

 

Its the lack of giving it a go that have cost us points in the league this season and a trip to Hampden. Sometimes he needs to realise that he gets more points from 6 wins and 6 losses than 12 draws. 6 more points would have had us in the mix for 4th.

[jr ewing]

Better players now, unfortunately most of them are on loan.

[FarmerTweedy]

On 13/03/2018 at 22:33, Hendricks said:

 

 

Indeed. We've won 14 of our last FIFTY SPL games mate! 

 

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

Our current manager has only been in charge for about half of those games, and got most of those wins despite taking over a very badly prepared squad.

 

The stat may be factually accurate, but it's of very little relevance. 

[Elmore]

Your right.  All he has to really do is give it ago and tighten up the recruitment policy. He's not going to get every signing right but at least get rid off the negative style we have had for the last two years.  It's cost us a lot.  Change the football to giving it a go and he gets all the backing he deserves.  Just prove between now and the end off the season that the football will be a bit more positive.  Add this in and there is no one better to have on your side when It comes to taking on the GFA

[Nookie Bear]

Hearts1975: can't find your original post but that was well put. Don't agree with parts of it but good to see some coherent points presented on here.

[frankblack]

5 minutes ago, FarmerTweedy said:

Our current manager has only been in charge for about half of those games, and got most of those wins despite taking over a very badly prepared squad.

 

The stat may be factually accurate, but it's of very little relevance. 

 

You are wasting your time there.  He will conveniently ignore everything you say and repeat it again in a day or so when he thinks its safe to do so.  He also fails to understand the difference between facts and statistics, despite boasting about it.

 

[Special Agent Dale Cooper]

7 minutes ago, frankblack said:

 

You are wasting your time there.  He will conveniently ignore everything you say and repeat it again in a day or so when he thinks its safe to do so.  He also fails to understand the difference between facts and statistics, despite boasting about it.

 

Annoyingly that pic has misquoted the Simpsons and IMHO ruined the joke.

It should read "Aw, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. Forfty percent of all people know that."

 

Sorry to be pendantic FB but I love that gag

[FarmerTweedy]

On 14/03/2018 at 01:22, Gazbo said:

 

We have been on the slide for years 

 

We were challenging strongly for 2nd place just 15 months or so ago when Robbie left!

 

On 14/03/2018 at 01:31, Gazbo said:

It's fairly well known that we are paying 10k per week

 

On 14/03/2018 at 01:39, Gazbo said:

I'm just listening to the word on the street mate

 

FFS. 

 

[Bull's-eye]

1 hour ago, merseyjambo said:

I’ve deliberately stayed off this thread for a while.

 

I’ve always believed that he would get next season whether we wanted it or not so there is no point in speculating about who we would like next season as it’s a done deal who we have.

 

Was Saturday a pick me up yes, but you can’t help but still have issues with the man. His post match comments about the team starting slowly over the last couple of games, quite frankly stinks.

 

He is the man who sets the team up, so therefore he is the man that set them up to start slowly. 

 

Saturday proved that that we have the ability, yet we are continually set up not to lose. I wouldn’t have half the worries I have about him if he went out and actually gave it a go. Most fans who have concerns about CL would feel better about him if he changed his mindset and gave it a go in games. 

 

Its the lack of giving it a go that have cost us points in the league this season and a trip to Hampden. Sometimes he needs to realise that he gets more points from 6 wins and 6 losses than 12 draws. 6 more points would have had us in the mix for 4th.

 

This "set up to lose" statement that is popular at the moment is Batshit bonkers. Surely more people on here have actually been in a changing room and been coached to play football at some level.

 

I wouldn't have paid any attention to any manager that came out with that Shit at my pishy level of football, never mind seasoned professionals putting up with it.

 

Robbie played negative tactics and Levein sets up not to lose, our support is thick as Pig Shit.