Dr. Bapswent Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Tall-rises-above-rest-of.4188272.jp Tall rises above rest of Hearts team-mates in eyes of fans HE may have been frozen out of the picture at Tynecastle when contract negotiations stalled and been a mere spectator for most of the latter part of the season but Ibrahim Tall was the player that Hearts fans voted as their team's best performer last term, writes MARK BONTHRONE. The Senegal international only managed 12 SPL games, just eligible for the People's Choice where players must have featured in ten league matches or more, but he clearly made an impact. As the Jambos endured a hugely disappointing campaign Tall's no-nonsense, committed style of play endeared him to supporters and helped him win claim the Evening News accolade. The former Sochaux defender was Hearts' most consistent performer until Christmas time but, when talks over a new deal to take him beyond this summer stalled, he played just one further game before being allowed to leave when his contract expired at the end of last month. In the early part of the season, however, he was able to chip in with three goals from centre-half and showed the kind of form that persuaded the club to sign him in the first place. In an exclusive interview with the Evening News after he quit Gorgie, Tall revealed the affection in which he held the club's supporters and it's evident his displays impressed those same fans as he topped the voting. Tall agreed to join Nantes on a two-year deal at the end of last week. Christos Karipidis, ironically the man who filled Tall's boots, ran the Senegal international the closest in the rankings and the Greek defender has come on leaps and bounds in a Hearts jersey after a difficult start to life in Scotland. His assured displays mean he now appears to have established himself as captain Christophe Berra's regular partner at the back. Composed on the ball, commanding in the air and a good reader of the game, Karipidis looks to have all the qualities required to stake a first team claim at Hearts for years to come. And, at only 25 years old, supporters will be hoping he still has his best years ahead of him and can follow in the footsteps of a long line of impressive centre-halves. At the other end of the scale Kestutis Ivaskevicius, Calum Elliot and Christian Nade struggled to impress supporters and they will be looking for better displays when the new season kicks off. Ivaskevicius regularly incurred the wrath of Hearts fans for what many perceived as a lack of commitment in his game and he faces a real uphill struggle if he is to win them over. Big things were expected of Nade, in particular, when he was signed from Sheffield United, although he has never managed to attain full fitness during his time in Edinburgh which contributed to some below-par displays. Crystal Palace are monitoring the player's progress but, if he does remain with the Jambos, supporters will be hoping a full pre-season programme will enable the club to get the best out of a striker still trying to justify the ?500,000 which Hearts forked out for his services. Nade clearly has the ability to make an impact in the SPL and has shown in glimpses what he is capable of but consistency is the key for the former France under-21 internationalist if he is convince those in the stands. Elliot, similarly, could be on his way out of Tynecastle over the summer as he becomes frustrated at the lack of top-team opportunities available to him although many observers feel he needs to do more on the pitch if he is to have a real chance of securing a future for himself at Tynecastle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makween Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 "No-nonsense, commited style of play"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Winstone Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Interesting indeed - I can barely remember the games he played in before christmas, but obviously some do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Tucker Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 He turned in a cracking performance against 'Well in the Setanta game and, umm.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makween Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Interesting indeed - I can barely remember the games he played in before christmas, but obviously some do. He was, um, quite good. But not all that good. Tall has Bobo Bald? syndrome - the less he plays, the better he becomes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Winstone Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 He was, um, quite good. But not all that good. Tall has Bobo Bald? syndrome - the less he plays, the better he becomes. Bobo Balde must have had an immense 2007-2008 campaign. Single handedly winning Celtic the SPL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jambo83 Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Tall was good when he played, but hardly player of the year. Personally i'd have went for Velicka / Berra / Ruben but there was hardly an outstanding candidate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jambo83 Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 "No-nonsense, commited style of play"? I bet that's the definition under Neil McFarlane in the Oxford Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sked21 Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Had a look at all the players on the list. Oh how pish some of them are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hearts_crazy Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Calum Elliot is frustrated at the lack of top team opportunities???? Was that put in as some sort of sick joke? Don't know how many times he played last season but take that number and that is the number of opportunities more than he should have had. If you're unhappy you petulant spoilt brat then feck off, you'll not be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Quagmire Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 what a lot of pash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12XU Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Harry Kinnear was TALL but pure p*** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam Tarts 1874 Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 I am sure that the people who voted for Tall would also have voted for Brellier during the 2006/07 season, and for the same reasons. Quite sad really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makween Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 I bet that's the definition under Neil McFarlane in the Oxford I just looked it up, and it's actually "Lothario of a midfield maestro with a full head of hair which sometimes looks like it's receding because he's moving so fast. Love you, Nelly. xxx" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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