Evening with the coaches

[Byyy The Light]

1 hour ago, Ford Prentice said:

I didn't want him appointed as I didn't want a tyro manager learning on the job. He talked a good game and said the right things but I worried that he was maybe one of those people who interview brilliantly but can't actually do the job. Like many I want him out a couple of months ago. Too many mistakes and a mixed bag of results.

 

After last night I do believe he knows what he's doing. I expect there will still be ups and downs but I'm convinced and will be a happy clapper from now on (unless it all goes tits up of course).

 

25 minutes ago, jock _turd said:

Matters not what they said last night... talk is the cheapest commodity in the world. It is what happens on the pitch that matters in football! At the moment the results are definitely in favour of the management but the football is absolutely rubbish. That is not a problem though it can only get better and the sooner the better.

 

I was interested if the increased detail to the approach and understanding how they go about things would make a difference to people's opinions.  Ultimately results are the be all and end all but a bunch of cliched soundbites to the tv don't ever mean anything.

 

It's very easy for folk who've never kicked a ball or been in a dressing room in their life to sit and spout that such and such is clueless, don't have a scooby and can't see things a blind man can from the back of section A after 4 pints in the Diggers but hearing more detail can often make the difference.

 

We all just want Hearts to be successful, events like last night are a good thing if people can buy in to what we are trying to achieve rather than just slag everything off.

[Jambo61]

4 hours ago, Rick James said:

That's a very interesting topic and good to hear their side of it. I, like many, have bemoaned the fact that we've had so few young prospects break into the first team for a number of years. But they are of course correct, that the Hearts job comes with huge pressure. We as fans demand results and moderate success. Very hard to please us by winning and producing talent. That's down to us, the fans, to decide what we want to be as a club.

I can't think of anyone we have released recently that has benefited from 'a more relaxed regime with less expectations' and then really kicked on?

[RustyRightPeg]

1 minute ago, Jambo61 said:

I can't think of anyone we have released recently that has benefited from 'a more relaxed regime with less expectations' and then really kicked on?

 

Doig.

[Chuck Berry]

1 hour ago, TheBigO said:

Yep.  I've been saying for years that B teams is the very obvious way to go.

 

You broadly have 3 options.  Reserve league, U23 league, B Teams.

 

In Scotland, teams are simply not big enough for either of the first two options.  The English U23 league is actually quite competitive but that's because teams carry huge squads and it's genuinely seen by players etc as important and valid in their pathway to either get to first team or get scouted.  Essentially, it's an elite level.  It's like college football/basketball in the US in a way.

 

We don't have that.  Any reserve or age group football, it's never going to have that edge that finishes a player off.  It's not competitive.  It doesn't matter.  And the standard will be low.  It's lads having a kickabout infront of 30 people.

 

So we need to look at what other succesful nations do other than that, right?

 

B team is the way forward.  Yes it is elitist and only certain teams can do it, but at the end of the day, the onus should be on the biggest teams to provide the elite players.  Whether this is for themselves or to then drip down the pyramid (something we do well - look at the amount of ex-Hearts youths still playing full time/SPFL football).  Of course teams who don't want or can't have B teams can have the reserve league if they want it.

 

The value of playing 36 games a season which matter to the opposition, which actually count towards something is invaluable.  It's a massive part of the education.  The ugly side of the game.  Earning the right to play your football every single game.  Every week, sometimes twice a week.  The realisation that if you don't do it, or don't do it in training, you're on the bench or back in the 18s and a step further away from the first team.

 

The issue we have with B team still is standard.  I've said above that the standard of a reserve league will be low, now the standard of our 5th tier could be argued as lower in technical terms (though I'd say the increased competition negates this for me).  So we need our B teams to have the chance to progress higher up the pyramid.  Up to L1 would be right.

 

The proposals put forward last year were ripped apart, but this is what happens.  Scottish football criticised for not being progressive - a somewhat progressive proposal is put in and almost everyone just slags it off.  The 3 options were put forward and one of them was exactly what I've said above.  It got zero support, not in the game, not in the media and even the fans seemed very meh/negative.  It's mental.

 

I hate the SFA and the SPFL/Doncaster, but the fact is even the fans hate change.  It feels like literally no one in our game is willing to try to progress how we do things.

 

Again, we need to find a setup which of course looks after the smaller teams and the lower leagues, but also has the very direct remit to improve our entire standard.  I still can't get my head around Brechin being able to scupper positive changes which could literally improve the overall standard of Scottish football - our national team, our performances in Europe, the actual standard on the pitch and perhaps even a more commercially viable and attractive product.  But we have Cowdenbeath voting against it, so soz guys nocando.  It has to change.  We're in a shit position now where a breakaway is perhaps the only viable solution.  Top 20 teams break off - if you want  access to the new Scottish Serie Ligue 1 Superliga (SSLS), you can have promotion from the lower leagues but IF we can have XYZ which included B teams at the top of your tree....

 

I agree with most of that, although the Conference proposal was a farce and rightly booted out.

 

It was the idea of Maxwell and was an embarrassing failure, he should have walked for it frankly.  Neither him or anyone else at the SFA consulted with clubs or the leagues, he instead sent out an email with the "bag of fag packet" proposal, out of the blue.

 

The biggest complaint from L1/L2 clubs about the Pyramid is the financial disparity between SPFL and the HL/LL. There is no prizemoney at tier 5, so once the parachute payment stops, they have very little income from the league (eg. I think the bottom club in L2 still gets £40k from the SPFL). That is why they are reluctant to a) increase relegation from L2 and b) why they won't allow B teams as they could end up relegating them.

 

I'm not entirely sure what the answer is, but it will involve money and more of it, to perduade SPFL clubs into accepting change.

 

Anyway, probably a debate for the B team thread.

 

[Des Lynam]

40 minutes ago, jock _turd said:

Matters not what they said last night... talk is the cheapest commodity in the world. It is what happens on the pitch that matters in football! At the moment the results are definitely in favour of the management but the football is absolutely rubbish. That is not a problem though it can only get better and the sooner the better.

This has been said since the infamous Neilson plane incident. It’s complete nonsense. It has now become a lazy accusation to throw about. Honestly some of you sound like hibs fans. It’s normally followed with aye but I’ve just got more ambition for Hearts than you do. Morons. 

[RustyRightPeg]

5 minutes ago, Des Lynam said:

This has been said since the infamous Neilson plane incident. It’s complete nonsense. It has now become a lazy accusation to throw about. Honestly some of you sound like hibs fans. It’s normally followed with aye but I’ve just got more ambition for Hearts than you do. Morons. 

 

Lazy indeed. No brand of rubbish football goes to Ibrox and Celtic park and almost takes 6 points only weeks apart.

[Shooter McGavin]

6 minutes ago, Des Lynam said:

This has been said since the infamous Neilson plane incident. It’s complete nonsense. It has now become a lazy accusation to throw about. Honestly some of you sound like hibs fans. It’s normally followed with aye but I’ve just got more ambition for Hearts than you do. Morons. 

I think too many folk watch Man City and automatically think we should be doing that.

 

The best Hearts perfoamces in my lifetime are when we're aggresive, the tempo is high and we're on our opponents from the first whistle.

[Batistuta87]

18 minutes ago, RustyRightPeg said:

 

Doig.

 

Not much we could have done about Doig. We had two good young full backs (him and Hickey) and there wasn't room for both of them so he had to leave to get game time. There was no way we could have kept both of them so we quite simply had to make a choice.

 

We definitely made the correct choice in backing Hickey. He was (and still is - by a long, long way) the better player. 

 

[Tyniestemper]

Joel Sked just shared an article about last night online in Hearts Standard:

 

What Hearts fans learned from Naismith's coach presentation

By Joel Sked@sked21Hearts Standard Editor

 

The Hearts coaching staff gave a presentation to fans and answered questions (Image: Newquest)

Ahead of the return to action for the Heart of Midlothian first team following the winter break, starting with an Edinburgh derby against The Spartans in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, the club and head coach Steven Naismith sought to bring supporters closer to the inner workings of the team.

Football clubs can be reluctant to reveal too much of what goes on behind the scenes and in training. That was not the case in the Gorgie Suite at Tynecastle Park on Wednesday evening in a Foundation of Hearts-organised meet-the-management-team event. Naismith, alongside assistants Gordon Forrest and Frankie McAvoy, provided more than a peek behind the curtain as they gave extensive detail and answered questions from the 350-strong crowd over the course of 90 minutes.

At one point, a fan suggested a tactic for the management team to consider when defending set pieces. It involved leaving a player wide, the rationale that it would take just one pass and Hearts would be set up for a dangerous attack. It followed a query around the ploy of bringing all players back to defend corners, despite the team having not conceded a goal from a set piece this season in the league.

"We'll do it on Saturday and see if we concede, you are getting it!"

Naismith joked that he would take on the tip with the caveat that if they are now to concede it will be the supporter who will have to take the responsibility. It was just one moment of an event that further endeared the current head coach to those in attendance, including the one who had the suggestion.

The Hearts boss was very keen for the event to take place to provide fans with information, giving them a better idea of what the management team are looking to achieve and how, and to essentially not only bring the support closer to the team but on the journey with them.

"We hope it will give you a better understanding as to your conclusion to a game on a Saturday or where we finish in the league or what is success," he said. "That, to me, is a really important thing."

With that in mind, what did those in attendance learn from their evening in EH11?

 

The 6 key areas

After some initial technical issues were encountered and then sorted, Naismith outlined the six key focus areas that shape the team's playing model: Out of possession, in possession, defensive transition, attacking transition, set plays and game management.

"Every detail falls into one of these categories, this is effectively how everything works," he explained. "Every player in the squad understands what each category means which gives them a bit more clear information."

Naismith spoke about game management as something he took for granted as a player and is now more wary of having to implement it within a group as a coach.

Training

After the introduction of the key areas, Naismith provided extensive detail of what training looks like, both for players and the coaching staff. 

One of the slides he provided showed an example of training from Sunday past. It focused on the intensity of the press, possession play, defensive recovery and quick transitions.

The sheet is something the players see in the morning so they know what the coaching staff want from them and it gives them a clear understanding of the session ahead.

It is clear from Naismith's presentation that so much work and detail goes into training and preparation. All sessions are videoed with a drone. The coaching staff go through the training from the previous day and clip anything relevant to show players, whether it is in a team meeting in the morning or sent to individual players via WhatsApp.

"It's loads of information but sometimes it will be three clips we send to individual players through WhatsApp or a group meeting to get feedback from the players," he explained. "This group of players are really good at buying in and being receptive to this detail and happy to ask questions. Ultimately they want to improve."

Players are given plenty of information but are not overloaded, instead, it is drip-fed through group meetings, unit meetings or individually.

Naismith spoke of the team's principles of play that never change. 

"How we press, what happens when we lose the ball to what we do in our deep defensive third," he said.  "Whoever we are playing, what are the main things we need to do to hurt them and what are the main things we need to guard against? That is how our sessions and week work."

Clips of training were shown and included pressing, hitting the wide areas, playing forward, how the team are going to press and how aggressively they do so. There was one where a second ball was dropped into a session when a goal was scored to see how the defence reacted.

They were all small examples of what goes happens on the training pitch as the team work on the principles of play with a view to the next opponent. A lot of it is done in games, which last anywhere between five and 20 minutes, with intensity to improve decision making which should, in turn, improve the team's attacking output. There is a desire for width high up the pitch. It helps the team to keep the ball and then, when the moment is right, to increase tempo. Naismith wants the team to be brave on the ball and make passes but not to force it.

"When I turned up at the club as a player I was amazed at the number of turnovers that happened in games," he said. "It comes from bad decision-making on the pitch. It is about making the best opportunity rather than an opportunity."

 

It is not a case that the team train in the morning and the players are then off home. There are afternoon sessions that could be on the pitch, perhaps in specific units, or a gym session, while the coaches finish with a meeting as they review the day's training and look ahead to the following day.

There was also an interesting insight into some of the data that is collated via the GPS monitors players wear. What appears on a GPS report? Total distance, duration, high-speed running distance, sprinting distance, number of sprints, max velocity. 

Sunday's training session, for example, saw Stephen Kingsley, Beni Baningime and Alan Forrest cover the most distance. Finlay Pollock, Macaulay Tait, Forrest and Yutaro Oda had the highest high-speed running distance. Kenneth Vargas had the highest number of sprint efforts. The max velocity (metres per second) was Tait followed by Pollock and Forrest.

"Everything is monitored," Naismith said. "If somebody is not on it, their numbers are down, it is highlighted. Ultimately it keeps the standards high."

Essentially, there is no place to hide.

Analysis

When it comes to analysing an upcoming opponent, Hearts have three separate meetings regardless of who the opponent is. In possession, out of possession and set plays, with subcategories within each that the coaching staff think are the most important to focus on.

Naismith provided the win at Celtic Park as an example. So the in-possession focus was on goal kicks, open play build-up, runners and rotations, and attacking transition. Out of possession included goal-kick press, high press and space behind the defence.

The head coach highlighted the press as key in the win over Celtic rather than "just rushing out". He was not keen on the wing-backs putting pressure on high up the pitch because Celtic want that space in behind. 

Several clips from their analysis of Celtic were shown. It included how they press and force teams to go long. Naismith called them the "best pressing team in the league". He explained the staff "really focused on centre-backs being brave enough to keep possession". He gave examples of Kye Rowles and Stephen Kinglsey playing out from the back and not taking the easy option as well as examples of the team keeping the ball higher up the pitch. In possession, "the most important thing when playing the Old Firm is when you have the ball, you must keep the ball".

It was explained that it doesn't always work as well as it did against Celtic but highlighted the amount of work that goes into preparing for games. The coaching staff and analysts watch copious amounts of games and footage and if Hearts are not playing on a Saturday the management team will all be at a game. Even though teams play each other upwards of three times a season, there is little complacency in the approach to scouting teams.

Conversely, Gordon Forrest explained that as soon as Hearts are finished playing, the game is available for the management team to watch when they get home that evening or on the bus back from an away fixture. 

"Naisy is looking at the in possession, I'm looking at the out of possession and Frankie is looking at the set plays," he said. 

It will be packaged together for the Monday meeting with players coming in later and, Naismith revealed, they get "good engagement from players when watching games back... they are self-critical".

Player pathway

"This is something the three of us are really passionate about," Naismith said. "The one thing I say to every young player that is here: You will get the opportunity. If you are doing well you'll get a chance."

It was shown that 22 players have trained with the first team under the current management team with nine making the bench in a competitive fixture and two - Aidan Denholm and Tait - making their league debuts.

All three of the management team had their views on the development of players and ensuring Hearts have that pathway to the first team.

"I don't want you to impress me, I just want you to survive," Naismith said. "We've got really good talent but it takes time. I want to get as many guys through the academy as I can but it is not straightforward. It's not going to happen overnight but we work really hard to give them an opportunity."

McAvoy believes Hearts have got the best coach in place to give the young players a chance. He also spoke of the importance of keeping James Wilson, noting "he's a Hearts boy, he wants to play for Hearts and he is in the right place to develop". He also addressed the "politics" within Scottish football regarding B teams and how they are used around Europe.

Forrest picked out the likes of Lawrence Shankland, Frankie Kent and Craig Halkett as players at their peak and their importance in helping develop young players and creating a positive culture and environment. He said Hearts have a "fantastic group of players".

Hearts have the structure in place to help young players in various areas, including a nutritionist and psychologist. There are opportunities for all players to tap into it. 

Stats

Hearts fans were shown a variety of stats of the league season so far, both good and bad. Naismith believes they help provide an indication of how a team is operating in possession, out of possession and the transition. 

The aim for the team is to be in the top four in the Premiership in each metric. "Anything out of that is not successful," he said.

Naismith explained that "we are a good pressing team" when set up in their shape but the "areas where we can improve are in that top third of the pitch. When we've not got the ball in our attacking third we are not the best at getting the ball back". 

Hearts, it was shown, are good at preventing the opposition from entering the team's box and minimising the number of passes teams have in the Hearts box. But are not as effective in pressuring teams higher up the park. 

"We are good at going after the ball in our two defensive thirds of the pitch but the higher up the pitch when we lose the ball, going straight after it, triggering that press, is something we need to work on," he confirmed.

Naismith also highlighted the team need to improve the quality of chances they create. Hearts are good at creating opportunities but not the best opportunities. He believes the team could do with being more patient in the final third, making one more pass to create a better quality of chance.

"We've made progress," he said. "It's like everything, it takes time. It's hard work, it's making good strides forward."

 

Q&A

Naismith and the management team fielded plenty of questions from host Robert Borthwick and those in attendance.

Attacking threat

Naismith explained one of the reasons for some of the attacking difficulties, and with Shankland scoring the majority of goals, is that the team is, in a football sense, "immature" middle to front with young players who are yet to reach their peak and are therefore inconsistent. He noted the absence of Barrie McKay and Liam Boyce through injury.

Interstingly, he tipped Denholm to score goals from midfield because his "timing of forward runs is excellent".

Recruitment

One fan asked about the recruitment, suggesting it has not been great despite the team sitting third in the league at this stage of the season for the third season running.

"We want to get to a place where we sign players and you don't actually see them for six months because they are settling in in the background," Naismith explained.

He spoke of how there are so many things to consider with signings and the club do enough work to minimise the risk of a transfer as much as possible.

He also had plenty of praise for Calem Nieuwenhof.

"I think somebody who has taken time to settle, who is progressing and I think will be a really good player is Calem Nieuwenhof," he said. "He is somebody who will take the ball anywhere, wants to take control of the game, can get up and down the pitch. He will be a good player here. He just needs time."

Clark and Gordon

There was significant praise for both goalkeepers. Naismith believes Zander Clark has gone up a level following Craig Gordon's return and the pressure that has put on the former St Johnstone star. He even mentioned the St Mirren game when Clark picked up a knock and the fan reaction to the possibility of Gordon getting on.

"I think he's pushed on with Craigy coming back," he said. "My hope is they both go to the Euros, I think they both deserve to be involved. A lot of credit needs to go to Zander with how well he's performed under pressure when everyone here cheers when he goes down injured and Craigy is ready to come on. That's no helpful! If you can for a minute, step back and think if that's you."

 

Set pieces

Frankie McAvoy has been the coach leading on set plays and will often be seen shouting out directions from the edge of the technical area when the team are defending them.

He explained why the team have gone to a zonal marking system and why they bring everyone back.

"When Steven took over as interim we were the worst in the league defending set pieces," he said. "We tried man marking, leaving one up the pitch. We weren't good enough defending, to be honest. We worked with them through pre-season and we felt the best way to go was zonal. The biggest thing at the moment is we need to make sure we are structurally sound defending. I think we've got better at it.

"We might look further down the line about putting someone else up the pitch but we need to make sure that we are solid defensively. 

"If it was good enough for Manchester City last year it is good enough for us at Hearts at the moment!"

What it takes to be a Hearts player

"You need to have the mentality to deal with the pressure," Naismith said. "At times the pressure is brilliant and at times the pressure is a burden. When there is a wee bit of agitation comes from the crowd the players need to accept keep doing what they are doing and trust what we are doing." 

VAR/Referees

The Hearts head coach was asked a few questions about refereeing and VAR, including why so many are from the West Coast. "Too many from the East Coast don't want to do it!"

Naismith would like to see referees become professional but admitted it is a non-starter due to the finances involved. He is a supporter of VAR but it needs to get better and referees need to be helped out more.

 

https://www.heartsstandard.co.uk/news/24057072.hearts-fans-learned-naismiths-coach-presentation/

 

 

 

 

[Dia Liom]

Thanks for the feedback folks! Interesting reading.

[RustyRightPeg]

20 minutes ago, Batistuta87 said:

 

Not much we could have done about Doig. We had two good young full backs (him and Hickey) and there wasn't room for both of them so he had to leave to get game time. There was no way we could have kept both of them so we quite simply had to make a choice.

 

We definitely made the correct choice in backing Hickey. He was (and still is - by a long, long way) the better player. 

 

 

In hindsight, yeah. Still a part of me wonders who was playing right back at this time if we had these two fighting over left back! Especially as Hickey is right footed and plays RWB/RB for Brentford & Scotland.

[No Idle Talk]

I wish I could have been at this. It sounds fascinating. I think it is hugely to the credit of the coaching staff that they signed up to do something like this. Nobody can accuse them of not engaging with the fans or of not trying to increase supporters understanding of how the team works and what it is trying to achieve. That is such a refreshing thing to see.

 

There are one or two things Steven Naismith said that I didn't agree with or found strange(signing players and not seeing them for six months? Who works like that??) but the level of detail involved in setting the team up each week is impressive and he clearly has identified the areas where we are not yet up to speed and need to keep working on. That is encouraging to know.

 

Thanks also to Hearts Standard for writing this article and allowing those of us who weren't lucky enough to be there to get a peek behind the curtain.

Edited January 18 by No Idle Talk

[TheBigO]

1 hour ago, section s heart said:

Great Post Big O. 

 

There's so much wrong with the current set up, and the tail wagging the dog, that it seems inevitable that the bigger teams will break away in some form some time soon. And if/when they do, many of the smaller teams might be worse off for it. 

 

It's unlikely the dominance of the uglies will change any time soon, but we need a more democratic set up among the non diddy teams, and a TV bonus system that is more equitable to all.

 

Your suggestion for B teams is good, but if the uglies ever leave for a European league of some sort, they should take their B teams with them into a similar European league along the lines of Premier League u23s. 

 

Naisy was quite clear last night that youth development is stifled by the current set up, which impacts all the way up to the national team. 

Yes the biggest pushback against B teams (or most common anyway) seems to be its a backdoor for Celtic and Rangers to leave but remain.  Just don't see it.  And even if it is, so effing what?  If it's good for our game, it has to be done.  Rangers and Celtic can politic all they want, they always have, always will - they're awfully comfy in bed together for mortal enemies aren't they!

 

We cross that bridge if we come to it, basically.  What's far more likely is a closed shop European League like the Champs League is pretty much already which runs alongside domestic leagues.  So you have the biggest teams have 30 games in Europe a season but have their domestic fixtures to deal with too.  They'll essentially be fielding B teams domestically, but still on 1st team duties.  And in Scotland, still comfortably win the league!!!  It's all a bit sickening that stuff, and a bit off my topic, but I guess I'm saying the OF's escape route doesn't bother me.  If that's why we don't put a proper development pathway in place, well, we're properly stuck!

[Batistuta87]

41 minutes ago, RustyRightPeg said:

 

In hindsight, yeah. Still a part of me wonders who was playing right back at this time if we had these two fighting over left back! Especially as Hickey is right footed and plays RWB/RB for Brentford & Scotland.

 

I think our U21/U19 right back around then would have been Cammy Logan? 

 

[No Idle Talk]

26 minutes ago, TheBigO said:

Yes the biggest pushback against B teams (or most common anyway) seems to be its a backdoor for Celtic and Rangers to leave but remain.  Just don't see it.  And even if it is, so effing what?  If it's good for our game, it has to be done.  Rangers and Celtic can politic all they want, they always have, always will - they're awfully comfy in bed together for mortal enemies aren't they!

 

We cross that bridge if we come to it, basically.  What's far more likely is a closed shop European League like the Champs League is pretty much already which runs alongside domestic leagues.  So you have the biggest teams have 30 games in Europe a season but have their domestic fixtures to deal with too.  They'll essentially be fielding B teams domestically, but still on 1st team duties.  And in Scotland, still comfortably win the league!!!  It's all a bit sickening that stuff, and a bit off my topic, but I guess I'm saying the OF's escape route doesn't bother me.  If that's why we don't put a proper development pathway in place, well, we're properly stuck!

 

If Rangers and Celtic are ever allowed to play in a European Superleague while at the same time fielding a 'B Team' in Scotland's top division then that is the point where I will be hopping off the bus. I will be finished with football at that point. I am not sitting watching Hearts get hosed on by a Celtic 'B Team'.

 

If they want to **** off and get humped in a European Superleague then I'm all for it. Let them go. I want them out of Scottish Football so that will suit me just fine. But if they go, they really go. A one way ticket with no return. Then the rest of us can get on with creating and growing a healthier, more competitive, top division in Scotland.

[TheBigO]

1 minute ago, No Idle Talk said:

 

If Rangers and Celtic are ever allowed to play in a European Superleague while at the same time fielding a 'B Team' in Scotland's top division then that is the point where I will be hopping off the bus. I will be finished with football at that point. I am not sitting watching Hearts get hosed on by a Celtic 'B Team'.

 

If they want to **** off and get humped in a European Superleague then I'm all for it. Let them go. I want them out of Scottish Football so that will suit me just fine. But if they go, they really go. A one way ticket with no return. Then the rest of us can get on with creating and growing a healthier, more competitive, top division in Scotland.

Mate I'm not saying it'll be a B team, more just I see european comps expanding to the stage where teams have huge numbers of games and need to carry bigger squads etc.  It'll be the back door to essentially having superleagues.  It's already happened/happening when you think about it.  It won't be a Scottish thing, this is Europe, or world wide.

 

It's no different to us needing a bigger squad if we're in the groups next season, really.  We're maybe more likely to play youngsters the Saturday after a euro game etc.  That's kinda all I'm saying.  I don't see Rangers and Celtic leaving Scotland and their B teams remaining.  But their euro commitments may become larger and they'll end up essentially with a Euro squad and a domestic one (kinda!)

[pettigrewsstylist]

Message extremely clear on understandable Zander down/Craigy warm up moment. 

Not seen much from Hoff IMO but SN seems very hopeful.

Interesting comment about Denholm, which i also believe.

[No Idle Talk]

2 minutes ago, TheBigO said:

Mate I'm not saying it'll be a B team, more just I see european comps expanding to the stage where teams have huge numbers of games and need to carry bigger squads etc.  It'll be the back door to essentially having superleagues.  It's already happened/happening when you think about it.  It won't be a Scottish thing, this is Europe, or world wide.

 

It's no different to us needing a bigger squad if we're in the groups next season, really.  We're maybe more likely to play youngsters the Saturday after a euro game etc.  That's kinda all I'm saying.  I don't see Rangers and Celtic leaving Scotland and their B teams remaining.  But their euro commitments may become larger and they'll end up essentially with a Euro squad and a domestic one (kinda!)

 

Hmmm.......I'm not so sure to be honest.

 

Although you maybe didn't mean it that way, I have always been suspicious of the Old Firm's motives for wanting to have B Teams. I think we all know that if they got the offer to go and play in some European League(and the fixtures were at the high level you are suggesting) that they would jump at it. But they would also want to have their cake and eat it, that's just the way those two operate. I think they would want to keep some sort of foothold in - and retain some hold over - Scottish Football. Which is what having a 'B Team' in our top division would give them. That MUST NOT be allowed to happen.

 

You are probably right about European competition expanding but I'm not really sure where that is headed or what the end game is. For me personally, if Hearts got invited to play in some European League where we played a full season of fixtures in Europe - thereby meaning half our fixtures were overseas - then I would want no part of that. It is taking the team further away from the supporters and that can never be a good thing. Just my view on it.

[TheBigO]

3 minutes ago, No Idle Talk said:

 

Hmmm.......I'm not so sure to be honest.

 

Although you maybe didn't mean it that way, I have always been suspicious of the Old Firm's motives for wanting to have B Teams. I think we all know that if they got the offer to go and play in some European League(and the fixtures were at the high level you are suggesting) that they would jump at it. But they would also want to have their cake and eat it, that's just the way those two operate. I think they would want to keep some sort of foothold in - and retain some hold over - Scottish Football. Which is what having a 'B Team' in our top division would give them. That MUST NOT be allowed to happen.

 

You are probably right about European competition expanding but I'm not really sure where that is headed or what the end game is. For me personally, if Hearts got invited to play in some European League where we played a full season of fixtures in Europe - thereby meaning half our fixtures were overseas - then I would want no part of that. It is taking the team further away from the supporters and that can never be a good thing. Just my view on it.

100million percent.  I hate how football is going, especially on the world stage.  Money money money, nothing to do with identity, community, and all the things that make football unique and beautiful and genuinely captivating.

 

But as I say on your first paragraph, the concern of them leaving B teams when they eff off is no reason whatsoever not to implement what is the best setup in terms of our player development.  By that logic we shouldn't bother with a TV deal cos they want most of it.  It's about striving for what is best for the entire game (and Hearts of course!!!) but having rules in place that protect the whole thing. And for this to happen or even move towards happening, we need to stop "fears" stopping progress.

[Wee Mikey]

3 hours ago, TheBigO said:

Yep.  I've been saying for years that B teams is the very obvious way to go.

 

You broadly have 3 options.  Reserve league, U23 league, B Teams.

 

In Scotland, teams are simply not big enough for either of the first two options.  The English U23 league is actually quite competitive but that's because teams carry huge squads and it's genuinely seen by players etc as important and valid in their pathway to either get to first team or get scouted.  Essentially, it's an elite level.  It's like college football/basketball in the US in a way.

 

We don't have that.  Any reserve or age group football, it's never going to have that edge that finishes a player off.  It's not competitive.  It doesn't matter.  And the standard will be low.  It's lads having a kickabout infront of 30 people.

 

So we need to look at what other succesful nations do other than that, right?

 

B team is the way forward.  Yes it is elitist and only certain teams can do it, but at the end of the day, the onus should be on the biggest teams to provide the elite players.  Whether this is for themselves or to then drip down the pyramid (something we do well - look at the amount of ex-Hearts youths still playing full time/SPFL football).  Of course teams who don't want or can't have B teams can have the reserve league if they want it.

 

The value of playing 36 games a season which matter to the opposition, which actually count towards something is invaluable.  It's a massive part of the education.  The ugly side of the game.  Earning the right to play your football every single game.  Every week, sometimes twice a week.  The realisation that if you don't do it, or don't do it in training, you're on the bench or back in the 18s and a step further away from the first team.

 

The issue we have with B team still is standard.  I've said above that the standard of a reserve league will be low, now the standard of our 5th tier could be argued as lower in technical terms (though I'd say the increased competition negates this for me).  So we need our B teams to have the chance to progress higher up the pyramid.  Up to L1 would be right.

 

The proposals put forward last year were ripped apart, but this is what happens.  Scottish football criticised for not being progressive - a somewhat progressive proposal is put in and almost everyone just slags it off.  The 3 options were put forward and one of them was exactly what I've said above.  It got zero support, not in the game, not in the media and even the fans seemed very meh/negative.  It's mental.

 

I hate the SFA and the SPFL/Doncaster, but the fact is even the fans hate change.  It feels like literally no one in our game is willing to try to progress how we do things.

 

Again, we need to find a setup which of course looks after the smaller teams and the lower leagues, but also has the very direct remit to improve our entire standard.  I still can't get my head around Brechin being able to scupper positive changes which could literally improve the overall standard of Scottish football - our national team, our performances in Europe, the actual standard on the pitch and perhaps even a more commercially viable and attractive product.  But we have Cowdenbeath voting against it, so soz guys nocando.  It has to change.  We're in a shit position now where a breakaway is perhaps the only viable solution.  Top 20 teams break off - if you want  access to the new Scottish Serie Ligue 1 Superliga (SSLS), you can have promotion from the lower leagues but IF we can have XYZ which included B teams at the top of your tree....

 

You should get your blazer dry-cleaned and polish up your brogues.

 

"TheBigO IN", say I.

 

Seriously, though, a good starting point for discussion and it makes me wonder what the folks in charge discuss when pondering the way forward ... if they ever even deign to do so.

[Jambo61]

1 hour ago, Shooter McGavin said:

I think too many folk watch Man City and automatically think we should be doing that.

 

The best Hearts perfoamces in my lifetime are when we're aggresive, the tempo is high and we're on our opponents from the first whistle.

Think some of our coaches think we are Man City with the playing out from the back fad malarkey! We don't have enough players comfortable on the ball for that, if they were they wouldn't be anywhere near us!

[Lone Striker]

From Joel  Sked's article, we do appear to have a very well-organised  coaching team who go to great lengths to make sure the players understand their roles in each of the match phases.

 

No idea if CL or RN did the same (or in such detail),  but  this description  of  what training involves shows Naisy up in a very good light.

[No Idle Talk]

16 minutes ago, TheBigO said:

100million percent.  I hate how football is going, especially on the world stage.  Money money money, nothing to do with identity, community, and all the things that make football unique and beautiful and genuinely captivating.

 

But as I say on your first paragraph, the concern of them leaving B teams when they eff off is no reason whatsoever not to implement what is the best setup in terms of our player development.  By that logic we shouldn't bother with a TV deal cos they want most of it.  It's about striving for what is best for the entire game (and Hearts of course!!!) but having rules in place that protect the whole thing. And for this to happen or even move towards happening, we need to stop "fears" stopping progress.

 

I get what you're saying. I think there is a place for a reserve league but I think there are a number of clubs in Scotland who either aren't interested or can't afford it. It's pretty desperate when some of the biggest professional clubs in the country can't even afford to run a reserve team. If you ever listen to the likes of Robbo or Gary Mackay talk, they will tell you what playing in the reserves did for them when they were younger. It was a significant part of their development playing against hardened older pros. Our young players today could also benefit from that exposure and experience.

 

I may be biased or naive or both but I feel like our motivation for wanting a B Team is different to that of the Old Firm. I do believe that in the absence of a reserve league we are looking at it purely as a tool for development of young players. I don't think we as a club have any underlying agenda in play.

Edited January 18 by No Idle Talk

[Wee Mikey]

2 hours ago, Sooks said:

Exactly how I see it too

 

Totally in agreement as regards ragin' fans shouting abuse at our own players, some of whom seem to do little else and at every opportunity.

 

But, surely you can see the negative impact of hurling vitriol at the officials.

 

Personally, if I was getting a wall of fans chanting that I was a w*nker etc, then it would certainly not encourage me to give favourable decisions; quite the opposite. Basic psychology, methinks.

 

What's more, I've witnessed it all too often. It then becomes something of a negative feedback loop. Plenty of refs love being the centre of attention and simply dig their heels in to show who is boss.

 

By all means mock the ref, or use humour, but lowest common denominator howling en-masse is counter productive.

 

But, if you like shouting expletives (albeit high-brow PR ones) then crack on. 🙃

Edited January 18 by Wee Mikey

[Sooks]

17 minutes ago, Jambo61 said:

Think some of our coaches think we are Man City with the playing out from the back fad malarkey! We don't have enough players comfortable on the ball for that, if they were they wouldn't be anywhere near us!

The alternative is what ? Keeper to striker ? If so then we could probably save ourselves a fortune with managers and coaches and just stick the kit man in the dugout 

[Sooks]

Just now, Wee Mikey said:

 

Totally in agreement as regards ragin' fans shouting abuse at our own players, some of whom seem to do little else and at every opportunity.

 

But, surely you can see the negative impact of hurling vitriol at the officials.

 

Personally, if I was getting a wall of fans chanting that I was a w*nker etc, then it would certainly not encourage me to give favourable decisions; quite the opposite. Basic psychology, methinks.

 

What's more, I've witnessed it all too often. It then becomes something of a negative feedback loop. Plenty of refs love being the centre of attention and simply dig their heels in to show who is boss.

 

By all means mock the ref, or use humour, but lowest common denominator howling en-masse is counter productive.

 

But, if you like shouting expletives (albeit high-brow PR ones) them crack on. 🙃

The officials in this country are spineless corrupt wee weegie dickheads . They deserve all the abuse that comes their way  

[Bongo 1874]

Appears I've been spot on with my analysis,need to better press higher up park.

 

And I believe 4231/433 with the right recruitment will allow us to do this.

 

Great read this and confirms what I said Naismith is trying to achieve tactically.

[RustyRightPeg]

2 minutes ago, Bongo 1874 said:

Appears I've been spot on with my analysis,need to better press higher up park.

 

And I believe 4231/433 with the right recruitment will allow us to do this.

 

Great read this and confirms what I said Naismith is trying to achieve tactically.

 

[Bongo 1874]

Just now, RustyRightPeg said:

 

?

[pettigrewsstylist]

31 minutes ago, Wee Mikey said:

 

You should get your blazer dry-cleaned and polish up your brogues.

 

"TheBigO IN", say I.

 

Seriously, though, a good starting point for discussion and it makes me wonder what the folks in charge discuss when pondering the way forward ... if they ever even deign to do so.

How many OF games it will result in. Single agenda point. 

[No Idle Talk]

21 minutes ago, Lone Striker said:

From Joel  Sked's article, we do appear to have a very well-organised  coaching team who go to great lengths to make sure the players understand their roles in each of the match phases.

 

No idea if CL or RN did the same (or in such detail),  but  this description  of  what training involves shows Naisy up in a very good light.

 

That's what I think too. 🙂

[Bongo 1874]

2 hours ago, Shooter McGavin said:

I think too many folk watch Man City and automatically think we should be doing that.

 

The best Hearts perfoamces in my lifetime are when we're aggresive, the tempo is high and we're on our opponents from the first whistle.

Possession wise we will be at the very top,it's Improving our overall play in terms of out of possession and in possession.

 

Securing a midfielder that can travel,drive with the ball and open things up will achieve this.

 

I also want aggressive wide players to start supplying Shanks.

 

Recruitment will do this and Armstrong is the man for us.

 

Bravery.

Edited January 18 by Bongo 1874

[RustyRightPeg]

5 minutes ago, Bongo 1874 said:

?

 

Just trying to work out exactly where you've taken the information from, or if you're just seeing certain things and thinking your points of view are gospel.

[Bongo 1874]

2 hours ago, Tyniestemper said:

Joel Sked just shared an article about last night online in Hearts Standard:

 

 

What Hearts fans learned from Naismith's coach presentation

 

By Joel Sked@sked21Hearts Standard Editor

 

The Hearts coaching staff gave a presentation to fans and answered questions (Image: Newquest)

Ahead of the return to action for the Heart of Midlothian first team following the winter break, starting with an Edinburgh derby against The Spartans in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, the club and head coach Steven Naismith sought to bring supporters closer to the inner workings of the team.

Football clubs can be reluctant to reveal too much of what goes on behind the scenes and in training. That was not the case in the Gorgie Suite at Tynecastle Park on Wednesday evening in a Foundation of Hearts-organised meet-the-management-team event. Naismith, alongside assistants Gordon Forrest and Frankie McAvoy, provided more than a peek behind the curtain as they gave extensive detail and answered questions from the 350-strong crowd over the course of 90 minutes.

At one point, a fan suggested a tactic for the management team to consider when defending set pieces. It involved leaving a player wide, the rationale that it would take just one pass and Hearts would be set up for a dangerous attack. It followed a query around the ploy of bringing all players back to defend corners, despite the team having not conceded a goal from a set piece this season in the league.

"We'll do it on Saturday and see if we concede, you are getting it!"

Naismith joked that he would take on the tip with the caveat that if they are now to concede it will be the supporter who will have to take the responsibility. It was just one moment of an event that further endeared the current head coach to those in attendance, including the one who had the suggestion.

The Hearts boss was very keen for the event to take place to provide fans with information, giving them a better idea of what the management team are looking to achieve and how, and to essentially not only bring the support closer to the team but on the journey with them.

"We hope it will give you a better understanding as to your conclusion to a game on a Saturday or where we finish in the league or what is success," he said. "That, to me, is a really important thing."

With that in mind, what did those in attendance learn from their evening in EH11?

 

The 6 key areas

After some initial technical issues were encountered and then sorted, Naismith outlined the six key focus areas that shape the team's playing model: Out of possession, in possession, defensive transition, attacking transition, set plays and game management.

"Every detail falls into one of these categories, this is effectively how everything works," he explained. "Every player in the squad understands what each category means which gives them a bit more clear information."

Naismith spoke about game management as something he took for granted as a player and is now more wary of having to implement it within a group as a coach.

Training

After the introduction of the key areas, Naismith provided extensive detail of what training looks like, both for players and the coaching staff. 

One of the slides he provided showed an example of training from Sunday past. It focused on the intensity of the press, possession play, defensive recovery and quick transitions.

The sheet is something the players see in the morning so they know what the coaching staff want from them and it gives them a clear understanding of the session ahead.

It is clear from Naismith's presentation that so much work and detail goes into training and preparation. All sessions are videoed with a drone. The coaching staff go through the training from the previous day and clip anything relevant to show players, whether it is in a team meeting in the morning or sent to individual players via WhatsApp.

"It's loads of information but sometimes it will be three clips we send to individual players through WhatsApp or a group meeting to get feedback from the players," he explained. "This group of players are really good at buying in and being receptive to this detail and happy to ask questions. Ultimately they want to improve."

Players are given plenty of information but are not overloaded, instead, it is drip-fed through group meetings, unit meetings or individually.

Naismith spoke of the team's principles of play that never change. 

"How we press, what happens when we lose the ball to what we do in our deep defensive third," he said.  "Whoever we are playing, what are the main things we need to do to hurt them and what are the main things we need to guard against? That is how our sessions and week work."

Clips of training were shown and included pressing, hitting the wide areas, playing forward, how the team are going to press and how aggressively they do so. There was one where a second ball was dropped into a session when a goal was scored to see how the defence reacted.

They were all small examples of what goes happens on the training pitch as the team work on the principles of play with a view to the next opponent. A lot of it is done in games, which last anywhere between five and 20 minutes, with intensity to improve decision making which should, in turn, improve the team's attacking output. There is a desire for width high up the pitch. It helps the team to keep the ball and then, when the moment is right, to increase tempo. Naismith wants the team to be brave on the ball and make passes but not to force it.

"When I turned up at the club as a player I was amazed at the number of turnovers that happened in games," he said. "It comes from bad decision-making on the pitch. It is about making the best opportunity rather than an opportunity."

 

It is not a case that the team train in the morning and the players are then off home. There are afternoon sessions that could be on the pitch, perhaps in specific units, or a gym session, while the coaches finish with a meeting as they review the day's training and look ahead to the following day.

There was also an interesting insight into some of the data that is collated via the GPS monitors players wear. What appears on a GPS report? Total distance, duration, high-speed running distance, sprinting distance, number of sprints, max velocity. 

Sunday's training session, for example, saw Stephen Kingsley, Beni Baningime and Alan Forrest cover the most distance. Finlay Pollock, Macaulay Tait, Forrest and Yutaro Oda had the highest high-speed running distance. Kenneth Vargas had the highest number of sprint efforts. The max velocity (metres per second) was Tait followed by Pollock and Forrest.

"Everything is monitored," Naismith said. "If somebody is not on it, their numbers are down, it is highlighted. Ultimately it keeps the standards high."

Essentially, there is no place to hide.

Analysis

When it comes to analysing an upcoming opponent, Hearts have three separate meetings regardless of who the opponent is. In possession, out of possession and set plays, with subcategories within each that the coaching staff think are the most important to focus on.

Naismith provided the win at Celtic Park as an example. So the in-possession focus was on goal kicks, open play build-up, runners and rotations, and attacking transition. Out of possession included goal-kick press, high press and space behind the defence.

The head coach highlighted the press as key in the win over Celtic rather than "just rushing out". He was not keen on the wing-backs putting pressure on high up the pitch because Celtic want that space in behind. 

Several clips from their analysis of Celtic were shown. It included how they press and force teams to go long. Naismith called them the "best pressing team in the league". He explained the staff "really focused on centre-backs being brave enough to keep possession". He gave examples of Kye Rowles and Stephen Kinglsey playing out from the back and not taking the easy option as well as examples of the team keeping the ball higher up the pitch. In possession, "the most important thing when playing the Old Firm is when you have the ball, you must keep the ball".

It was explained that it doesn't always work as well as it did against Celtic but highlighted the amount of work that goes into preparing for games. The coaching staff and analysts watch copious amounts of games and footage and if Hearts are not playing on a Saturday the management team will all be at a game. Even though teams play each other upwards of three times a season, there is little complacency in the approach to scouting teams.

Conversely, Gordon Forrest explained that as soon as Hearts are finished playing, the game is available for the management team to watch when they get home that evening or on the bus back from an away fixture. 

"Naisy is looking at the in possession, I'm looking at the out of possession and Frankie is looking at the set plays," he said. 

It will be packaged together for the Monday meeting with players coming in later and, Naismith revealed, they get "good engagement from players when watching games back... they are self-critical".

Player pathway

"This is something the three of us are really passionate about," Naismith said. "The one thing I say to every young player that is here: You will get the opportunity. If you are doing well you'll get a chance."

It was shown that 22 players have trained with the first team under the current management team with nine making the bench in a competitive fixture and two - Aidan Denholm and Tait - making their league debuts.

All three of the management team had their views on the development of players and ensuring Hearts have that pathway to the first team.

"I don't want you to impress me, I just want you to survive," Naismith said. "We've got really good talent but it takes time. I want to get as many guys through the academy as I can but it is not straightforward. It's not going to happen overnight but we work really hard to give them an opportunity."

McAvoy believes Hearts have got the best coach in place to give the young players a chance. He also spoke of the importance of keeping James Wilson, noting "he's a Hearts boy, he wants to play for Hearts and he is in the right place to develop". He also addressed the "politics" within Scottish football regarding B teams and how they are used around Europe.

Forrest picked out the likes of Lawrence Shankland, Frankie Kent and Craig Halkett as players at their peak and their importance in helping develop young players and creating a positive culture and environment. He said Hearts have a "fantastic group of players".

Hearts have the structure in place to help young players in various areas, including a nutritionist and psychologist. There are opportunities for all players to tap into it. 

Stats

Hearts fans were shown a variety of stats of the league season so far, both good and bad. Naismith believes they help provide an indication of how a team is operating in possession, out of possession and the transition. 

The aim for the team is to be in the top four in the Premiership in each metric. "Anything out of that is not successful," he said.

Naismith explained that "we are a good pressing team" when set up in their shape but the "areas where we can improve are in that top third of the pitch. When we've not got the ball in our attacking third we are not the best at getting the ball back". 

Hearts, it was shown, are good at preventing the opposition from entering the team's box and minimising the number of passes teams have in the Hearts box. But are not as effective in pressuring teams higher up the park. 

"We are good at going after the ball in our two defensive thirds of the pitch but the higher up the pitch when we lose the ball, going straight after it, triggering that press, is something we need to work on," he confirmed.

Naismith also highlighted the team need to improve the quality of chances they create. Hearts are good at creating opportunities but not the best opportunities. He believes the team could do with being more patient in the final third, making one more pass to create a better quality of chance.

"We've made progress," he said. "It's like everything, it takes time. It's hard work, it's making good strides forward."

 

Q&A

Naismith and the management team fielded plenty of questions from host Robert Borthwick and those in attendance.

Attacking threat

Naismith explained one of the reasons for some of the attacking difficulties, and with Shankland scoring the majority of goals, is that the team is, in a football sense, "immature" middle to front with young players who are yet to reach their peak and are therefore inconsistent. He noted the absence of Barrie McKay and Liam Boyce through injury.

Interstingly, he tipped Denholm to score goals from midfield because his "timing of forward runs is excellent".

Recruitment

One fan asked about the recruitment, suggesting it has not been great despite the team sitting third in the league at this stage of the season for the third season running.

"We want to get to a place where we sign players and you don't actually see them for six months because they are settling in in the background," Naismith explained.

He spoke of how there are so many things to consider with signings and the club do enough work to minimise the risk of a transfer as much as possible.

He also had plenty of praise for Calem Nieuwenhof.

"I think somebody who has taken time to settle, who is progressing and I think will be a really good player is Calem Nieuwenhof," he said. "He is somebody who will take the ball anywhere, wants to take control of the game, can get up and down the pitch. He will be a good player here. He just needs time."

Clark and Gordon

There was significant praise for both goalkeepers. Naismith believes Zander Clark has gone up a level following Craig Gordon's return and the pressure that has put on the former St Johnstone star. He even mentioned the St Mirren game when Clark picked up a knock and the fan reaction to the possibility of Gordon getting on.

"I think he's pushed on with Craigy coming back," he said. "My hope is they both go to the Euros, I think they both deserve to be involved. A lot of credit needs to go to Zander with how well he's performed under pressure when everyone here cheers when he goes down injured and Craigy is ready to come on. That's no helpful! If you can for a minute, step back and think if that's you."

 

Set pieces

Frankie McAvoy has been the coach leading on set plays and will often be seen shouting out directions from the edge of the technical area when the team are defending them.

He explained why the team have gone to a zonal marking system and why they bring everyone back.

"When Steven took over as interim we were the worst in the league defending set pieces," he said. "We tried man marking, leaving one up the pitch. We weren't good enough defending, to be honest. We worked with them through pre-season and we felt the best way to go was zonal. The biggest thing at the moment is we need to make sure we are structurally sound defending. I think we've got better at it.

"We might look further down the line about putting someone else up the pitch but we need to make sure that we are solid defensively. 

"If it was good enough for Manchester City last year it is good enough for us at Hearts at the moment!"

What it takes to be a Hearts player

"You need to have the mentality to deal with the pressure," Naismith said. "At times the pressure is brilliant and at times the pressure is a burden. When there is a wee bit of agitation comes from the crowd the players need to accept keep doing what they are doing and trust what we are doing." 

VAR/Referees

The Hearts head coach was asked a few questions about refereeing and VAR, including why so many are from the West Coast. "Too many from the East Coast don't want to do it!"

Naismith would like to see referees become professional but admitted it is a non-starter due to the finances involved. He is a supporter of VAR but it needs to get better and referees need to be helped out more.

 

https://www.heartsstandard.co.uk/news/24057072.hearts-fans-learned-naismiths-coach-presentation/

 

 

 

 

 

1 minute ago, RustyRightPeg said:

 

Just trying to work out exactly where you've taken the information from, or if you're just seeing certain things and thinking your points of view are gospel.

From this above also look at my thread I created months ago saying give Naismith time,I've watched training and can see what he is trying to achieve 👍.

[RustyRightPeg]

2 minutes ago, Bongo 1874 said:

 

From this above also look at my thread I created months ago saying give Naismith time,I've watched training and can see what he is trying to achieve 👍.

 

Okay but you consistently moan about the way he sets his teams up but still see what he's trying to do what one is it?

[dannymack]

6 hours ago, RustyRightPeg said:

 

It won't be for everyone...but so would I. Germany do it, Holland do it, Spain do it...and their B clubs are as high as the second division. Their homegrown numbers are through the roof. 

This is how it should be done. I believe Gordon Forrest is a massive believer in this way forward BUT something also tells me Scottish Fitba' wants to remain in the 1990s, his 25 plus years of coaching is not something I'd dismiss or question. 

Edited January 18 by dannymack

[dannymack]

7 hours ago, Juho_Makela_Goal_Machine said:

 

Inexperienced manager who is learning from his mistakes. That's all we can ask for really. Still made a massive mistake against Ross County at home moving Cochrane into the middle, giving us no threat out wide and cost us 2 points. Hope he learnt from that as well.

 

Did you boo at half time and leave the ground when we went 0-2 down ? 

Just asking 

[dannymack]

3 hours ago, jock _turd said:

Matters not what they said last night... talk is the cheapest commodity in the world. It is what happens on the pitch that matters in football! At the moment the results are definitely in favour of the management but the football is absolutely rubbish. That is not a problem though it can only get better and the sooner the better.

Disagree but that's your opinion for which your more than entitled to, we obviously watch different matches but if your not happy with what's on show go and do something else on matchday 👍

Edited January 18 by dannymack

[Bongo 1874]

7 minutes ago, RustyRightPeg said:

 

Okay but you consistently moan about the way he sets his teams up but still see what he's trying to do what one is it?

He's changed to a back three because of criticism leaking goals,and with Natty being out.

 

I moan about the back three because rather than give it time,at the start of the season when we played 4231/433 and made mistakes as you will playing any formation.

 

He changed due to injuries and criticism received on here,but has realised in multiple games that doing so has restricted us going forward.

 

Hence the formation change at half time against Hibs and many others..

 

Fans want to see aggressive attacking football.

 

Naismith knows this hence why I said give him time?

 

He's publicly explained at Easter Road why he changed to a back three with Natty being out injured.

 

Natty was available at Easter Road,Denholm came off putting Kingsley at left back and Cochrane going into midfield giving us balance with a left footer in the middle of the park.

 

 

[Sooks]

31 minutes ago, Bongo 1874 said:

Appears I've been spot on with my analysis,need to better press higher up park.

 

And I believe 4231/433 with the right recruitment will allow us to do this.

 

Great read this and confirms what I said Naismith is trying to achieve tactically.

Holy shit …………. Mate I honestly wish I was this deluded . I would be so happy  

[Bongo 1874]

1 minute ago, Sooks said:

Holy shit …………. Mate I honestly wish I was this deluded . I would be so happy  

Jealousy is a terrible thing.

[Lido]

52 minutes ago, Lone Striker said:

From Joel  Sked's article, we do appear to have a very well-organised  coaching team who go to great lengths to make sure the players understand their roles in each of the match phases.

 

No idea if CL or RN did the same (or in such detail),  but  this description  of  what training involves shows Naisy up in a very good light.

Yes. In agreement with you here. 

[Bongo 1874]

I'm the deluded one the same people that voted saying he should go,are now calling me out as deluded 😂🤣.

 

Do I really have to expose a few?

 

I've been behind him from the start you only jumped on when you seen us onto a good thing.

 

 

Edited January 18 by Bongo 1874

[Mikey1874]

6 minutes ago, Bongo 1874 said:

He's changed to a back three because of criticism leaking goals,and with Natty being out.

 

I moan about the back three because rather than give it time,at the start of the season when we played 4231/433 and made mistakes as you will playing any formation.

 

He changed due to injuries and criticism received on here,but has realised in multiple games that doing so has restricted us going forward.

 

Hence the formation change at half time against Hibs and many others..

 

Fans want to see aggressive attacking football.

 

Naismith knows this hence why I said give him time?

 

He's publicly explained at Easter Road why he changed to a back three with Natty being out injured.

 

Natty was available at Easter Road,Denholm came off putting Kingsley at left back and Cochrane going into midfield giving us balance with a left footer in the middle of the park.

 

Naismith isn't changing anything from what you or anyone else says on here. 

[Bongo 1874]

1 minute ago, Mikey1874 said:

 

Naismith isn't changing anything from what you or anyone else says on here. 

Nope no-one views the forum.

[Dazo]

2 minutes ago, Bongo 1874 said:

I'm the deluded one the same people that voted saying he should go,are now calling me out as deluded 😂🤣.

 

Do I really have to expose a few?

 

I've been behind him from the start you only jumped on when you seen us onto a good thing.

 

 

Yes please I’d like to see who you think you’re going up expose. 

[Bongo 1874]

1 minute ago, Dazo said:

Yes please I’d like to see who you think you’re going up expose. 

Did you vote Dazo?

[Dazo]

29 minutes ago, Bongo 1874 said:

Did you vote Dazo?

Vote on what ?

[Bongo 1874]

1 hour ago, Mikey1874 said:

 

Naismith isn't changing anything from what you or anyone else says on here. 

Just to jog your memory back mate, and Naismith pointed it out on live television the club and him received criticism for playing Cochrane in midfield,that criticism was from here,aswell as other social media platforms.

 

He then played Cochrane in midfield resulting in us winning at Easter Road.

 

The proof is the interview after the game.

He states he received criticism for playing him in midfield,and went on to say he doesn't just have a good attitude he's also a very good footballer.

 

I study Football,I love Football ,I love Hearts,I would never do anything intentionally to hurt this club, it means the world too me.

 

I don't have to bullshit anyone.

 

I know what I am.

 

[Jambo61]

2 hours ago, Sooks said:

The alternative is what ? Keeper to striker ? If so then we could probably save ourselves a fortune with managers and coaches and just stick the kit man in the dugout 

Seem a bit simple....there could even be a middle ground......but you explain why we work the ball back from the half way line then hump it aimlessly forward from the goalie..to the half way line......you explain what is really gained against a team that is always going to keep all their guys behind the ball and wait for you to eventually tire of passing back and forwards across the pitch......you'd maybe be more useful selling pies?