Kenneth Vargas ( merged )

[FarmerTweedy]

9 hours ago, A_A wehatethehibs said:

I think a few fans myself included were having a pop at him after 10-15 games. I do tend to give a foreign player that sort of time to adjust. But then at that point, I feel it’s time to deliver so you start to get frustrated. We’re looking for someone at, or above, Josh Ginnellys level. That’s the expectation. It’s a big ask, but these guys who come from abroad to our club, yes there’s an adjustment period but you’re walking into our team ahead of young lads who dream of playing for Hearts. So if you come here, you’ve got to deliver, you’ve got to bring some quality into the building.
 

And to be fair to Kenneth he definitely has took on that challenge as a young man. He’s got courage and he’s got quality. I would be delighted if we get him signed for next season. 

This post just shows how unrealistic the expectations of some fans are.  He's a 21 year old, signed on loan from a club on another continent, probably for not much money at all (even the transfer fee in any option to buy seems relatively low) and the expectation from some fans is that he'll be at least as good as, if not better than, a guy that just left us for a reputed 5 figure weekly wage.  And I'm assuming the expectation is based on the last six months or so of Ginnelly's time with us, not the two and a half years where he was rarely better than mediocre. 

 

Absolutely mental. We can only be thankful that the current management team are far more sensible and realistic than these fans, or Vargas would have been shipped back to Costa Rica in January! 

[ScandinavianJambo]

5 hours ago, FarmerTweedy said:

This post just shows how unrealistic the expectations of some fans are.  He's a 21 year old, signed on loan from a club on another continent, probably for not much money at all (even the transfer fee in any option to buy seems relatively low) and the expectation from some fans is that he'll be at least as good as, if not better than, a guy that just left us for a reputed 5 figure weekly wage.  And I'm assuming the expectation is based on the last six months or so of Ginnelly's time with us, not the two and a half years where he was rarely better than mediocre. 

 

Absolutely mental. We can only be thankful that the current management team are far more sensible and realistic than these fans, or Vargas would have been shipped back to Costa Rica in January! 

Good post! I have no idea why "foreign" players need to prove themselves more either. Players in our price range need time, foreign or homegrown. We now have a manager who are able to get the best out of what he has at his disposal (within a comfortable enough time frame). Meaning, that the more pertinent question is how long will be able to hold on to them and preferably get something back before they leave...and this include our new star of the show Kenneth. 

In the meantime tie him down on a 4 year contract! He has proven himself and more 😁 (even if he, at times, most certainly will blow hot and cold - leaving Kickback demanding his head).

 

[A_A wehatethehibs]

6 hours ago, FarmerTweedy said:

This post just shows how unrealistic the expectations of some fans are.  He's a 21 year old, signed on loan from a club on another continent, probably for not much money at all (even the transfer fee in any option to buy seems relatively low) and the expectation from some fans is that he'll be at least as good as, if not better than, a guy that just left us for a reputed 5 figure weekly wage.  And I'm assuming the expectation is based on the last six months or so of Ginnelly's time with us, not the two and a half years where he was rarely better than mediocre. 

 

Absolutely mental. We can only be thankful that the current management team are far more sensible and realistic than these fans, or Vargas would have been shipped back to Costa Rica in January! 

How’s it unrealistic for us to want our team to improve?
 

The fans have expectations, and absolutely 100% rightly so. 

 

The bar was set by Josh Ginelly, we knew what needed replacing in terms of players brought in. And I did, fairly, say it was a big ask and credited young Kenneth 

 

Absolutely nothing wrong with having high expectations for our club.
 

We’ve been there, done that in terms of losing quality, and replacing with dross. We’ve seen what happens. Such as selling Osman sow and bringing in t.watt and Sammon. Or selling Lafferty and bringing in Danny Amankwaa and Steven Maclean. Our club has been there done that, no thanks. An absolute fundamental is the recruitment. 
 

You lose a quality player, it is absolutely essential you replace with someone at the same quality level, or who at least has a chance of developing there relatively quickly. And Kenneth, fair play to him, he has shown he has a chance.

[A_A wehatethehibs]

19 minutes ago, ScandinavianJambo said:

Good post! I have no idea why "foreign" players need to prove themselves more either. Players in our price range need time, foreign or homegrown. We now have a manager who are able to get the best out of what he has at his disposal (within a comfortable enough time frame). Meaning, that the more pertinent question is how long will be able to hold on to them and preferably get something back before they leave...and this include our new star of the show Kenneth. 

In the meantime tie him down on a 4 year contract! He has proven himself and more 😁 (even if he, at times, most certainly will blow hot and cold - leaving Kickback demanding his head).

 

No, not a good post.

Acceptance of mediocre signings type post.

 

Recruitment of quality, when you lose quality, is an absolute imperative.
 

We have all seen what happens when you do that see the post above. When you lose a good player it is essential to recruit someone good. 
 

Kenneth is a young man but he is not a child. He has the numbers physically in terms of pace, accuracy and 90 minute work rate. He is a first team pro rated at a 6 figure number and that’s before he came here. He was a very important signing with the loss of Ginelly. Or Hearts risked going backwards as a team. Unacceptable. 
 

The spotlight has been on the recruitment this season, because there were several failure in that department last season, such as Kio Imagine Kenneth had been in that bracket. Like Tagawa is. We’d have been in trouble because there’s been no Boyce and no McKay. It was essential for us to bring in a contributor.
 

These guys coming in, absolutely do need to bring quality into our club. It’s essential. Yes they need time and yes they do get time. 10-15 games. Then youve got to show something if you haven’t already, it comes time to start delivering and contributing. This is a big club. There is pressure to perform and deliver Wins. 

[Bazzas right boot]

4 minutes ago, A_A wehatethehibs said:

No, not a good post.

Acceptance of mediocre signings type post.

 

Recruitment of quality, when you lose quality, is an absolute imperative.
 

We have all seen what happens when you do that see the post above. When you lose a good player it is essential to recruit someone good. 
 

Kenneth is a young man but he is not a child. He has the numbers physically in terms of pace, accuracy and 90 minute work rate. He is a first team pro rated at a 6 figure number and that’s before he came here. He was a very important signing with the loss of Ginelly. Or Hearts risked going backwards as a team. Unacceptable. 
 

The spotlight has been on the recruitment this season, because there were several failure in that department last season, such as Kio Imagine Kenneth had been in that bracket. Like Tagawa is. We’d have been in trouble because there’s been no Boyce and no McKay. It was essential for us to bring in a contributor.
 

These guys coming in, absolutely do need to bring quality into our club. It’s essential. Yes they need time and yes they do get time. 10-15 games. Then youve got to show something if you haven’t already, it comes time to start delivering and contributing. This is a big club. There is pressure to perform and deliver Wins. 

 

 

Every player is different. 

 

There is no one size fits all , and our post  especially the made up 10-15 games and they have to show "something" isjust a bit daft.

 

The coaches train with them and will have a far better understanding of their development and potential than us daft fans who are deciding to judge on 10- 15 games. Is that 10 games in a row, 10 games over a season?

How is that even a thing?

 

Spotlight was on recruitment and some players had to delivery instantly and some don't.

Each player is different. 

 

Even Gino taken time then a change of position before he became of the standard and going by your logic guys like Hartley would have been punted.

 

We operate in the bargain basement of world football,  getting players that are ready made to improve us now with the potential to further improve is very difficult,  and the more successful we are that becomes harder.

To get players that help us maintain 3rd and push on is far harder than trying to in improve from a lower base.

 

For example,  we won't replace Shankland with better,  we will struggle to replace Gordon with better, just like we struggled on replace Souttar. 

 

Some players will take more time.

Even at massive clubs at the top level  some players take time to settle.

[kila]

12 hours ago, King prawn said:

Lucky enough for him he’s got Eva Olid around the club to help teach him  

No wonder he’s happy here 

 

[GinRummy]

10 minutes ago, A_A wehatethehibs said:

No, not a good post.

Acceptance of mediocre signings type post.

 

Recruitment of quality, when you lose quality, is an absolute imperative.
 

We have all seen what happens when you do that see the post above. When you lose a good player it is essential to recruit someone good. 
 

Kenneth is a young man but he is not a child. He has the numbers physically in terms of pace, accuracy and 90 minute work rate. He is a first team pro rated at a 6 figure number and that’s before he came here. He was a very important signing with the loss of Ginelly. Or Hearts risked going backwards as a team. Unacceptable. 
 

The spotlight has been on the recruitment this season, because there were several failure in that department last season, such as Kio Imagine Kenneth had been in that bracket. Like Tagawa is. We’d have been in trouble because there’s been no Boyce and no McKay. It was essential for us to bring in a contributor.
 

These guys coming in, absolutely do need to bring quality into our club. It’s essential. Yes they need time and yes they do get time. 10-15 games. Then youve got to show something if you haven’t already, it comes time to start delivering and contributing. This is a big club. There is pressure to perform and deliver Wins. 

One of the main ways to recruit quality on our budget is to recruit young. Inevitably younger guys are more likely to take time. The issue, if you can even call it that given the way the season is going, is we signed young and inexperienced guys in Nieuwenhof and Vargas that we needed to hit the ground running and fill key positions. 
 

Not agreeing or disagreeing with you btw as I’ve no idea how long we should wait on signings to gel and find form but if we are winning then I guess we can afford to give them more time. 

[A_A wehatethehibs]

4 minutes ago, Bazzas right boot said:

 

 

Every player is different. 

 

There is no one size fits all , and our post  especially the made up 10-15 games and they have to show "something" isjust a bit daft.

 

The coaches train with them and will have a far better understanding of their development and potential than us daft fans who are deciding to judge on 10- 15 games. Is that 10 games in a row, 10 games over a season?

How is that even a thing?

 

Spotlight was on recruitment and some players had to delivery instantly and some don't.

Each player is different. 

 

Even Gino taken time then a change of position before he became of the standard and going by your logic guys like Hartley would have been punted.

 

We operate in the bargain basement of world football,  getting players that are ready made to improve us now with the potential to further improve is very difficult,  and the more successful we are that becomes harder.

To get players that help us maintain 3rd and push on is far harder than trying to in improve from a lower base.

 

For example,  we won't replace Shankland with better,  we will struggle to replace Gordon with better, just like we struggled on replace Souttar. 

 

Some players will take more time.

Even at massive clubs at the top level  some players take time to settle.

Mate, sell Osman sow, bring in Watt and Sammon, we’ve seen what happens.

 

Sell Kyle Lafferty, bring in Steven Maclean and Danny Amankwaa, we’ve seen what happens. 
 

Lose Beni for a year to injury, bring in Kio. We’ve seen what happens 

 

When you lose a quality player that is where your recruitment becomes fundamental. That’s your only tool to stop your team from going backwards 

 

It’s **** all to do with coaching, **** all to do with projects for a guy to be good in a year. If you replace a good player with a poor one, you are going to go backwards as a team. 

Vargas was a big, important signing who we absolutely needed to come good, quickly. And the money we are agreed to spend, is not small for our club. It’s not far off what we paid for Shankland. 
 

And when Shankland goes it’s not about finding another Shankland. But as a minimum we will need to find someone who’ll get us an immediate double figure goal tally, and show they have the potential to kick on. But there is an immediate minimum quality level,, which is absolutely essential especially when you lose a good player . 

 

Edited February 24 by A_A wehatethehibs

[Bazzas right boot]

7 minutes ago, A_A wehatethehibs said:

Mate, sell Osman sow, bring in Watt and Sammon, we’ve seen what happens.

 

Sell Kyle Lafferty, bring in Steven Maclean and Danny Amankwaa, we’ve seen what happens. 
 

Lose Beni for a year to injury, bring in Kio. We’ve seen what happens 

 

When you lose a quality player that is where your recruitment becomes fundamental. That’s your only tool to stop your team from going backwards 

 

It’s **** all to do with coaching, **** all to do with projects for a guy to be good in a year. If you replace a good player with a poor one, you are going to go backwards as a team . 

 

 

 

Definitely a mix required and we needed to sign more players ready,  I agree.

However,  giving every player a deadline say of 10-15 games is a bit daft, as would signing a raft of players who all need that time to replace good players that have left.

 

Even Gino was very average for 2 seasons and was more cold than hot before his last season. 

 

I guess the answer is simple- increase wages, attract more complete and better players!

More investment.....simple!

 

The fact we can't hold on to guys like Souttar,  Gino and likley Beni and Shankland really highlights how hard it is to hold on to our good players and therefore attract instant like for like replacements.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 24 by Bazzas right boot

[boag1874]

45 minutes ago, A_A wehatethehibs said:

How’s it unrealistic for us to want our team to improve?
 

The fans have expectations, and absolutely 100% rightly so. 

 

The bar was set by Josh Ginelly, we knew what needed replacing in terms of players brought in. And I did, fairly, say it was a big ask and credited young Kenneth 

 

Absolutely nothing wrong with having high expectations for our club.
 

We’ve been there, done that in terms of losing quality, and replacing with dross. We’ve seen what happens. Such as selling Osman sow and bringing in t.watt and Sammon. Or selling Lafferty and bringing in Danny Amankwaa and Steven Maclean. Our club has been there done that, no thanks. An absolute fundamental is the recruitment. 
 

You lose a quality player, it is absolutely essential you replace with someone at the same quality level, or who at least has a chance of developing there relatively quickly. And Kenneth, fair play to him, he has shown he has a chance.

The examples you’ve given are players we brought in to be first team starters, they had plenty experience either at our level or higher and had no excuses for not getting up to speed quickly - Vargas is a young player we’d brought in from the other side of the world with the long term in mind. We plan to develop him and then reap the benefits down the line, the loan was purely to make sure he’d be able to settle here. Luckily for us he’s probably a good bit ahead of schedule.
 

The transfer market is not one size fits all.

[A_A wehatethehibs]

7 minutes ago, Bazzas right boot said:

 

Definitely a mix required and we needed to sign more players ready,  I agree.

However,  giving every player a deadline say of 10-15 games is a bit daft, as would signing a raft of players who all need that time to replace good players that have left.

 

Even Gino was very average for 2 seasons and was more cold than hot before his last season. 

 

I guess the answer is simple- increase wages, attract more complete and better players!

More investment.....simple!

 

The fact we can't hold on to guys like Souttar,  Gino and likley Beni and Shankland really highlights how hard it is to hold on to our good players and therefore attract instant like for like replacements.

 

 

 

 

You must have been watching a different player if you felt Ginelly was average in his first season where he almost carried us to Scottish cup win and was the only player the fans got excited about in that turgid to watch championship team. And then again his second season where he played a big role, 38 games, in a team which finished 3rd and got to another cup final. That’s “very average” is it? Josh proved he was up to Hearts standard pretty much within his first 2-3 games. Only Injuries disrupted him, and then when he finally got to full 100% fitness he started to light up the league. 
 

It being difficult to hold on to good players underlines how fundamentally important recruitment is. Good player must be replaced with a player who is at, or can reach that same level within 10-15 games maximum. Or you are going to experience a decline in results. 

[A_A wehatethehibs]

5 minutes ago, boag1874 said:

The examples you’ve given are players we brought in to be first team starters, they had plenty experience either at our level or higher and had no excuses for not getting up to speed quickly - Vargas is a young player we’d brought in from the other side of the world with the long term in mind. We plan to develop him and then reap the benefits down the line, the loan was purely to make sure he’d be able to settle here. Luckily for us he’s probably a good bit ahead of schedule.
 

The transfer market is not one size fits all.

I fundamentally disagree. Vargas and Neuwenhof were 2 big first team signings. It was very important for Steven Naismith that both came good, this season. The remit was to take us from 4th to 3rd. Improve the team, not go backwards. 

[ScandinavianJambo]

1 hour ago, A_A wehatethehibs said:

No, not a good post.

Acceptance of mediocre signings type post.

 

Recruitment of quality, when you lose quality, is an absolute imperative.
 

We have all seen what happens when you do that see the post above. When you lose a good player it is essential to recruit someone good. 
 

Kenneth is a young man but he is not a child. He has the numbers physically in terms of pace, accuracy and 90 minute work rate. He is a first team pro rated at a 6 figure number and that’s before he came here. He was a very important signing with the loss of Ginelly. Or Hearts risked going backwards as a team. Unacceptable. 
 

The spotlight has been on the recruitment this season, because there were several failure in that department last season, such as Kio Imagine Kenneth had been in that bracket. Like Tagawa is. We’d have been in trouble because there’s been no Boyce and no McKay. It was essential for us to bring in a contributor.
 

These guys coming in, absolutely do need to bring quality into our club. It’s essential. Yes they need time and yes they do get time. 10-15 games. Then youve got to show something if you haven’t already, it comes time to start delivering and contributing. This is a big club. There is pressure to perform and deliver Wins. 

I think we are furiously agreeing (to some extent I tend to give players more time). We need an excellent scouting and recruitment team, but equal to that we need a manager that gets the best out of prospects and home grown talents.

I'm interested in your 10 to 15 games theory. What do you base it on?  I would also have liked to hear your thoughts on Hoff in the beginning of the season or Forrest for that matter. The leaps they have made are not coincidental and must tell us something  about not judging too quickly. 

Kenneth isn't Kio, so I'm not worrying about something that didn't happen. But yes, his work rate, speed and physicality is certainly impressive and suited for SPFL (and importantly our way of playing).

However, we will have signings that are not good enough (or not good enough for Scottish football). That's the markets we are in. Now, these needs to be kept to a minimum or else we are back to were we where last year with a somewhat poorer recruitmemt in Jan and under Levine (shudder). 

Making use of our homegrown talent is something we haven't been able to do to any great success up until now so that is not any less of a gamble -too much pressure/too early versus not enough exposure etc. What we need is a balance between the two and Tait is the shining example of a successful induction. 

I agree I do not think we had time fo Kenneth to be a project (whatever that is) he is here to play and I'm for one is pleased he has found his shooting boots (as well as his early promise of speed). 

However, maybe we should remember that before Ginelly found his mojo, on a consistent basis, he was certainly not always endorsed on here (quite the opposite). I have to say I did.

I am less worried about our signings developing quickly (as all but Tagawa have), but I am a bit worried about the rest of the team needing to contribute goals. That goes  for forwards and the rest alike (biggest difference between us and Rangers at the moment). Take Kingsley for instance (whom I like and who we need in defence and going forward) he has been on a very long dry patch when it comes to scoring (I know he was injured). 

Thus, perhaps Shankland's team mates (like us) are expecting him to score, making them take a step back. If we consistently got more goals from within the team (think corners) we could suddenly be contenders...if we do not and we loose Shankland...well even with good recruitment we will not be sitting 14 points ahead of 4th.

That was a bit of long winded explanation, but hey ho.

Today's the day, so if Shankland is the only one scoring and we win, I'll take it 😁

 

 

 

Edited February 24 by ScandinavianJambo

[Bazzas right boot]

1 hour ago, A_A wehatethehibs said:

You must have been watching a different player if you felt Ginelly was average in his first season where he almost carried us to Scottish cup win and was the only player the fans got excited about in that turgid to watch championship team. And then again his second season where he played a big role, 38 games, in a team which finished 3rd and got to another cup final. That’s “very average” is it? Josh proved he was up to Hearts standard pretty much within his first 2-3 games. Only Injuries disrupted him, and then when he finally got to full 100% fitness he started to light up the league. 
 

It being difficult to hold on to good players underlines how fundamentally important recruitment is. Good player must be replaced with a player who is at, or can reach that same level within 10-15 games maximum. Or you are going to experience a decline in results. 

 

Disagree,  but won't repeat the above.

 

 

 

[Ricardo Quaresma]

Vargas was signed to replace Gino, that's a new one

 

Vargas was signed to be Vargas

[boag1874]

3 hours ago, A_A wehatethehibs said:

I fundamentally disagree. Vargas and Neuwenhof were 2 big first team signings. It was very important for Steven Naismith that both came good, this season. The remit was to take us from 4th to 3rd. Improve the team, not go backwards. 

“Technical Director Steven Naismith said: “Kenneth travelled to Scotland over the weekend so we’ll now start the process of bedding him into the group.

 

“He’s coming from halfway across the world so he may need time to settle in but we’ll make it as smooth a transition as possible for him.

 

“He got some great attributes and is clearly talented. We think we can improve him as a player and he can help take the team to where we want to go.””

 

 

 

You can fundamentally disagree with me if you want but that’s what our own head coach said when we signed him

Edited February 24 by boag1874

[Smithian]

16 hours ago, jamboinglasgow said:

 

Assistant manager Gordon Forrest spent 6 years at Vancouver Whitecaps, so could be a case that he picked up some Spanish to work with players (I know its Canada but would still imagine they still get quite a few Spanish speaking players.) Can imagine there are some people at Hearts who have some limited Spanish (obviously there is Eva who is an exception but I doubt she would be spending much time translating for a mens player.)

 

Good interview and nice to hear him speak. Sounds like it has been a good link up with the club and Hearts Standard. Fascinating that they got in a Scottish journalist who speaks Spanish, as much as I like to see how Vargas gets speaking English, you get more information when feels free to speak in his natural language. Would love to see if they could do the same with Oda and Tagawa and have a journalist who speaks Japanese interview them as it would be interesting to hear from them, I do think it can help get fans more on their side when they know a bit more about them.

Good call on Gordon Forrest. You can't be in MLS and not know some Spanish.

[A_A wehatethehibs]

49 minutes ago, boag1874 said:

“Technical Director Steven Naismith said: “Kenneth travelled to Scotland over the weekend so we’ll now start the process of bedding him into the group.

 

“He’s coming from halfway across the world so he may need time to settle in but we’ll make it as smooth a transition as possible for him.

 

“He got some great attributes and is clearly talented. We think we can improve him as a player and he can help take the team to where we want to go.””

 

 

 

You can fundamentally disagree with me if you want but that’s what our own head coach said when we signed him

A managers job in the media is to keep the pressure from affecting his players in a negative way. And he has done that successfully with those comments, just keep the expectation and pressure off. But that does not mean there was no pressure. There was, and there is. You come to a club like this, there’s expectations. 

 

You’ll notice he doesn’t specify an amount of time in that comment. I have. It’s 10-15 games. But that’s just for me personally. Others may give a player a whole season to be useless then eventually he’ll come good. Folk were saying that about Kio, he’ll come good 2nd season. Folk are saying it now about Tagawa. Not for me. Not when you’re at a club this stature. Particularly as an attacker you must make some impact on games. 
 

15 games would be circa 3 months so coming into December with the fixtures coming thick and fast. Vargas was a very very important signing given the absence of Boyce and McKay. Him coming good, this season, short term, is proving absolutely key to the success the team is having.
 

He was signed to make a contribution to our first team. And to be fair, he absolutely has stepped up and handled that pressure well so all credit to the manager and to Kenneth himself. 

[Hackney Hearts]

The first player to score in 3 consecutive rounds of the cup since Rudi in 2012.

 

(Skacel managed 4 matches in a row, having scored in both QF games against St Mirren).

[Rods]

Only going to get better.

 

Shankland on pitch coaching and Naismith coaching will see him become a top player.

[Hackney Hearts]

I know everyone was blaming him for missing a sitter, but I liked the fact that he tried to lift the ball.

 

Okay he overdid it slightly on this occasion, but I hate seeing 1-on-1s constantly wasted by shooting low as the keeper goes to ground to block. Denholm could have scored if he'd dinked his chance rather than shooting.

[Jamhammer]

7 minutes ago, Hackney Hearts said:

I know everyone was blaming him for missing a sitter, but I liked the fact that he tried to lift the ball.

 

Okay he overdid it slightly on this occasion, but I hate seeing 1-on-1s constantly wasted by shooting low as the keeper goes to ground to block. Denholm could have scored if he'd dinked his chance rather than shooting.

Naismith said after the positive was he didn’t let his head drop and kept plugging away

got his reward 

[Gizmo]

Said it for ages, boy has so many attributes to be a star. Sure, he skies some finishes but that calmness will come in time - he gets into good positions, has been scoring and works his arse off for the team.

Big fan and I'm so glad he's not just a 1 season loan and gone. Imagine how good he will be with a close season and his family over in Edinburgh.


 

[Don Dan]

Growing into the player we expected and need to help Shankland up front. 

[Watt-Zeefuik]

19 minutes ago, Hackney Hearts said:

I know everyone was blaming him for missing a sitter, but I liked the fact that he tried to lift the ball.

 

Okay he overdid it slightly on this occasion, but I hate seeing 1-on-1s constantly wasted by shooting low as the keeper goes to ground to block. Denholm could have scored if he'd dinked his chance rather than shooting.

Also it was hard to see, but it was only inches off. Pinged off the upper side of the bar and the angle made it look like a bigger miss. 3 inches lower and it pops off the underside into the net.

[innerjambo]

I hope a deal is announced soon, and there are no issues with an extended stay for him. I know we have the option to sign, and have said we want to keep him, but I thought it would have been done and dusted by now. Unless of course the club are deliberately waiting until the end of the season. I just hope there are no complications, but both parties would still have to agree a permanent deal and contract. Also there is the issue of his wife and his little boy being in Costa Rica, and how easily it would be to bring them over, if prepared to move.

[GinRummy]

5 minutes ago, Gizmo said:

Said it for ages, boy has so many attributes to be a star. Sure, he skies some finishes but that calmness will come in time - he gets into good positions, has been scoring and works his arse off for the team.

Big fan and I'm so glad he's not just a 1 season loan and gone. Imagine how good he will be with a close season and his family over in Edinburgh.


 

Also a big fan of Vargas. He’s going to go on to have a fantastic career. The fact he’s already improved so much considering all the challenges he’s had after moving to us speaks volumes. 
 

Why some fans can’t give the slightest leeway to a young talented player is beyond me. If it was 5 years down the line and he was the player he can develop into he’d be nowhere near Hearts. 
 

Apart from Shankland he’s the one player I want to see stay long term. Going to be a fantastic player. 

[BelgeJambo]

Vargas is quality

plays with a smile on his face and has a swagger about him.  He gets fans off their seats when he starts to put the after burners on

[Ex member of the SaS]

I like Vargas but I was screaming at him to hit it first time instead of taking the touch that made the hit harder. Made up for it with a great strike to win the game. Convinced he will be make big money for us in the future and we can only hope he stay a while.

[jr ewing]

Much prefer Oda. 

[soonbe110]

34 minutes ago, Watt-Zeefuik said:

Also it was hard to see, but it was only inches off. Pinged off the upper side of the bar and the angle made it look like a bigger miss. 3 inches lower and it pops off the underside into the net.

Tap in if he had used his left foot.  Tough finish if he uses his right foot. 

[kingantti1874]

12 minutes ago, jr ewing said:

Much prefer Oda. 

not at football  surely🤣

 

 

[jamboinglasgow]

32 minutes ago, Hackney Hearts said:

I know everyone was blaming him for missing a sitter, but I liked the fact that he tried to lift the ball.

 

Okay he overdid it slightly on this occasion, but I hate seeing 1-on-1s constantly wasted by shooting low as the keeper goes to ground to block. Denholm could have scored if he'd dinked his chance rather than shooting.

 

After that chance and it cut to him with a smile on his face, I liked that though was worried if we did not get through then someone would go through him for that. I would rather have a striker who missed a good chance (though to be fair it was close) who laughs it off and not let it affect him than one who looks horrified and you can tell he is going to doubt himself.

 

Even the best strikers can miss good chances (see Haarland recently,) the difference is that they know that they just need to keep getting into good areas and have the confidence that they finish the next chance 

[Pasquale for King]

1 hour ago, Hackney Hearts said:

I know everyone was blaming him for missing a sitter, but I liked the fact that he tried to lift the ball.

 

Okay he overdid it slightly on this occasion, but I hate seeing 1-on-1s constantly wasted by shooting low as the keeper goes to ground to block. Denholm could have scored if he'd dinked his chance rather than shooting.

He has a good partner who usually makes the right choice on what shot to hit, and of course the manager who i would say has made both of them slightly more streetwise as what they can get away with on CHs. 
Get him signed up. 

[Pasquale for King]

17 minutes ago, jr ewing said:

Much prefer Oda. 

One is a striker who can play wide and the other is a winger, apples n pears.

[RustyRightPeg]

19 minutes ago, jr ewing said:

Much prefer Oda. 

 

 For what exactly?

 

Not discrediting Oda here just curious as to why.

[The Treasurer]

1 hour ago, Jamhammer said:

Naismith said after the positive was he didn’t let his head drop and kept plugging away

got his reward 

That's a key point. 

Goalscorers at our level, even including Shankland, will miss more chances than they score. 

It's being in the position to get those chances that matters 

[red]

2 minutes ago, The Treasurer said:

That's a key point. 

Goalscorers at our level, even including Shankland, will miss more chances than they score. 

It's being in the position to get those chances that matters 

Well that’s not true (the shankland part) 

[The Treasurer]

1 minute ago, red said:

Well that’s not true (the shankland part) 

I disagree. 

It's just that Shankland gets himself into scoring positions more often than everyone else. 

He had two or three times last night which, by his standards, would be considered chances, but never scored. 

[HopeDiouf]

59 minutes ago, innerjambo said:

I hope a deal is announced soon, and there are no issues with an extended stay for him. I know we have the option to sign, and have said we want to keep him, but I thought it would have been done and dusted by now. Unless of course the club are deliberately waiting until the end of the season. I just hope there are no complications, but both parties would still have to agree a permanent deal and contract. Also there is the issue of his wife and his little boy being in Costa Rica, and how easily it would be to bring them over, if prepared to move.

I was hoping it is done and dusted, we just don't want to pay up the transfer fee early??  

[GinRummy]

17 minutes ago, RustyRightPeg said:

 

 For what exactly?

 

Not discrediting Oda here just curious as to why.

They’re both handsome guys so down to personal taste. 

[jr ewing]

29 minutes ago, RustyRightPeg said:

 

 For what exactly?

 

Not discrediting Oda here just curious as to why.

Better wide player. More consistent. 

[RustyRightPeg]

2 minutes ago, jr ewing said:

Better wide player. More consistent. 

 

Oda is a lot of things, but consistent isn't one of them.

 

Vargas has shown more over the past few months than Oda has over a consecutive run of games.

[MattyK82]

18 minutes ago, jr ewing said:

Better wide player. More consistent. 

 

They are different kinds of players.

 

Oda is arguably a better winger. Vargas is better through the middle.

 

He's a good foil for Shankland. He's getting better.  He's also a very clever player for someone of his age.  7 goals in his debut season, for a host of reasons, is not bad at all. 

[Hackney Hearts]

58 minutes ago, soonbe110 said:

Tap in if he had used his left foot.  

 

He could have let it come across to his left, but it was never going to be a tap in - he had a goalkeeper directly in front of him, a defender on the line (covering that side of the goal), as well as a defender closing him down. I think he picked a good option, just didn't execute it perfectly.

[innerjambo]

53 minutes ago, HopeDiouf said:

I was hoping it is done and dusted, we just don't want to pay up the transfer fee early??  

 

I'm hoping this is the case too. We'll just have to wait and see. 

[busbyfth]

2 hours ago, innerjambo said:

I hope a deal is announced soon, and there are no issues with an extended stay for him. I know we have the option to sign, and have said we want to keep him, but I thought it would have been done and dusted by now. Unless of course the club are deliberately waiting until the end of the season. I just hope there are no complications, but both parties would still have to agree a permanent deal and contract. Also there is the issue of his wife and his little boy being in Costa Rica, and how easily it would be to bring them over, if prepared to move.

Correct - and is Roughly the reasoning which will have Benni leave us soon. (But hopefully KV stay....fine prospect) 

But I reckoned Vargas wasnt great at all last night and with 15 minutes left would have replaced him - just shows how much I know !! 🤔

(Mind you I wanted Grant off after half an hour - at least I wasnt wrong there) 

[pettigrewsstylist]

5 hours ago, Rods said:

Only going to get better.

 

Shankland on pitch coaching and Naismith coaching will see him become a top player.

Looked to me like Shanks was screaming "hit it" at Vargas. 

[ShedBoy]

He was on my naughty list for 10mins last night. Then pops up with the winner. I absolutely love the lad. 5yr deal please

[henrysmithsgloves]

Is it me or does he look similar to Rudi😀