New Manager - Critchley confirmed

[bringonthesevco]

Naismith     Played 9 Won 0 Drew 1 Lost 8 

Fox              Played 3 Won 1 Drew 1 Lost 1

The Boss    Played 3 Won 2 Drew 1

 

Things are looking much more positive .....

Edited October 27, 2024 by bringonthesevco

[Lone Striker]

2 minutes ago, tiger Rudi said:

Just tiredness, we've put a lot of effort in against St Mirren and Omonia. High press today was nowhere near good enough in comparison to Thursday. Fitness levels not at the level needed. A poor pre-season still haunting us.

 

Likely to be one of the main reasons, imo. 👍  Hopefully Critchley sorts that out so that next pre-season is more worthwhile and  beneficial for the players.

 

 

[Ferryjambo99]

11 minutes ago, BackOfTheNet said:

My only question would be why that game was so different from the last two in terms of approach and harrying etc. Think someone mentioned something about his two spells at Blackpool and his away record not being great. Not sure if anyone has the stats on his away games record.

 

Worth remembering we've had 3 games in a week. Only 3 days between Omonoia and today. A certain degree of flatness is to be expected. 

 

Hopefully if we can get more squad depth in certain areas we can improve that

[Gordon_1874]

Difficult one for Neil today especially coming off the back of Thursday. A point is fine today all things considered. Onwards to Wednesday.

[Sasha Shulgin]

I think he’s made a solid start and I think he ‘gets it’. Always disappointed not beating that gang but some context is required.

 

3 points on Wednesday would be big.

[RustyRightPeg]

Thought he got his changes right again today. Some might not agree with the Grant for Boateng change, but it didn’t harm us. 
 

Still nothing to moan about. Not losing there is always the main thing, if you play shite, just don’t lose. We dug in again. 

[Nerja Jambo]

9 minutes ago, Lone Striker said:

Likely to be one of the main reasons, imo. 👍  Hopefully Critchley sorts that out so that next pre-season is more worthwhile and  beneficial for the players.

 

 

Pre season was a shocker. How SN with his experience could possibly think things were fine is beyond me. It'll take a few more games allied with training to improve fitness to the level it should be. Hopefully the new guy coming in in November will also help. 

[jambopilms]

The challenge was always going to be against teams who get behind the ball. I can't believe that was Hibs plan whist at home, pathetic.

[boag1874]

I think he got that right today tbh, he can't account for players having an off day & making poor choices but particularly the first 30 minutes we had the better shape & looked to be the better prepared side to deal with the derby. We could & should have went in at half time ahead even with the ****ing donkey in the middle impeding our midfielder in a defensive situation 

[hearts00]

Not brilliant today but I enjoyed us having a shape and playing pretty well for long spells. You can see what we are trying to do and getting Spittal and Dhanda in the areas they are playing will yield results. 
 

I actually thought we showed some great flashed of creativity but just as it was about to be swept in Hibs made some good defensive blocks. 
 

Hibs were terrible and yet created quite a few chances. 

[boag1874]

2 minutes ago, hearts00 said:

Not brilliant today but I enjoyed us having a shape and playing pretty well for long spells. You can see what we are trying to do and getting Spittal and Dhanda in the areas they are playing will yield results. 
 

I actually thought we showed some great flashed of creativity but just as it was about to be swept in Hibs made some good defensive blocks. 
 

Hibs were terrible and yet created quite a few chances. 

I actually thought their CBs were decent defensively until they went to a 3 & started to step off us more, they had clearly done their homework on us, they got really tight to Shankland & made it hard for him to link the play but they also tracked Vargas' runs off the ball really well & made it hard for him to use his pace in behind.

 

Miller was their weak link as usual & we got most of our joy down his flank. I can't believe they're still playing him he's never, ever an SPFL standard fullback.

[Cade]

Considering how unfit the players looked when he was appointed and that he's not had long to whip them into shape and the fact that we played a very important Europe game just three days ago, I think we did alright against the vermin.

P3 W2 D1 L0.

A solid start.

European win and a Derby draw in those three games.

 

[tiger Rudi]

19 minutes ago, RustyRightPeg said:

Thought he got his changes right again today. Some might not agree with the Grant for Boateng change, but it didn’t harm us. 
 

Still nothing to moan about. Not losing there is always the main thing, if you play shite, just don’t lose. We dug in again. 

I was of the same opinion at the time but on reflection we were throwing everybody forward leaving 1 guy sitting. Grants fresh legs sitting maybe better than a tired Boateng. Both Forrest and McKay were committing themselves up the pitch, having fresh legs in the holding role was justified.

[AC Mallin_51]

Seen a few comments not impressed or cringing at the badge thumping at full time. I’m quite the opposite, I absolutely loved it because it doesn’t for one second look like it’s for show, the guy genuinely looks delighted to be here and I’m all for it. That’s the difference with the likes of a Hogmo appointment; yeah it looked good on paper but if he didn’t want to be here then it really wasn’t worth our time, in the short time he’s been here I feel like Critchely has really made an effort to connect with the fans and the club as a whole. I really like the guy, comes across very well

[Kalamazoo Jambo]

2 minutes ago, AC Mallin_51 said:

Seen a few comments not impressed or cringing at the badge thumping at full time. I’m quite the opposite, I absolutely loved it because it doesn’t for one second look like it’s for show, the guy genuinely looks delighted to be here and I’m all for it. That’s the difference with the likes of a Hogmo appointment; yeah it looked good on paper but if he didn’t want to be here then it really wasn’t worth our time, in the short time he’s been here I feel like Critchely has really made an effort to connect with the fans and the club as a whole. I really like the guy, comes across very well

Yep, I’m with you on that, it was genuine.

[DesertDawg]

 

[ItsDarrenBarr!]

12 minutes ago, DesertDawg said:

 

I genuinely think he gets us and is proud and happy to be our manager. Happy to have him.

[Rick Sanchez]

I think Critch will excel in identifying the type of players we need to be dominating in the correct areas, as he was talking about today.

[MoncurMacdonaldMercer]

33 minutes ago, Kalamazoo Jambo said:

Yep, I’m with you on that, it was genuine.

I think it’s genuine too but maybe a wee bit too early 🤷‍♂️ 
 

he’s doing really well and speaks really well - positive/risky substitutions etc today but paid off

 

todays result not the worst and in my opinion seemed like some were getting a wee bit carried away that he was some sort of genius so today maybe tempers expectations a little

 

 

 

 

[Valois No1]

I’ve seen Hearts being on top form and come a derby it’s a stuffy fight. Yes we looked tired or was it just a typical Edinburgh derby. Didn’t get beat but by Christ we need 3 points on Wednesday. 

[Baxfee]

The one thing he will have learned today is the European then league fatigue. Some players will need to be picked for one but not both. Think we saw spittal in particular being knackered today. 

[cazzyy]

54 minutes ago, AC Mallin_51 said:

Seen a few comments not impressed or cringing at the badge thumping at full time. I’m quite the opposite, I absolutely loved it because it doesn’t for one second look like it’s for show, the guy genuinely looks delighted to be here and I’m all for it. That’s the difference with the likes of a Hogmo appointment; yeah it looked good on paper but if he didn’t want to be here then it really wasn’t worth our time, in the short time he’s been here I feel like Critchely has really made an effort to connect with the fans and the club as a whole. I really like the guy, comes across very well

 

Spot on and it's why I posted in response to the guy complaining about the badge thumping. 

[Bainy]

The players looked tired today. Clearly unfit and not coached how naisy said they would be to cope with the demand of European football.  That said a decent strong finish in one of our hardest away games all season and reminding unbeaten under the new boss. You'd take that all day long! Well done Neil

[the posh bit]

2 minutes ago, Bainy said:

The players looked tired today. Clearly unfit and not coached how naisy said they would be to cope with the demand of European football.  That said a decent strong finish in one of our hardest away games all season and reminding unbeaten under the new boss. You'd take that all day long! Well done Neil

 

Not sure about unfit as they definitely finished all over that mob but it definitely looked like Thursday had taken its toll on some. 

[22games nro]

1 hour ago, DesertDawg said:

 

.

I'm not a happy clapper by any means,

but isn’t it refreshing to listen to his honest interviews after games,and each interview is a bit different, not a long list of repeated clichés/excuses /waffle that we hear from quite a few managers.

 I think he’s also the type of manager that the players will listen to and I think he speaks well and seems to be knowledgeable about the game,

[fabienleclerq]

9 hours ago, BackOfTheNet said:

My only question would be why that game was so different from the last two in terms of approach and harrying etc. Think someone mentioned something about his two spells at Blackpool and his away record not being great. Not sure if anyone has the stats on his away games record.

 

It was different opposition. Hibs wanted to play long balls in behind,  pressing them high gives them the space in behind to play that way.

 

I think our tactics here worked and they gave us the ball time and again. 

 

We need more quality in the final third and to release the ball quicker, lost count of the runs players made and the ball never came.

[Watt-Zeefuik]

10 hours ago, BackOfTheNet said:

My only question would be why that game was so different from the last two in terms of approach and harrying etc. Think someone mentioned something about his two spells at Blackpool and his away record not being great. Not sure if anyone has the stats on his away games record.

 

For much of the game Hibs succeeded at dragging the game down to their level. Derbies these days always seem to be ugly, scrappy affairs that aren't much for attractive football, no matter how either team is playing. That held true.

 

Gray let us have boatloads of possession and put everything into shutting down the balls to the forwards. Hibs clogged the middle and pressed the touchlines. It clearly gummed up Critchley's game plan.

 

That's not the first time a poor team has succeeded in doing that to us. What was the first time was pulling both holding mids and replacing them with forwards and basically having so much movement in the front 6 that a tiring Hibs team couldn't track us.

[JamboGee92]

I'm a big fan of this man. I think he will take us places if we give him time. I was against his appointment too but he's really won me round. 

Edited October 28, 2024 by Arthur Morgan

[Chaps]

After the match comment from NC

 

“I love watching the team play today. I want us to be a team that always plays our way, never give up our way of playing, whether we're playing home or away, whoever we're playing against.”

 

Everytime he speaks, he makes you want to listen. 

[August Landmesser]

International break coming up in November, excited to see what NC can achieve with an undisturbed fortnight to work with the squad. Hopefully Shanks takes another sickie from Scotland duty too. 

 

Then it's back with a Saturday night game v Celtic, could be a cracker

[vegas-voss]

He was like a rabbit in the headlights in the QPR first interview but he has really grew since then.Is actually very clear and concise when you listen to him now and has far more presence than I thought he would have.I really like him and I think the players must as well.

[RustyRightPeg]

17 hours ago, BackOfTheNet said:

My only question would be why that game was so different from the last two in terms of approach and harrying etc. Think someone mentioned something about his two spells at Blackpool and his away record not being great. Not sure if anyone has the stats on his away games record.

I’d argue it wasn’t. We started the exact same way, Hibs couldn’t get to grips with it. Spittal and Dhanda were finding the same pockets of space they were last weekend and on Thursday, it was just our final ball was lacking. 
 

Hibs eventually adjusted to it as expected and took a wee bit more control of the game than I’d hoped for but half expected. 
 

Got to remember this high intensity pressing only works if they try to play out. They absolutely hoofed the ball long anytime they could. Our midfield were doing doggies trying to get up on their midfield but then also picking up the second balls. 
 

3 games in 8 days as well. 

[4marsbars]

I can happily live with a draw at Easter Rd three days after a pulsating European night and I'm firmly behind Critchley. 

 

It seems the main reason we did not win is because the pesky opposition had their own plan. 

 

Can we now stop blaming Naismith for anything that doesn't quite go to plan?

 

Roll on Wednesday. 

[Leveins Battalion]

8 hours ago, Watt-Zeefuik said:

 

For much of the game Hibs succeeded at dragging the game down to their level. Derbies these days always seem to be ugly, scrappy affairs that aren't much for attractive football, no matter how either team is playing. That held true.

 

Gray let us have boatloads of possession and put everything into shutting down the balls to the forwards. Hibs clogged the middle and pressed the touchlines. It clearly gummed up Critchley's game plan.

 

That's not the first time a poor team has succeeded in doing that to us. What was the first time was pulling both holding mids and replacing them with forwards and basically having so much movement in the front 6 that a tiring Hibs team couldn't track us.

 

 

We were far too narrow,it meant Spittal and Dhanda could not really influence as Oyegoke wasn't pushing high enough,Penrice was but the RH side of the park was a problem.

[Tommy Walker]

13 hours ago, ItsDarrenBarr! said:

I genuinely think he gets us and is proud and happy to be our manager. Happy to have him.

This

[Nelly Terraces]

On 27/10/2024 at 14:40, Graham Thomson said:

We had a European game on Thursday night 🤷 I think NC has been a breath of fresh air 👏👏👏👏

 

On 27/10/2024 at 19:25, AC Mallin_51 said:

Seen a few comments not impressed or cringing at the badge thumping at full time. I’m quite the opposite, I absolutely loved it because it doesn’t for one second look like it’s for show, the guy genuinely looks delighted to be here and I’m all for it. That’s the difference with the likes of a Hogmo appointment; yeah it looked good on paper but if he didn’t want to be here then it really wasn’t worth our time, in the short time he’s been here I feel like Critchely has really made an effort to connect with the fans and the club as a whole. I really like the guy, comes across very well

 

On 27/10/2024 at 19:42, DesertDawg said:

 

 

22 hours ago, 22games nro said:

.

I'm not a happy clapper by any means,

but isn’t it refreshing to listen to his honest interviews after games,and each interview is a bit different, not a long list of repeated clichés/excuses /waffle that we hear from quite a few managers.

 I think he’s also the type of manager that the players will listen to and I think he speaks well and seems to be knowledgeable about the game

I like what he said in that video & I agree with all the comments above, especially the part in bold. 

 

I think most of the support would be forgiven for suffering from some kind of PTSD after yesterdays game as it was a bit of a throwback (albeit was with more attacking intent)  to the Levein/Neilson/Naismth ‘Possession with no end product’ days as we had 64% of the ball, more touches in their box, more passes in the final 3^rd but only 2 shots on target to their 7.

 

But, it’s really good to hear NC say he was also frustrated by our play in that key final 3^rd area. It’s refreshing to listen to him & you know that he understands the issues that we have & that need addressing. I was impressed with his comments post the game on Thursday night & his insight as to why he made the slight tactical changes from the St Mirren match, it’s really enlightening & he’s a guy you’d like to listen to about the game knowing you’d learn a lot.

 

Neil Critchley: 'This is Hearts, it's our pitch, our rules, you play our game and we're coming after you'

 

He made four changes to his team from the weekend and the response pleased him. “Yeah, it does. That's how we train. We train together as a collective, so everyone's understanding of what it is that's expected of them when they play in a team,” he explained.

 

“We put a massive emphasis on our training process and how we train, what we train, so the players, if they're called upon, they're ready physically, that's really important, but they're also ready from a tactical point of view. We thought that their wingers like to press and jump our outside centre-backs. So instead of playing narrow, we played around the outside, so we tried to make more of a back three with Stephen Kingsley dropping lower and Alan [Forrest] pinning the right-back and Blair [Spittal] coming on the outside.

 

“On the other side, it was a bit different. Kenny Vargas plays inside, and Adam [Forrester] plays outside and tried to go around them. If you go around them and you open up, you can control the middle of the pitch a little bit better. So some tactical changes, I felt that helped and gave us an advantage in the first half. You're just hoping when you have that advantage, you turn that into goals and fortunately, we did.”

 

His openness, honestly & knowledgeable comments & interviews are in total contrast to Neilson & Naismith who were just talking gibberish week after week, never took responsibility for, or admitted where, our faults lay at any time & gave pretty much zero insight on anything. I found them both disheartening to listen to tbh. We clearly still have a multitude of legacy issues from the previous management & it’s going to take a helluva lot of work to remedy these, but I think you can tell that NC is the man, alongside his assistant & rest of coaching staff to put it right.

 

 

[johnking123]

I was sceptical about him. But like it so far, seems far more professional. We need to do the same with B team and get a good coach in. Don't want to see us skimp on it. Young players have to be ready top team.

[weegie jambo]

I really like him. He talks very well, avoids cliches and explains what he is trying to achieve very well. Remember he has been hampered with an unfit, unmotivated squad who had been given no leadership. They'd had a joke pre-season and the previous regime failed to address players required. Given all these things he's got a real job on his hands to get us up to where we should be, however from what I've seen I can think of no-one better to take us forward.

[Pasquale for King]

It does sound like hes simplifying things for the players and they seem to be taking it in, they will only get better and trust his tactics more.

[Tommy Brown]

On 27/10/2024 at 14:58, RustyRightPeg said:

Thought he got his changes right again today. Some might not agree with the Grant for Boateng change, but it didn’t harm us. 
 

Still nothing to moan about. Not losing there is always the main thing, if you play shite, just don’t lose. We dug in again. 

Grant was on 10mins before Boateng went off.

It certainly worried me taking off Boateng off.

 

[Dazo]

2 hours ago, Tommy Brown said:

Grant was on 10mins before Boateng went off.

It certainly worried me taking off Boateng off.

 

The being made was Grant went into Boateng’s position when he went off. Rusty was right it didn’t cause us any issues and we looked like the only team that would score. 

[Bungalow Bill]

8 hours ago, Pasquale for King said:

It does sound like hes simplifying things for the players and they seem to be taking it in, they will only get better and trust his tactics more.

I agree with simplifying things. I don’t think NC will have had time to do much more as the games have been coming thick and fast. Making things simple is undoing the mess Naismith seems to have created for himself. Tactics that didn’t work and players playing out of position. 

[Ron Burgundy]

Not sure if he genuinely thinks we played good football, that game could have got football cancelled. Both teams were awful 😄

[TexasAndy]

There has been a lot said by pundits about Hearts lacking an identity in the way we play.  Well in 8 short days NC has given us just that.   We have a formation of 4-2-4 which suits the players we have and suddenly we look balanced.  That 4-2-4 can quickly become 4-4-2 when we are defending.   We maintained that shape at ER although we were not quite as sharp as we had been in previous two games.    The days of square pegs in round holes are over thankfully.

[Pasquale for King]

3 hours ago, Bungalow Bill said:

I agree with simplifying things. I don’t think NC will have had time to do much more as the games have been coming thick and fast. Making things simple is undoing the mess Naismith seems to have created for himself. Tactics that didn’t work and players playing out of position. 

Absolutely, its a crazy run of 7 games in 22 days all told.

[Pasquale for King]

6 hours ago, Tommy Brown said:

Grant was on 10mins before Boateng went off.

It certainly worried me taking off Boateng off.

 

We struggled when Grant came on and lost the goal, him replacing Vargas isn’t quite a straight swap and it wasn’t until he put Wilson and McKay on that we gained an element of control again.

I don’t think it will take him long to see Grants limitations. 

[Harryspocket]

On 27/10/2024 at 07:29, Armageddon said:

Atomic Kitten, Whole Again

“Tony Bloom is how we first met,

His laptop said Neil Critchley is who we should get,

Hearts have been transformed,

The Gorgie sing this song,

Critchley has Hearts going again”

Bravo

[RENE]

5 hours ago, TexasAndy said:

There has been a lot said by pundits about Hearts lacking an identity in the way we play.  Well in 8 short days NC has given us just that.   We have a formation of 4-2-4 which suits the players we have and suddenly we look balanced.  That 4-2-4 can quickly become 4-4-2 when we are defending.   We maintained that shape at ER although we were not quite as sharp as we had been in previous two games.    The days of square pegs in round holes are over thankfully.

O thought we lost the 4-4-2 shape against Hibs. Whether it was fatigue, or the occasion, or whatever we certainly seemed to be all over the place when Hibs attacked us.

[Shankland31]

Anybody still on Critchley’s case needs to have a word with themselves including a certain podcast it’s embarrassing patter.

 

We’re not Man United, we got KB’d, so what? Bunch of virgins man. 
 

Since Critchley has come in he’s been an absolute gentleman after what must have been an excruciatingly awkward feeling answering questions about Hogmo. Ridiculous.

 

The guy clearly knows what he’s doing and with a bit of luck he might well be a success.

 

Its more likely he will get that luck if we all get behind him rather than have the man squirm throughout his whole reign.

 

He deserves respect for how he’s conducted himself and how we’ve actually enjoyed the last 3 games since he’s been here.

 

The players are clearly excited about him and so should we be!

[One five]

3 minutes ago, Shankland31 said:

Anybody still on Critchley’s case needs to have a word with themselves including a certain podcast it’s embarrassing patter.

 

We’re not Man United, we got KB’d, so what? Bunch of virgins man. 
 

Since Critchley has come in he’s been an absolute gentleman after what must have been an excruciatingly awkward feeling answering questions about Hogmo. Ridiculous.

 

The guy clearly knows what he’s doing and with a bit of luck he might well be a success.

 

Its more likely he will get that luck if we all get behind him rather than have the man squirm throughout his whole reign.

 

He deserves respect for how he’s conducted himself and how we’ve actually enjoyed the last 3 games since he’s been here.

 

The players are clearly excited about him and so should we be!

Can’t and won’t disagree on anything there mate .