Heart Of Midlothian winter transfer window 2025/2026 - Wilson loaned to Spurs; transfer window slams shut

[hearts00]

Squad looked badly exposed tonight. Badly exposed. Nothing on the bench. 
 

We talk about a great squad. 14 players the manager trusts does not make a squad. We do not currently look like a team that can win the league. There is no where near enough quality and control.  We are utterly reliant on set pieces, Braga and Kyzi. We don’t have anything else. 

[Gordons left glove]

2 minutes ago, hearts00 said:

Squad looked badly exposed tonight. Badly exposed. Nothing on the bench. 
 

We talk about a great squad. 14 players the manager trusts does not make a squad. We do not currently look like a team that can win the league. There is no where near enough quality and control.  We are utterly reliant on set pieces, Braga and Kyzi. We don’t have anything else. 

Tbf two of our new signings weren't in the squad. Not like we just didn't sign them. Our squad is fine.

[hearts00]

Just now, Gordons left glove said:

Tbf two of our new signings weren't in the squad. Not like we just didn't sign them. Our squad is fine.

Why were they not in the squad? 

[Gordons left glove]

1 minute ago, hearts00 said:

Why were they not in the squad? 

One is getting up to speed. Unfortunately you would need to ask McInnes about mato. Can only assume it's for the same reason.

[GorgieFifeLife]

Tonight’s game really exposes what a poor transfer window it has been from us.  The players we have brought in are not deemed ready to go or fit enough and that is a damning indictment of the business we have done.  It was really important to come out of the window stronger especially with the injuries but I feel it is the nail in the coffin to our title chances.

[Kirky Jambo]

Don’t think we can conclude it has been a poor window at this stage. But equally I was totally perplexed when on the BBC website someone called it the “perfect” window 😂 

 

Our marquee signing has turned up unfit and we failed in our bid to sign a striker. On the plus side Leonard has had a couple of decent games.

 

Time will tell but if we are honest it was one of the most important windows in our history so if we end up looking back and regretting it then it will be devastating.

[Newton51]

17 minutes ago, Kirky Jambo said:

Don’t think we can conclude it has been a poor window at this stage. But equally I was totally perplexed when on the BBC website someone called it the “perfect” window 😂 

 

Our marquee signing has turned up unfit and we failed in our bid to sign a striker. On the plus side Leonard has had a couple of decent games.

 

Time will tell but if we are honest it was one of the most important windows in our history so if we end up looking back and regretting it then it will be devastating.

We solved our right back problem but unfortunately the manager doesn’t trust him

[Drylaw Hearts]

We need to dig into the free agent basket and see whats about.

 

We have at least 6 more games without Shankland.

[Gordon Ramsay]

A glaring error not to get another striker in I feel.

[JamboGee92]

1 hour ago, Gordon Ramsay said:

A glaring error not to get another striker in I feel.

 

Definitely. 

[Geoff Kilpatrick]

3 hours ago, Gordon Ramsay said:

A glaring error not to get another striker in I feel.

How can you class anything as an error when you've no idea what negotiations went on?

[brownkg]

4 minutes ago, Geoff Kilpatrick said:

How can you class anything as an error when you've no idea what negotiations went on?

C'mon Geoff you have been here long enough to know the qualification criteria for expertise and insider info on here

[MoncurMacdonaldMercer]

3 hours ago, Newton51 said:

We solved our right back problem but unfortunately the manager doesn’t trust him

 

☝️never seen jordi play type-post

 

we would be as well playing kyzi at rb

 

[davie1980]

5 hours ago, hearts00 said:

Squad looked badly exposed tonight. Badly exposed. Nothing on the bench. 
 

We talk about a great squad. 14 players the manager trusts does not make a squad. We do not currently look like a team that can win the league. There is no where near enough quality and control.  We are utterly reliant on set pieces, Braga and Kyzi. We don’t have anything else. 

 

We've used 34 players this season.  21 players are into double figures for appearances.

Hof, Ageu have not been available all year and Mato, Chesnokov, Leonard and Altena have just signed and will all potentially make a bunch of appearances

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025–26_Heart_of_Midlothian_F.C._season

Edited February 4 by davie1980

[Pingu]

I don't think we should judge the window based on last night's performance. It's frustrating Mato and Chesnokov weren't ready to play, but if they are good to go next week and both turn out to be key additions, then we've had a very good window.

 

The club clearly tried to get a target man in. Yes, they ultimately failed and that may or may not cost us. So we can't say it was a perfect window, but they have, on paper, addressed most of the positional gaps we needed to. How effectively? We don't know yet.

 

 

[Russ1977]

We’ve hopefully signed good players in this window but it looks like it will be a while before we find out due to fitness issues. I’d have loved us to push the boat out a bit and bring in a couple of quality players who were good to go straightaway. 

[WASTREL]

8 hours ago, Gordons left glove said:

One is getting up to speed. Unfortunately you would need to ask McInnes about mato. Can only assume it's for the same reason.

DM said it was in his post match presser.  

[johnking123]

Was disappointed we never got our big striker.  But far more disappointing is McInnes not playing a right back at right back. He has to change his ways a bit.

[Robbo-Jambo]

Big mistake not getting another striker in. 

 

Shanks is weeks away, Kabore and Kabangu simply not good enough, Wilson away and we have two guys in Chesnokov and Mato that can't even get on the bench because it seems they are not fit enough. 

 

Need to wrap Braga in cotton wool I would think. 

 

[Duggie 1874]

9 hours ago, Gordons left glove said:

One is getting up to speed. Unfortunately you would need to ask McInnes about mato. Can only assume it's for the same reason.

So not really good enough signings for reminder of this season then , we needed players to come in and have impact 

[wcjambo]

Mato n Chesnokov are good signings, the issue in signing them is with McInnes being stuck in his ways regarding tactics. If Kerjota is given the chance he's deserved for a good couple months now then we should be talking about how Chesnokov is going to struggle to get in the team. Striker should have been signed, but I do get the reasoning behind us having players who can play striker and just aren't fit enough right now.

[feej]

36 minutes ago, wcjambo said:

Mato n Chesnokov are good signings, the issue in signing them is with McInnes being stuck in his ways regarding tactics. If Kerjota is given the chance he's deserved for a good couple months now then we should be talking about how Chesnokov is going to struggle to get in the team. Striker should have been signed, but I do get the reasoning behind us having players who can play striker and just aren't fit enough right now.

January signings should be ready to go, simple as that.

[gwd1957]

19 hours ago, Gordon Ramsay said:

A glaring error not to get another striker in I feel.

And a proper 6ft 5 in centre half

[Romulus]

4 minutes ago, gwd1957 said:

And a proper 6ft 5 in centre half

I think it’s time to get steinwender in at CB. We payed a lot for Altena and he’s looked decent enough to me but needs more game time.

[south morocco]

4 minutes ago, gwd1957 said:

And a proper 6ft 5 in centre half

Jamestown oot!

[OTT]

9 minutes ago, Romulus said:

I think it’s time to get steinwender in at CB. We payed a lot for Altena and he’s looked decent enough to me but needs more game time.

 

I really don't want to see Kent at CB. Him getting the armband feels a bit ridiculous, he's not at the level of the players around him, yet is expected to lead them? Feels all wrong to me. 

 

Steinwender has clear strengths, where i don't believe Kent has any. Yes, Steinwender isn't a heid the baw CB that Scottish football needs as a near pre-requisite, but he can play well with the ball on the ground and his distribution is strong, he's not useless in the air (far from it) and I think his reading of the game is very strong. 

 

It bothers me that McInnes puts so much stock in Kent when its clear he's not what is needed. 

 

Agree on Altena. I think McInnes made a huge error last night not starting or even involving the laddie. You cannot attack a team purely down one side. You're taking needless risk by restricting your attack like this, and it feels like we lost that largely because of managerial decisions. The players were not given the team selection and tactics they needed. 

 

Also, I feel bad posting negatively about Kent. I don't want to turn on any Hearts player, its just for the reasons I've outlined, I don't think he's the right option. Like Alan Forrest, he feels like a safe comfort blanket type option for the manager, who is almost lazy in relying on a player we can all see isn't good enough compared tot he other options we have. 

 

I hadn't realised but McEntee played most of his time at Walsall at CB. If Halkett isn't available, we could absolutely utilise him here. Christ, he did well enough there that he flagged up to JTA... 

 

 

 

 

Kent playing CB against Hibs shouldn't be a shoe in, and I think McInnes should be brave here and at least consider his options. He has them, which is more than a lot of other Hearts managers have had before. 

Edited February 4 by OTT

[AndrewB]

56 minutes ago, OTT said:

 

I really don't want to see Kent at CB. Him getting the armband feels a bit ridiculous, he's not at the level of the players around him, yet is expected to lead them? Feels all wrong to me. 

 

Steinwender has clear strengths, where i don't believe Kent has any. Yes, Steinwender isn't a heid the baw CB that Scottish football needs as a near pre-requisite, but he can play well with the ball on the ground and his distribution is strong, he's not useless in the air (far from it) and I think his reading of the game is very strong. 

 

It bothers me that McInnes puts so much stock in Kent when its clear he's not what is needed. 

 

Agree on Altena. I think McInnes made a huge error last night not starting or even involving the laddie. You cannot attack a team purely down one side. You're taking needless risk by restricting your attack like this, and it feels like we lost that largely because of managerial decisions. The players were not given the team selection and tactics they needed. 

 

Also, I feel bad posting negatively about Kent. I don't want to turn on any Hearts player, its just for the reasons I've outlined, I don't think he's the right option. Like Alan Forrest, he feels like a safe comfort blanket type option for the manager, who is almost lazy in relying on a player we can all see isn't good enough compared tot he other options we have. 

 

I hadn't realised but McEntee played most of his time at Walsall at CB. If Halkett isn't available, we could absolutely utilise him here. Christ, he did well enough there that he flagged up to JTA... 

 

 

 

 

Kent playing CB against Hibs shouldn't be a shoe in, and I think McInnes should be brave here and at least consider his options. He has them, which is more than a lot of other Hearts managers have had before. 

Good stuff.  Well put, I'd say.

I'd go Altena -- Steinwender--Findlay -- Milne  versus Hibs, even if Stuart isn't my favourite guy today.

 

Derek has certainly flipped McEntee 's appearance stats around from his Walsall days.

[OTT]

41 minutes ago, AndrewB said:

Good stuff.  Well put, I'd say.

I'd go Altena -- Steinwender--Findlay -- Milne  versus Hibs, even if Stuart isn't my favourite guy today.

 

Derek has certainly flipped McEntee 's appearance stats around from his Walsall days.

 

Two big physical laddies at the back in McEntee and Findlay has potential IMO. 

 

Would be negligent not to explore it. 

 

McInnes might not be my favourite guy today off the back of some very poor choices yesterday, but he's no fool. Should trial McEntee at CB in training and see how things look. 

 

Worst case, he's proven right and Kent or Steinwender remain the only viable options, best case McEntee surprises him and maybe even puts himself into contention there long term. Its hardly uncommon for young CBs to be competent at CM and RB/LB as they gain experience. McEntee has the experience, can play with the ball at his feet and we know how good he is in the air. 

 

Its just about if he can read play well enough to cope with the derby. Certainly gives me more optimism than Kent TBH. 

[Mikey1874]

15 hours ago, Pingu said:

I don't think we should judge the window based on last night's performance. It's frustrating Mato and Chesnokov weren't ready to play, but if they are good to go next week and both turn out to be key additions, then we've had a very good window.

 

The club clearly tried to get a target man in. Yes, they ultimately failed and that may or may not cost us. So we can't say it was a perfect window, but they have, on paper, addressed most of the positional gaps we needed to. How effectively? We don't know yet.

 

 

 

It's all about how Mato and Chesnokov do mainly. The difference makers.

[soonbe110]

9 hours ago, Mikey1874 said:

 

It's all about how Mato and Chesnokov do mainly. The difference makers.

Add in Ageu as well. Those three need to step up if we are to stay top. 

[gwd1957]

15 hours ago, Romulus said:

I think it’s time to get steinwender in at CB. We payed a lot for Altena and he’s looked decent enough to me but needs more game time.

100%

[chrystaf]

4 hours ago, soonbe110 said:

Add in Ageu as well. Those three need to step up if we are to stay top. 

Absolutely.  We didn't burst a gut to get these players in, merely to have them warming the bench.

[AyrJambo]

16 hours ago, south morocco said:

Jamestown oot!

 

Kevin Jamestown in!

[JJ1984]

Calvin Miller in the summer. 

[Jean Louis Valois]

Thought we might see some free agent striker rumours after Tuesday nights game, got to someone half decent out there.

[kingantti1874]

5 hours ago, Jean Louis Valois said:

Thought we might see some free agent striker rumours after Tuesday nights game, got to someone half decent out there.

Diego Costa a free agent and only 37 😍

[Jamboross]

6 hours ago, Jean Louis Valois said:

Thought we might see some free agent striker rumours after Tuesday nights game, got to someone half decent out there.

 

Most free agents haven't played since last May and any foreign ones would have the whole visa faff to go through. By the time we got them in and up to match fitness we'd be as well just waiting on Shankland coming back. 

 

Almost all our signings are planned out months in advance (see the Altena thread, we were in for him in October) I really don't see us making impulse signings because of a bad result or two. 

[Alfie Conn]

https://x.com/Spurs_Academy/status/2020437712822583613?s=20