Kier Mcmeekin to Man City

[SeaOfMaroon]

I seen that he played today in the bounce game.

 

Is he still seen as one our best ever academy prospects? I remember this was the chat about a year ago and we were almost limiting his game time on occasion to avoid too much attention from scouts.

 

Any chance of a breakthrough this season if he stays? He'll be 16 this season 

[RustyRightPeg]

Shhhhhh keep him a secret 🤫 

[Morgan]

He’s stopped playing.

 

Other clubs should now look elsewhere.

 

👀

[Gershwin]

Heard Fox wanted to play him at the end of last season and was told to cool it.

[Footballfirst]

36 minutes ago, Gershwin said:

Heard Fox wanted to play him at the end of last season and was told to cool it.

He couldn't. You have to be 16 to play in the SPFL.

[JamboAl]

59 minutes ago, SeaOfMaroon said:

I seen that he played today in the bounce game.

 

Is he still seen as one our best ever academy prospects? I remember this was the chat about a year ago and we were almost limiting his game time on occasion to avoid too much attention from scouts.

 

Any chance of a breakthrough this season if he stays? He'll be 16 this season 

Mods would do the club a favour if they scrubbed this thread.

[Footballfirst]

I can see this thread turning into a "will he / won't he" discussion, much the same as when James Wilson was being tracked by multiple clubs.

 

If (it's a big if) he stays it will be a major coup for the club. However, I think it will be require a departure from the norm in terms of a package that will be attractive enough for him, given the offers that are likely to be on the table for him. 

 

In recent years the club has stuck by it's one size fits all offer for first professional contracts (it isn't great financially). I think James Wilson was given some guarantees about doing pre season with the first team and assurances of being fast tracked through the B Team, subject to performing at the required level, which was enough to encourage him to stay.

 

Every now and then you will come across a talent that is away ahead of his peer group. You need to have the flexibility to deviate from the standard offering and offer a deal which values that talent, in the knowledge that you are likely to recoup that investment several times over two to five years down the road.  It's a gamble but, with good coaching, the risk of losing out should be minimised.

 

It doesn't take much for a fledgling career in football to be stopped in its tracks. John Dodds (a year older than Keir) signed for Everton this summer. He got injured playing for their U18s and is now out for the season having done an ACL. 

 

 

[OTT]

Merge? 😅

[Famous 1874]

He needs to be fast tracked like Wilson. 

[Captain Sausage]

I don’t pay much attention to the youth teams -what position does he play?

 

Good to hear we’ve got some talent in the pipeline!

[Heartsofgold]

3 hours ago, Captain Sausage said:

I don’t pay much attention to the youth teams -what position does he play?

 

Good to hear we’ve got some talent in the pipeline!

Midfield, and this young lad is mustard!!  There is real talent in him and he will be played in the 1st team sooner rather than later!!!

[EIEIO]

Maybe this will change @Footballfirst Tony Bloom was resolutely in favour of Academy's and clubs developing their own players. Obviously money talks with some of these guys short term depending on their parents or agents.

Edited August 13, 2025 by EIEIO
Spelling

[AlimOzturk]

6 minutes ago, Heartsofgold said:

Midfield, and this young lad is mustard!!  There is real talent in him and he will be played in the 1st team sooner rather than later!!!

This was said about Harry Cochrane as well and he is now playing for Arbroath. 
 

Not wanting to shite on any young players potential and I genuinely hope he makes the breakthrough big time. However senior football is another thing altogether 

[Heartsofgold]

4 minutes ago, AlimOzturk said:

This was said about Harry Cochrane as well and he is now playing for Arbroath. 
 

Not wanting to shite on any young players potential and I genuinely hope he makes the breakthrough big time. However senior football is another thing altogether 

Totally understand mate but, if he is brought through properly, then this laddie is the real deal.  Like you though, I'm not going to get too carried away until he's in the team and shows us what he can do against 1st team opponents.

[RustyRightPeg]

12 minutes ago, AlimOzturk said:

This was said about Harry Cochrane as well and he is now playing for Arbroath. 
 

Not wanting to shite on any young players potential and I genuinely hope he makes the breakthrough big time. However senior football is another thing altogether 

Cochrane’s only 24. 
 

Playing for Arbroath isn’t a bad thing by the way. He still has a career in the leagues and could still yet end up forging a good living out of it if he keeps his head down. 

[Pingu]

9 hours ago, Footballfirst said:

I can see this thread turning into a "will he / won't he" discussion, much the same as when James Wilson was being tracked by multiple clubs.

 

If (it's a big if) he stays it will be a major coup for the club. However, I think it will be require a departure from the norm in terms of a package that will be attractive enough for him, given the offers that are likely to be on the table for him. 

 

In recent years the club has stuck by it's one size fits all offer for first professional contracts (it isn't great financially). I think James Wilson was given some guarantees about doing pre season with the first team and assurances of being fast tracked through the B Team, subject to performing at the required level, which was enough to encourage him to stay.

 

Every now and then you will come across a talent that is away ahead of his peer group. You need to have the flexibility to deviate from the standard offering and offer a deal which values that talent, in the knowledge that you are likely to recoup that investment several times over two to five years down the road.  It's a gamble but, with good coaching, the risk of losing out should be minimised.

 

It doesn't take much for a fledgling career in football to be stopped in its tracks. John Dodds (a year older than Keir) signed for Everton this summer. He got injured playing for their U18s and is now out for the season having done an ACL. 

 

 

 

Get it done, Hearts. I understand the policy but this sounds like a clear case where an exception should be made. It might be a bit of a gamble, but look at some of the senior, expensive players we've wasted a lot more money on over the years. 

Clearly, he'll have options. Do we know if he's a Jambo or from a Jambo family? Sometimes that emotional connection can be a factor.

[Bob Loblaw]

You'd hope this is where our handling of Wilson will pay dividends. Obviously finances come into it, but if we can show there's a path to first team football if you're good enough and ignore the offers of academy football, like we did with Wilson, then it is far better for the boys career in the long run. Wilson certainly wouldn't be Scotland's youngest ever player if he'd went to Newcastle U23's.

Edited August 13, 2025 by Bob Loblaw

[Kendoll]

Reckon there could be a change in how youth is viewed with the Tony Bloom and Jamestown factor. Could be that youngsters might want to stay with the club more knowing what this club are doing now and in the future, and that staying might help them in the long run with bigger moves etc. One to keep an eye on. 

[Hungry hippo]

You can tell from listening to Wilson talking about his decision he made that it is mostly out of the club's hands.

 

I'm sure the club will do a big sales job but it will ultimately be what the kid wants to do.

 

There was a lot of chat about Flatman leaving when he was around 15 and he stayed although it didn't really work out for him (probably) due to injury.

[Footballfirst]

I believe the club is looking to limit the number of scouts in attendance at Academy games. They already have to notify the club of their intended presence and sit in a penned area. That follows up to 20 or so attending some games, usually a game in which Keir was likely to feature, such is the interest in him from EPL clubs.

[Hackney Hearts]

1 hour ago, Heartsofgold said:

Midfield, and this young lad is mustard!!  

 

Attacking, defensive, playmaker, b2b...?

[Heartsofgold]

1 minute ago, Hackney Hearts said:

 

Attacking, defensive, playmaker, b2b...?

Pretty attacking but not afraid to get stuck in either.

[Morgan]

So good, he's got two threads.

[cheetah]

Bump

[BigStein]

Would rather we didn’t play him in the first team ever just in case he attracts offers. We should also get him to stand behind the camera when we take the team photo just in case any scouts get a glimpse of him

[Hackney Hearts]

19 minutes ago, Heartsofgold said:

Pretty attacking but not afraid to get stuck in either.

 

[Takeshi's Tynecastle]

Is what Motherwell have done with Lennon Miller the template here?

 

If he is really good then he will move onto bigger things than hearts eventually. I guess the thing is working with him and his family to show that we have a development plan that will help his development and gives a good outcome for else (ie a sizeable fee)

 

Short-term question: If he was to get near the first team this season, could he play in that troublesome 3rd midfield slot that Spittall has been struggling in the last couple of games?

[DalryJambo]

1 hour ago, Pingu said:

 

Get it done, Hearts. I understand the policy but this sounds like a clear case where an exception should be made. It might be a bit of a gamble, but look at some of the senior, expensive players we've wasted a lot more money on over the years. 

Clearly, he'll have options. Do we know if he's a Jambo or from a Jambo family? Sometimes that emotional connection can be a factor.

 

I think JTA reverse engineer the stats on players and understand their qualities in their younger years. For example, what were Erling Haaland stats as a 15/16 year old. Looking in Scotland, what were Lennon Millers stats at 15/16? If you can work out that, you can then have a baseline to measure others against. So if this lad has stats similar to Miller, and we are confident we can develop players correctly, then let's invest appropriately to ensure the player stays.

 

In the past we've never been able to rate players in this analytical way, it's always been the eye test..'looks like a player...but this is completely subjective.  

 

I'm sure the Tony Bloom money will be invested across the squad including the youth teams and the B/reserve squads to produce that conveyor belt across all positions.

Edited August 13, 2025 by DalryJambo
Edit

[Batistuta9]

Some player. Unfortunately due to a lack of protection and the ridiculous rules that are in place for youth transfers we will likely lose him for a pittance before he manages to kick a ball for the first team. We can only hope that he actually wants to play for Hearts and that he's getting some decent advice from his representatives. He's been here since U10 I think so you'd like to think he's invested, and that the amount of time he's been here means that if he does walk, we'll get a better (but still shite) fee.

 

Edited August 13, 2025 by Batistuta87

[Batistuta9]

1 hour ago, Hackney Hearts said:

 

Attacking, defensive, playmaker, b2b...?

He's a bit of a mixture but l'd say a number 8 / box to box.
 

Edited August 13, 2025 by Batistuta87

[NextGenerationJambo]

20 minutes ago, DalryJambo said:

 

I think JTA reverse engineer the stats on players and understand their qualities in their younger years. For example, what were Erling Haaland stats as a 15/16 year old. Looking in Scotland, what were Lennon Millers stats at 15/16? If you can work out that, you can then have a baseline to measure others against. So if this lad has stats similar to Miller, and we are confident we can develop players correctly, then let's invest appropriately to ensure the player stays.

 

In the past we've never been able to rate players in this analytical way, it's always been the eye test..'looks like a player...but this is completely subjective.  

 

I'm sure the Tony Bloom money will be invested across the squad including the youth teams and the B/reserve squads to produce that conveyor belt across all positions.

 

One of my ommited questions for the 90 minutes with Bloom event was if JTA would advise us on academy dealings as well. You've got to think that would elevate our youth system if we were able to implement it at that level. 

[boag1874]

2 hours ago, AlimOzturk said:

This was said about Harry Cochrane as well and he is now playing for Arbroath. 
 

Not wanting to shite on any young players potential and I genuinely hope he makes the breakthrough big time. However senior football is another thing altogether 

It was never talent that was an issue with Harry tbf, it was more to do with him taking his eye off the ball once he got a wee bit of a name for himself. He was an excellent young player & regarded as a great lad when he broke in by all accounts I've read but he was like loads of other 16 year old boys & he was distracted by all the attention he was getting from burds etc. He got given a lot at a very young age & I think the hype got to him sadly.

[Eddiepolio3]

How tall is he? What sort of physique? 

[jbee647]

32 minutes ago, boag1874 said:

It was never talent that was an issue with Harry tbf, it was more to do with him taking his eye off the ball once he got a wee bit of a name for himself. He was an excellent young player & regarded as a great lad when he broke in by all accounts I've read but he was like loads of other 16 year old boys & he was distracted by all the attention he was getting from burds etc. He got given a lot at a very young age & I think the hype got to him sadly.

Harry Cochrane, like Anthony Macdonald failed to develop physically enough to play at the top level, despite Hearts efforts, sometimes you just have to accept it

[Jack Torrance]

Is he South American?

[SIWYPod]

Can he play right back?

[ShedBoy]

Any thoughts on Zak McWhinnie? He looks the damage. Midfielder. 1yr younger I think. 
 

Would be interested to hear from those who watch these games. I’ve seen him only a couple of times but really, really like him 👍🏻

[Footballfirst]

Just now, ShedBoy said:

Any thoughts on Zak McWhinnie? He looks the damage. Midfielder. 1yr younger I think. 
 

Would be interested to hear from those who watch these games. I’ve seen him only a couple of times but really, really like him 👍🏻

I heard that he broke his ankle in pre season training, so will be out for a while.

[ShedBoy]

Just now, Footballfirst said:

I heard that he broke his ankle in pre season training, so will be out for a while.

Oh no! That’s shite. Thanks for the info FF 👍🏻

[Footballfirst]

1 minute ago, ShedBoy said:

Oh no! That’s shite. Thanks for the info FF 👍🏻

He's the best of the 2011s at the moment. He was pushed up an age group to fill the gap created when Keir was pushed up from the 2010s

[ShedBoy]

1 minute ago, Footballfirst said:

He's the best of the 2011s at the moment. He was pushed up an age group to fill the gap created when Keir was pushed up from the 2010s

Wow. Talented laddies. I love hearing about them. I’ve seen him a few times, big strong, composed with a bit of dig.

 

Liked what I saw, hope he recovers well

Edited August 13, 2025 by ShedBoy

[Jambo92]

I'm completely biased but if he's all he's made out to be then Hearts is the perfect launchpad for a career in the game.  Whilst also paying back the club that's helped you develop to the player you are.

 

Versus going down South into a massive squad of youngsters and trying to make it through that.  Can count on one hand the number of lads who have gone down south before making first team appearance in SPL and 'making it' in the last 10 years.

[bloomtime]

Shhh close thread. Watch out sevcos about.

[bloomtime]

Deadco have habit of nicking our young players then flogging them for dosh.

[hughesie27]

5 hours ago, cheetah said:

Bump

[PhoenixHearts]

First name of the poshest kid from the village I grew up in.

Surname of the scummiest kid from the village I grew up in.

 

Sounds like a well balanced player.

[Masonic]

Just now, PhoenixHearts said:

First name of the poshest kid from the village I grew up in.

Surname of the scummiest kid from the village I grew up in.

 

Sounds like a well balanced player.

 

Keirstiano Mcmaldo

[DxB Hearts]

31 minutes ago, Jambo92 said:

I'm completely biased but if he's all he's made out to be then Hearts is the perfect launchpad for a career in the game.  Whilst also paying back the club that's helped you develop to the player you are.

 

Versus going down South into a massive squad of youngsters and trying to make it through that.  Can count on one hand the number of lads who have gone down south before making first team appearance in SPL and 'making it' in the last 10 years.

Its not just with us - look at the likes of Miller and Ferguson who have gotten big moves to Serie A and who wouldn’t have been near an EPL first team if we’re honest. 
 

Got to think we (and other SPL sides) are hammering it home that first team football here at 18/19/20 can get you a move to really good sides in big leagues and sitting in an EPL2 or u23s down south can really hinder development. 
 

I’m obviously biased but if I had a laddie at that level and age I’d be suggesting they stayed at Hearts. 

[Ally Alexander]

4 hours ago, jbee647 said:

Harry Cochrane, like Anthony Macdonald failed to develop physically enough to play at the top level, despite Hearts efforts, sometimes you just have to accept it

It's possible that Left in recognised their frailty and tried to limit their game time.  I believe that MacDonald in particular took exception to this.  Possibly other distractions.  However Cochrane in particular  became a target when he played in the under age team and was badly injured on first team duty by Brown who took revenge for the 4 nil defeat.   Cochrane has admit that he has not fully recovered.  MacDonald developed  a b problem which severely hampered his progress.  I have always suspected that he may have been overdoing the gym work where his body was not developed sufficiently.  

[Craiglockhart No.9]

6 hours ago, NextGenerationJambo said:

 

One of my ommited questions for the 90 minutes with Bloom event was if JTA would advise us on academy dealings as well. You've got to think that would elevate our youth system if we were able to implement it at that level. 

That's ashame would have been an interesting question.

 

Certainly more interesting than hearing him answer the same question 15 times in a row.