The aftermath of the farce which was Wednesday night..
If you live in Edinburgh, you will be aware that it was the Edinburgh Derby on Wednesday. The biggest game of the season for two halves of Edinburgh. A huge social event for many. People in Edinburgh live their lives through their football club, and rightly so. Edinburgh is no different from Glasgow in the respect that football is ingrained in the city’s culture. Scottish football may not be the best product in the football market, but no other product can match the passion of the fans that’s for sure.
The game on Wednesday was the replay of the 5th round Scottish Cup tie between Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian. A game, that let’s just say was devoid of quality in the original tie. Whether that be the playing surface (which has since been ripped up), or the football that was played on the day. The game ended a stalemate, a real turgid affair. Hibs were obviously delighted, they had come to Tynecastle again, and left with a decent result considering the conditions. Hearts on the other hand, left disappointed. The prospect of going to Easter Road just over a year later from being dumped out by them in the same round of the same competition wasn’t one I particularly relished.
However, my blind loyalty to Hearts meant I plodded on and bought a ticket for Easter Road. After texting a friend to say I had purchased the tickets, she asked “Are we daft?”, I replied “Aye, but wouldn’t have it any other way”. The question was about the first game; which Hearts legend, but marmite columnist Gary MacKay questioned the passion and fight of the current Hearts squad. Usually marmite, most agreed with MacKay. Hibs had an edge on us, an edge we used to have on them. It felt strange. I suppose my friend and I already had an indication of what was going to come on Wednesday.
Wednesday arrived, and sitting having drinks pre-match I had a scroll through Twitter to see what the team was for the game. Everyone had a look and saw from the line-up that we had learned no lessons from the previous tie at Tynecastle. We arrive at the game optimistic that our quality would see us through. Hoping that the team would apply lessons learned from the first tie. There was no such application of any lessons. We were outfought from the first whistle, again. Hibs had a hunger, a desire which Hearts just didn’t match. This hunger and desire hasn’t been matched since 2014. As a young footballer, you’re always told you can have all the talent and skill in the world, but if you do not have the hunger and desire you won’t win games. This old cliché turned out to be true on Wednesday.
There’s no doubting there’s talent in Ian Cathro’s new-look Hearts team. It’s full of internationalists. These guys have played football at a much higher level than Scottish football. So, how could they not handle the heat of the Edinburgh Derby? Some of these guys had played in ferocious derbies in Europe with atmospheres that would’ve dwarfed that of Easter Road on Wednesday. What went wrong?
Hibernian forward, and former Hearts supporter Jason Cummings had a theory that the players on the Hearts team-sheet never knew what the derby meant to the people of Edinburgh. The limp and frankly chicken hearted performance that was produced from the Hearts players does nothing to disprove the theory.
However, I think it’s something slightly more than that, and it’s something Ian Cathro was aware of prior to the original tie. Hibs have a core, which they’ve built up over the years they’ve been in the Championship. A strong core, of players who know what it means to play for Hibs, and have been there a few years. Aberdeen have done similar under Derek McInnes. Hearts on the other hand, without having statistics to hand, have probably one of the highest player turnover rates in Scotland. I get the need for continuous improvement, we can’t stand still. But it surprises me greatly the club take this approach having Craig Levein as Director of Football.
Don’t forget Craig Levein was a very successful manager at Hearts, he had Hearts finish 3rd two seasons in a row in a competitive SPL while reducing the clubs’ expenditure on wages. Craig’s Hearts teams had a core, a strong spine. The spine of the famous 05/06 team consisted of players that Craig brought to the football club, or brought through our youth academy. Craig Gordon, Steven Pressley, Andy Webster and Paul Hartley.
There hasn’t been an identifiable core or spine to our team during his tenure as Director of Football, as there’s constant turnover. I understand this may not be down to Craig, so this may be harsh. However, he’s there to provide help to the young head coaches coming through this “conveyer belt”. I understand the Ian Cathro’s and Robbie Neilson’s want to do it their own way, but why not start by building strong foundations for these guys to build on? After all, it does seem to be the Foundation of Hearts’ new slogan “From these foundations”. Should all aspects of the club not be built from some kind of foundation, including the playing squad? A spine of players who actually understand what it means to wear the jersey would go a long way to solving the recent derby conundrum.
Hearts fans don’t demand that our players are world-class footballers. In the market, we’re in, we understand we’re not going to see Messi’s arrive at Tynecastle. However, what we do ask is that the players give 100% for the jersey. It was clear on Wednesday they didn’t offer that, instead a gutless limp effort. Which is absolutely inexcusable, especially against Hibs. Everything about Hearts was far too nice. I understand signing good characters, but we need players with an edge, who are prepared to put their body on the line for the cause. In the current crop, I don’t see any players with this edge. Far far too soft and nice. An attribute which up until 2014, belonged to our city rivals. A situation which needs to change, and quickly.
Ian Cathro and Aaron Hughes met the media prior to our match this weekend with Partick Thistle. Ian Cathro commented that his team have let a lot of people down, and there’s no making up for Wednesday. Well Ian, as admirable as it is that you’re holding your hands up. You’re right, and a section of the support won’t forgive that.
Aaron Hughes also commented that a positive reaction versus Thistle would begin to make up for it. No, Aaron… a win against Thistle won’t even begin to make up for Wednesday. Wednesday was a derby match, that means so much to so many, and your team mates put in what was a gutless display.
Many Hearts fans regard as the season being over. Which is the biggest disappointment. European qualification for us to be knocked out by a team I’ve never heard of doesn’t excite me much, but is required to enable to help the club achieve off-field goals. The prospect of silverware does however excite, and you and your team mates failed badly, to your own admission.
A reaction against Partick Thistle is an absolute minimum requirement, as well as pushing for European qualification.
Making up for it will hopefully begin when we meet Hibs four times next year. In the meantime, I’ll have to continue to be more excited by what is going on off the park, rather than on it. A bleak outlook for a football fan that cares about results, rather than balance sheets, construction and improvements to the clubs’ infrastructure.
