Comparisons

It's been a while since I was able to update the Blog, a combination of holidays and work commitments has kept me away, anyone miss me?!?

Anyway, there's been enough early season games to formulate some opinions, and I was quite surprised to note a lot of comparisons between my two teams fortunes, and unfortunately a lot of them don't pleasant reading.

Early season form on both sides has been patchy to say the least, both far away from the semi triumphant seasons just gone, with high placed finishes and raised expectations. Both teams or more importantly managers have been hampered by the ownership circus that surrounds both clubs, promised funds not materialising, with poor communications leading to a lack of stability. Injuries to key players who would normally be relied upon to drag the respective clubs out of their slumps.

Two talented managers being pilloried for their lack of nous when faced with the above problems, neither of them using the excuses but carrying on in the best traditions of the club, working countless hours to figure out that elusive something, other than hard work, which will steady the ship.

The fans, their unwavering belief that they have the right men at the helm, even if some of the deck hands on the pitch are targets/scapegoats for the overall failings of the team/running of the club - boos have rang around both grounds this season for certain players introduction or their remaining on the pitch, an unsavoury sound which surely can't assist during times of "crisis".

Not that there's been nothing to cheer about, victories over Manchester Utd and Celtic respectively have helped put the sparkle back into the eye of all but the hardened supporter, but these sparkles are fading, due to the inconsistencies which followed....

Which brings me nicely to the small matter of today's Edinburgh derby, my first experience of what I'm sure will be a feisty encounter, fans up for it, players up for it, maybe the sort of match you need when up against it, something to put the sparkle back, lets just make sure that it's not a hollow one, 3 points against the old city rivals is just that, 3 points, you don't win anything but minor bragging rights, and success should be measured against a greater yard stick, and maybe we can learn a lesson that Liverpool forgot after beating United, that result only matters if the next one is as good, otherwise progress is never achieved...

They say we only notice stars 'cause they're bleeding, well I think it's time for us to patch them up so our collective universes can shine brighter....

The Power Of Positive Thinking

Ahh the internet, home to a million faceless venters and critics...

It has to be said however that if you're going to vent, do it privately, (in cyberspace no one can hear you scream!?!), we all have expectations, and a lot of us are feeling that they have been somewhat squashed by the weight of dissapointment, and it is expectations I want to discuss this week.

Becoming a Hearts fan, I was keen to learn what my fellow Jambos expected for the coming season, particularly on the back of an impressive 3rd placed finish last season, and my understanding was...Same again, finish 3rd, aim for the splitting the old firm, but let's have the addition of some European football at Tynecastle, everyone had their wishlist of who we would sign, but surely no one expected great players to come in..

I learned from speaking to a very informative fella about the wage cap of a mere 4,500 weekly so understanding all this, what else did I know...

• Csaba has a limited budget, with apparently limited control of how he uses it
• Injuries and suspensions have disrupted the ability to pick the best XI
• A salary cap means scraping the barrel somewhat, when comparing to other countries/clubs
• We have played the current champions, a crack european XI and arguably our nearest rivals for the 3rd place spot

So were our expectations really much more than what we received, sure performances against Dundee Utd and Zagreb were not wonderful, but I thought against Rangers (ok albeit against 10 men) they were better, and we were unlucky not to score more.

The weight of each supporters expectations or dissappointments (delete where applicable) have seemingly led to "ironic supporting", with people offering faux praise to big Dave W for daring to win a header (bet the same people celebrated the goal though), and a thousand other groans for misplaced passes, mistimed runs and mishit shots.

A reality check is needed, based on the above criteria , and the fact that a LOT of youngsters are gonna be blooded this season (see Csaba's most recent press conference!), surely the idea of SUPPORT in it's original meaning, needs to be at the forefront of every Hearts supporters mind ( I for one have dyed my gingery hair a more gingery platinum blonde in support of big Dave - you'll see me flourescing in the Wheatfield stand!)

A new side takes time to blood, players need to adapt, youngsters and "foreigners" alike need support and encouragement if they are ever going to acheive anything in the game, 17,000 people behind you gives you more wings than a case of red bull, some of these lads are one of us, if they weren't on the pitch they'd be in the stands....so let's roar em on, back to a previous topic of BELIEF!

I became jaded and used to Liverpool fans venting at every opportunity when the results weren't going their way, at least in their defence it was against a multi-million earning star who was being lazy, or showing lack of commitment, (though it seems to have transformed into let's get at the guy with the worst long hair cut!), our guys are not the most talented, but for the most part they are commited, and work hard, with a push they could become useful allies to the Hearts cause.

Now...I'm overdue a footballing miracle, last one was May 2005, lets see if the same god's are smiling on Tynecastle tonight.....

Opening day heartbreak....

Spurs 2 - 1 Liverpool - Dundee Utd 2 - 0 Hearts

And so it came to pass, 3 months of anticipation and excitement, time spent dreaming and hoping, culminating in a depressing weekend all round....

A friend of mine texted me, probably as a Samaritan, to see whether I could cope with doubling my weekly disappointment, both teams already playing catch up in their respective quests for glory..

Now I'm not a harbinger of doom, I can accept defeat as part and parcel of the game, but you may recall in my last blog I was talking about Belief, this was more on the part of the supporters, to believe and get behind the teams, and, judging by the atmosphere at both White Hart Lane and Tannadice, you guys did your parts.

An Alonso-less Liverpool looked sorry in parts, no drive, poor body language, no BELIEF, Hearts whilst playing well in parts, again to me seemed to lack BELIEF that they could get something from the game, especially after going one down (do Hearts strikers know they have to be somewhere in the same postcode as the goal to get a chance to score?).

Both teams are getting used to new systems and personnel, so the shape and the overall gameplan is not necessarily quite there yet, but the opening day desire should be.

Thankfully both teams can get it out of their system quickly, Liverpool at home to Stoke on Wednesday and Hearts with the trickier task of Dinamo Zagreb away on Thurs.

Watching Hearts yesterday was my first full introduction to the SPL, sure I'd seen a few old firm games, but very little of the rest of the league, the standard of football was good,though more akin to the championship in England, but I thought the standard of refereeing yesterday was dreadful, (hopefully this just applies to Mr Conroy?) didnt allow a physical (but overall fair) encounter to flow as much as it might.

I still feel somewhat disjointed as a Hearts fan, hopefully after the Rangers game on Sunday, I'll have more of a first hand idea of what it's all about, and hopefully 3 points in the bag....

So back to the TV for more viewing this week, here's to a better week's results, and hopefully no more Evertonians are going to ruin my weekend.....just had to be Cadamarteri didnt it!!!

new season - 20 year itch

So all is said and done, the pre-season slog is over and we all anticipate a good start to the season... I'm full of nervous excitement, but not for Monday's Tannadice visit, but for Sunday's EPL kick off. Liverpool v Tottenham, after waiting 20 years to see Liverpool win the league again, a winning start is vital, injuries to key players (most of the defence!) and the departure of our midfield maestro, means that success is not a foregone conclusion (is it ever??).

Thinking about the 20 year itch, I tried to translate this into the minds of a Hearts fan, what with it being 50 years this year (please correct me if i'm wrong, then I'll shoot wiki!) since you won the SPL, granted there's been cup victories and derby wins aplenty on the way, but as a long standing Liverpool fan if I had to wait another 30 years, I'd go spare, so thus increases my admiration for Hearts fan's, despite your obvious intelligence and groundedness, you must still harbour some hope to win the league this season, if maybe, just maybe luck is on your side. I was lucky enough to witness the "miracle of istanbul" and the celebrations that followed after a 20 year wait for European glory, I can only imagine the party in Edinburgh if a 50 year wait was ended....so here's to White Hart Lane on Sunday, then Tannadice on monday, and in the immortal words of a Kop banner that fateful season...."Make us dream"...

Speaking of European nights, though we have a tough away leg in Zagreb first, we have the advantage of a second leg at Tynecastle, in what proposes to be a classic European night. I've heard lots of stories about cracking atmosphere's at Tynecastle for the night time European games, and the Europa league is where we want to be, a solid away performance is needed, 0-0, or even better 1-1, then bring em home, and let em know what Tynecastle is about, imagine the boost for the coming season (especially after beating Rangers on the Sunday! ;)) I've experienced a number of Eastern European teams over the years, and they have become more technically gifted over the years, but they dont respond well to a passionate driven performance both on and off the pitch, so those going out to Zagreb, sing the boys home with the tie still in tact, and then we can sing em through to the group stages on the 27th!

Right I'm off to dream about a dual celebration come May, 50 years and 20 years of pain over....

BELIEVE!!

Expectations and First Impressions

Tynie on a Tuesday night, how would it feel? Well basked in some welcome and unexpected Edinburgh mildness, the experience left me impressed yet confused..

How so you may ask...

Impressed, by the standard of football. Having witnessed the training session last Saturday, and having built up pre conceptions of the players abilities and that of their cohesive unit as a team, I was fearing the worst against a physical Bolton side, of whom I've seen ruffle a few premiership sides, and, to be honest, the first half did little to change my opinions, little movement off the ball, fractious patterns of play, and one Nade run and tackle to win a lost ball excepting, little in the way of commitment( I always expected a drop in standard from the EPL, and I forgive those with less talent, but lack of commitment and desire are my biggest footballing pet hates!)

It was no suprise then that tactical ineptitude led to the Bolton opener, however always a good barometer of a teams ability is how they respond in adversity, and this is what impressed the most, Hearts, seemingly riled by going one down, took the game to Bolton, (especially after the departure of the anonymous Kingston), and with the willing running of Suso, some good cameos by players who im yet to know (or be able to pronounce) and a good finish by Nade (who managed to cover some distance where it most mattered) we can consider ourselves unlucky not to have won the game..so does it bode well for the season ahead?

This is where the confusion, and the expectation managing comes in to it for me, how do you prepare yourself as a fan, at the start of a season, a clean slate, a chance of glory, that finishing 3rd is as good as it gets, perhaps a cup run and a victory parade, qualifying for the group stages of the Europa league!??! I found myself on the way home, re addressing 28 years of new season expectations, realizing that accepting second best is acceptable, and finishing 3rd might just be an acheivement in itself..perhaps that explains less commitment from some of the players if I/We realise it, then by default some of them must realise it also, and if you cant be the best, how does that affect your motivation....

Not that I want to put a downer on what was an enjoyable evening at Tynecastle, and I left last night being more optomistic about the new season than when I started, and with you guys to help me along, we might just get somewhere...

Now lets all march down to Vlad's and find that Striker he promised....

Training With Hearts

so...my first visit to Tynecastle, first time walking up the steps into the Gorgie stand, looking down on the hallowed turf....what did i find....

A surprising gem of a stadium, it may be indicative of Scottish Football's current commercial appeal, but the lack of obvious corporate seating was a sight for sore eyes, the stadium is very compact, close to the pitch, and the excitement of seeing it full on a matchday with the potential to frighten unsuspecting opposition players (should there be singing - am yet to experience the Hearts faithful in full voice), the only downside being i have quite long gangly legs and the legroom in Gorgie isnt the most accomodating, fingers crossed my seat in the Wheatfield is better...

Onto the training session, as mentioned in my previous blog, it's a great event for the club to hold, seeing your heroes going through their everyday routines, is every kids dream. After spending 28 years of having untouchable heroes, it was great to be part of an open event, seeing so many kids and families there was heart warming, and bodes well for Hearts' future supporters, affordable accesible football is the only business model thats gonna work moving forward, with so many passionate Junior Hearts, you guys are in safe hands..

Playerwise I found it odd, that not only did I not have an affiliation to these guys, I hardly knew who any of them where, so I got the first hand experience of being a new fan again, making my mind up who's good, bad, lazy, indifferent, exciting etc.... (Stewart, Nade, Nade, Kingston and Suso are my first impression answers to those questions), plus there was quite a talented centre half who's name still escapes me, will continue my education on Tuesday for the Bolton game...

Prior engagements meant I didnt stay for the signing session, though I did manage to hit 66mph on the speed cage, so if Csaba's listening and you still want a striker, drop me a line, I know you're reading.......

Pre-Season, financial differences and the dreaded "we"!

Pre-season. A time where the hope-ometer or (despair-ometer for some) has reached its full extent. Are we putting all our hopes on a young blond Austrian, or will the saviour come from one of Eastern Europe's footballing backwaters? With no money to spend, but with the lure of European football, this has been one of my most interesting pre-seasons to date...

Now I must confess that I'm still getting used to this Hearts (never mind the blogging!) thing, having yet failed to see a game at tynecastle, my initial instincts are still to log on to bbc.co.uk, or redandwhitekop.com (a Liverpool fansite) and see what overpaid, overvalued footballer we've (more about the dreaded "we" later) been linked with or are offloading much to the consternation of the fans. 17 million for a right back, in a period where Hearts can't pay the tax man, surely it's all madness, then the afternoon arrival of the Edinburgh Evening News confirms this. Are Hearts linked with the next wunderkind from South America, or is Csaba just looking for that big bloke up front to unsettle SPL defences? (having lived in South London for a while, and seeing a few Palace games, the thought of Shefki Kuqi in a Maroon jersey filled me with dread) So to put an end to all my waffle I've gone from Fernando Torres to being linked with Izzy Mcleod in the space of 400 odd miles, and it takes some getting used to...

This coming weekend promises much: my first visit to Tynecastle for an open training session, followed by a meet and greet, and so an obvious bonus ball for the SPL. Such an event makes the players seem more real, more accessible and therefore by default, you can feel more of a part of the club with such an open door treatment, I'm relishing the opportunity (as a budding football coach) to watch first hand the players being put through their paces, and then to see the delight on young Jambos faces as they get to meet their heroes, in a time where money is changing the outlook of the beautiful game, these free events are priceless for the future..

Then on to Tuesday, Live football again finally, and the north-west (of England you understand, I still cant get used to being a southerner after 30 years of being defined by my very northern-ness) giants of Bolton Wanderers, superstition dictates that I don't take my season ticket seat in the Wheatfield stand, but am joining the masses in the Gorgie, Mrs Skyfulofscars is coming along for the ride too, dedicated woman that she is. Naturally being a fan of tricky Spaniards and hearing a lot of positive things about him I'm looking forward to seeing SUSO, and getting a feel for what this Hearts lark is all about..

Oh yeah, the dreaded "We", well I was back home for a plate of Mum's home cooking, and was discussing football and my dealings with the SPL, whenever the topic of Hearts came up, the word "WE" subconsciously appeared on my lips and out of my mouth, something normally reserved for my reverential belonging to Liverpool, so is it a footballing Freudian slip, or has my brain settled for 3rd place and a good cup run already, watch this space...

Right I'm off to find Ken Dodd, he knows a thing or two about a tax dodge, maybe Vlad should give him a call....