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!!