It's customary to describe any competition between clubs to sign a player as a "race", and Hearts have won the race to sign Darren Barr on a pre-contract for next season, ahead of Aberdeen, Hibs and perhaps one or other Dundee club.
Well, they are the nearest to Falkirk after all.
Barr will be joining a squad that will be significantly overhauled in the summer. Apparently, he has been assured of his first team place - well, if everyone else leaves, he won't need to worry about that.
Hearts may have beaten their City rivals and others to the defender's signature, but this is a club with serious money problems. Csaba Laszlo said, after Christian Nade's sending off against Rangers triggered a £10,000 fine from the SFA, that "we have a problem paying the money".
With Ian Black signing last summer, and now Barr, Hearts' strategy seems to be a core of decent Scottish SPL Pros supporting a young team picked from the academy.
Needless to say, this is not a formula to dominate the SPL, let alone make an impression in Europe, but then those days are long gone.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
SPL plays managerial merry go round
Jim Jefferies will be pleased with the support he's got from the media today, after he and longterm assistant Billy Brown left Kilmarnock "by mutual consent" last night. He is a decent manager who can point to many achievements over nearly 30 years as a gaffer, and the consensus view seems to be that Killie are mental to want rid of him.
Many of the supporters, though, are happy he's gone, and hope a new man might breathe some fresh life into the club. Heavily in debt, there's no doubt that Jefferies was becoming increasingly frustrated by continual cuts to his budget - not only did this affect his squad, but his backroom team has become increasingly threadbare. If Kilmarnock really are operating without a club doctor, as Kevin Kyle complained, then this seems a ludicrous situation for a professional football club in Scotland's top tier.
Still, two points above bottom place, and with Motherwell and Dundee Utd also looking to appoint new managers, Michael Johnston had better have someone lined up to start work soon - or Killie will be in even more danger of being relegated.
Given their current financial difficulties, that would be devastating.
Many of the supporters, though, are happy he's gone, and hope a new man might breathe some fresh life into the club. Heavily in debt, there's no doubt that Jefferies was becoming increasingly frustrated by continual cuts to his budget - not only did this affect his squad, but his backroom team has become increasingly threadbare. If Kilmarnock really are operating without a club doctor, as Kevin Kyle complained, then this seems a ludicrous situation for a professional football club in Scotland's top tier.
Still, two points above bottom place, and with Motherwell and Dundee Utd also looking to appoint new managers, Michael Johnston had better have someone lined up to start work soon - or Killie will be in even more danger of being relegated.
Given their current financial difficulties, that would be devastating.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Derby draws
Sunday saw the Old Firm and the two Edinburgh clubs square up for their New Year derbies - and in the end, both matches finished all square. It was a missed opportunity for the green halves of both cities.
At least Celtic played well. Tony Mowbray has been asking for patience from the supporters for months, as he gets his team to play the way he wants them to, and yesterday Celtic looked like a cohesive team. With better finishing, they would have buried Rangers - even Walter Smith conceded that his side were lucky to earn a draw.
Mowbray has also been dropping heavy hints that players will move on this month - but unlike Smith, he will have money to reinvest in his squad. The Rangers boss is hoping no bids come in, because he can't be sure that the bank will let him spend any of the proceeds. January could be a pivotal month for the SPL title race.
It's a race that Hibs won't be involved in. Getting a draw in the first Edinburgh Derby of the season at Tynecastle was a creditable result, but at home they really should have imposed themselves more on the game. As it was, a poor first half ended with a goal for Hearts. Hibs then equalised early in the second half, but couldn't get another.
In other respects, it was a fiery encounter, with Darren McCormack and Ruben Palazuelos sent off for head-butting eachother, robust tackles aplenty, and a smoke canister thrown from the Hearts support as well. All good stuff, but sadly there was little quality football.
Still, Hibs remain fairly comfortable in third, a good place to be going into the second half of the season. Hearts have surged up the table in recent weeks, but with the usual off-the-field chaos don't expect it to last.
At least Celtic played well. Tony Mowbray has been asking for patience from the supporters for months, as he gets his team to play the way he wants them to, and yesterday Celtic looked like a cohesive team. With better finishing, they would have buried Rangers - even Walter Smith conceded that his side were lucky to earn a draw.
Mowbray has also been dropping heavy hints that players will move on this month - but unlike Smith, he will have money to reinvest in his squad. The Rangers boss is hoping no bids come in, because he can't be sure that the bank will let him spend any of the proceeds. January could be a pivotal month for the SPL title race.
It's a race that Hibs won't be involved in. Getting a draw in the first Edinburgh Derby of the season at Tynecastle was a creditable result, but at home they really should have imposed themselves more on the game. As it was, a poor first half ended with a goal for Hearts. Hibs then equalised early in the second half, but couldn't get another.
In other respects, it was a fiery encounter, with Darren McCormack and Ruben Palazuelos sent off for head-butting eachother, robust tackles aplenty, and a smoke canister thrown from the Hearts support as well. All good stuff, but sadly there was little quality football.
Still, Hibs remain fairly comfortable in third, a good place to be going into the second half of the season. Hearts have surged up the table in recent weeks, but with the usual off-the-field chaos don't expect it to last.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Motherwell sack Gannon!
Jim Gannon's only been in Scottish football since June, but he's managed to generate more than his fair share of headlines in that time. And now here's the latest - a genuine festive shocker.
According to the BBC, he's been sacked because he refused to sign a contract, suggesting that he has been working without a proper agreement in place since joining Motherwell. The club have explained their decision by saying that Gannon "lacked commitment to the club".
Certainly, Gannon has proved himself a spiky and devisive character, having dropped captain Stephen Craigan (having publicly criticised him), boycotted the media for a brief time, and got involved in a number of other arguments. Rumours circulated that he was unpopular with some of the players and hierachy at Motherwell.
Yet his team played some nice stuff (not easy, given the budget he had) and were on course for a top six finish - the target given by the chairman.
No doubt the truth about what happened behind closed doors will emerge in time.
Derek McInnes has been mentioned in connection with the vacancy at Dundee Uts and must be a candidate here too, but will Motherwell turn to Craigan himself? The skipper was put in temporary charge of the team before Gannon's appointment, and is supposedly keen on a coaching career.
According to the BBC, he's been sacked because he refused to sign a contract, suggesting that he has been working without a proper agreement in place since joining Motherwell. The club have explained their decision by saying that Gannon "lacked commitment to the club".
Certainly, Gannon has proved himself a spiky and devisive character, having dropped captain Stephen Craigan (having publicly criticised him), boycotted the media for a brief time, and got involved in a number of other arguments. Rumours circulated that he was unpopular with some of the players and hierachy at Motherwell.
Yet his team played some nice stuff (not easy, given the budget he had) and were on course for a top six finish - the target given by the chairman.
No doubt the truth about what happened behind closed doors will emerge in time.
Derek McInnes has been mentioned in connection with the vacancy at Dundee Uts and must be a candidate here too, but will Motherwell turn to Craigan himself? The skipper was put in temporary charge of the team before Gannon's appointment, and is supposedly keen on a coaching career.
Pretenders to the crown
Just as soon as people started talking up a serious challenge to the Old Firm in the SPL this season, events conspired to put a stop to such rash chat.
Firstly, Dundee Utd lost their manager, with Craig Levein deciding that he rather fancied a tilt at the Scotland job after all. It's hard to see how this won't derail the Arabs' strong start to the season - Levein was not just first team coach, but influential at all levels of the club.
And now Hibs have been thoroughly beaten by Rangers, to put a little perspective on the Edinburgh club's true quality. Too open and too mistake-prone, they were undone by a team who - European failings apart - know how to get a result in Scotland.
What does all this tell us? Well, Rangers still have their problems, but these will be lessened if Celtic can't keep them from top spot this season, and they get back into the Champions League group stages next autumn. Both outcomes would bring much-needed additional money into the club, helping to appease the bank, and lessen the pressure to spend money they don't have on new players.
Hibs still look to be the strongest of the chasing pack, despite ending their unbeaten run. What they need is consistency - a third place finish this term, with positive signs of development, would give the club a better platform to try and push on again next season.
Firstly, Dundee Utd lost their manager, with Craig Levein deciding that he rather fancied a tilt at the Scotland job after all. It's hard to see how this won't derail the Arabs' strong start to the season - Levein was not just first team coach, but influential at all levels of the club.
And now Hibs have been thoroughly beaten by Rangers, to put a little perspective on the Edinburgh club's true quality. Too open and too mistake-prone, they were undone by a team who - European failings apart - know how to get a result in Scotland.
What does all this tell us? Well, Rangers still have their problems, but these will be lessened if Celtic can't keep them from top spot this season, and they get back into the Champions League group stages next autumn. Both outcomes would bring much-needed additional money into the club, helping to appease the bank, and lessen the pressure to spend money they don't have on new players.
Hibs still look to be the strongest of the chasing pack, despite ending their unbeaten run. What they need is consistency - a third place finish this term, with positive signs of development, would give the club a better platform to try and push on again next season.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Will the Jambos stand up and be counted this weekend?
Apparently, Hearts' Supreme Leader is in town this weekend for their match against Dundee Utd (a match, remember, that Csaba Laszlo has described as a "must win" fixture).
Given how irregularly Vladimir Romanov bothers to turn up in Edinburgh these days, his appearance offers a rare opportunity to the supporters to vent their frustrations. There are more questions than answers at Hearts, with millions having disappeared into dubious player acquisitions, the stadium rebuilding project now derailed, and the club being buffeted by rumours of financial problems.
Will the supporters take this chance to protest? It could be a very interesting afternoon.
EDIT (Saturday): Ouch, did we scare him off?
Mister Romanov didn't show up at Hearts v Arabs (decent point for the Jambos, by the way). Apparently, he was never going to. Instead, he was taking an "opportunity to find out how the "stukachi" on me in Scotland operate"... "stukachi" meaning secret informer.
The man is mental.
Given how irregularly Vladimir Romanov bothers to turn up in Edinburgh these days, his appearance offers a rare opportunity to the supporters to vent their frustrations. There are more questions than answers at Hearts, with millions having disappeared into dubious player acquisitions, the stadium rebuilding project now derailed, and the club being buffeted by rumours of financial problems.
Will the supporters take this chance to protest? It could be a very interesting afternoon.
EDIT (Saturday): Ouch, did we scare him off?
Mister Romanov didn't show up at Hearts v Arabs (decent point for the Jambos, by the way). Apparently, he was never going to. Instead, he was taking an "opportunity to find out how the "stukachi" on me in Scotland operate"... "stukachi" meaning secret informer.
The man is mental.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Hearts hog the headlines, but Hibs might be the season's real story
After last week's (lucky) win over Kilmarnock, Hearts had a chance to get their season up and running away at Hamilton on Sunday. It didn't go well.
Highlights of the match show that, even though Hearts should have been awarded a late penalty, they did not deserve anything from the game. Silly Mikey Stewart lost the plot again, and a post-match fracas in the tunnel led to two more red cards for Ian Black and Suso Santana.
It's all symptomatic of a club lacking direction and leadership, with rumours swirling about financial problems for months (bright spark Gary Mackay has only just found out, however). Vladimir Romanov's regime has been an unmitigated disaster, but as long as the fans continue to be so apathetic in response, nothing will change. (Here's a neat summary of the myriad broken promises so far).
Manager Csaba Laszlo is now banking on six points in their next two games against Dundee Utd and Celtic... we'll let you know when we stop laughing. The truth is, Hearts are now condemned to a season bumping around in the bottom six, with a possible relegation battle ahead if they don't fix things pronto. And they won't... there's no money for new players in January, and - not for the first time - Laszlo is being found out. In truth, he's a fairly limited coach, with a very high opinion of himself.
Meanwhile...
As Hearts hogged the headlines from the weekend, Hibs recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over Motherwell that extends their unbeaten run to 10 matches. At the moment, they and Dundee Utd look favourites for the "best of the rest" title, which is all anyone could reasonably ask of them.
This is not an unusual situation. Hibs have finished third twice in the past decade, while two years ago they had a great start to the season under John Collins before falling away badly. Yet, there is a feeling this time that Hibs could be able to build a more sustained challenge.
Hibs are no longer the debt-laden club they once were. While players seem to move around a lot more these days, Hibs can now be much more selective about which offers they accept. The days of having to sell a player for the first decent offer that comes in are long gone. (Dundee Utd, on the other hand, have already admitted to some financial difficulties.)
John Hughes has made an impressive start as manager, made some eye-catching signings, and his face just seems to fit. He says that he is in his dream job and plans to stay around for several years, and there are few reasons to doubt him. Along with the club's sound finances, this brings stability, and the chance to build a squad over several seasons.
And, of course, the Old Firm just aren't the powerhouses they once were in the Scottish game. Hibs are currently just two points behind Celtic, with a third of the season gone. Celtic and Rangers just can't bank on an easy three points most weekends, as they used to - they have both dropped a fair few points already this season, with both Tony Mowbray and Walter Smith having their fair share of problems to deal with.
There is a long, long way to go still, and realistically even finishing in second place this season would be a huge achievement, never mind first. But there is the feeling of something special starting to happen down at Easter Road.
Highlights of the match show that, even though Hearts should have been awarded a late penalty, they did not deserve anything from the game. Silly Mikey Stewart lost the plot again, and a post-match fracas in the tunnel led to two more red cards for Ian Black and Suso Santana.
It's all symptomatic of a club lacking direction and leadership, with rumours swirling about financial problems for months (bright spark Gary Mackay has only just found out, however). Vladimir Romanov's regime has been an unmitigated disaster, but as long as the fans continue to be so apathetic in response, nothing will change. (Here's a neat summary of the myriad broken promises so far).
Manager Csaba Laszlo is now banking on six points in their next two games against Dundee Utd and Celtic... we'll let you know when we stop laughing. The truth is, Hearts are now condemned to a season bumping around in the bottom six, with a possible relegation battle ahead if they don't fix things pronto. And they won't... there's no money for new players in January, and - not for the first time - Laszlo is being found out. In truth, he's a fairly limited coach, with a very high opinion of himself.
Meanwhile...
As Hearts hogged the headlines from the weekend, Hibs recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over Motherwell that extends their unbeaten run to 10 matches. At the moment, they and Dundee Utd look favourites for the "best of the rest" title, which is all anyone could reasonably ask of them.
This is not an unusual situation. Hibs have finished third twice in the past decade, while two years ago they had a great start to the season under John Collins before falling away badly. Yet, there is a feeling this time that Hibs could be able to build a more sustained challenge.
Hibs are no longer the debt-laden club they once were. While players seem to move around a lot more these days, Hibs can now be much more selective about which offers they accept. The days of having to sell a player for the first decent offer that comes in are long gone. (Dundee Utd, on the other hand, have already admitted to some financial difficulties.)
John Hughes has made an impressive start as manager, made some eye-catching signings, and his face just seems to fit. He says that he is in his dream job and plans to stay around for several years, and there are few reasons to doubt him. Along with the club's sound finances, this brings stability, and the chance to build a squad over several seasons.
And, of course, the Old Firm just aren't the powerhouses they once were in the Scottish game. Hibs are currently just two points behind Celtic, with a third of the season gone. Celtic and Rangers just can't bank on an easy three points most weekends, as they used to - they have both dropped a fair few points already this season, with both Tony Mowbray and Walter Smith having their fair share of problems to deal with.
There is a long, long way to go still, and realistically even finishing in second place this season would be a huge achievement, never mind first. But there is the feeling of something special starting to happen down at Easter Road.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
