Pride & Passion Counts Too

There was a fair bit of hoo-ha the other week about Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez apparent refusal to come on as a second half substitute during the UEFA Champions League game with Bayern Munich. The Argentine playmaker was subsequently banned for two weeks for his actions (or lack of action)

It added further weight to the theory that some of today’s highly paid footballers in the Barclays FA Premiership have inflated egos and are in a world far removed from the working class origins that started football a century and a half ago. Many fans opined, quite rightly, that those players earning upwards of £150k per week should, at the very least, be carrying out instructions from their manager.

Those of us lucky enough to have jobs in today’s rapidly downtrodden economic climate would certainly think long and hard before refusing to carry out an instruction from our bosses. When my manager stomps towards my desk on Monday morning demanding I produce that report that should have been on his desk on Friday afternoon, I harbour a sizeable suspicion that he won’t take kindly to my response of ‘sorry, boss, I’m unable to produce that report as I’m not mentally attuned’. Like Tevez, I could run to the press and tell them my side of the story - I have personal problems, my wife has ran off with my best mate…and I miss him terribly - but a) the tabloid press wouldn’t be in the least bit interested and b) I would be handed my P45 before I made it out the office. Some footballers in today’s money laden football world think they can do whatever they please.

However, Carlos Tevez isn’t the first player to disobey an instruction from his manager. Back in season 1997/98, Dutch striker Pierre Van Hooijdonk went on strike at Nottingham Forest, apparently over the lack of signings at the club. The former Celtic player was unhappy at what he perceived to be a lack of ambition and asked for a transfer. Having just paid £4.5m for the player, Forest quite understandably, didn’t agree to his request and so the player went on strike. The Forest manager at the time, Dave Bassett, was furious and the affect it had on team morale was considerable as the team slumped to the bottom of the FA Premiership. Bassett was sacked following the team’s poor start and when Van Hooijdonk eventually returned to the team and scored against Derby County, very few of his team mates celebrated with him. He had been metaphorically sent to Coventry although even if you leave the metaphor aside it’s doubtful if City would have taken him anyway…

A surprising aside to this story emerged a couple of days later when former Manchester United player Paul Scholes revealed he once refused to play for the Red Devils in a League Cup tie ten years ago. He had been dropped by Sir Alex Ferguson for United’s previous game against Liverpool, Scholes went in, what we Scots call ‘the huff’ with his manager - a dangerous ploy given Fergie’s notorious temperament. However, Scholes soon realised the error of his ways and apologised to the manager soon after - perhaps realising his lucrative career at Old Trafford would be flushed down the pan if his foolhardy attitude persisted.

Player power can have its positive side with players bonding and showing a unity that can help a team through periods of adversity. However, selfish actions such as those displayed by Carlos Tevez are a kick in the teeth to the fans who help pay towards his considerable wages. One of the many good things about grass roots football is that such attitudes rarely exist at this level and while the football may not reach the standard of skill of Tevez and co. there’s a lot to be said for good, honest endeavour.

There’s also a lot to be said for local lads representing their local team, something supporters can associate far more easily than the here today, gone tomorrow, badge-kissing mercenaries of top-flight football. Hearts have been lucky in recent years to have had the likes of Gary Mackay and current assistant coach Gary Locke wear the Hearts shirt with pride. Perhaps they weren’t as skilful as Tevez but they played with a passion that couldn’t be matched.

I have to go now, as I’ve just received a text message from my best mate. Do I want the missus back…?

Twitter @Mike1874

Does it Go All the Way?

I suspect not. Someone at Lothian Buses with a sense of humour!

Heart of Midlothian 2 Celtic 0

Clydesdale Bank SPL, Sunday 2 October 2011

A recurring theme in a book I'm working on - Hearts 50 Greatest Games (book plug number 94)  - is the inconsistency that has blighted Hearts throughout the years. It seems season 2011/12 is proving to be just like any other. After poor performances against Ayr United in the Scottish Communities League Cup and St. Johnstone in the Clydesdale Bank SPL, Hearts at last gave their long-suffering supporters something to cheer with a well-deserved victory over Celtic.

Heavy overnight rain in Edinburgh - a couple of days after temperatures in the capital were in the mid 70s - cast some doubt as to whether the game would go ahead but the Tynecastle pitch passed a 10.45am pitch inspection and battle commenced two hours later.

Hearts manager Paulo Sergio made some changes with David Templeton and Rudi Skacel coming in to give the team some much needed width. Just four minutes had gone when the hugely impressive Ryan Stevenson was left unmarked in the Celtic penalty area and the former Ayr United man's header was saved by Forster. Marius Zaliukas then hit the post with a shot from the edge of the penalty box as Hearts began to believe in themselves. However, Celtic should have taken the lead after 20 minutes but Bangura's header was not strong enough to beat Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald.

The game swung from end to end but it seemed a goal would not arrive - until the 58th minute. David Templeton struggled to control a cross from Jamie Hamill but the ball fell to Rudi Skacel who drilled it home for the opening goal. The Czech Republic star was about to be substituted but his well taken goal gave him a stay of execution. Minutes later, Celtic's Kris Commons was shown a straight red card by referee Craig Thomson after a lunge on Mrowiec and the game ran away from the visitors.

Hearts clinched a fine win ten minutes from the end when David Templeton chased a ball inside the Celtic penalty box before cleverly back-heeling a pass to Ryan Stevenson. 'Stevo' showed great composure as he took the ball round Forster before firing into the net to seal Hearts victory.

Hearts are now fourth in the Clydesdale Bank SPL. Under Paulo Sergio, The Maroons have won four games at Tynecastle and have yet to concede a goal. It's a different story altogether away from Gorgie - something the manager knows he has to address if Hearts are to make anything of this season.

Top man: Ryan Stevenson. He may not be the most gifted player ever to wear maroon, but no one works harder or is more committed. And he took his goal well.

Not Hearts v Celtic

Things you might not hear at Tynecastle this afternoon...

I love coming to Tynecastle. I have such a high regard for Hearts as a club and its supporters - Neil Lennon.

I thought the referee was immense today, he didn't put a foot wrong. He's a credit to his profession - Neil Lennon.

Right, John Sutton - you'll be the target man with Stephen Elliot and I want you, David Templeton and you, Arvydas Novikovas to stretch the Celtic defence down the wings - Paulo Sergio.

And Ian Black pulled out of that 50-50 challenge at the last minute - Sky Sports commentator.

David Obua beat four Celtic defenders before superbly lobbing the keeper for his hat-trick and Hearts fourth goal of the afternoon - Sky Sports commentator.

I'm going to run and run for 90 minutes until my lungs burst - Rudi Skacel.

I feel a bit of a twinge in my hamstring but, hey, it's nothing I won't be able to run off and I'll be fine - Andy Webster.

Okay, lads, I'm expecting a quiet afternoon with no hostility, so let's keep a low profile. Help yourself to tea and biscuits in the police commander's room as I don't think you'll be too busy - Lothian & Borders Police Chief to his officers.

Ah, Paulo. You're doing a brilliant job. I'm going to give you a five year contract and you can pick whoever you want for the team. I trust you - Vladimir Romanov.

Paul Hartley

Having been out for a couple of shandies on a Friday evening three weeks ago, I didn’t venture north for Hearts Clydesdale Bank SPL clash with Inverness Caledonian Thistle. I figured my delicate constitution, in its post-alcoholic state, would struggle with a three and a half hour train journey to the beautiful capital of the Highlands. Instead, I headed to Larbert to see East Stirlingshire take on a side now managed by a man still hugely popular with supporters of both Hearts and Celtic - one Paul Hartley (as used to be chanted at Tynecastle)

The man who destroyed Hibernian with a hat-trick in the Scottish Cup semi final at Hampden five and a half years ago is now player-manager of Third Division Alloa Athletic and while he opted to remain in his suit, collar and tie for the short trip to Ochilview, there’s no doubt Hartley is already exerting considerable influence over The Wasps. Alloa played a neat, passing game which some may say might prove their undoing in the hurley burley of the basement league, although it didn’t stop Livingston powering their way to the Third Division title a couple of seasons back. With former Aberdeen players Darren Young and Robbie Winters providing experience, The Wasps won 1-0 and it was interesting to see Hartley, a rookie manager, continually encouraging his players from the touchline.

It was Craig Levein who brought Paul Hartley to Tynecastle in 2003 after the former Hamilton and Millwall winger came to the end of his contract at St. Johnstone. Hartley’s 18 months at Hibernian meant he would never become an immediate pin-up hero with Hearts supporters and it’s fair to say it took a couple of years before the Glasgow born player began to make a major impact at Tynecastle. Under George Burley’s tutelage, Hartley was an essential part of Hearts midfield alongside Rudi Skacel, Julien Brellier and, later during season 2005-06, Bruno Aguiar. Hartley’s performances that season were immense, his pace with lung bursting runs from midfield causing havoc with opposition defenders. His three goals against Hibernian in that cup semi-final were, arguably, the apex of his career and the memory of him despatching a penalty kick to complete the four-goal rout before running to the adoring Hearts support with three fingers in the air remains vivid. Hartley, of course, also scored the penalty kick that defeated Aberdeen before tumultuous acclaim at Tynecastle in the penultimate league game of the season - a win that ensured Hearts finished second in the SPL and therefore clinched a place in the qualifying stages for the following season’s UEFA Champions League.

Six months later, Hartley signed for the team he supported as a boy - Celtic - in a deal worth more than a million pounds to Hearts. Perhaps even the man himself would agree that he wasn’t quite as effective during his time at Celtic Park and, after a spell back in England with Bristol City, he returned to Scotland with Aberdeen where he was made club captain. Sadly, injury meant he had to give up top-flight football at the end of last season and he accepted the opportunity to become Alloa Athletic’s player-manager during the summer.

I had hoped to see the great man in action against East Stirlingshire but, with his 35^th birthday just a few weeks away, he believed the players in his team would do the business without his influence on the field. And he was right. The Wasps won the game by a solitary goal but they were never in any danger of losing and it was to their great credit they tried to play a passing game with the studious Paul Hartley analysing almost every move.

Having been relegated to the Third Division following a play-off defeat by Annan Athletic at the end of last season, Alloa are among the favourites to bounce straight back up again. Led by a man who remains a hero to thousands of Hearts supporters, I would be very surprised if The Wasps didn’t live up to expectations. Similarly, in the Irn Bru Second Division, another former Jambo, Colin Cameron - who scored the opening goal in Hearts 1998 Scottish Cup Final triumph over Rangers - is doing a fine job at Cowdenbeath.

The likes of Craig Levein, John Robertson and, of course, Jim Jefferies before them made the transition from Hearts player to Hearts manager. Given the early impression both Hartley and Cameron have made as coaches, one couldn’t rule out the possibility of a Hearts Scottish Cup hero returning to Tynecastle one day in a managerial role!

Twitter @Mike1874

　

Heart of Midlothian 2 St. Mirren 0

Clydesdale Bank SPL, Saturday 17 September 2011 - Tynecastle

Hearts continued their renaissance under manager Paul Sergio with a comfortable win over St. Mirren in Gorgie. The Maroons have been unbeaten since Tottenham Hotspur put them to the sword at Tynecastle a month ago but, it has to be said, this was a tedious affair in the autumn sunshine.

I wrote in my column for the Hearts programme about how there are few stadia that can match the atmosphere of a full house at Tynecastle. That appeared to be the kiss of death. There wasn't a full house today and the atmosphere was muted and most unlike Tynecastle. Whether this had an effect on the players, it's difficult to tell but lethargy dominated proceedings, certainly in the first half.

There's a running joke  - if you'll excuse the pun - among Hearts fans about how long the perennially injured Andy Webster will last each match. Webster was listed in the starting line up today but didn't even make it to kick-off - he was injured in the warm up and was replaced by Eggert Jonsson. Webster is a decent defender but there has to be questions asked about his fitness for top class football - okay, then, the SPL...

The only moment of note in the opening 40 minutes was a long range effort from the impressive Mehdi Taouil - himself returning from injury - which brought a fine save from Saints keeper Samson. Just as it seemed the game would be goalless at half time, Hearts Marius Zaliukas ventured forward into the visitors penalty box and was tripped by Haddad. Penalty said referee Charlie Richmond and despite the best efforts of keeper Samson to put him off, Jamie Hamill drilled the ball home for the opening goal. Moments later, David Obua should have doubled Hearts lead when he burst into the penalty box but his effort on goal was saved by Samson when the Ugandan really ought to have buried the opportunity.

Hearts were in command in the second half and secured victory with a second goal 20 minutes from the end when Ryan Stevenson dived to head home Danny Grainger's cross although some reports are stating it was an own goal from Lee Mair. 'Stevo' certainly took the acclaim. There endeth the scoring.

Hearts are now a point off third place in the Clydesdale Bank SPL. A victory is most welcome but Paulo Sergio's mission to change Hearts style of play will be a long-term project - and managers at Tynecastle don't tend to be there long enough for such a transition. Certainly today, it seemed like the game lasted far longer than 90 minutes...

Top man: Mehdi Taouil, who just oozes skill.

David Francey

Sad news today about the passing of one of the great football commentators in Scotland - David Francey. The man who commentated on hundreds of Scottish football games for more than two decades until he retired in the late 1980s had been ill for some time.

I grew up listening to David Francey on the radio. He was the voice of football. There was a great story about him commentating on a Scotland game in Romania in the 1970s when he turned, off microphone, to summariser Ian Archer and asked 'Who's that Romanian number 4?' Archer replied 'F*cked if I know!'

Francey then told the listeners 'And Romania clear through Fuctifino...'

Francey said later this was a myth but it's still a great story. There was something almost comforting about listening to the great man on the radio. He sounded like a loveable grandad who would never criticise players or managers and his knowledge of the game was legendary.

A sad loss to football and to Scottish broadcasting.