Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo was once again focusing on the positives of another narrow defeat on the club’s pre-season tour of Germany, this time a 2-1 reverse against SV Wiesbaden.
This defeat was the Jambos’ second on the bounce in Germany after the 1-0 loss against Kaiserslautern at the weekend, but as we all know it’s not results that count at this stage – it’s purely an exercise in getting the squad suitably prepared for the season ahead. Talking about the match, Csaba said:
‘They had two goals from very bad mistakes that normally you don’t see. After that we had 70% ball possession and we created a lot of chances, but we must go to the next step.
‘I am a little bit sad. We would like to have gone back to Scotland with good results but it is ok and we must think positive. I think there are a lot of positive things.’
Laszlo once again stressed his desire to get some new frontmen on board, as it was the ability to open up the opposition in the final third of the field that proved to be their undoing again last night.
He continued:
‘We try and I hope as soon as possible that we can take a striker, one who can come and score. We have young strikers who need a bit of time.
‘We need the surprise pass and the finish. Now we are good tactically but we must finish. This is the movement out of the ball but we must work.’
All sounds very familiar then doesn’t it? This has been one of Hearts’ main problems for quite a while now, and although Laszlo and co do appear to be doing their best to put things right, time is ticking by and they really could do with getting some new recruits on board in time to bed them in properly ahead of the SPL opener against Motherwell a week on Saturday. We all know how well that George Burley did a few years ago with a team that was literally thrown together a few days before the season started, but that sort of return is not the norm and Csaba will want to get his squad gelled together as early as possible to give him the best possible chance of doing well when the action starts for real.
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Burley had a similar pre-season, if I remember, and most clubs do as they try to change things around. Also I think that the players are less likely, if they are established, to play to their full potential. One thing does worry me though. I joked the other day that Tullberg has picked up an injury after playing just 20 minutes and he is just back from an injury lay off and concluded that surely Romanov would snap him up. Well apparently, according to rumour, he has been told he still has a chance to play for Hearts and has had his trial extended. Good grief, to quote Dangermouse, what are Hearts thinking? He is the laughing stock of Italian football. Seriously my mate Jimmy Kennedy, who is wee fat and smokes, has scored an overhead kick in a five a side match I played in with him a few years back. Come on Romanov take a chance on Jimmy instead, he’s only 44 and will probably play for a couple of quid less than TOOLberg, he hardly ever calls in sick to work either… Although I think this may just be to ensure he doesn’t have to put up with his wife for more than a couple of hours at a time… Haha. Again can I ask that people don’t send me the link to the Tools wonder goal, I don’t care.
From the highlights I saw last night on (admittedly biased) Hearts.TV, it did appear as though we had the lions share of the posession and the movement off the ball looked good. Didn’t seem to be too many punts up the park either, which is good. Although young Rapnik was caught badly for the first goal… hopefully he’ll learn from that. You’re right about Burley MrH – but that was an exceptional situation with entirely different players and it’s not likely to happen again. We shouldn’t compare… even though the circumstances make it hard not to. So long as steady progress is being made, I’ll be a happy Jambo this season. As for Tullberg, I wait to be convinced… I don’t think he’s the kind of player we need, but I’ll wait and see.
That’s the point I was trying to make about Burley – he got most of his players in at the last minute and somehow it managed to work for him. It’s difficult to see that happening this time, although obviously we hope he can get off to a good start.