Player ratings…..
Player Ratings
Banks 6
Very little to do, but competent when called upon.
Neilson 4
Not the worst, but deary dear some of the attempts to control a football! One incident in particular in the second half summed up Robbie – a hospital pass to Palazuelos comes back to him..then he runs it straight out of play due to lack of control.
Wallace 5
Don’t like him at left back as much as I do in midfield, but to be honest he struggled largely because of the lack of a consistent team-mate in front of him. Too often had too much to do on his own.
Berra 4
Uncomfortable and clumsy throughout.
Zaliukas 5
Solid enough, but that’s about it.
Palazuelos 5
The fans like him but only because he does a few fancy turns here and there. Does retain possession quite well at times but far too lightweight.
Stewart 3
Simply not at the races. Seemed to have ill-fitting boots on and yet again, set-pieces were shocking.
Kingston 7
Not quite fully fit but clearly still the best footballer on the park. Some nice bursts, but didn’t get enough protection from referee.
Mikoliunas 7
Put in a really good shift and when on the left, got into some good positions, only to have completely nothing to aim at when ready to cross.
Cesnauskas 1
Taken off injured very early.
Elliot 5
Does lots of running and shouting but really doesn’t do much more than that. Still, had no help whatsoever in a team playing negative tactics.
Ksanavicius 3
Nice touch but far too lightweight. Sums him up really.
Mole 2
Did nothing.
Elliot plays with no real conviction and no genuine attempt, either with foot or head, to be first to the ball or win a challenge. He has no positional sense, never anticipates and as somebody said to me after the game he watches the ball going back and forward ?like a dog in a park?. And yet he runs about, moans and shouts as if he is genuinely involved in the game. Somehow he thinks he is duping us into believing that he?s playing a blinder and doesn?t appear to realise that everyone in the stadium can see clear as day that he is achieving precious little. It?s sad to watch really?
Good description there, IMcD. Much as I’d like the lad to win us over, he continues to look like a lost cause. Mr H – your 3 for Stewart is grossly inaccurate. Even a big round ZERO would be overstating his contribution. Much the same goes for Ksanavicous. Saturday’s display, after the pre-match comments, suggests that either coaching or motivation (or both) skills of Frail are seriously lacking. If no new manager is in place by 5th May, I will be declining the very kind offer of allowing me to renew my season ticket.
It’s good to see fans are now realising what a disgrace, and absolute knobend Stewart is. I actually feel for Berra, who was progressing, but is now crumbling under the weight that even a seasoned professional like Pressley struggled to handle.
I’ve never thought that Frail should be the choice for manager but was happy enough for him to step aside and assist any new guy that came in. However, I’ve now changed my mind here and believe that he should not be kept on when(if) someone else comes in. His tactical nous appears to be non-existant as do his man-management and motivational skills. Best all round I think if he opts for pastures new.
Fair comment on Berra Stonesy – I’ve said many times that he’s having his development hindered by the ridiculous responsibility heaped on him. As for Frail, he’s possibly another man who has been thrown into a role that possibly he would never be cut out for, but certainly not at this very early stage in his coaching career. It’s a case of both employees probably feeling as though they couldn’t say ‘no’ to the offers they were given, but if those managing them had any sense whatsoever they’d see the problems being caused by doing this. Amateurs.
I think you’re right, guys – Frail is literally the last coach we have at Tynecastle, so he could hardly say ‘no’, especially with a big pay rise. Same goes for Berra – even Korabochka probably realised that a British captain was needed for political reasons, and it was a toss-up between Berra and Neilson. The boy is doing his best, and he’s a good defender, but he must sometimes wonder what the hell is going on. Lets hope his involvement with George Burley now inspires him to better performances with Hearts,