Hearts Team Selection – The Truth?

So now we know what really happens with regards to this, or we do according to Jim Duffy’s version of events during his short time with the club last season.

Duffy revealed to the BBC that a few days before every game, the Hearts manager would submit the line-up they were planning to use by FAX to the Romanovs for their approval. They would then receive a FAX in response with ticks against those players they agreed should play, but those they disagreed with would be scored out and replaced with others they’d prefer to play instead. And this had to be done or else, as Graham Rix found out when he refused one week and was given the sack for it.

As I said, this is all according to Jim Duffy, who is likely to be very bitter about his treatment by Hearts last season – and indeed of his friend Graham Rix. Justifiably so.

However I still don’t have any real reason to doubt what he is saying here. For a start it seems to make a lot of sense and most Jambos if they are honest with themselves deep down have probably always suspected this is what goes on. Also, despite Duffy being hacked off with Hearts, I don’t think he’s the sort of guy who’d go on air and spout lies about people just because he had a personal beef with them. I’m not saying this with any real knowledge as such as I’ve never met Duffy, but he’s always come across as a pretty honest and sincere type and I’ve actually always quite liked listening to his views on the game.

As I’ve said many times recently on this site, some of the decisions being made at the moment with regards to the team selection are not those of a man with the footballing knowledge and experience of Valdas Ivanauskas. Someone (or some people) is/are definitely hindering his ability to do the job and I think you’ll find this is why he’s gone back to Lithuania for a couple of weeks. He’s gone from being a seemingly cold and emotionless guy to a Jim Jefferies-style crazed lunatic on the touchline, so it’s no wonder he’s feeling the strain! It wouldn’t surprise me if this two week break becomes a permanent one.

I just hope that Romanov finally gets the message here and gets a man in (whether that be Ivanauskas or someone else) and leaves him alone to do the job he’s paid to do. And while he’s at it, he might want to consider telling his ‘Sporting Director’ or whatever he’s called to stop sticking his nose in as well.

Call me a pessimist, but the phrase ‘fat chance’ immediately springs to mind……..