It seems that at least night’s ‘management’ meeting, which involved Stevie Frail, John Murray and Darren Murray meeting a selection of Hearts supporters, it was pretty much admitted that Frail is
still being ‘encouraged’ to play certain players by Mr Romanov & his board.
This is pretty much just confirming what many of us already feared anyway – let’s face it, did anyone honestly think that playing Ivaskevicius was solely Frail’s decision? No chance, even given Frail’s own….er…….frailties in the job. But it’s still disappointing to hear it nonetheless, and once again it would seem to indicate that Hearts’ chances of attracting a truly adequate manager to Tynecastle in the summer are exceedingly slim. If they are not given all of the assurances that they require with regards to team selection, etc in writing, then they are simply not even going to entertain the notion of coming to Hearts – and why should they? Would you apply for a job that was likely to seriously knock your credibility?
There were other worrying revelations at last night’s gathering too, with the issue of our lack of young talent being particularly worthy of note. It sounds very much as though several of the players under the control of John Murray have been enforced upon him and given long-term contracts against his wishes, which if true is every bit as much of a problem as the farce surrounding the first team. Hearts, unless they miraculously become a ‘super-rich’ club in the near future, will always have to look to their youth development to be the cornerstone of any future success, and if the men being employed to help facilitate this are being undermined in this manner, then we are not just in trouble now, but for the foreseeable future as well.
Worrying times once again ladies and gentlemen…….
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Disgraceful way to run a team. Romanov might just as well be honest and become manager!
Were you at the gathering, MrH? If not, where is your information from? Your article seems a bit vague… (“it was pretty much admitted that…”). Also, is it possible that some of the messages might have been misconstrued – i.e. youth players have been offered long-term contracts, but not developed as was originally hoped. I’m thinking of players like Copil here.
I was not at the meeting but a work colleague (and Vital Hearts contributor) was. We discussed today and his view was a bit more positive than what is being said here. On the question of Frail being ?influenced? to pick certain players, it was suggested that this was to get them in the shop-window to facilitate a clearout in the summer. Ends justify the means perhaps. As regards youth players, it was good and bad with I think Templeton being singled out as a real prospect. Also there seemed to be a genuine likelihood of some of the youngsters getting a chance at the first team in the remaining games. No doubt said colleague will come on the site and give us his full views in due course. Hope I haven?t stolen his thunder too much?
I wasn’t at the meeting – I’m conveying the fears of three people I know who were. You’re quite right to question whether or not this was simply other people’s own interpretations of what was being said, but ‘vague’ is a word that we’ve become used to under the Romanov regime isn’t it? Personally I do believe that Frail has been under pressure to play players that he otherwise wouldn’t have, and even if it is just to ‘get players in the shop window’, does that make it any better? Is this not what Romanov’s motives have always been for picking the team?
Who can honestly say what his motives are. But with regards the selection of Ivasckevicus… there are three possibilities, okay – two if you discount the notion that Frail rates him. 1) To get him in the shop window as you said or 2) there was a virus sweeping through Riccarton at the time and there weren’t too many other options for midfield on that day. As far as the youth system goes – I’ll wait till imcd’s colleague comes and gives his side – but my feeling is that Romanov has given 5 year contracts to a number of youngsters, many of whom have not made the grade yet and might not ever. Romanov was (rightly in my view) praised at the time for this action – even though it was clearly a managed risk. Out of ten youth players, you’re doing well if you get maybe two or three that go on to make it. The issue might be that it’s not financially possible for Murray to get rid of the rest, so they’re left hanging around clogging up resources.
Murray is someone who’s been criticised too for his attitude, etc so there could also be some of that in it. However yet again it’s a case of none of us knowing anything isn’t it? Which is one of the main problems of the Romanov reign to date – major lack of communication.
…you should add “which is believable”. Charlie Mann never shuts up, but a lot of what he says is sheeite.
I was at the meeting (icmd’s colleague) and John Murray rather forcefully made the point that we have about 60 players (which he admitted was far too many) and that pretty much all the players on loan are not good enough but are on long contracts so they have to do something with them (Darren Murray did then say that Templeton was one with talent). This last point does tie in with reports about a year ago of players having a meeting with the “manager”, expecting to get their jotters and walking out with a 5-year deal. It certainly does seem as if some players are in the shop window and being picked because of that but personally I don’t think this makes us any different to a lot of other teams – the main difference is that given our recent history, any such news is highlighted. I’m not saying it’s right but I do think it goes on all over the place. At least Makelagate is sorted – Frail doesn’t rate him! We are being promised some young players for the next 5 games which is about the only way I’ll retain my interest but my fear will be 1 on the pitch and maybe 1 on the bench. We’ve got nothing to lose so let’s blodd 3 or 4 of them in a less pressuarised situation – I’m confident the fans would get behind them if it could be seen they were trying etc. All in all I thought it was an OK hour but I’m afraid that we could have sat there all evening and still messers Frail, Murray and Murray would not have convinced me that Elliot is God!
Interesting. So in effect what you’re saying is that there are too many players (which we knew), many of which are not good enough (which we knew) and that Frail doesn’t rate Makela (which we knew)! You have to wonder who was responsible for bringing all these substandard players to the club, and more importantly, how we are going to get rid of them all so we can start afresh. It seems strange that we should have to rebuild the team when we have 60 players, but that’s what we’re faced with. I hope the new manager (if / when he comes) is able to sort it all out quickly – for the sake of the players if nothing else. I’ll await Saturday’s teamsheet with interest.
I know of a friend who was at the meeting last night and advised that Frail made it clear in as many words that Romanov was still interfering with team affairs (Big surprise). He said it was a sombre meeting with nothing of any great promise being mentioned. Looking forward to another season of the same doldrum?
I have always suspected this anyway and feel that Frail will be unveiled as our new big name manager… It worries me that so many hearts fans are blinkered by news. I was reading in the EEN someone had listed a load of players he felt hearts could attract and loads of other fans seemed to agree. I worry about this as the fan seemed to think we could attract some Dundee Utd players and some English Championship player. Let’s get serious here unless they aren’t getting a game for their clubs why would they come to hearts? For starters we need a manager and Romanov to leave the manager alone to do his thing. I honestly believe that an average manager can bring us back into mid table obscurity (kind of hurts to say that) and allow the club to have the occasional good season where they might qualify for Europe. I don’t see anything more than this in the future for Hearts but I do also less appealing circumstances appearing which is sad for the entire Scottish game.
In short I think we may end up being the new Killie or Motherwell of the league unless radical changes happen that I just cannot see. And before any Motherwell fans have a dig I mean the Motherwell of the late 90’s.
I wasn’t aware of this meeting, so its good to see this article (and comments). The issue regarding Valdimir’s ‘encouragement’ of Frail to play certain players is not exactly a surprise, although it does undermine what we BELIEVED was announced in January. More worrying are these comments you refer to from John Murray. I take it Messrs Copil & Kostadinov fall in to the category of ‘enforced’ young players on long contracts ? Mind you, the reputation of all 3 coaches as ‘talent spotters’ isn’t exactly enhanced when they continue to proclaim that Calum Elliot is one of the best young players they’ve produced, does it ?
By the way, I’ve just read the Scotsman article , quoting Frail as saying they’re going to be looking for a new goalie. Does that mean Jamie McDonald is not being brought back – or do they think he’s not good enough ? So can Frail’s views on players be summed up by this – McDonald is NOT good enough, but Elliot IS good enough ? If so, it tells us everything we need to know about the man who is looking increasingly likely to be our new manager.
Good points Specs Haver. I really do worry that Calum Elliott will be the spearhead or blund beanbag of our front line next year as Frail seems to think he is the next Robbo. McDonald has one thing on the rest of current squad… He’s in a team that has reached a cup final against all odds and a team who play like… well a TEAM! I really believe Frail is on a different planet from the rest of us and he appears to be on it with Romanov. I say bring back McDonald and have him as back up for Banks then play him. For goodness sake the guy is in the premier cup final in Scotland with the Doonhamers.
Yep – I’m with you on that, Dalien. Mr H’s report on the meeting suggests that Murray/Frail view the loaning out process as a way of offloading duds, rather than developing good prosepcts. Maybe its just me, but nothing at Tynecastle makes any sense any more.
Time will tell on the goalie front, but remember that Jamie MacDonald only has a year to run on his current deal. If he is to be the new long-term 1st choice, they’ll want to tie him down to a 4 or 5 year deal before bringing him back. Otherwise, they’d be as well to sell him and buy someone else while his stock is good. This is possibly why Frail has said that they need to bring in another goalkeeper – he said he has his own thoughts on the matter and has to talk to those at the club who deal with contracts before they can go any further. I’m not saying they’d be right to sell MacDonald (my personal view is that it would be madness to sell him if he wants to return to Hearts) but I’m just offering another possible interpretation of the Frail quote in the Scotsman article.
John Murray made it pretty clear that none of the players on loan was considered good enough – and presumably that includes MacDonald. This was only tempered by Darren Murray saying that Templeton has talent. Reference to Copil was that he absolutely has talent but currently has an attitude problem which they are working on – let’s remember he is only 18 and a long way from home (not a long term excuse for being a ***** though). As for Elliot bot Frail and Darren Murray were waxing lyrical about his abilities with Frail particularly rating his effort etc at training.