Hearts were the victims of their own success to an extent on Saturday.
Because they beat Celtic a couple of weeks ago, I was half expecting them to do something there.
But going to Parkhead is difficult enough so after the game, as much as I was disappointed, I need to cut the boys a bit of slack after the way they’ve started the season. It isn’t going to be defined by that result anyway.
I read that Robbie Neilson wants to add more pace to the team and after seeing the difference Josh Ginnelly made after coming on at half-time, I can see why.
If I was a manager, I’d want my team to be pacey, dynamic and aggressive. There’s nothing better than having pace out wide and pace up front.
He’s done the right thing this year by not just bringing in players for the sake of it and he obviously knows exactly what type of players he wants in different areas.
If you’re in midfield or defence then you’re wanting players out wide or up front who are lightning quick.
I wish I had that when I was playing for Hearts - it wasn’t Kevin Kyle anyway!
Lee Wallace was quick - deceptively quick was Winky to be fair. He always just seemed to be where he needed to be and if he had to get there, he got there quickly.
Andy Driver was quick too but he was injured a lot of the time. Suso could shift but in midfield you had Ian Black, who couldn’t, myself and Rudi, who didn’t need to be quick. 40 yards and in, he would just shoot!
I think it would bring Boycie on as well. He’s very, very good on the ball and you know he’s going to score goals. He’s good at picking up pockets of space and when you’ve got someone alongside you who’s constantly running in behind and to an extent do the donkey work to stretch defences, then it opens up space.
Boycie can then drop into the spaces and create. It would be magnificent for him.
I tell you what else will be magnificent - a full Tynecastle against Aberdeen this weekend.
These are the games that will define Hearts’ season, not playing Celtic or Rangers. These are the ones, like St Mirren away a couple of weeks ago, Hearts should be winning but for whatever reason, you’re usually on the fence about whether they will or not.
Aberdeen is always a big game, as it was for myself when I played against them. They bring a lot of fans as well and are a big club in their own right.
If Hearts are going to finish top six or above, then they need to be taking points off Aberdeen at home.
It’s a great one for the fans to come back for because there’s usually a bit of needle with the Dons, especially at Tynecastle.
Even between the players - it’s usually guys who maybe aren’t Old Form level but are still top players in Scotland - there’s always a bit about it. That’ll definitely be the case with Broony in their midfield.
You know Rangers and Celtic were going to finish first and second and in my time, it was always Hearts and Aberdeen that would go head to head for third or fourth and I imagine it’ll be the same this year.
Even when we maybe weren’t doing so well, we tended to get results against them. I scored a belter of a goal up at Pittodrie the year we got relegated. We went up there and beat them 3-1. Right in the top bin!
I scored a couple of penalties against them at Tynecastle as well so I always enjoyed playing against them.
You get teams like that. I had it the other way with Kilmarnock. I scored a few goals against them but we just couldn’t seem to beat them at Tynecastle.
I remember watching players like Eion Jess when I was growing up so it’s always one I looked for.
It’s hard to know what to make of them this season though. I was speaking to Matty Kennedy the other day when I met him in Nando’s and I said that to him. I’m not really too sure about Aberdeen.
They have good players but I wasn’t too sure about Stephen Glass’ appointment. I know Alan Russell really well and the boys speak really highly of him and what he’s been doing.
It’s a big club though and I just don’t know if it’s the right manager. Time will tell.
They started off well but had a wee blip at the weekend so will be the same as Hearts, looking at this as a chance to put a marker down with a massive three points.
