Craig Levein has done a wonderful job at Hearts. The fans seem to love him, the players respect him, and even the cartoony, villainish Robinson doesn't want to get rid of him. But there's one thing that plays on the mind of them all.
Why the negative tactics?!
Take Sunday for example - for set pieces, the penalty box is full. Now this tactic is very effective usually in crowding out the box, thereby not allowing a player an effort at goal. But once the ball is cleared - where does it go? There's no man forward to get it! So what then happens? - it goes back to the opposition thereby allowing them another chance. Hearts have already lost two goals to set pieces this season, including one that, had it not been for Paddy Kisnorbo's strike, could possibly have put us in a terrible position for the return leg with Braga.
Now, Dennis Wyness - this man has a lot of critics in the Tynecastle crowd. He's not good enough, can't play, lazy, no effort etc. Wyness is excellent with the ball at his feet, he can beat a man quite easily, and if played in the right position would become a regular starter. He was played up front, alone on Sunday. Whenever a break happened, or Wyness received the ball, he had to wait for men to get forward, thereby losing the ball and annoying the fans. This is not his fault, what is the guy supposed to do!? He tried beating men, but got crowded out.
If Craig were to cease with such negative tactics, and use Wyness as an attacking midfielder/playmaker behind a front two of Mark de Vries and Ramón Pereira, Hearts would be a real threat going forward, as well as a team who are tough to break through. This would mean sacrificing a player. Phil Stamp, to be precise. Stamp has played well this season, but the real threat he provides is fear in the defenders - they're afraid he might land on them! Simply by moving Paul Hartley to the wing, on even a bit further right of midfield, would accomodate this. If Pereira is fit tomorrow night, the match vs Kilmarnock would be a fine time to try it out. It may present a real trophy chance to Hearts, but many consider it meaningless, and should the tactic fail, we'll not lose any more league ground, and we'll have more time to recover during the weeks ahead.
So come on Craig - listen to us on this - we're sick of being bored! Come on the Hearts!