12-01-2019, 11:43 PM
In an attempt to be upbeat given current shitfest. IF we get Stendel, potential players he MIGHT be in for:
Samuel Sahin-Radinger. 6ft7 Austrian goalie, 27, one of the first positions he'll look to address. This is the guy he had at Hannover 96 and brought to Barnsley to work with him again. Out of contract in June, could try to bring in for a small fee in January and send the Portugese Craig Nelson back to Man U early. We need confidence from the no.1 position, and this guy knows Stendel, commands his box and is a big presence.
Alex Mowatt, ex Leeds, at Barnsley, 24 and Scottish nationality, centre mid / left footed, out of contract in June also. Stendell was very complimentary about his style being energetic and suiting how he likes the game played in midfield. If he's been watching us, he'll know we need a lot more energy everywhere, but especially midfield. Aggressive going forwards and defending.
Kenny Dougall, 26, Barnsley's defensive midfielder, out of contract in June, Mowatt's centre mid partner, Dougall just back from a broken leg but was a mainstay in Stendel's promotion team. Now called up to Australia squad, has a Scottish link. Very combatative and again high energy.
Mamadou Thiam, 24, pacey France / Senegal forward who can play all across the front line, mostly left, tricky, pacey, powerful, good shot, out of contract in June. Not a great scoring record but a lot of his work down the wide areas, where we lack anything remotely like pace, power and trickery to worry other teams.
Amiri'i Bell - Blackburn Rovers left back, rejected by Birmingham, went to Fleetwood, excelled and had scouts watching, went to Blackburn for £270k in 2018, out of contract in June. Has been in and out of first XI and not a starter. Transfermarkt still has valued at £900k, but that looks a bit high. Still, I've no doubt better than White and would give cover for ensuring Hickey doesn't have to play every week.
Izzy Brown, on loan at Luton (who were promoted with Barnsley) from Chelsea, 22, 2nd striker, loan ends June. Currently top for assists in League One. Would be a real statement getting even a year of a guy like this, but given he's only at Luton, doesn't feel like out of Hearts reach. But, more likely given he's doing so well, another loan at a Championship club more likely. But if we got someone like this, again, would inject pace, vision, excitement and energy in the front line.
McGeough out of contract at Sunderland in June. He'll have been very familiar with Burton too where Liam Boyce and Scott Fraser out of contract June too.
Altogether looks like quite a big wage bill for players of this calibre and so it'll be up to Budge to both support with funds, but also to be aggressive with any new SD in moving players out of Hearts. Of which I'm sure Stendel will immeidately have a list of about 20. But we need a new set of players who break up this group who now seem negative, broken, disheartened and getting to the 'wage thief' stage. The fan base is never going to look at this group now with any kind of adultation. Just like the backroom / management team - the playing squad also now needs completely built back up from the floorboards. Damour is on a 4 year deal and played 20 mins today. Meshino was meant to be coup loan deal for us, and again, 20 minutes today. Naismith looks like any action is about to lead to him pulling up, and he's got another 3 and a half years to go on his contract. Uche is back to looking like a £50k player. Berra (sadly) is finished and now a liability. Walker looks like a sad figure still upset at not getting to Rangers. The squad has brought Whelan down to workmanlike efforts. etc. etc. etc.
Anyway. Reading this killed 5 mins rather than thinking about the 5-0 too much.
My feelings on Budge are known. For her to salvage ANY pride in her stewardship she needs to announce Stendel tomorrow AND punt MacPhee.
Samuel Sahin-Radinger. 6ft7 Austrian goalie, 27, one of the first positions he'll look to address. This is the guy he had at Hannover 96 and brought to Barnsley to work with him again. Out of contract in June, could try to bring in for a small fee in January and send the Portugese Craig Nelson back to Man U early. We need confidence from the no.1 position, and this guy knows Stendel, commands his box and is a big presence.
Alex Mowatt, ex Leeds, at Barnsley, 24 and Scottish nationality, centre mid / left footed, out of contract in June also. Stendell was very complimentary about his style being energetic and suiting how he likes the game played in midfield. If he's been watching us, he'll know we need a lot more energy everywhere, but especially midfield. Aggressive going forwards and defending.
Kenny Dougall, 26, Barnsley's defensive midfielder, out of contract in June, Mowatt's centre mid partner, Dougall just back from a broken leg but was a mainstay in Stendel's promotion team. Now called up to Australia squad, has a Scottish link. Very combatative and again high energy.
Mamadou Thiam, 24, pacey France / Senegal forward who can play all across the front line, mostly left, tricky, pacey, powerful, good shot, out of contract in June. Not a great scoring record but a lot of his work down the wide areas, where we lack anything remotely like pace, power and trickery to worry other teams.
Amiri'i Bell - Blackburn Rovers left back, rejected by Birmingham, went to Fleetwood, excelled and had scouts watching, went to Blackburn for £270k in 2018, out of contract in June. Has been in and out of first XI and not a starter. Transfermarkt still has valued at £900k, but that looks a bit high. Still, I've no doubt better than White and would give cover for ensuring Hickey doesn't have to play every week.
Izzy Brown, on loan at Luton (who were promoted with Barnsley) from Chelsea, 22, 2nd striker, loan ends June. Currently top for assists in League One. Would be a real statement getting even a year of a guy like this, but given he's only at Luton, doesn't feel like out of Hearts reach. But, more likely given he's doing so well, another loan at a Championship club more likely. But if we got someone like this, again, would inject pace, vision, excitement and energy in the front line.
McGeough out of contract at Sunderland in June. He'll have been very familiar with Burton too where Liam Boyce and Scott Fraser out of contract June too.
Altogether looks like quite a big wage bill for players of this calibre and so it'll be up to Budge to both support with funds, but also to be aggressive with any new SD in moving players out of Hearts. Of which I'm sure Stendel will immeidately have a list of about 20. But we need a new set of players who break up this group who now seem negative, broken, disheartened and getting to the 'wage thief' stage. The fan base is never going to look at this group now with any kind of adultation. Just like the backroom / management team - the playing squad also now needs completely built back up from the floorboards. Damour is on a 4 year deal and played 20 mins today. Meshino was meant to be coup loan deal for us, and again, 20 minutes today. Naismith looks like any action is about to lead to him pulling up, and he's got another 3 and a half years to go on his contract. Uche is back to looking like a £50k player. Berra (sadly) is finished and now a liability. Walker looks like a sad figure still upset at not getting to Rangers. The squad has brought Whelan down to workmanlike efforts. etc. etc. etc.
Anyway. Reading this killed 5 mins rather than thinking about the 5-0 too much.
My feelings on Budge are known. For her to salvage ANY pride in her stewardship she needs to announce Stendel tomorrow AND punt MacPhee.