Under Levein I felt I could name more managers, assistant managers, DOFs, technical managers, coaches, goalie coaches, statisticians, fitness coaches, academy managers, than I've ever managed to name in all my years following Hearts. We seemed to have a bigger coaching staff than the OF.
But. And even now after Levein. We seem demotivated. To choose our games to turn up. To be unfit. Unprepared. To just seem like going through the motions. To not have a plan. Have our tactics and gameplay really changed under Robbie? He is son of Levein. Is it a surprise? It all feels the same heavy, slow, hoofball by uninterested players.
Hearts seemed years ago to get talent in, and develop it. So the player became better frankly. Hartley, Webster, Pressley, McCann. There's a huge list. But now players seem to go backwards. Boyce, Halkett. Even Halliday who bossed MFs in OF derbies, looks like physically half the player.
From the outside looking in. We seem a flabby, comfortable club. Nice. Easy money. Budge talked about reviewing our contracts. Are other clubs more about win bonuses, but we're guaranteed income even when we lose?
Is there a bad culture at Hearts? Or cliques or bad eggs? Look at Sunderland. Naisy should be leading by example given his experience and stature. But he was training from Ayrshire. Not playing for us then man of the match for Scotland on his 50th cap on the country's biggest pitch. I think Naisy is all about Naisy. I think he picks his games during his fat contract retirement years. Maybe just saying enough of the right things to get a manangemt position with us soon. I think Berra is another big name, experienced, but almost shy. Quiet. Nice.
I really worried about this most when we just couldn't be arsed at St Mirren last game. It's been a cloud over us for some years. And at the time I didn't think for a second it was Stendel. Last night was just more of the same.
The one player I rate and who showed a bit anger last night, is Kingsley. And he isn't committing to staying.
We turned up in the SC Semi and Final. But otherwise, we remain planless and slow and without impact. High hopes of McCulloch kicking the squad. All that. Where is it?
Are we now too nice. Best training facilities. Mixing with the women's team. Lovely dressing rooms. Nice contracts. Budge saying hello. I almost wish we were like Wimbledon of years ago. Portacabins, cold water, ghetto blasters, nasty, team spirit, working class, horrible. Obviously we can't be that. But there's def something rotten or soft at our core. Who can forget Mulraney and his ear phones. Whelan dialing in from England. Last night was another example of our attitude and it's not just about a bad performance on the night.
Pressley and Webster typified a Hearts team that ALWAYS cared and turned up. Say what you will about Elvis by the end. But we've no one like him now. He wouldn't have taken bullshit even in training.
Again, something is rotten at Hearts. It's been there for a good 6 years and still remains. This team WILL go up. Badly. Then underperform towards 7th or 8th. And so the wheel will keep turning as FOH and Anderson write more lovely cheques to our nice club and Budge announces another 5 year plan.