03-15-2026, 07:35 AM
We're ahead.
There's only 8 games to win the league.
We've a lot of players coming back at just the right time.
It's only Dundee next at home, then Livingston who are already down with nothing to play for.
Celtic are Dundee Utd away, then Dundee away where they have been actually decent and even a draw in one of those games if we take 6, then the lead becomes 4 points with 6 games left. We'd then have a Motherwell side at Tynecastle who MIGHT be a bit flat themselves as any hope of the league will have disappeared by then.
Chins up.
But Del needs to get the team regrouped. Whether it's nerves or his tactics or selections or just missing players, we've been awful.
Given form, I think XI til further notice.
Schwollow
Altena (let's drop the Ben White / Dan Burn CH at FB experiment with Steinwender or McEntee)
Halkett
Findlay (hurry up) McCart til then
Milne
Kerjota (deserves a start with Chesny in the sub role if not working)
Beningime (his ability to control a ball and pass it seems not a lot to ask - but it was for many last night)
Devlin (apart from his ability, I think the whole team has missed his energy which is infectious)
Mato (unless Del sees he's just THAT bad, he has to get a chance to start before whatever has happened to Kyziridis, who can play the sub role if it turns out Mato IS that bad, but Kyzridis just can't start) (Spittal has been tidy enough but has no pace and hasn't really taken his chance) (will say again if Mato just isn't ready for Scottish football, no idea why this effort in January wasn't put into McPake instead - he might be off form now but that's only cos mentally he's already at Hearts)
Shankland (hurry up, like Devlin, more than just his ability, he's our captain, his return will galvanise the team)
Braga (keep his central)
Appreciate a very attacking side. Jordi at RB. Two out and out wingers with likely limited tracking back. Only two CMFs. But we've been far too conservative for a league chasing team. Nervous and reserved. We need to be all over Dundee and Livingston - not sitting back and asking them to win a penalty.
Happy that Chesnokov, Kyziridis, Magnusson and Spittal play sub roles at 45 or 60. But have given up on wishing Kabore to be better than he is. Would actually now rather see Forrest get on, even through the middle, or Kabangu. (We should have bought Falkirk's Barney Stewart in January).
That XI should really be taking 6/6 from the next two games without much issue, even if it's McCart and Leonard til Findlay and Devlin back. Del needs to learn from last night, quick. Not about formations, but who's got the mental strength, who's in form, what's working and what's not. We're all flat - but this isn't over - I still think we'll reach the split leading the league. Del has to get this team motoring again, confident, and the returning players are huge in that, could feel like 4 new signings.
Hearts 4 Dundee 0
Livingston 0 Hearts 2
There's only 8 games to win the league.
We've a lot of players coming back at just the right time.
It's only Dundee next at home, then Livingston who are already down with nothing to play for.
Celtic are Dundee Utd away, then Dundee away where they have been actually decent and even a draw in one of those games if we take 6, then the lead becomes 4 points with 6 games left. We'd then have a Motherwell side at Tynecastle who MIGHT be a bit flat themselves as any hope of the league will have disappeared by then.
Chins up.
But Del needs to get the team regrouped. Whether it's nerves or his tactics or selections or just missing players, we've been awful.
Given form, I think XI til further notice.
Schwollow
Altena (let's drop the Ben White / Dan Burn CH at FB experiment with Steinwender or McEntee)
Halkett
Findlay (hurry up) McCart til then
Milne
Kerjota (deserves a start with Chesny in the sub role if not working)
Beningime (his ability to control a ball and pass it seems not a lot to ask - but it was for many last night)
Devlin (apart from his ability, I think the whole team has missed his energy which is infectious)
Mato (unless Del sees he's just THAT bad, he has to get a chance to start before whatever has happened to Kyziridis, who can play the sub role if it turns out Mato IS that bad, but Kyzridis just can't start) (Spittal has been tidy enough but has no pace and hasn't really taken his chance) (will say again if Mato just isn't ready for Scottish football, no idea why this effort in January wasn't put into McPake instead - he might be off form now but that's only cos mentally he's already at Hearts)
Shankland (hurry up, like Devlin, more than just his ability, he's our captain, his return will galvanise the team)
Braga (keep his central)
Appreciate a very attacking side. Jordi at RB. Two out and out wingers with likely limited tracking back. Only two CMFs. But we've been far too conservative for a league chasing team. Nervous and reserved. We need to be all over Dundee and Livingston - not sitting back and asking them to win a penalty.
Happy that Chesnokov, Kyziridis, Magnusson and Spittal play sub roles at 45 or 60. But have given up on wishing Kabore to be better than he is. Would actually now rather see Forrest get on, even through the middle, or Kabangu. (We should have bought Falkirk's Barney Stewart in January).
That XI should really be taking 6/6 from the next two games without much issue, even if it's McCart and Leonard til Findlay and Devlin back. Del needs to learn from last night, quick. Not about formations, but who's got the mental strength, who's in form, what's working and what's not. We're all flat - but this isn't over - I still think we'll reach the split leading the league. Del has to get this team motoring again, confident, and the returning players are huge in that, could feel like 4 new signings.
Hearts 4 Dundee 0
Livingston 0 Hearts 2
