The kids are alright

What a difference a week makes. Mental note to self: after not having blogged for many blue moons, avoid doing so when you're still getting over a rather sore defeat in a cup tournament. The path trodden by Jambos is a turbulent and frustrating one, that's for sure, but this week we might have something to smile about.

While performances still leave a little (or a lot) to be desired, there's clearly a slightly more tenacious and confident mood setting in at Tynecastle. Early season results were shocking but going by conversations with friends, the main bug bear seemed not to be the fact we were leaking points all over the place, it was the fact that the players were surrendering so meekly in the face of what can only be described as equally rotten opposition. Fast forward a few months and we might not yet be confident enough to think that we're in with a chance of pushing for Europa, but there's a quietly hopeful belief that we might at the very least give Utd and Hibs a bit of a run for their money. But don't say it out loud, not just yet....

So there we were, ravaged by injuries and still taking in the consequences of 'that' brawl in Hamilton - so we turn to the youngsters. Craig Thomson had already come in and impressed, but others had failed to make quite the same initial impact. Smith, Robinson and the much hyped Templeton had their chances and seemed more than a little daunted by the challenges of the SPL. And then, of course, we had Aberdeen. The less said about that little outing the better.


However, recent league fixtures tell rather a different story. Gordon Smith had a dream start with a goal against Hibs at the start of January but since then hasn't quite managed the same level of impact as Scott 'rocket man' Robinson, who despite not having scored has nevertheless cemented his place in the hearts of the support with some energetic performances. The high hopes we all have for Templeton meant that his introduction to the first team was only ever going to come burdened with a huge bag of expectation and while we might have had cause for slight disappointment a few weeks ago, there's no doubting that he's gradually building in confidence and beginning to find his feet. Hearts scoring is always a good thing, but I particularly cannot wait until the goals come for Temps. I think it could be the start of something rather wonderful.

The ups and downs of the last few years have left jaded pockets of frustration in the Hearts support and it would be true to say that from time to time, we're perhaps not quite as patient as we should be. Under-performing or out of form players tend to get it in the neck - some deservedly but some less so. These youngsters need our support and it's great to see that support is exactly what they're getting, and then some. Andy Driver was the last player I can remember to have the whole stadium leaping to their feet as he swept down the pitch but it happened last weekend and the feeling was immense. The fans are willing these kids on - they might not be firing in the goals just yet but their workrate and enthusiasm is something this squad has been missing lately. Let's hope it gives the older and more 'experienced' first team regulars some food for thought.

Hanging in there

One of my new year's resolutions was to try and update this blog more often than I had managed in 2009 but to be absolutely truthful, it's difficult enough to entertain brief conversations about Hearts with sympathetic friends never mind finding the motivation to sit down and actually write about them. However, it's not as if there isn't plenty to discuss.

Csaba v Vlad

This time last year we were well on our way to falling hook, line and sinker for our charmer of a manager. Csaba Laszlo had arrived and while quality football hadn't exactly broken out at Tynecastle, things were definitely looking up. Vladimir was keeping his distance (mostly), that fire sale hadn't happened and the results on the pitch weren't all that bad either. Supporters were responding to Laszlo's irrepressible enthusiasm for the job and the light hearted comedy of the pre-match press conference was eagerly awaited every week. And now? Not so much.

We applauded Csaba for his ability to manage an undoubtedly difficult relationship with the club owner but gradually over the past six or so months, that carefully nurtured rapport has broken down in spectacular fashion as they continue to fight out their differences in the Scottish press. Finger pointing, sly asides and confusion reign as their cryptic mutterings do nothing other than make one thing very clear indeed - the honeymoon is well and truly over. Csaba wants Vlad to spend, Vlad insists money is no object, Csaba has some players in mind, Vlad retorts that they're simply not good enough, Csaba touts himself for every available vacancy going, Vlad hosts tours around Tynecastle for prospective 'sport directors'. Those pantomime characters so snidely depicted in the tabloids have well and truly come alive.

Who is to blame for Witteveen? Why did we sign Kucharski? What's the point in having both Balogh and Kello? What's the story with Obua? Who's responsible for Suso? Why didn't we keep Bruno? Where the heck did you find Cinikas? And most importantly, where the hell is our proven striker? We hear of mysterious lists, we watch ineffective signings struggle on the pitch and then we endlessly speculate on whether Team Csaba or Team Vlad are responsible. McLeod and MacLean turn up for trials over Christmas, Csaba tells the press they're what we need and rumours abound of a mysterious New Year's message from Lithuania informing us that we won't be seeing any signings this January no matter what. The fans are tired of guesswork and even the journalists seem to have fallen exhausted by the wayside, the antics of our manager and owner which so often gave them reams of page filler are dismissed in favour of stories detailing the escapades of unruly Old Firm WAGS and Morton strikers having their bums pinched in Greenock nightspots.

It's not that I don't have sympathy for Csaba - I very much do - but his insistence on engaging in public spats with the owner is doing nothing for manager-fan relations and goodwill is rapidly running out. We all know that the owner is difficult and quite possibly the most infuriating employer on this earth, but he's not going anywhere soon and if we can get our head around that fact I'd like to think that an intelligent man like Csaba could do the same. I'm not yet in the manager-must-go camp but I'm hanging on by the skin of my teeth, and mostly because I sincerely doubt if his potential replacements would be an improvement on what we already have. Csaba is effervescent, tenacious and resilient. He's smart enough to know how to weather the storm that is season 2009/10 - I just wish he'd get on with it.