We’ve invited fans of the 42 SPFL clubs (well, some of them at least) to give us a preview of their team’s upcoming season. Let’s find out what the We Have No Cares podcast thinks is in store for Hearts…
Last Season’s Position: 1st in the Championship (technically 9th in the Premiership)
This Season’s Prediction: 3rd
Best Signing Of The Season So Far – Juanma
Possibly new striker Juanma, who looks very tall and quite strong. Or maybe centre half Błażej Augustyn, who is reportedly quite tall and very strong. There is also the almost-done deal for Nigerian World Cup star™ Juwon Oshaniwa, who should add some much-needed height and strength to the squad.
What I’m saying is, Craig Levein has a type.
Key Man – Osman Sow
His contributions last season were curtailed by injury, but I’m excited to see if forward Osman Sow can make the step up this year. Fast, skilful and an excellent finisher, Sow is most likely the best – or at least most complete – footballer at the club. His goal at Ibrox in the first league game of last season was the signal that things were going to be more fun than we expected, and he has the ability to make this year a romp as well – as long as those pesky hamstrings stay limber.
The Manager – Robbie Neilson
Intelligent, thoughtful, astute and visionary – adjectives that would never have applied to Robbie Neilson the player, who was a walking ode to the average fullback. Neilson the manager crafted a crisp-passing, fast-running, all-conquering football unit and looked as suave as a penthouse suite on a yacht sailing a glass of champagne whilst doing it. He even makes that haircut work – imagine what he can do with a group of inexperienced youths and obscure journeymen.
Expectations
This squad was so far above the chasing pack last season that Hearts fans have had a long time to speculate about how they’d fare against tougher opponents. In fact, the only fly in last year’s ointment was not getting a cup tie against a St Johnstone or a Hamilton to get a real grip on exactly how good this group of players actually was.
Some players have been lost, but no one that will be particularly missed (even last season’s captain Danny Wilson – a good player but an eminently survivable departure) – and those that have moved on have been replaced well. The new signings mentioned above are all improvements in key areas of the squad, and complement the already-strong central midfield – featuring the sublime calmness and short passing of Miguel Pallardó and the Wonder Twins of Morgaro Gomis and Prince Buaben – and the steady supply of goal-scoring-and-creating wingers from the Riccarton academy – Jamie Walker, Sam Nicholson and Billy King.
So confidence is high, and given the off-season weakening of Dundee United and Inverness, there is no reason to think this squad isn’t capable of challenging for a Europa League spot. The only slight worry is that all the muscle that has been added to the team might tempt them to start playing more direct Levein-ball, which would suit our opponents nicely. Hopefully, Hearts can remember where their strengths lie, even when playing against considerably better than the meek Cowdenbeath, Alloa and Rangers teams they devoured last term.
About The Author
We Have No Cares is a podcast about Heart of Midlothian F.C. by two men who like jokes more than accuracy.
