Everyone knows that I was a bit of a sceptic where the appointment of Neil Critchley as Hearts boss was concerned.
I can’t sit here in good faith now and pretend otherwise. The idea of using analytics and data to decide the best man for the job might have worked well for Brighton in recent years but, yes, I was worried that ignoring the most obvious candidate could backfire on my old club.
It’s still early days too where Crichley is concerned and ultimately the proof will be in the pudding but, despite all of my initial negativity, what I will admit is that the Englishman’s first impressions are starting to win me over. I’m happy to say, I’ve been impressed by the way he has come across and relieved to find out he’s not one of these new breed coaches who talks in soundbites and buzzwords. If anything, he’s gone back to basics and the side has benefited from it.
By going back to a 4-4-2 formation Critchley is giving the fans what they want. I don’t care about philosophies, breaking through lines and all the other jargon from the latest manuals. The DNA of the club is that the home supporters want to turn up at Tynecastle and see a team that’s up and at the opposition – right in their faces.
In fairness to Critchley he said that was what he wanted the team to play like from his first day in the job. That tells me he’s a very intelligent man who took the time to research the club and understand its specific demands.
Every club has its own identity. And he was clever enough to plug into what makes Hearts and the fans tick.
That’s given me a lot of comfort because, as I made clear at the time, I was very much in the Derek McInnes camp from the moment the job became available. Del was the obvious choice and, for that reason, I wasn’t exactly surprised when his Kilmarnock team came to Tynecastle at the end of last month and left the place with all three points.
Critchley has done a very good job in a short space of time but, in that game, you saw exactly why I wanted Derek in the first place and what a good manager he is. You don’t need an algorithm to see what’s staring you in the face.
They went 1-0 down, got it back to 2-1 and never looked as if they weren’t going to win it. And, in the process, he was maybe handing out a wee lesson for the man who did end up replacing Steven Naismith.
Because that’s exactly the type of resilient, robust team Hearts need to get back to being and hopefully, over time, Critchley can achieve it by building a side which can be a lot more consistent in the league.
As for McInnes? I still think my old club has missed a trick on its own doorstep there and, more than that, I think Rangers will be ridiculously stupid not to try to take him from Rugby Park when, inevitably, they end up looking for their next manager.
Which will probably be sooner rather than later. They are crying out for a manager of Derek’s calibre – a throw back to the days of Walter Smith and a man who gets the DNA of that particular club.
Look at the mess they’ve got themselves into without that kind of experience and leadership.
That’s what would annoy me so much if I was in that Hearts dressing room right now. I would look at the mess Philippe Clement is in right now and I’d sniff the vulnerability coming out of Ibrox.
I’d see what Aberdeen are achieving and I’d be kicking myself that we weren’t up there doing something very similar at the top end of the table, splitting the Old Firm and laying down a real marker in the league table.
And it’s the same story at Hibs. Both Edinburgh clubs could end up looking back on this season as an opportunity missed. Can you imagine how exciting it could have been for the Scottish game in general if both Hibs and Hearts were up there trading blows at the top end of the table along with Aberdeen and putting some real heat on a Rangers side that might just be there for the taking?
Unfortunately, that ship has already sailed.
The truth of the matter is Hearts are sitting second bottom of the table with only Hibs below them which is a horrendous situation.
That’s why I’m not overly concerned about what happens when Hearts take on Heidenheim in the Conference League this week. Yes, of course I want a good result and big performance because it all helps in terms of building confidence and momentum.
But this is a Bundesliga side we’re talking about so let’s keep the expectations real. If Hearts can take anything from it, after a good start in Europe, it would be a welcome bonus.
First and foremost, however, Hearts need to take care of business on home soil and start climbing out of the danger zone because history shows these things have a habit of unravelling fast.
Critchley has made a promising start to stopping the rot. But the hard work is only just beginning.