Hearts have just completed their biggest piece of January business – getting Zander Clark tied down for another two years.
No new signing will be as important as sorting out the goalkeeping situation which was beginning to be a real concern heading into the summer. But Zander is the future between the sticks for Hearts and has to start next season as number one. Which – and this is not easy to say – might mean the end for Craig Gordon.
There comes a time for everyone and this summer is the time for one of the toughest decisions Neil Critchley will ever have to make. By then Craig will be moving towards 43. His story has been remarkable. I’m certainly not going to suggest stopping it and retiring him altogether.
I reckon it’s crucial the big man is kept in the building in way form or another as he is Mr Hearts and so important to the young guys as a role model. I’d give him a new deal. But he’d certainly be starting the season on the bench as a superb back up if things went wrong.
Would he grumble? He probably would because he’s worked so hard to get back to top level.
That’s why it’s such a hard decision. But Critchley has to do the right thing and for me that’s to make Zander number one again. It’s not just for Hearts but I see him as Craig’s successor for Scotland too.
I’d rather have Zander in goals than Angus Gunn. He is safer, has a huge presence and not only makes big saves but commands his box well. Everybody feels he was a bit hard done by when he lost his place back in August.
He kept 16 clean sheets last season then another one in the opening game against Rangers this year. So to then be dropped after one error a week later was extremely harsh. But you have to commend his professionalism that he’s been willing to wait.
I know what it’s like coming back from injury, but for a goalkeeper when you’re fit and you’re training every single day… and they train like absolute maniacs! To know he’s not going to get a game at the end of the week. It’s so hard.
I couldn’t do it. I would be volleying down the manager’s door, I’m not even kidding you! Goalkeeper is a unique position. As an outfielder I would have a chance of getting back in a team whether it was midfield, up front, out wide.
But he’s literally just got one position. And it’s been unfortunate for him that is currently filled by a legend in the Scottish game.
So I’ll take my hat off to the club as well, the fact that they’ve managed to get him to sign a contract extension is a great bit of business. I wonder if we might see him back on Friday night for the Scottish Cup trip to face Brechin.
This tie will give Jambos cold sweats thinking back to their last game against Highland League opposition and THAT defeat to Brora Rangers. Brechin can never be taken lightly. The park is tiny and then there’s the famous ‘hedge of death’ as we called it.
I played with big Darren Dods at St Johnstone and – I hope he doesn’t read this – but we used to take bets before a game how many balls he’d clear the hedge with during the game!
Listen, it’s a tough place to go, tiny pitch with a slope. The brick wall with the dugouts where you can’t really take a throw in – take half a step back and you’re in the wall.
It’ll be a hard game for Hearts. Brechin are flying at the top of the Highland League and used to winning every week. They’ll fancy their chances. You’ve got to remember, for a lot of these players, that’s the biggest game of their season.
But because what happened at Brora and then the major disappointment of the Fakirk cup game at the start of the season, this is a massive game for Hearts. They will be focused and should get the job done.
I say it every year – if you’re manager, coach or players at Hearts then every season you are looking to finish third and win a bit of silverware. Hopefully this can be our year in the Scottish Cup.