Brellier delighted as Jambos sing praises of real Jul

GRAHAM RIX can point to sound methodology behind most of his decisions, including one born mostly of sentiment at East End Park on Saturday.

"Lee Johnson went on for Brellier because I thought Brellier was fantastic and deserved a special ovation from the Hearts fans," said the head coach.

True to form, the 4000-strong travelling support in Fife responded to the Frenchman's 89th-minute departure with rousing applause for a faultless performance conducted in the background of goalscorers like Michal Pospisil and Rudi Skacel.

In amongst their display of adulation was an indication of just how loftily Julien Brellier, pictured, is regarded by Jambos. La Donna e Mobile from Verdi's Rigoletto, which Hearts fans have used to chant Vladimir Romanov's name for most of the season, has been slightly remixed.

That is, it's been adapted to include Brellier's name instead of the club's majority shareholder. The Lithuanian may query the alteration of "his" tune, which Hearts released as the Romanov Ringtone last year, particularly for a midfielder whose playing style was rumoured not to have found favour with the club's hierarchy.

Romanov, by virtue of the celebrations in his homeland for the Lithuanian New Year, was not present for the weekend's 4-1 victory which produced much salivating in the away section at East End Park. However, not even he could deny Brellier's influence on proceedings.

Rix was certainly quick to offer his fulsome praise but, surprisingly, player and manager aren't seeing eye to eye on the issue.

"I don't think I played very well," countered Brellier.

"I didn't have a very good first half. Maybe I did better in the second half but I think it was far from my best performance. It was a difficult game because Dunfermline did not defend badly and we struggled to break them down a little. But 4-1 was a very good result for us."

And the song? "I'm very happy about that. I like the tune.

"I have heard it a couple of times before at Tynecastle with my name being used but it was very nice to hear it on Saturday."

The more eggs you have in your basket as a player at Tynecastle, such as favour with supporters and coaches, the better at present whilst the combination of Rix and Romanov attempt to sign up more people than a double glazing salesman.

Hearts seem to have a particular penchant for midfielders at the moment, with Brellier steadying himself for his berth to be challenged by the likes of Lee Johnson, Nerijus Barasa, Mirsad Beslija and Neil McCann. That's not to mention players already on the Tynecastle payroll who can fill a midfield void, such as Deividas Cesnauskis, Stephen Simmons and Jamie McAllister.

Squad depth, though, is not to be sniffed at in this age of financial prudence in football.

"I continue to play in all the games so I haven't been thinking about it too much," said Brellier with a typically-French shrug of the shoulder.

"I am happy with life at Hearts and competition is normal in football. Not a problem. We just want to win something this year and for that to happen we will need all the players. It's better if we have a big squad because the championship is very long. With good players we have a much better chance."

The continual investment by Romanov will ensure that only those of decent repute are coveted by Hearts throughout the remainder of the January transfer window, with McCann already delivered as one of two high-profile signings that Rix is attempting to conclude. The identity of the other remains shrouded in mystery, but for as long as Hearts are effecting 4-1 victories away from home, player signings will remain a secondary issue.

Brellier is very much at the forefront of events in Gorgie, and has been all season, with a place in the side and supporters seemingly worshipping his every step. He curried yet more favour in the closing stages of Saturday's triumph with a saunter deep into Dunfermline territory to assist Rudi Skacel for the fourth goal.

Threading the ball through a collection of home defenders seemed an impossible task for the Frenchman as he verged on the Dunfermline penalty area, however on-field vision has seldom been a problem for an amiable chap who has graced the San Siro as an Inter Milan player.

"Rudi was in the best position, ahead of me, therefore he was more likely to score so it made more sense to pass to him. It's not my job to score. I think it's better for me to pass the ball because when I shoot it is dreadful."

It certainly hasn't taken this foreign recruit long to integrate into the local footballing culture, and it would appear that Brellier, his head coach and the Hearts fans are all singing from the same hymn sheet. The lyrics, of course, are flexible.

Taken from the Scotsman