Hearts and mind games

SAULIUS Mikoliunas is leaning out of a window, winding up Jamie McAllister as photos are being taken. "Why are you not smiling?" The Lithuanian asks of his team-mate. "Because I'm stuck here, with you," came the retort. "What? Don't you like me?" Although, the tone is jocular, unsure, the face of the foreign import crumples.

That's the thing with this footballing farce, it's hard to know who to feel sorry for. Guys like Miko suffer because they are the teacher's pet. A man who defied advice at the beginning of the campaign, choosing to get married and honeymoon rather than report back for pre-season training, he is still one of owner Vladamir Romanov's favourites and as such, these days, is a regular pick. Perhaps that's just the luck of the draw. But players are only human and the animosity and resentment invoked by perceived selection injustices are almost involuntary reactions. Certain faces fit, others evidently don't. Into that category fall guys like McAllister, who, along with Andy Webster, Julien Brellier and, more recently, Edgaras Jankauskas, can't seem to get a game or a logical reason why.

Some observers will argue that no sympathy is required. After all, the club is currently sitting second and remains favourite to finish the season that way. That would reward those involved with Champions League football next term. They are in the Scottish Cup final, and while Second-Division Gretna will give it a go, the trophy should be Tynecastle-bound. Not a bad season.

But, if that's the case, why are there so many unhappy faces? McAllister's mean and moody look is posed. He's a guy who likes to keep everything in perspective but even he is finding it hard to stay positive these days. His barbed jibe has more to do with the where than the who, though. It's not so much Miko, he is just gutted to be at Riccarton conducting an interview rather than at Tynecastle playing in a bounce game. It means that despite being fully fit and told he would be involved in the first-team squad last week before spending the derby in the stand, once again, he has not made the squad of 22 for today's match against Celtic.

It's a far cry from the situation at the start of the season. But a lot has changed since then.

"The season started great. I couldn't have asked for a better start," says the 28-year-old, who admits Champions League football is a big carrot, but first team football an even bigger one. "We were flying, I was playing and involved every week, I signed a new contract and everything was looking good, then I don't know what happened. I don't know what it is and I will need to speak to the manager, see what his thoughts are and see where I stand. Then I can take it from there.

"I wouldn't have signed if I'd known this was how the season would pan out. I had a few offers when I signed but I thought things were going well here. I was involved, we were doing well, we had a great bunch of boys, great training facilities, I enjoyed coming to training every day. We were challenging in the Scottish Cup, there was a Champions League place up for grabs. It was great. And I was told that they wanted me to be part of it all. I was told I would play. But I signed and that's not happened."

He is now seeking clarification. That might not be easy. As journalists trying to get to the bottom of recent mystifying selections have discovered, asking the club's latest manager, Valdas Ivanauskas, a straight question doesn't always guarantee a straight answer. It is often blamed on the language barrier. As with most things at this club, maybe it's easier when the conversations are conducted in Lithuanian. Players are too shrewd to comment on such favouritism but tongue in cheek a few have joked about looking into dual nationality or perhaps turning up at training in the national shirt.

"It's natural for a player to criticise the boy who is playing in your position but whether the boy is doing well or doing badly in my position doesn't seem to matter at the moment so maybe the team isn't picked on merit," says McAllister, whose preferred option would be to stay at Hearts but is also considering other options down south. "I don't know what is happening, so I don't want to go too far into that. I just need to keep working hard in training and see what happens but I think a lot of the boys just want to know where they stand."

Hence the meeting scheduled for tomorrow. "I haven't spoken to him [Ivanauskas] so I don't know what he's thinking, whether he wants to get rid of me or what. That's why I'm going to try to speak to him and ask a few questions, see what's happening. A lot of boys are feeling that way but we have just got to get on with it and stay professional, work hard and do all the right things and hopefully get back in but there's only so long you can do that before considering what is best for yourself."

At Tynecastle a couple of hours later Julien Brellier is voicing similar concerns. But if McAllister thinks a face to face meeting will make matters clearer, he may be disappointed.

"I spoke with the gaffer who told me it's his choice," said the Frenchman of his recent slide from grace. A key player throughout the season, now he is struggling to make it onto the bench let alone into the side. "If he thinks another player can do my job then I'm happy if we win the games. But I still don't really know why I'm not playing. I've played all this season at a very good level, because the team is still second so I think we've done very well. I'm sure I've had a very good season so, yes, I'm a bit disappointed. At other clubs, I've been on the bench sometimes or knowing I need rest, but I don't feel like that.

"I asked if it was Romanov or Valdas' decision but he told me it was his decision. I trust him, but I'm like everybody, I read the papers, all this season it's about the same thing. Yes, I'm just a little bit confused. If you go on the bench and deserve it, that's okay. When you don't deserve that it's a little bit strange you know. I'm ready to play, mentally I think I'm very strong. I just want the club to be honest with the players."

Honesty. Trust. A lot can be gained from both but at Hearts there seems to be a skewed view of both. Too much of the former was a contributing factor in his dismissal of both George Burley and Graham Rix, while Romanov has blamed a lack of the latter for the decision to drop Andy Webster. All three decisions have baffled the playing staff and most observers.

Webster's only crime was to refuse a contract extension as he assesses his options. One of those options had still been to stay at the club but he wanted to see how things panned out. The educated guess is that recent actions have done little to woo him. An honest professional, having his integrity questioned by someone whose own transparency is questionable is a major slur.

"It's disappointing for the big man," says McAllister, articulating the view of countless colleagues. "He has been brilliant all season. I'm sure all the coaching staff trust him. The players all trust him. He's a great pro and his attitude has never changed. He's still a great player and we could do with him in the team every week.

"In Lithuania I think they have different ways of doing stuff and it suits them in their country but over here things are a bit different. I think it has taken us a while to adapt to some of the ways and some boys don't like it and don't want to adapt but I think it would help if there was a bit of give both ways. They have got to realise that if they come into Scottish football then they have to make some changes and realise that maybe players and situations are different here.

"Mr Romanov has been tremendous in so many

Taken from the Scotsman
ways. He has put a lot of money into the club and got us where we are today but there's maybe been one or two things he could have compromised on along the way, maybe that's not for me to say."

But the Hearts players have been biting their tongues for most of the season and for some the reward has been slight. Others? Well, they've simply been slighted.