Keeping the heart is now a necessity

WHERE did it all go wrong? In simple geographical terms, the answer is probably Murrayfield. But while the venue for Hearts' European mini-adventure was undoubtedly a contributor in the fact the sojourn was not prolonged, it was not the sole mitigating reason.

But the Champions League and UEFA Cup experience has been an education, according to manager Valdas Ivanauskas. Few specifics, other than the fact that should they now buckle down as he would like and once again earn entry to European competition, next year he will be more forceful in trying to ensure the home games are kept at Tynecastle.

If lessons have been learned, that is a pretty decent one to start with. In giving up home advantage as they sought to contain AEK Athens and Sparta Prague, they gave themselves an uphill task.

"There were many issues involved but one of them, maybe, is Murrayfield. It probably is but the decision was made a long time ago, before we started playing.

"Murrayfield is a fantastic stadium, it's beautiful, the pitch is fantastic and the dressing rooms are great. However, the atmosphere, the family atmosphere, the home atmosphere of Tynecastle was missing and that is an emotional thing. It doesn't make sense to keep speaking about it now. First of all we have to reach the target again before the issue comes up again."

But if, or when, Hearts do qualify for either the Champions League or the UEFA Cup again, does he feel strongly enough about the supposed disadvantage to make representation to club owner Vladimir Romanov, asking for them to forfeit the extra cash generated by the bigger crowds at the rugby stadium and play the games at Tynecastle. "Yes."

The second season, like the second book, the follow-up album, is always a tough one. One where tinkering and experimentation is almost inevitable. It is also more closely scrutinised, and jealous sorts are keen to witness a slip up, but if there were more issues involved in the demise of the European dream for another year, one must surely be the fact that the continuity and winning spirit generated at the beginning of last term has thus far been absent.

It is an assertion upheld by the playing personnel themselves. The starting line-up was rarely a cause for surprise this time last term, with the team almost picking itself. Now, though, other than Craig Gordon, Steven Pressley and Paul Hartley, few in the massive squad could consider their place guaranteed. Twelve months ago, George Burley was describing Roman Bednar as the brightest young talent he had worked with. On Thursday, in his home country, where the personal and professional incentives were huge, he was left on the bench at the expense of the more industrial Jamie Mole.

"Of course I was a little bit disappointed to start on the bench. Everyone wants to show that they are a good player at home. But I must respect this. It was a big opportunity for me to impress the national coach but this is football. Sometimes you are disappointed. When you play you feel you are more value to the team.

"It was strange but it is hard to predict what the team is going to be. I don't know what to say about this. Everyone who is in football knows this can happen.

"'The manager didn't speak with me to tell me I wasn't playing. I spoke with the Czech newspapers and told them I thought I'd be playing," he added with a small shrug.

"Of course I would like it to be a settled team but I am not the gaffer. This is just my thinking and perhaps I am not right."

Perhaps not, but it is obviously a view shared by others in the dressing room, including Pressley. It was Pressley and other senior players who asked to meet Romanov last season to ask for a more settled approach to the managerial situation. The owner has acceded slightly and made it clear, privately, that Ivanauskas is under no immediate threat. And it is Pressley who has now, apparently, appealed to the manager for the same settled approach to team selection.

"I think Steven has said something but it's not really a question for me. I think he's spoken with the manager," said Bednar.

Speculation will now circulate but the discussion was never a mutiny or an attempt to undermine. Only to clarify.

"This is the choice of the gaffer, nobody else, and he thinks this is the best so we must believe," Bednar added.

"The season is long and when you are playing in Europe you must have 20 players. Maybe then you have to change.

"If you are just playing in the league then it is better that it's the same team but if you play in Europe and then the league every week it's not easy. Three games in one week is difficult. Everybody is tired now as it's difficult to do that."

But while the chopping and changing may have been necessary due to injury, suspensions and the overwhelming demands of both Scottish and European competitions, the upside of the UEFA Cup exit is that the focus can now be switched completely to the Premierleague and the domestic cups.

Despite a start to the season which has been littered with the kind of performances now considered below par for a Hearts side who raised their standards and, with them, the expectation levels last year, they remain second in the league. Now, with their two biggest rivals, Celtic and Rangers, still involved in Champions League and UEFA Cup respectively, the Tynecastle camp see the opportunity to take some control. Starting against Dundee United in Gorgie this afternoon.

"I have seen the faces of the boys after the game but now we are out of Europe and there is a new target which is to get back into Europe next season," said Ivanauskas. "Fitness-wise, it was very good to fly straight back after the game again and the boys are OK. Everybody is looking forward to the game and the atmosphere is OK.

"We know that Dundee United have been struggling but Craig Brewster is a fine manager and although every club has its own issues, what counts for Hearts now is winning and getting the three points. That's the main target."

It's one the players have in their sights, according to Bednar. "We showed last year that everybody can play and fight for each other. You can win with everybody and can lose with everybody. Now everybody believes we have something here, though every game is difficult. Teams think we are now like Celtic or Rangers so every game is more difficult for us. All big clubs have this problem and everyone wants to win against us. Maybe that makes us more focused and Celtic and Rangers still being involved in Europe could be to Hearts' advantage. Maybe they'll be more tired against the other team and maybe they'll change their normal teams too."

For Hearts, the disappointment of their European exit may be acute but there is definitely fresh incentive.

Taken from the Scotsman