Rudderless Hearts need new direction

BARRY ANDERSON
HEARTS must hope against hope that Mauricio Pinilla discards his enigmatic tendencies before next season. This game, possibly more than any other this season, evinced the team's flagrant need for some spark and panache.
The Evening News broke the story of Pinilla's new three-year contract last week, which many interpret as a last throw of the dice for the wayward Chilean. It's also a risky strategy for Vladimir Romanov but one he and his club must cling to if repeats of Saturday are to be avoided.

Gary Glen, 18 years old and considerably less than 100 per cent fit, was deployed as a lone forward in a 4-4-1-1 formation against Kilmarnock. How he needed a fully functioning Pinilla type beside him to offer presence and support, not to mention collecting a few of the long passes battered in his direction.

Bereft of creativity, the hosts were outdone by a visiting side which, by their own admission, were decidedly average. Having played concise and tidy football for two thirds of the match, they increased the pace during the closing stages and scored twice with consummate ease through Grant Murray and Paul di Giacomo. The record books confirm this season as the first since 1981/82 that Hearts have failed to defeat Kilmarnock, making the overhead thunderstorms quite appropriate.

Pinilla's new deal includes a rather ambitious buyout clause of £8 million, but no value could be placed on anyone able to inspire this current Hearts team out of their malaise.

"I'm very happy with the leadership of the club," said Pinilla, pictured below. "All I want is to play again to reward all the affection they have given me. I know that, with this contract, much of my own and my family's future is assured."

But what of Hearts' future? Despite Pinilla's statement, the club appears rudderless in a footballing context, lacking guidance, leadership and communication. In players like Larry Kingston and Andy Driver there is undeniable talent, but that alone is simply not enough. In 90 languid minutes on Saturday, visiting goalkeeper Alan Combe made no noteworthy saves.

"We had a couple of half chances," said interim manager Stephen Frail. "We didn't do enough when we had the ball to hurt them. I don't think they hurt us either but they popped up with a good delivery from the corner and a good header. It's sad to say but you know then it's going to be a long haul back. Their second goal just sums up the season. I put a big onus on these five games. We wanted to finish on a high, but it's not going to be. It's disappointing the way the season is petering out." As has been the case publicly all season, Frail is left steering the ship by himself. Anatoli Korobochka, Hearts' sport director, continues silently in his privileged directors' box existence, whilst expecting communication from the Romanovs would be akin to temerity on the part of supporters.

Frail continued: "It is difficult. You play against teams who have three or four coaches. I've got two guys with me who are fantastic to work with but they are fitness coaches. Anatoli is up in the stand if I need guidance that way but I'm pretty much on my own in there. For a club this size, it's difficult.

"Even up until a few weeks ago I was taking the reserves as well. I was training the first-team on a Tuesday and running off the pitch to go and take the reserve game. Neil McCann has come in and taken a big load off me by helping out with the reserves.

"You look for someone to turn to and bounce things off of. It's not ideal but this is the way it is at the minute. I've never sought assurances from Mr Romanov or been told that by a certain date I'll know one way or the other about my future. I just continue to try and do my best. On Saturday that came way short."

To emphasise a positive – possibly the only one – it would be the performance of Fernando Screpis, Hearts' Argentinian midfielder.

His desire to impress stood out from a listless display. He clearly requires a full pre-season before being able to showcase his full capabilities but it wasn't difficult to notice a reliable left foot and good ball retention as being amongst his main assets.

One problem might be how to accommodate both Screpis and Ruben Palazuelos in the same team next year. Both players favour the left central role in a midfield four and exhibit similar footballing styles. Screpis did his case no harm during an industrious outing peppered with moments of invention.

"As a central midfielder I like to keep possession of the ball to find the right pass, the presence of just one forward did not limit my options," he said. "It was a very disappointing result. I would have loved a perfect game for my second start in a Hearts shirt and to get a win but we weren't able to do it and we weren't able to send the fans home happy. I do what the manager tells me. If the manager plays me from the start, I am very happy. If not, my job is to support my team-mates on the pitch." Hearts must pray Pinilla takes his lead from a fellow South American. "For me this season is over," said the Chilean, who is back in his homeland after a knee injury sustained back in January ruined his campaign.

"The doctors don't want to endanger my recovery and I'll return to playing next season in the SPL. Despite this, Roman Romanov (Hearts chairman] has been very loyal to me and has even invited me and my family to stay with him in his house a month before pre-season commences."

That period before pre-season could have a telling effect on Hearts' 2008/09 fortunes. Pinilla's mindset must be right, because Hearts badly need him.

Taken from the Scotsman