Wallace: New crop can be rave Hearts

BARRY ANDERSON
HAVING played fleetingly in the celebrated Hearts team of season 2005/06, which won the Scottish Cup and reached the qualifying rounds of the Champions League, Lee Wallace believes the current squad at Tynecastle has the potential to better their predecessors' achievements.
The full-back was a teenage upstart during a turbulent but ultimately poignant campaign three seasons ago which saw three managers come and go before memorable climaxes in both the league and Cup.

Hearts beat Rangers to second place in the SPL that year, earning a Champions League qualifying berth for the first time before overcoming Gretna in the Scottish Cup final. Manager George Burley was succeeded by Graham Rix, who in turn made way for Valdas Ivanauskas but the team thrived on core players like Steven Pressley, Paul Hartley, Rudi Skacel and Craig Gordon.

Although used mostly as substitute, Wallace holds fond memories of that season but believes the present squad can be even more successful with home-grown talent such as Christophe Berra and Andy Driver. "Folk will always remember that side for finishing second and winning the cup. I was happy to be a part of that," he said. "I didn't play a lot but I often featured as a sub.

"You can see the quality of the team now. We've beaten Rangers and had a good run recently. We are a hard team to beat.

"If everyone is playing well and everything is right then I can't see us not winning leagues and winning cups again.

"This team has got the potential to be better than that team."

Wallace was expected to play against Inverness today after completing a suspension following a red card at Pittodrie last month for foul and abusive language towards referee Iain Brines.

"I was punished for stupidity up in Aberdeen, I've no qualms about the red card," he continued.

"It's hard for folk who haven't played football to understand the passion, the desire and the anger I felt after the game. I let my emotions run a wee bit wild but, even on the bus back, I quickly realised it was the wrong thing to do.

"Speaking to my family, I realised it was stupid and immature but I've learned from it. There were off-the-field issues a couple of years back that I learned from, what happened the other week is just a blip.

"With the disturbances that can happen at this club it's important to always keep your head down. I feel this season I've got a bit of confidence back and I've had a long run of games. Last season, I didn't have that." Wallace also underlined his current confidence with the belief that he is capable of stepping up to the full Scotland squad having became a mainstay of the under-21 squad.

"If given the opportunity, I believe I could do a job," he said

For Csaba Laszlo, the Hearts manager, the contentment with his team's defensive resolve is countered by a lack of goals up front.

The Hungarian revealed that he rejected the chance to sign Diego Klimowicz, a 34-year-old Argentine of Polish descent, this month due to the salary he commands in Germany.

"Somebody told me: 'Get Klimowicz'," explained Laszlo. "I talked with his agent and he told me 'no problem, Klimowicz can come immediately'. You know how much his salary is? It is ¤3million a year. I don't think a club in Scotland can pay this. He is now 34 and for this you give ¤3m? It is better to buy a house," he laughed.

"Klimowicz was offered and we talked seriously about it but now he has gone to Bochum.

"We need a new striker, definitely, but Mr Romanov and the board know I don't like to take any person, I would like to have quality. You don't get quality for nothing.

"Before we sell we cannot move. We must wait to see what happens, this is true and we cannot sweep it under the carpet."

Laszlo also declared that a German Bundesliga club and an Italian side are monitoring two of Hearts' Scottish players. Asked directly if it was true that Michael Stewart was being targeted by the Italians, he replied: "I give some information and the rest you must find for yourself.

"A scout from Italy is watching one of our midfield players. Their coach called me and asked about him and said he had interest. Their scout watched our game against Kilmarnock. This is what I know. The club is not Juventus but it is a good club. Maybe the player will not move in January but the interest is there.

"Michael Stewart has the potential (to play in Italy]. I was very unsatisfied with him over the last six weeks but he is a big winner. He had eight years in Manchester and his football knowledge is fantastic but a lot of time he doesn't use it. Against Kilmarnock he came back and showed his potential. If he continues this he will be interesting big clubs."

On the interest from Germany, he added: "I know 100 per cent they are watching one of our Scottish players. The club is in the first Bundesliga and they are not at the bottom, I am happy about this."

Taken from the Scotsman