Liverpool v Hearts: It’s not about the money, says John Sutton

MOIRA GORDON
Published on Sunday 26 August 2012 04:39

LIVERPOOL didn’t bring their superstars up for the Europa League play-off at Tynecastle, although the guys they did bring were still multi-million pound signings. But, according to Hearts players it was just like being up against their mates in training.

“They are still human beings, they are not another species,” said Gorgie striker John Sutton. “They are very good players and we have a helluva lot of respect for them. A lot of these players are internationals and have played at the highest level and most of us watch them on Match of the Day every week but there is no reason why we can’t set our standards as high or at least aspire to be like them.

“I was speaking to Ryan McGowan after the game and, obviously the boy [Liverpool winger Raheem] Sterling was very impressive, but Gowser said it was just like playing Temps [David Templeton] in training at times. He is so sharp and can go both ways. It’s a good platform for people like Temps and I’m surprised but very pleased he is still at the club because he has so much ability. Maybe it’s because people are so down on the Scottish game that he hasn’t got a move but boys like him are tremendous players and they shouldn’t have anything to fear.

“I think you have got to be ambitious. I know everyone keeps going on about the TV revenues which sort of distorts everything a bit but Hearts, like a lot of teams up here, get a lot of support and we just have to go about things a bit differently. We have young boys coming through and good youth coaches so although teams pay more in wages and transfer fees we just have to find a way of doing better. Holland is maybe a bit of a model. There’s no reason why we can’t compete with these teams.”

On Thursday night they gave as good as they got, in every aspect other than the scoreline. A late own goal by Andy Webster gives Liverpool a 1-0 advantage for the second leg but the general assumption beforehand was that Hearts shouldn’t have come close to equalling the Anfield side. Few at Tynecastle bought into that theory. They face a trip to Aberdeen this afternoon before embarking on the return leg of the play-off at Anfield on Thursday. Both trips will be challenging, with Craig Brown’s men capable of causing problems.

“We did achieve a lot against Liverpool, we put them under pressure and we created chances,” said Hearts manager John McGlynn. “Barring the ball into the box which created the goal, Jamie MacDonald was no busier than he would have been in an SPL game.

“It’s a Scottish trait that we always look at the negatives and all the things we can’t do, but we don’t always see what we can do. The top six sides in England are always going to have quality because they are spending so much money, but you look at games from the level below that and see a lot of boring, poor matches in the Premiership. You watch these games and they are no better than a game in the SPL. We do put players within our game down too much. Liverpool had £87 million-worth of talent on the pitch against us, but when you work hard and are determined then it can become something of a leveller.

“There’s an imbalance in the financial aspect with everything they have down in England. Everything is so much bigger due to the TV money through Sky – we have one kit-man; they have four kit-men! Our aim was to even things up and it was good to hear Ryan say that it was like playing against David, because that shows the kind of challenge our players are getting in training. Hopefully we can take confidence from that.”

Hearts proved that there is more to producing a competitive side than cash and McGlynn hopes that point will be rammed home further by an entertaining game at Pittodrie this afternoon against an Aberdeen team who have recruited shrewdly in recent months.

“With Johnny Hayes coming in – unfortunately Niall McGinn is injured – and Gary Naysmith, who is an experienced player at the back, with Mark Reynolds as well, who Craig Brown knew from his time at Motherwell, there are a lot of good signings at the club,” cautioned McGlynn. “Stephen Hughes and Gavin Rae were both at Rangers and on the fringes of the Scotland squad. These are experienced players who have done well in the SPL and I’m sure they will do a good job for Aberdeen. I would expect Aberdeen to have a much better season but we need to aim to go there and build on the start we’ve had and try to get the three points.”

The domestic fare may be more appetising than many give it credit for but the mouthwatering fixtures still come in Europe. So McGlynn and his players have not given up hope of overhauling the 1-0 deficit on Thursday. Which is an improvement on this time last year, when the away trip to Tottenham was redundant after a 5-0 walloping at Tynecastle.

“Last year we didn’t deserve to be in the tie, admitted Sutton. “But this year we are a little bit upset [to be trailing] but I’m sure Liverpool have played a lot of games like that where teams have done okay against them but they have shown a little bit of quality at the end and got a good result. From our point of view, it’s obviously an improvement on last year. Everyone keeps going on about the gulf in class and how much money they spend but we feel that we are a good team and are capable of competing with anyone.”

Even the heavyweights, should Liverpool feel they need to get them stripped.

Taken from the Scotsman