Hearts’ lead, which extended to 8 points after their win over Celtic 16 days ago, now looks more precarious. Subsequent draws against St Mirren and Dundee United, when they were fortunate to take a point in both games, has seen dreams of “This is the season” dissipate from Hearts fans’ minds.
Still, we are in no position to be complacent. Late wins over St Mirren, Kilmarnock and Motherwell postponed Celtic’s league breakdown until it eventually hit the buffers against Dundee and Hearts. Martin O’Neill has given the players a confidence they were lacking, but Martin knows too well how quickly that quality can disappear.
When you are seven points off the pace (with a game in hand), every game feels like a must-win. Inevitably, that will not always work out as planned. It is little wonder Martin attended St Mirren’s game on Sunday, their visit to Celtic Park in 11 days is already on his mind.
What Martin has in his favour is decades experience as a serial winner. I like Derek McInnes as a coach. He is accomplished and would have been a better choice than several of the serial losers Newco have appointed over the last 13 years. What he doesn’t have, is a track record of winning trophies.
In 18 years as manager he delivered Aberdeen a League Cup (on penalties against Inverness), as well as lower league titles with St Johnstone and Kilmarnock. Another former St Johnstone manager, Callum Davidson, won more major trophies in a single season.
If we look harshly on McInnes, he lacks a winners’ edge, whereas Martin O’Neill drips with this quality. Martin is unlikely to be in place for the title run-in; whoever takes his place will need the same edge.
159 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
DeniaBhoy on 12th November 2025 10:52 am
Bada Bing – would you have KT and AR in the same team, like they sometimes are with Scotland?
100%,you can’t have enough good players, they could play in the same team easily IMO
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cj41ge0yg0jo
46 minutes in play !!!!
Scandalous.
Cheating the fans.
Basketball has a 24 second shot clock.
The premises could be borrowed, tweaked and applied to throw ins and goal kicks initially … easily enough
The lad from Uruguay is a big upgrade on what KT currently gives us. Sadly.
Bada Bing
It the Tunisian lad injured as you said last night ? Or just getting out of international break ? Or has he gone with Tunisia ?
Bada Bing
Apologies. Just caught up with it all.
Hopefully he is back for the key games ahead.
burnley78
I dont think you are being entirely fair as regards Kieran. Not great positionally against the Midtjys, the whole team were all over the place, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the key contributions he made, against Motherwell at home, latter part of the LC semi-final, against Storm Graz, and latterly against Falkirk at the weekend. Fitness not too bad either. Serrachi, looks a terrific player, albeit an injured one, more GT that KT, but I’d be quite happy to have both our full backs playing their part through this season, unless and until Andy Robertson arrives that is.
new article posted.