29 Oct 2026 14:01:15
We can all discuss the merits, or otherwise, of our own preferences regards actual formations till the cows come home.
What we lack severely at times - and yes I'm old fashioned - is being up for a fight, getting the battle fever on. We get bullied far too easily by opposition players! This ain't no "tippy-tappy" league, this is Scottish football, players need to realise that every opponent we face know that it's their chance to make a name for themselves and give it their all. Also need to start getting the basics correct, simple passes made at the right time and finding a team mate with them.
Makhanya for me is the only one that doesn't take any crap from opponents. He has an arrogance and determination about him that just screams out "you ain't getting past me". The number of times in games I've watched him win a tackle and then - clearly out of frustration with his own team mates - surges forward with the ball in an attempt to do what others should be doing instead.
IMO Makhanya, not Neil or Raskin, should be made Captain as he leads by example.
29 Oct 2026 14:08:20
Hearts won the majority of the second balls last night.
29 Oct 2026 14:11:42
I agree and Dan Neil is the perfect example of this.
He spend all last night finding himself in wonderful pockets of space in the middle of the park, when what we needed him to do was to roll his sleeves up, drop 15-20 yards deeper and battle for the second balls that were dropping at the feet of Miller and McPake.
Whilst Neil played hide and seek, our back line was peppered with long balls and then faced wave after wave of attacks from the resulting second balls.
Connor Baron may not be the answer to every question - but he would have been an answer to last nights.
29 Oct 2026 14:32:11
Great post Parlane totally agree but this isn't a new thing i remember Clements tesm at Ross County and then after at Dundee both games we were outrun, outfought and ultimately I think we got 1 point from 6.
29 Oct 2026 14:39:37
EHL - spot on we struggled to get a foothold in the game especially in the midfield due to losing the duels and failing to win the second balls.
Miller, McPake, and Braga gave our midfield the run around and the only player to get pass marks was Makhanya who was exceptional in and out of possession.
Our fullbacks rarely offered anything offensively which is a problem resulting in no passes down the channels, or crosses into the box.
Surely we need to play 3 midfielders away from home and if so do we go 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1?
Lucky to come away with a point last night.
29 Oct 2026 15:00:27
Soz EHL, tad confused as to what part you actually agree with. That's on me as I do respect your opinion on here.
I just feel there are too many players that don't fancy it when the going gets tough.
29 Oct 2026 15:03:01
Talking about the cows coming home reminded me of helping my mate milk his coo's. Getting covered head to toe in cow dung, tanning a bottle of whisky in the parlour while milking all the big darlings.
Big friendly things are coo's but their tongues are like sand paper.
I often wonder if getting covered in their dung was the reason I have such a nice skin complexion or if it was the reason for my baldy napper?
29 Oct 2026 15:07:03
Cheers BT, yes it's been an issue for long enough over a number of seasons. When push comes to shove unfortunately we fold. 🙁.
29 Oct 2026 15:08:25
I agree parlane 🤔 makhanya is a superb centre half and absolutely leads by example👌
We all should enjoy him while he's at Rangers 🤔🇬🇧 He was easily our best player last night and he doesn't get pushed around and bullied he's strong and assertive as well as being a very good footballing centre half into the bargain 👌🇬🇧.
29 Oct 2026 18:17:01
Three,
See, if like big Makahnya, you didn't take any chit from anyone you'd have no need for that Skullshaver! 😁.
29 Oct 2026 15:33:02
"Hearts won the majority of the second balls last night."
For sure, My Star. That should never be happening as a given.
29 Oct 2026 16:12:51
Correct Parlane.
29 Oct 2026 16:37:05
We didn't play tippy tappy football last night, haven't the entire time McInnes has been here. We were playing long balls all game that weren't sticking, we weren't pressing & gave Hearts every opportunity to play their game. Other than the old firms we haven't played more than 45 minutes of decent football & everyone else against us are playing better football, we're scoring goals against the run of play.
Last night was screaming out for another midfielder whether that was as a 10 or to move to a 3 man midfield as we were overrun there & left too much space between the midfield & strikers.
29 Oct 2026 16:52:49
I agree and that's part of my original point, DJ. Neil might well be fine in a successful team that does play "tippy-yappy" football, not up here, and definitely not in the winter months that lie ahead.
29 Oct 2026 17:27:03
Im not buying that we won away to them with a fine performance from everyone, imo this has to do how we were set up the instructions and the wrong starting 11.
29 Oct 2026 18:04:26
Not a huge lyall Cameron fan but you can see the dig he gives Dundee United midfield something neil does not give Rangers even conor Barron would have given mire than neil.
29 Oct 2026 20:18:10
Parlane, Neil hasn't played in a tippy tappy side, mate, not been his best the last couple of games, but he can play.
29 Oct 2026 21:48:04
Now, now My Star. Don't be doing that, bro. At no point did I say he (Neil) has done. I just don't think he's the greatest fit for our league. An opinion I'm perfectly entitled to have. If you think differently then that's perfectly fine. I'd love to see you proved correct come the end of the season.
Someone else mentioned his display v Selic (lovely sunny day BTW) being good. I concur with that, but would add if you can't get yourself up for games against them then there really is no point in even being here.
We've got a decent record against them over the last few years and still won nothing. Games like last night's are the ones I feel players don't seem to realise the need to have the exact same desire and application in order to get the required result. regardless of the weather 😁.
29 Oct 2026 22:14:31
Parlane, only meaning he's never played in a tippy tappy side mate, seen him having dozen and dozens of good games, and he is a fighter, that was one of his main things as a Sunderland player, remember it's only still October, let's see how the season goes, all new signings have only been here months, still believe we've got the strongest squad we have had for a long time, too many get rattled with a draw, but when most of our players don't perform this happens, especially at a tough venue like Tynecastle.
29 Oct 2026 22:15:50
Parlane, and Raskin was every bit as bad, but he doesn't seem to be getting mentioned.
29 Oct 2026 23:48:19
Yup, Raskin was bad, too, mate. No argument whatsoever with that assessment, perhaps the early doors booking played its part in his case 🤔.
30 Oct 2026 00:01:14
Some favour players mate, they don't like hearing anything bad said about them Parlane, I do rate Neil but when he has a stinker, I'll say it like it is.
30 Oct 2026 00:04:02
Why it annoys me when the likes of Sterling after having a poor game after performing well the majority of the season, straight out the team for some.
30 Oct 2026 02:54:44
Ehl , that's tactical , that's on the manager for me . Neil seems to struggle when their a battle to be won , on a tight park , Dundee , Tynecastle , thoughts?
30 Oct 2026 11:11:45
Chunks Neil does not like the physical game and I have said before he is very adept at not being able to revive.