Match Day Thread Heart of Midlothian FC v Sunderland AFC - Saturday 26th July 2025 - KO 15:00

I'm only mentioning it because you comment on my post that's all

I haven't through previous pages as didn't see the point, only commented as you responded to my post where I mentioned every player that played more than 25 mins

 

There's always at least one preseason game where it looks like all the new lads are crap and the older players seem to have never met before, just how it is.

 

The comment I made about pre judged was aimed across the whole thread as its been apparent since the first whistle

 

I actually think you need that as a team as well

I definitely didn't feel like that in the stadium but when i was coaching the best seasons I had were after a hammering in preseason

 

Fair, I haven't looked at the thread, just thought iy was weird commenting on my post saying about pre judging when I mentioned every player that's all

 

On a personal note, my mate is the new set piece coach at Hearts and looks like he's doing a cracking job there - they looked dangerous and solid at all set pieces

Hope he smashes it as he's a top top lad

 

Who's their left back. He bounced hume about all game today

 

Apologies it came across that way, as I said it was aimed across the whole thread

 

It's an interesting month or so for Neil now. We don't let important players get into their final contract year so he's either going to sign or be sold by September. Really interested to see how it plays out.

 

Sadiki was poor but you’re doing with Sadiki exactly what you’re saying people shouldn’t be doing with neil

 

Harry Milne, signed for them in January - was really impressed with hkm

They just sold their best player from last season, who was LB, so seems cracking business

They'll do well this season but they suit players teams that will step onto them like we did. They often struggle against low blocks but they've recruited well

 

They were very powerful and physical mind. We just couldn't stand up to it man for man. Was canny impressed with them TBH. Didn't expect it with the quality we had out on the pitch.

 

The thing with neil for me is his passiveness. He wasn’t interested in getting on the ball, coming deep for it and then out of possession wasn’t interested in putting himself about

on the ball today Sadiki had a bad game, but he wanted to get on the ball and out of possession put himself all over

 

Nah. He was the worst midfielder today imo. Big moments. Little moments. His performance was worse that’s Neil’s. And ultimately it’s only to point out that the team performance overall was down across the board. There were poor performances almost everywhere you looked. So the determination to describe Neil as some sort of performance black hole who single-handedly nerfed everyone around him is just wrong.

 

Anybody seen the stats?

I know Le Fee had a free kick which went outside the post but did we have any shots at goal and if we did, were any on target?

About Neil.
He looked a bit disinterested to me. Perhaps he sees himself on the bench in the coming season and doesn’t want that.
I can’t see any Premier team coming to buy him and if I was him I’d be straight in on Monday morning to sign as long as contract as possible.

Not bothered by the result and hopefully RLB has learned a whole lot about what he needs. They say you learn more from a defeat than a win so I look forward to some transfer movement this coming week.

 

What do we make of Hume inverting when we’ve got the ball btw? It’s something I didn’t love when Mowbray had us doing it. Is that part of why we’re failing to get Talbi involved?

 

Not seen any stats

 

It's part of why we've recruited a right footed right winger with good defensive attributes and willingness I suspect.

Not a fan though, I don't think Hume is good enough on the half turn (receiving the ball with his back to goal) and just leaves us disjointed and unbalanced.

 

Good summary from him, good stuff.