Critchley and big games !

[Donegal Hibby]

Thankfully for Mr. Critchley today that was his last big game for a while , really doesn’t seem to like big games , does he? .

[Www1875hfc]

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[Pagan Hibernia]

Hopefully they keep him.

It's reassuring going into derby matches with him in charge of them

[GreenCastle]

Hearts fans seem conflicted.

A glorious last minute defeat with 9 men and they think they did ok and wasn’t his fault.

Some others want him gone as he never wins important games and lost 2 derbies..should have been 3.

[HarpOnHibee]

Hearts fans seem conflicted.

A glorious last minute defeat with 9 men and they think they did ok and wasn’t his fault.

They're right though. It wasn't his fault. He's a managerial/tactical genius and Hearts should get him on a 5 year deal ASAP.

[David_D]

Surely next week is another big game for him. They lose to Dundee and will only be 3 points off 11th.

[Hibby70]

Surely next week is another big game for him. They lose to Dundee and will only be 3 points off 11th.

Only if both Kilmarnock and Ross county win , and they are playing each other

[LancsHibs]

Probably Critchley’s last ‘big game’ unless last day of the season they need a point:brokenyam:

[Nicho87]

More pre-contracts hopefully and keep up the good work critchers.

😂

[worcesterhibby]

Only if both Kilmarnock and Ross county win , and they are playing each other

if Dundee beat them, they will absolutely crap themselves. It’s Ross County after that for them.. If this happens….

jambos v Dundee….dundee victory

Kilmarnock v RossCounty….killi victory

Motherwell St Johnstone…. Motherwell victory

next round of matches

Dundee v Motherwell… Dundee victory

Ross County v Hearts …. Ross county victory

St Johnstone v Kilmarnock… Kilmarnock victory

thst would leave the bottom 6 as

7) Motherwell - 42 points
8) Killi - 41 points
9) Hearts - 40 points
10) Dundee - 40 points
11) Ross County - 38 points
12) St Johnstone - 29 points

Three matches to play… Hearts 2 points off a play off place :agree: and we know how good they are at big matches…. Jambottlers

[lyonhibs]

Totally uninspiring appointment from the word go. Even his name sounds like he should be a pencil pushing mid manager in a logistics company or similar. Got all the charisma of a lump of coal and even less tactical nous.

[Donegal Hibby]

Hope they give him time …

https://www.hmfckickback.co.uk/index.php?/topic/207163-critchley-got-to-go/

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/hearts-neil-critchley-blasts-referee-john-beaton-scottish-cup-semi-final-display-5091170

[Viva_Palmeiras]

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[DinkyTwo]

Probably Critchley’s last ‘big game’ unless last day of the season they need a point:brokenyam:Good thing is, if he goes, they need to roll the dice again. No guarantee anyone that comes in will be any better.

This might be the first time in my lifetime that we're consistently better at getting results (not just playing good football) than Hearts.

Loving it

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[Real Emerald]

I can’t make my mind up whether he got his tactics right after the sending off or not. Another few minutes and they could have had the chance to win it on penalties and he’d be hailed as a tactical genius. However, he really just played for extra time and penalties from half time in a Scottish Cup semifinal by taking two strikers off and having no out ball.

It just seems a very negative defeatist tactic although it just may have worked for him. Aberdeen were so poor though and struggle to break teams down and I’d have been disappointed if that was us and we’d been so negative. They’re oot though so I’m no really bothered. 😎

[BoomtownHibees]

This might be the first time in my lifetime that we're consistently better at getting results (not just playing good football) than Hearts.



Really?

[Viva_Palmeiras]

Is it possible to have an AI mashup of Neil singing Kate Bush Wuthering Heights?

[DinkyTwo]

Really?I'd love to say it wasn't, but there's been many a last minute screamer, or Hearts grinding their way to 3rd / 4th whilst playing **** yet robust football.

This season we've out-fought or simply outplayed our opponent for 17 games in a row. Something that has only happened once before.

I'm confident we'd beat them any day of the week and would welcome a derby, safe in the knowledge that we'd fight them to the bitter end and get the result we needed.

I don't think I've felt that way before, despite seeing some good Hibs teams in the past.

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[hibsbollah]

The Critchley and Slapheid Show continues.

[Since90+2]

if Dundee beat them, they will absolutely crap themselves. It’s Ross County after that for them.. If this happens….

jambos v Dundee….dundee victory

Kilmarnock v RossCounty….killi victory

Motherwell St Johnstone…. Motherwell victory

next round of matches

Dundee v Motherwell… Dundee victory

Ross County v Hearts …. Ross county victory

St Johnstone v Kilmarnock… Kilmarnock victory

thst would leave the bottom 6 as

7) Motherwell - 42 points
8) Killi - 41 points
9) Hearts - 40 points
10) Dundee - 40 points
11) Ross County - 38 points
12) St Johnstone - 29 points

Three matches to play… Hearts 2 points off a play off place :agree: and we know how good they are at big matches…. Jambottlers

Hear7s are currently 6 points ahead of Dundee, but due to goal difference it's effectively 7 points.

Unfortunately I think it's highly unlikely they'll be in the bottom 2 as that's a decent cushion, not impossible right enough but I think they'll just have enough to avoid it.

Big club though.

[Since452]

I wouldn't fancy them to win a playoff. They can't win big games.

[K-Zazu]

I wouldn't fancy them to win a playoff. They can't win big games.

They won’t finish second bottom unfortunately, would be funny though.

[He's here!]

I can’t make my mind up whether he got his tactics right after the sending off or not. Another few minutes and they could have had the chance to win it on penalties and he’d be hailed as a tactical genius. However, he really just played for extra time and penalties from half time in a Scottish Cup semifinal by taking two strikers off and having no out ball.

It just seems a very negative defeatist tactic although it just may have worked for him. Aberdeen were so poor though and struggle to break teams down and I’d have been disappointed if that was us and we’d been so negative. They’re oot though so I’m no really bothered. 😎

If it was against Celtic or, say, a tough opponent in a European tie then yes of course you could understand it, but look what a very poor Rangers side did at Pittodrie with 10 men last week. This sheep team are no great shakes and trying to hold out for penalties wasn't heroic by any means.

[hibsbollah]

I can’t make my mind up whether he got his tactics right after the sending off or not. Another few minutes and they could have had the chance to win it on penalties and he’d be hailed as a tactical genius. However, he really just played for extra time and penalties from half time in a Scottish Cup semifinal by taking two strikers off and having no out ball.

It just seems a very negative defeatist tactic although it just may have worked for him. Aberdeen were so poor though and struggle to break teams down and I’d have been disappointed if that was us and we’d been so negative. They’re oot though so I’m no really bothered. 😎

Agree. In that kind of defensive stalemate game if you’re down to ten men your only hope is rolling the dice and hope for one moment of magic, not taking off your attacking options and watching them all physically tire.

[Donegal Hibby]

I can’t make my mind up whether he got his tactics right after the sending off or not. Another few minutes and they could have had the chance to win it on penalties and he’d be hailed as a tactical genius. However, he really just played for extra time and penalties from half time in a Scottish Cup semifinal by taking two strikers off and having no out ball.

It just seems a very negative defeatist tactic although it just may have worked for him. Aberdeen were so poor though and struggle to break teams down and I’d have been disappointed if that was us and we’d been so negative. They’re oot though so I’m no really bothered. 😎

Really didn’t understand the reasoning behind why he took off all the pace he had upfront tbh .

[Unseen work]

I think hearts probably would have stood a better chance down to 10 men with Kabangu up front rather than Shankland

Aberdeen are useless defending balls over the top/in behind and constantly caught on the counter

Shankland doesn’t offer that threat at all and it’s what Kabangu likes to do

[Real Emerald]

My point was his tactic nearly worked and if it had they’d all be swooning over him. I just think I’d be gutted to think if we had done that against a poor Aberdeen side. Seems a crazy decision which almost worked but thankfully didn’t. 😁

[MKHIBEE]

Surely next week is another big game for him. They lose to Dundee and will only be 3 points off 11th.
If Carlsberg did weekend results………….

[GreenCastle]

Has he won a big game yet ?

[theonlywayisup]

Critchley's not happy with Beaton.

An exasperated Critchley, now fighting to save his job after failing to get his side into the top six of the Premiership, insisted Beaton couldn’t send off Steinwender quickly enough and couldn’t believe Devlin’s expulsion moments before Dabbagh’s winner.

However, he was particularly unhappy with the referee’s reaction when he attempted to talk to him about the decisions that changed the game.

‘I tried to (speak to him),’ said Critchley. ‘I got some kind of response, yeah, but when you try to say things in a respectful way, you hope that you get respect back.

‘I like to think I give everyone respect with the way I conduct myself and I expect that in return, but I don’t think I got that. I was near my assistant, who he sent off at the end. Didn’t swear at him, only asked to speak to him. His response was not very good, in my opinion.

‘Then, when I asked why he’d sent him (Steinwender) off, he said he would send me off. I was thinking: “For what reason? Why?”. We did not swear. I would not do that. That’s not how I conduct myself. I get frustrated sometimes on the side and show a bit of passion, but I apologise to the fourth official if he says calm down. I get it.

‘You just hope you get that level of respect in return and we didn’t get it.’

Steinwender’s 44th-minute red card for bringing down Topi Keskinen forced Critchley to tear up the game plan at half-time and go to three at the back, but he was unhappy with Beaton’s decision.

‘I’ve never seen a referee get a red card out quicker in my entire life,’ he said. ‘It’s a long way from goal and we had recovering defenders. He couldn’t wait to send him off.

‘I thought there were a few questionable decisions throughout the game. There was Cammy’s first booking and then the second one. He’s in motion and going to clear the ball and the other lad (Dante Polvara) jumps in front of him.

‘Yeah, it’s a foul, but to book him? I mean, come on. Wow. It was incredible.’

Critchley refused to accept, though, that there was a lot at stake personally, in terms of job security, in the wake of a season that is now over and done with.

‘No, I don’t feel like that at all, no,’ he said. ‘When you look at when I took over, we had two points after 11 games. If you do a points-per-game in my tenure, we’d be top six comfortably and we’ve got to a semi-final, taking it right to the wire today with ten men for a long period.

‘There are more than enough positive signs and we have a plan and strategy on how we want to move forward.’

Stick in son, you're doing a great job.

[McSwanky]

When you look at when I took over, we had two points after 11 games.

A wee bit Trumpian there, Critch. It was only 8.

He's a good fit for them IMO. Boring to watch, terrible dress sense. High opinion of himself for no good reason. Hasn't quite reached Naismith levels of whininess yet, but he's getting there. Long live the Critchley era.

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[B.H.F.C]

I think hearts probably would have stood a better chance down to 10 men with Kabangu up front rather than Shankland

Aberdeen are useless defending balls over the top/in behind and constantly caught on the counter

Shankland doesn’t offer that threat at all and it’s what Kabangu likes to do

Tactically, I thought he got it right being down to 10. They managed to stay in it for a very long time with 10 men. Which makes it funnier in terms of how they lost.

[Dashing Bob S]

Needs time. Gray won 1 in 13 in his start here. Now unbeaten in 17. If you stick with your guy he'll come good. This is the line I'm resolutely trumpeting to Yam pals.

[Bostonhibby]

Critchley's not happy with Beaton.

An exasperated Critchley, now fighting to save his job after failing to get his side into the top six of the Premiership, insisted Beaton couldn’t send off Steinwender quickly enough and couldn’t believe Devlin’s expulsion moments before Dabbagh’s winner.

However, he was particularly unhappy with the referee’s reaction when he attempted to talk to him about the decisions that changed the game.

‘I tried to (speak to him),’ said Critchley. ‘I got some kind of response, yeah, but when you try to say things in a respectful way, you hope that you get respect back.

‘I like to think I give everyone respect with the way I conduct myself and I expect that in return, but I don’t think I got that. I was near my assistant, who he sent off at the end. Didn’t swear at him, only asked to speak to him. His response was not very good, in my opinion.

‘Then, when I asked why he’d sent him (Steinwender) off, he said he would send me off. I was thinking: “For what reason? Why?”. We did not swear. I would not do that. That’s not how I conduct myself. I get frustrated sometimes on the side and show a bit of passion, but I apologise to the fourth official if he says calm down. I get it.

‘You just hope you get that level of respect in return and we didn’t get it.’

Steinwender’s 44th-minute red card for bringing down Topi Keskinen forced Critchley to tear up the game plan at half-time and go to three at the back, but he was unhappy with Beaton’s decision.

‘I’ve never seen a referee get a red card out quicker in my entire life,’ he said. ‘It’s a long way from goal and we had recovering defenders. He couldn’t wait to send him off.

‘I thought there were a few questionable decisions throughout the game. There was Cammy’s first booking and then the second one. He’s in motion and going to clear the ball and the other lad (Dante Polvara) jumps in front of him.

‘Yeah, it’s a foul, but to book him? I mean, come on. Wow. It was incredible.’

Critchley refused to accept, though, that there was a lot at stake personally, in terms of job security, in the wake of a season that is now over and done with.

‘No, I don’t feel like that at all, no,’ he said. ‘When you look at when I took over, we had two points after 11 games. If you do a points-per-game in my tenure, we’d be top six comfortably and we’ve got to a semi-final, taking it right to the wire today with ten men for a long period.

‘There are more than enough positive signs and we have a plan and strategy on how we want to move forward.’

Stick in son, you're doing a great job.The Critch has a point, I think it would have been much more enjoyable if the mug who fouled the last man thereby earning the mandatory red card had been sent off slowly rather than instantly.

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[JimBHibees]

Tactically, I thought he got it right being down to 10. They managed to stay in it for a very long time with 10 men. Which makes it funnier in terms of how they lost.

They were very solid and comfortable defending and were very close to a penalty shoot out. To be honest Aberdeen contributed hugely to how comfortable they were. Shame they couldn’t quite complete their heroic victory. :greengrin

[Not In The Know]

Really didn’t understand the reasoning behind why he took off all the pace he had upfront tbh .


100%.

he basically shat the bed. All this “brave performance” guff from the usual Hearts sycophants on the radio is nonsense. They were playing a guff Aberdeen team and didn’t manage another shot on target when they went down to 10 men.

[bingo70]

100%.

he basically shat the bed. All this “brave performance” guff from the usual Hearts sycophants on the radio is nonsense. They were playing a guff Aberdeen team and didn’t manage another shot on target when they went down to 10 men.

I think it’s quite easy to defend well if that’s all you want to do and abandon any attempts to get forward. Similarly it’s easy to play attacking football if you don’t concern yourself with the defensive side (see his comments after the Celtic game they got pumped in recently).

When he manages to get his team to do both they’ll maybe be able to compete with the top 6 big boys.

[JimBHibees]

Beaton got all the big decisions right they have no reason to complain. Pleasing

[Green_one]

100%.

he basically shat the bed. All this “brave performance” guff from the usual Hearts sycophants on the radio is nonsense. They were playing a guff Aberdeen team and didn’t manage another shot on target when they went down to 10 men.

Pretty concise summary of what I saw.:not worth They ignore getting three guys sent off as any indication that they were struggling to compete. Terrible game overall. Result fine though :aok:

[JimBHibees]

Pretty concise summary of what I saw.:not worth They ignore getting three guys sent off as any indication that they were struggling to compete. Terrible game overall. Result fine though :aok:

Just two sent off

[bingo70]

Pretty concise summary of what I saw.:not worth They ignore getting three guys sent off as any indication that they were struggling to compete. Terrible game overall. Result fine though :aok:

The first sending off in particular, they are glossing over how the situation came about. Aberdeen had scored once already and the Aberdeen striker had just broken through them again, as the other boy Shayden Morris had already done earlier in the game too.

Defensively they weren’t playing well, that’s why they went down to 10 men. Ironically enough, that allowed them to just defend and play for a draw. If they’d have kept 11 men on the park they would have lost in 90 IMO.

[degenerated]

100%.

he basically shat the bed. All this “brave performance” guff from the usual Hearts sycophants on the radio is nonsense. They were playing a guff Aberdeen team and didn’t manage another shot on target when they went down to 10 men.They only managed one shot more on target in that game than we did, and we were in our beds or something :hilarious

[Fuzzywuzzy]

Convinced shankland couldn't be arsed and got himself taken off. An injury in training that keeps him out the rest of the season wouldn't surprise me

[Jack]

I'm sure Brother Beaton would have been pulled up by VAR if he'd got the sending off wrong no matter how quick he was.

[JohnM1875]

I'm sure Brother Beaton would have been pulled up by VAR if he'd got the sending off wrong no matter how quick he was.

Totally.

Hate to defend them, but seems refs can’t win. Folk have been moaning for ages that refs don’t make decisions anymore and rely on VAR. Then when they do make a decision it’s too quick.

Said it before, but Beaton is the best ref we have up here.

[K-Zazu]

Another derby defeat and he’s done.

[NORTHERNHIBBY]

Critchley is shamelessly reflecting his own mistakes onto the ref and hoping that it chimes with the fans on the terraces. Hearts have got themselves where we were with Monty last season at this time. I'd be surprised if he lasts the season.

[WeAreHibs]

Just two sent off

Assistant Coach got red card too

[He's here!]

Tactically, I thought he got it right being down to 10. They managed to stay in it for a very long time with 10 men. Which makes it funnier in terms of how they lost.

Given how unthreatening (and poor defensively) Aberdeen had been in the first half I don't agree he called it right tactially.

[B.H.F.C]

Given how unthreatening (and poor defensively) Aberdeen had been in the first half I don't agree he called it right tactially.

I always think about us going down to 10 men and how difficult it becomes. Saw it numerous times earlier this season. They limited Aberdeen for 70 minutes then made an arse of it near the end which was funny. If he’d just went attacking and left space, they’d have lost in normal time.

[Pretty Boy]

He'll probably get away with that yesterday because they are all pretending the first red was the wrong decision so they can blame the ref.

I was surprised he took Wilson off. I get Shankland had scored but he's not a particularly effective outball. Wilson, whilst raw, is pretty physical and fast. When they got him the ball he was giving Shinnie problems running the channel on that side. Removing him basically killed any ability to go long and the ball to stick or even be competed for. Of the 3 options they had up top I would say Shankland was the least effective to leave on up there alone.

[eastmainsmsh]

Convinced shankland couldn't be arsed and got himself taken off. An injury in training that keeps him out the rest of the season wouldn't surprise me

He will be like up for it next season at huns

[He's here!]

I always think about us going down to 10 men and how difficult it becomes. Saw it numerous times earlier this season. They limited Aberdeen for 70 minutes then made an arse of it near the end which was funny. If he’d just went attacking and left space, they’d have lost in normal time.

Possibly, but in terms of the opposition I'm just not convinced they were likely to exploit their advantage. Rangers played with 10 men for most of the game against them the previous week and scored twice. I thought Critchley gave Aberdeen too much respect by going so ultra defensive.

[Paul1642]

Another derby defeat and he’s done.

Far from certain that he sees another derby.

[Paul1642]

Tactically, I thought he got it right being down to 10. They managed to stay in it for a very long time with 10 men. Which makes it funnier in terms of how they lost.

Obviously impossible to know what would have happened if he’d kept another attacker on, but I disagree and think the game was still there for hearts to win at HT.

Hearts did stay in it until the end but I would put that down to Aberdeen being absolutely horrific in the second half rather than Critchley’s tactics. A better side would have put them to the sword second half.

[GreenCastle]

He'll probably get away with that yesterday because they are all pretending the first red was the wrong decision so they can blame the ref.

I was surprised he took Wilson off. I get Shankland had scored but he's not a particularly effective outball. Wilson, whilst raw, is pretty physical and fast. When they got him the ball he was giving Shinnie problems running the channel on that side. Removing him basically killed any ability to go long and the ball to stick or even be competed for. Of the 3 options they had up top I would say Shankland was the least effective to leave on up there alone.

Hearts tactics were to defend centrally well - hence why Aberdeen struggled off any crosses then counter by mostly giving it to Maldini..sorry I mean Penrice on the left to whip a cross in for Crampland.

Aberdeen were crap and honestly if Hearts had a Boyle type up front they would have won that game.

It’s easy to be heroic when defending but considering how dodgy the Aberdeen keeper looked having not played for weeks - they missed an opportunity big time.

[Dashing Bob S]

100%.

he basically shat the bed. All this “brave performance” guff from the usual Hearts sycophants on the radio is nonsense. They were playing a guff Aberdeen team and didn’t manage another shot on target when they went down to 10 men.

Yes. Critch bottled it, plain and simple. He took of pace because he had no intention of trying to win it with 10 men. All he wanted was a penalty shoot out.

[B.H.F.C]

Obviously impossible to know what would have happened if he’d kept another attacker on, but I disagree and think the game was still there for hearts to win at HT.

Hearts did stay in it until the end but I would put that down to Aberdeen being absolutely horrific in the second half rather than Critchley’s tactics. A better side would have put them to the sword second half.

Aberdeen’s biggest threat is on the counter with the two wide players, particularly Morris. Shut the space off and they didn’t have a clue what to do. Having watched that, I think we’ll do similar next week, just with 11 men on the park and more quality when we do get it.

[makaveli1875]

Oh come on it was a heroic performance from the Jambos , they went out on their shields like valiant knights . Beaton cheated them , the 1st red was a travesty of refereeing , it was 30 yards out , the aberdeen boy wasn't about to go 1 on 1 with Gordon and the 2nd red was just a joke , it was only Devlins 28th foul of the game , criminal that Beaton didn't allow him a few more and the winning goal was 12 yards offside . I feel for them it was such a blatant Robbery

[matty_f]

I think it’s quite easy to defend well if that’s all you want to do and abandon any attempts to get forward. Similarly it’s easy to play attacking football if you don’t concern yourself with the defensive side (see his comments after the Celtic game they got pumped in recently).

When he manages to get his team to do both they’ll maybe be able to compete with the top 6 big boys.

That’s it in a nutshell. Any team can just dig in and hope they get to penalties, most often it doesn’t work though. You need to have some ambition to win the match - he was hoping to get it to penalties where it’s a lottery, don’t be gaslit into thinking getting to penalties equals “Hearts would have won”.

It’s just as likely that Aberdeen would have won on penalties.

Packing the defence and trying to defend is a routine training drill that every team does - nothing Hearts did yesterday was particularly tactically smart or revolutionary, they forced Aberdeen wide and defended their box, and were grateful Aberdeen were slow and wasteful with their play.

They did it well, but if you’re not bothered about having a go yourself then it’s not really worth it. Their fans should be looking back on that game furious that they’ve not really had a go at Aberdeen at 10 v 11. That’s not an insurmountable disadvantage that necessitated giving up any attacking threat they had.

Critchley 100% shat the bed when he opted to play for penalties, there was no faith in his team that they could compete with Aberdeen in open play.

[SickBoy32]

Cathro mk 2, could tell that from his very first interview.

Never, ever a leader of men.

Long live the Critch 👍😂

[renato]

That’s it in a nutshell. Any team can just dig in and hope they get to penalties, most often it doesn’t work though. You need to have some ambition to win the match - he was hoping to get it to penalties where it’s a lottery, don’t be gaslit into thinking getting to penalties equals “Hearts would have won”.

It’s just as likely that Aberdeen would have won on penalties.

Packing the defence and trying to defend is a routine training drill that every team does - nothing Hearts did yesterday was particularly tactically smart or revolutionary, they forced Aberdeen wide and defended their box, and were grateful Aberdeen were slow and wasteful with their play.

They did it well, but if you’re not bothered about having a go yourself then it’s not really worth it. Their fans should be looking back on that game furious that they’ve not really had a go at Aberdeen at 10 v 11. That’s not an insurmountable disadvantage that necessitated giving up any attacking threat they had.

Critchley 100% shat the bed when he opted to play for penalties, there was no faith in his team that they could compete with Aberdeen in open play.

100%.

Contrast this to the Maloney semi against them, Newall sent off yet we totally dominated the game against 11 men and I’m sure most of a maroon persuasion would agree how fortunate they were to win that game.

That’s how a team with 10 men can be brave and still offer a threat, in a big game.

[Since452]

100%.

he basically shat the bed. All this “brave performance” guff from the usual Hearts sycophants on the radio is nonsense. They were playing a guff Aberdeen team and didn’t manage another shot on target when they went down to 10 men.

This. They were playing Aberdeen for goodness sake. Not Celtic or even Rangers. Cowardly tactics got what it deserved. Nothing. Hearts are the new St Johnsone. Would get football stopped.

[McD]

That’s it in a nutshell. Any team can just dig in and hope they get to penalties, most often it doesn’t work though. You need to have some ambition to win the match - he was hoping to get it to penalties where it’s a lottery, don’t be gaslit into thinking getting to penalties equals “Hearts would have won”.

It’s just as likely that Aberdeen would have won on penalties.

Packing the defence and trying to defend is a routine training drill that every team does - nothing Hearts did yesterday was particularly tactically smart or revolutionary, they forced Aberdeen wide and defended their box, and were grateful Aberdeen were slow and wasteful with their play.

They did it well, but if you’re not bothered about having a go yourself then it’s not really worth it. Their fans should be looking back on that game furious that they’ve not really had a go at Aberdeen at 10 v 11. That’s not an insurmountable disadvantage that necessitated giving up any attacking threat they had.

Critchley 100% shat the bed when he opted to play for penalties, there was no faith in his team that they could compete with Aberdeen in open play.



Hearts gave lip service to any kind of attacking play after the sending off. They made maybe 3 or 4 forays past the halfway line, won a corner once, in the whole second half. They put 5 players on their 18 yard line, and 3 sitting midfielders in front of them. Critchley had no intention of looking for a winner.


And they defended fairly well against a toothless Aberdeen side, but at the end of the day, the defending team have to get everything right over and over and over, the attacking team only need to get it right once to score.

[McD]

This. They were playing Aberdeen for goodness sake. Not Celtic or even Rangers. Cowardly tactics got what it deserved. Nothing. Hearts are the new St Johnsone. Would get football stopped.


This rangers team are very poor, and we’re playing half a reserve side against Aberdeen last week, and managed to come back from 2 goals down after a sending off. Any sensible manager would have looked at that and saw how to get at Aberdeen with 11 or 10 men. Critchley went into an ultra defensive shape and played for penalties for nearly 70 minutes, so negative.

[Kato]

This. They were playing Aberdeen for goodness sake. Not Celtic or even Rangers. Cowardly tactics got what it deserved. Nothing. Hearts are the new St Johnsone. Would get football stopped.Hard luck Jambos, brave, courageous, but in the end, cowardly, stupid, loser tactics.

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[Aldo]

This rangers team are very poor, and we’re playing half a reserve side against Aberdeen last week, and managed to come back from 2 goals down after a sending off. Any sensible manager would have looked at that and saw how to get at Aberdeen with 11 or 10 men. Critchley went into an ultra defensive shape and played for penalties for nearly 70 minutes, so negative.

Down to ten and you keep the most immobile player in your squad on the pitch. Says it all.

Critch’d it said they were still a threat. Where.

I also hope they kept Gordon as their No1 next season. He set up the winner superbly well and is nowhere near as good as he was.

[He's here!]

Down to ten and you keep the most immobile player in your squad on the pitch. Says it all.

Critch’d it said they were still a threat. Where.

I also hope they kept Gordon as their No1 next season. He set up the winner superbly well and is nowhere near as good as he was.

For such a tall guy he seems always to be rooted to his line for cross balls. His reputation is built on shot stopping.

[Aldo]

For such a tall guy he seems always to be rooted to his line for cross balls. His reputation is built on shot stopping.

He shat the bed for Scotland v England when, in my opinion anyway, he should have used his height to come for the cross that led to a goal.

Even his shot stopping has deteriorated a bit.

[Not In The Know]

Pretty funny to think he won’t have the opportunity to blow another big game for at least 1/3 of a year.

[Not In The Know]

For such a tall guy he seems always to be rooted to his line for cross balls. His reputation is built on shot stopping.

Sunderland fans used to call him Jesus. Quite apt this weekend.

[A Hi-Bee]

Crutch, is such a nice man shame it may take him 6 or 7 years to turn this one around.

[Baader]

Hard luck Jambos, brave, courageous, but in the end, cowardly, stupid, loser tactics.

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Interesting, very typical Jambo narrative.

Brave, courageous, valiant etc.

Fact is they had a very good chance to best a dreadful Aberdeen side on the day and make the final. Let down by indiscipline that led to two stupid red cards. They should be looking at that and how the players blew it big time. If they'd have kept 11 on the pitch they'd likely have won it in 90.

[hibsbollah]

Interesting, very typical Jambo narrative.

Brave, courageous, valiant etc.

Fact is they had a very good chance to best a dreadful Aberdeen side on the day and make the final. Let down by indiscipline that led to two stupid red cards. They should be looking at that and how the players blew it big time. If they'd have kept 11 on the pitch they'd likely have won it in 90.

Ive just seen the nauseating Craig Gordon interview. What an embarrassment. They’re carrying on like theyre Italy been stitched up by the Ecuadorian ref in Korea 2002.

[Not In The Know]

Ive just seen the nauseating Craig Gordon interview. What an embarrassment. They’re carrying on like theyre Italy been stitched up by the Ecuadorian ref in Korea 2002.

Classic deflection tactics.

[Aldo]

Ive just seen the nauseating Craig Gordon interview. What an embarrassment. They’re carrying on like theyre Italy been stitched up by the Ecuadorian ref in Korea 2002.

Unfortunately Craigie you spilled a shot to the feet of an opposition striker who finished with aplomb.

Dry your eyes and get it right round yeah!

[cubehindthegoal]

Unfortunately Craigie you spilled a shot to the feet of an opposition striker who finished with aplomb.

Dry your eyes and get it right round yeah!

And for the first goal, made an erse of … no, wait, made his erse a goal scorer. You try to cover and defend the actions of a player such as devlin, you deserve what you get.

And as to the first red card, even most hearts fans know they can’t argue their case, total nonsense.

[Donegal Hibby]

100%.

he basically shat the bed. All this “brave performance” guff from the usual Hearts sycophants on the radio is nonsense. They were playing a guff Aberdeen team and didn’t manage another shot on target when they went down to 10 men.

There was basically nothing brave about what he done yesterday in his selections in taking off two of his quickest attackers and leaving the one that was slow and immobile on . He was playing for penalties even though they could still have had a go as Aberdeen weren’t great ( glad they didn’t) …

I hope he survives there but that yesterday was very negative tactics and I think there is also a pattern with him in how he wants them to play in being possession based but as we seen in the Motherwell and some other games they don’t do a lot with it in an attacking sense …

All the guff in the media about their identity, bravery etc is a complete load of nonsense.

[green day]

Just seen the highlights and Critchley questioned the Steinwinder red card.

What a tube, it was a stick on red card and every man and their dug knows it.

Just another classless jambo

[JimBHibees]

He shat the bed for Scotland v England when, in my opinion anyway, he should have used his height to come for the cross that led to a goal.

Even his shot stopping has deteriorated a bit.

Couldn’t agree more absolutely blew that goal

[CapitalGreen]

Pretty funny to think he won’t have the opportunity to blow another big game for at least 1/3 of a year.

The play offs?

[GreenCastle]

What’s happened to Zander Clark ? Signed a new deal and hardly been involved.

Craig Gordon definitely making more mistakes than ever and getting closer to retiring by the day.

Hearts without Shankland (who has struggled obviously this season) and Gordon will be definitely a different side to face.