The Edinburgh Reporter January 2021

22
SPORT
The Edinburgh Reporter
Where next for Robbie Neilson?
by Duncan Robertson
It may be an understatement but
the last couple of years have been
rocky down Tynecastle way.
From the drawn out "will she,
wont she" sacking of Craig
Levein, dire league form, ultimate
Big character - former coach Craig Levein
By John Hislop
It’s been a disappointing firsthalf
of the SWPL season for
Hibernian Women who currently
sit in fourth place after seven
games but Head Coach Dean
Gibson believes there has been
positives from their performances,
if not the results.
This was always going to be a
difficult league campaign now that
both Rangers and Celtic have the
ability to attract top-class players,
provide top-class coaching and,
crucially, have moved to full-time
professional women's football.
Even Glasgow City, after 13 years
of consecutive titles and unrivalled
success, now face their most
serious challenge: keeping up with
the financial might of the Old Firm.
In addition, Hearts won
promotion to the SWPL last
season after Anne Budge pledged
to provide financial support
and appointed former Northern
Ireland international Andy Kirk
as manager. A narrow defeat to
Rangers thanks to a goal from
former player Chelsea Cornet was
followed by a 3-2 loss away to
Glasgow City. Both games could
have gone either way but Celtic
proved far too strong for Hibs
at Ainslie Park and left with full
points after a comprehensive 6-2
victory.
The biggest disappointment
demotion to the Championship
and a major fallout across the
SPFL.
With Championship status likely,
Ann Budge turned to Robbie
Neilson - entrusting him to
bring Hearts roaring back to the
Premiership with his title winning
Hibs Women disappointing start
however came from a 1-0 defeat to
city rivals Hearts at the Oriam after
dominating for the majority of the
90-minutes before losing a last
minute goal from Paige McAllister.
That win provided Hearts with
their only points of the season to
date. The league resumes on 17
Head coach Dean Gibson PHOTO Thomas Brown
track record in maroon as well as,
most recently, with Dundee United.
The appointment was met
with general positivity in Jambo
circles, but not universally. A small,
but vocal, minority expressed
frustration at his appointment.
In their eyes, Neilson’s style of
play is dull and, most importantly,
he struggles, they believe, in big
games. Being cynical, you could
say some will simply never forgive
him for surrendering a 2-0 Scottish
Cup lead to Alan Stubbs’ Hibs in
a season that saw Hearts’ great
rivals bring the trophy back to
Leith for the first time since 1902.
However, is Robbie Neilson
second time around a different
beast? This is a man who has
taken his side to within a couple
of spot kicks of a Scottish
Cup, going toe-to-toe with an
all-conquering Celtic side over
120 minutes – showing true
resilience and character to battle
from 2-0 and 3-2 down. Perhaps
more importantly, his charges
January when Hibs face an away
fixture against Spartans.
Gibson said: “It’s been a difficult
start to the season based on
results. There have been a lot of
positives to take from the games
we have played.”
dispatched Hibs in the semi-final –
a game he evidently had lasered in
on as soon as he regained control
at Tynecastle.
And perhaps that was one of the
crucial pieces here. Was Neilson
fully in control first time round?
Levein was his director of football
– a model Neilson was keen to
replicate, having his wish fulfilled
in December when Joe Savage
was appointed. But was Neilson
as free as he is now in style of
play, tactical decisions and even
team selection and recruitment?
Was Levein, a man with big
character and presence, a factor
in approach either consciously or
by Duncan Robertson
What’s on Robbie Neilson’s
shopping list in the January sales?
With Hearts looking to secure
promotion as soon as possible,
where do the team need to
improve in 2021?
The Jambos’ defence is pretty
strong. They’ve arguably the
best goalkeeper in the land in
Craig Gordon with two full backs,
Michael Smith and Stephen
Kingsley, who’d make their way in
to most starting XI’s in Scotland.
Craig Halkett is starting to
show the consistent form that
suggested he was kicking on to
an international call-up. Who is his
best centre back pairing though?
Berra or Popescu? Will John
Souttar make a return? Manager
Robbie Neilson will be adding a
centre back to his list.
In midfield, Hearts have a solid
sub consciously?
Time will tell and perhaps
the verdict won’t become truly
apparent until Hearts regain their
Premiership status and have to
return to regular jostles against
better opponents.
One thing that does seem true
is Neilson cuts a more vocal and
emotive figure now. He’s on record
talking of his love for Hearts and
what it means to be part of the
club. With bookies making him
favourite to lift a second league
title for Hearts, where does the
story go next for Neilson in
Gorgie?
Neilson cuts a more emotive figure PHOTO Ian Jacobs
January sales wish list
for Hearts boss Neilson
middle with, arguably, too many
options. Olly Lee, Andy Halliday,
Peter Haring, Andy Irving and
Jamie Walker. Where do they all
go? After what feels like years
of injuries it’s pleasing for the
Jambos to have genuine selection
issues for the right reasons. It’s on
the flanks that Hearts need some
depth. Josh Ginnelly looks a find
but he’s on loan. Elliot Frear and
Jordan Roberts haven’t quite cut
it yet and an improved Aidy White
feels like he’s always on probation
with the Hearts faithful. Another
for the manager’s list.
Up top, Liam Boyce is making
progress and Steven Naismith is
staying fit. Craig Wighton casts
a peripheral figure again but has
shown promise. The maroon
firepower should be enough for the
Championship but Neilson will be
looking for some more might with
his eyes on bigger prizes.
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