Joel and James look back at Heart of Midlothian’s 4-2 win over Livingston on Saturday afternoon. They discuss the sloppy start to the game but the fantastic response with a number if impressive individual displays.
For all the latest news, analysis, interviews and features subscribe to Hearts Standard at https://www.heartsstandard.co.uk/subs…
Read James Cairney’s anatomy of Cammy Devlin’s goal: https://www.heartsstandard.co.uk/news/24254132.cammy-devlin-strike-one-hearts-best-season/
Read about the European feat Hearts achieved for the first time in the club’s history: https://www.heartsstandard.co.uk/news/24253126.european-feat-hearts-achieved-first-time-clubs-history/
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hello and welcome to the latest from
heart standard my name is Joel skid and
on this occasion I am joined by James
Kierney as we look to go not look to we
will go over heart lovian 421 over
Livingston in the Scottish Premiership
at the weekend it was the final fixure
before the
split before we get into it James how
are you doing I’m very well thank you
yeah how are you yeah good good good
there’s I think there there’s going to
be plenty to get into from the from the
game the weekend but of course before we
do any of that James before we do any
that we will hear from our sponsors who
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boiler any recommendations of course
we’ve only got one recommendation moving
to the look at the the game from the
weekend James you watched it back
yesterday you’ve got a piece going up on
the site tomorrow you’ve already got a
piece up on the site today just looking
at Camy Devin’s goal which we will get
into later on but on your watch back
briefly what what were your what was
your big takeaway from H from the
rewatch um well I don’t mean to
undermine the title of this episode but
I don’t think it was the worst 22 minute
spell of the season I think I put it a
bit much okay that’s that’s good to know
that’s good it wasn’t great don’t get me
wrong but like you know first 20 minutes
of the second half of the League Cup for
instance that that was a bad 22 minutes
like I don’t know like yeah anyway um
I’m glad you did because my first my
first question was going to be was that
the worst 22 minutes of football this
season and just it’s just because it was
against the team bottom of the league I
don’t know if this I don’t there was
just a I don’t know if there was just a
shock factor that maybe was involved in
that but it just seemed to everything
that we tried to do just didn’t seem to
go right just just seemed to be very
slow out the traps and
like Livingston were far more aggressive
far far more alert than than Hearts
essentially what needed look like hearts
needed a wake up call and uh they got
two yes yeah um I mean you take nothing
away from Livingston open minutes they
were great you know um and you know like
we talked about in the previous show how
we thought oh Jo I thought stupidly it
would be oh KJ One n Win you know very
similar to the game back in the
obviously it’s Absol nothing like
that but you know thought Liv good value
for the lead when they got it I mean
obviously both goals were fairly
opportunistic and both were preventable
from a heart’s perspective of course um
obviously the first one Gordon comes out
and plays it just kind of straight to
Kelly don’t wrong brilliant finish from
Kelly of course he hit the first time
it’s absolutely fantastic but I mean
it’s not you know it’s entirely
preventable I think and then you look at
the second go again Kent as we all know
doesn’t really cover himself in glory
there had a R moments in this game I
thought early on um but like you say
after that it kind of is as if Hearts
where like I don’t think anything
fundamentally changed in terms of the
way they were playing or the way they
were set up with the tactics or anything
like that and that’s something n smithed
to as well in the postmatch press
conference it was just more that um you
know because of the way Livingston press
so aggressively like there’s going to be
a spare man somewhere and the idea you
work the ball to him find him and get
get it to him and that’s kind of what I
think happened eventually you know like
when hars started playing you know there
was that if you look at the first goal
for instance it’s obviously you know
it’s a great assist from shankland
obviously does it like he does it again
two minutes later but I think that that
that was a it was kind of coming at
times you know I think particularly with
the way that you had Barry M on the left
hand side was dropping deep getting on
the ball you had OD on the right hand
side pushing up and getting forward
there was this kind of um there was
there was quite nice balance when
Cochran was getting forward thought him
and Mai Linked UP really well um on down
the left hand side so I think that there
were positives in in that in those
opening stages but it’s just a case of
just you know they just needed one kind
of attacking move to come off and then
once it did there was that just that
glorious was it 15 16 minute spell what
we calling it you know where Hearts go
from two down at 4-2 up so I think that
yeah it was a case of just not panicking
I think mainly when after going two
goals down I think that’s something n
smithed to as well is the fact that they
just kind of had to keep doing what they
were doing you know trust that you know
they’ve got the better more technical
players and that if you play better
football you do you result the chances
will come and when the chances did come
you they were as good as chances you
could possibly hope for obviously the
first three goals are all very similar
in terms of actual you know balls across
face of goal with the Finish then you’ve
got the penalty and that helped you know
they helped T record for you know the
stats NS all the stats nerds out there
the um the win against Livingston that
was the highest XG that Hearts have
recorded in a Le game under Steven I
think that’s 3.5 or something like that
there thereabouts off the top of my head
so yeah I mean I think in terms of the
chances heart’s created you know you you
could hardly miss them but I think
that you kind of got the feeling that
even when Hearts were down that they
were just kind of one passing move away
from being able to play straight through
Livingston and we saw it half in time it
again and I guess the one thing I would
say is that two the goals from a Liv
perspective are entirely preventable I
mean the second goal you have p over top
obai just misses it and shine comes
through that’s not great and then
obviously the goal um the penalty as
well when get got down I mean yeah just
a crazy crazy decision to head it back
to the goal at that point I think Martin
afterwards said that Livingston gifted
Hearts to goals and I think it’s also
you can flip it other way Hearts gifted
livson two goals with some of the sloppy
play sloppy play to get begin with I
mean two positives for me on like the
collective before we get into talking
about individuals from the game in
that
firstly the you talked about the goals
and the the creation of chances that’s
first time Hearts were regularly
creating but certainly that spell really
really good chances you you mentioned it
in your your piece yesterday on the site
looking at the the data that lot of the
three of the goals all four of the goals
count the penalty all came from between
the posts as between the post 12 yards
in three of them like in the six yard
box yeah these are exactly the areas you
want to create chances and we did that
the um the fact that they were attacking
the six yard box as well was H was was
was really positive that you not just
not just Shanklin there Shanklin
obviously come talk his performance but
when he vacated it you had OD in there
you had Granton there you had Camy delin
attacking it and N again afterwards said
that’s what he wants from the team is to
get the not just get the ball in that
area but get bodies in there to support
it thought that was a real positive from
the the game on on Saturday game with
the first time in the league we scored
four goals this season secondly when we
went to0 down
wasn’t yes I was a we bit concerned but
there still my kind of first thought was
there’s still over an hour for hearts to
bring this back that there’s H done it
before against Ross County even though
be a draw and we done it against dunde
and there was a trust in the team that
they could get something out this game
not just coming back to draw but to win
as well no definitely and I think that I
mean because you think even the when
that open 20 minutes or so when were
losing some play you know play are still
looking good I mean like said George I
think George Grant still was really tidy
I thought he had a really solid game
again on Saturday after watching it back
again really tidy they help kind of
stitching things together in the middle
of the park um I thought OD looked quite
strong as well from the start he was
really good at kind of stretching the
lines and even um kind of chasing after
lost causes which you know gets him
which wins the penalty for hearts later
on in the game um it makes sure he’s
there following in for shankland as well
and for the for the
equalizer pardon me and um there players
well who I think caught my quite early
on was Barry Mai who like I kind of
touched on earlier but I think the way
that with when CAU kind of advanced
forward it allowed M to get on the ball
touch ins side get on his right
foot and there were a couple of moments
early on where he kind of tried these
you know cut insides tried the Hollywood
ball and didn’t quite come up but you
can see what he’s going for and then
eventually of course it does come off um
in the buildup to the first goal and
he’s obviously incredibly he’s really
heavily involved in the third goal as
well again hope the incisive pass it
just takes out the entire Livingston
Midfield and I think that this is
something that um we me and Tom
discussed on the previous show on Friday
was that you know when you’re looking at
a game like this and you’re looking at
someone who’s going to kind produce that
little moment of magic when things are
congested and they’re tight bar Ma’s
absolutely capable of that and that’s
what he showed in kind of clutch moments
I suppose and I think that that’s just
really great to see for hearts fans
because we all know how good the player
he is and we know how much talent he’s
got but we know he’s also missed an
awful lot of football so see him come
back in and to bring that kind of
creative Spark It’s first off just nice
to see him getting back to what you know
what we know he can do but secondly as
well it’s also just it’s also very
pleasing to see because it’s been
something that has been missing for Lar
junks of the Season let’s be honest yeah
we we’ve talked about it in the Vargas
Forest OD who we can come on to talk
about shortly they are they offer a lot
of quality quality and qualities but
they don’t offer what bny mcai does and
there’s not really anyone that in the
squad that does replicate Bai George
Grant is the the closest but they’re two
very different players two two very
different H creative creative players
and I just thought that you just saw
signs of kind of Banny maai at his peak
in a harsh Jersey just the way he was
collecting the ball out left move him
can of just attracting players towards
them opening up space for teammates
seeing passes or being able to execute
passes that other players maybe don’t
see or don’t have the well it’s the
confidence or the skill set to to spot
him like the like the pass you said in
the third goal to take out the leing
Midfield or the outside of the ball foot
to take out a couple players to find it
into to get into shankland it just it
just adds adds so much more
um um so much
more what’s what’s what’s what’s the
word just um I just add another facet to
heart’s attack and play which at times
has been has been missing this season
the good thing is is that you look at it
there was times last season where Hearts
were quite reliant on bam M times to
create the season before whereas now he
just alongside Grant alongside OD
alongside vas alongside Forest he just
adds to that rather than having to take
on the burden and that’s the hope is
that he’s coming in and G just bringing
a bit more H depth and just something
different to them H the the final third
no absolutely I mean because I think as
well when you when you think of
like um right now kind of like hars is
like strongest 11 on I suppose you with
b m even get into it I mean you we
always Alan Forest pretty much every
week at squ form so like I think that
that really impressive aspect of
Saturday though was just the fact that I
for me the two Stand Out players aside
from probably shank where Oda and maai
and these are guys who are you know
they’ve been que second fiddle to Vargas
and Forest for a lot of the season and
certainly a lot recently as well and yet
they come in and they were both
absolutely fantastic and again so just
gives like you say gives you all these
different options in that final
third um you know and it’s that’s very
much that case where you got different
players who are going to be better for
different games than others yeah but
they are four quite distinct attacking
options though they can play on the
wings most of them can kind of play
either Wing as well to be honest and it
just again it just gives n Smith that
tactical flexibility to attack teams in
different ways yeah absolutely and I
think that was the question you asked
about m in the strongest
11 my answer would be depends what the
game is depends what the formation is
but if you’re if you’re playing like a a
front four or kind of 4231 I do think he
provides balance within that if you’ve
got someone like Vargas or forest or OD
on the other side or if you got Grant in
in behind in terms
of in terms of OD I was really really
encouraged with his performance I Know M
OD the focus of your article tomorrow so
you might be ble to go to a we bit more
depth
but sometimes this season I think we’ve
been critical of OD for not being as
direct as he should be from sometimes
taking the safe option but we saw
especially out out of possession he was
really direct he was really um and he
was asking questions of Livingston he
was really positive with he’s running
you seen it with him getting across his
marker to score the goal you seen it the
way he reacted to win the penalty and I
think in in your article you pointed out
that it early on on he pressed livson
and forced him into a loose pass which
won a
corner yeah yeah that was like I think
it’s only a minute or two into the game
and it’s I think it’s just nice early
indication of the kind of um drive and
application that he was playing with on
on Saturday like you know like I said he
was chasing what was quite clearly a
lost ball like a lost cause the entire
time you know it’s a long ball up from K
it’s going absolutely nowhere and to be
fair I think the Le the Le Defender
probably you makes a bit of a me of the
pass back like it’s a bad pass he should
play earlier and all the rest it fine
but the point is you know OD there
pressed him if he doesn’t do that Hearts
don’t get the corner again there’s
another chance later on in the first
half I think this is at one n down when
OD gets the ball out in the right hand
side um you know plays links up well
with Grant gets in tries toit his cross
cross gets blocked go f for a corner so
again he’s won a corner which is great
but then I think if I didn’t really
notice at the time something when the
well certainly when you watch it back
when the camera kind of pans out then
you noce bar maai just completely
unmarked at the far post obviously you
know he’s trying to hit him but I just
thought that he did that kind of
throughout the game he was always kind
of running in behind being direct you
know B asking the question you know and
then he got like you say he got his
rewards for it you know I think for
shank’s for The Equalizer the second
goal when you know when shank gets the
ball and he realizes oh Shin’s in here
you know like the Livingston Defender
who’s his man he’s got maybe a 5 10 yard
head start on him and OD is basically
standing still to begin with because he
doesn’t anticipate the ball clearing the
defense obviously when it does you know
he shows great speed great determination
to get there first get in the box and
he’s always going to win the ball when
shank DRS it across and then equally for
the pen for the h the penalty as well
again it’s like it’s when the balls
looked up behind the air and the L
Defender I think it’s Mikey Devin’s
underneath it and you see Dev is up just
staring at it the whole time he’s not
even looking around at what’s going on
or anything and that’s the point where
OD starts going because you can watch
him he’s just kind of standing around
standing around kind of jogging a little
bit then as soon as you see he sees the
defender not even looking at what’s
what’s going on around him starts
charging towards the ball he’s also
noticed shamal George is like should be
way further out off his L I don’t know
why he’s kind ofed this goal line for
some reason um and then he’s just able
to nip in and take advantage and again
it’s very similar to that one um at
rugby park earlier in the season
actually I thought um the one that
wasn’t given was it yeah well denner
should have been sent off but wasn’t
yeah OD got booked for it didn’t
he no no I’m sure Dennis got booked for
it I can’t remember now but yeah it was
a very controversy around I remember
that there was it was a very very
strange incident which went to VAR then
for something and then went to VAR for
something else yeah it was it it was a
bizarre
one so yeah I can’t that but again I
just thought that that kind of typifies
his afternoon and um you know neither
neither of them lasted 19 that wasn’t
going to happen you know I think Ma came
off in about 60 minutes or so but I
think the most important thing was it
was a good 60 minutes he caught and you
know again like you say right now the
challenge for him is just to you know
get back into the team get contributing
but it doesn’t necessarily mean play
every minute of every game becoming you
know the guy in the base of Midfield
everythings around that’ll take time the
most important thing just now is try and
get back to some of those levels that he
was hitting during his Peak and I think
we did see one or two glimpses of that
on S
yeah absolutely I think that for both of
them as both of them were really
positive signs as it was with George
Grant you mentioned him earlier on just
touched on him very very quickly he’s
just he’s someone who is over the season
probably going under the radar in terms
of how important he’s been to the team I
think he just it’s that kind of
productivity that you want to back up
what he does with the ball without the
ball you want him to score a bit more
goals you want him to create a wee bit
more and I thought his goal was
excellent watching it back realiz just
how good his movement was off
recognizing where the danger where where
the threat was going to be go where he
had to be to be in the best position to
score and he he did really well to get
away from the defender and I remember
when he first signed for hearts I
watched him I watched a lot of clips of
him from down down south when he had a
really good goal scoring season W I
think it was maybe not counting Steven A
had to I might be getting the names
they all blended into one down nor
leagues and down south but I do remember
that he those were the type of positions
and runs he was making when he was
scoring when he was scoring goals and
yes he scored quite a few penalties down
sou and we’ve seen how good he is from
the penalty spot up here but the from
open play these were the these were the
type of runs he was making and he’s got
good technique as well when the ball
Falls to him in the box and around the
box and I just think he’s I think he’s a
very smart I think he’s a very
intelligent player just think for him to
win over more fans for him to be
probably more appreciated is to produce
more con consistently that’s that’s the
case because hars fans have seen flashes
glimpses of that talent but it’s just
not being produced like when we spoke to
NWI when he talked about nearly moments
there’s been too many of that that he
needs kind of turn him around and if you
can have more performances like Saturday
and score from open Play that’ll be
massive in change The View on
him absolutely I mean he’s cuz I know
that like certainly on Saturday there’s
definitely a point where you could tell
he was given a lot more attacking
license you know there’s times almost
like the was up front basically
alongside shankland you know and I think
that you know he was get he was making a
nuisance of himself and getting into
good positions and again like at times
yeah Hearts could have been maybe a
little bit neater in and around the box
I mean don’t get wrong they still scored
three fantastic goals so it’s hard to
complain too much
but no I mean I I do like Grant and like
you say like it’s just because I think
he’s kind of caught in a cycle where he
maybe has like two three maybe even four
games where you go oh Grant was really
good today really solid you know didn’t
really do much wrong and then he’ll
maybe put in one showing where it’s just
he’s a bit Anonymous in in the nicest
possible way like you just you know
wouldn’t you don’t really notice him and
again it’s just about trying to you know
remove those games and keep the rest
because like you say like in s is a
great example when he’s playing well and
you know it does make the team around
him better you know and I think he’s
he’s really good at you know it does
treat the ball really carefully he he’s
one of the better passers in the squad
for instance I think he does treat the
ball well and he is moving it around and
he’s got that range of passing that for
instance you know I wouldn’t say Ben
benam got or even someone like def or
new Hof they tend to wa kind of shorter
passes he can kind of spray around a we
bit which is always great to have so um
yeah I think
I’ll be I’ll be more interested to see
how he gets on next week because I
imagine he make an appearance at some
point I imagine he’ll probably start
because he tends to play in
these you know which I think which I
think to be honest that says quite a lot
as well the fact that whenever these big
games come around you know whether it’s
Celtic Rangers you know European games
Grant’s normally starting normally
playing quite an important role so I
think that that says a lot about his
kind of technique is not ability and you
know what he’s able to bring to the the
kind of maturity he brings to the
Midfield in these big
games I want to change Pace a little I
still want to ask you about about Gordon
about Shanklin about delin but before we
do uh Kev Mack in the chat asks thoughts
on tagawa I really hope he comes good
griam Duffy I think all the fans are
desperate for tagawa to do well we’re
trying to find F him on Saturday but
just couldn’t get that final pass and uh
with Charleson hopefully it’s the Spurs
player same I love to he spent spent too
much and hyped to him much as well um
and H John Thompson he’s rated 5 77 on
my EA FC so he must be great I think
that was that was kind of the story of
the second half because game did kind of
pet out after Ling had be spell after
the half towa came on I think just the
whole of tank Castle was willing him to
get on the score sheet there gorg Al are
obviously leading each leading um
leading with his chant and then there
were a couple moments where the ball was
put in his area and there was another
moment where Shanklin tried to find them
but he didn’t make the run and I think
shank was frustrated and it just like oh
just just score because I think CLE
would have have um erupted oh yeah you
you could tell because see because
obviously the way the turn happened the
Jeopardy had been removed from the game
to an extent the sun had started coming
out you know scores started ing in from
elsewhere or maybe leave bit of that but
you know everyone everyone was having a
good time a bit of a party atmosphere
and that would have been the cherry on
top you know like you say everyone was
willing it everyone really wanted it to
happen I mean um you texted me as soon
as I half as soon as tag came on B just
going like this is it this is the day
this is the day surely because also
playing with that system which actually
you know ran in behind you might get you
might get a chance here it’s one of the
few games that actually suits him so
yeah
no it was a shame um I I’d still like to
think that you know go away over the
summer wipe the Slate clean start again
see how he gets on I’m not prepared to
write them off yet because like you said
there’s a lot of there’s a lot of goodwi
there and I think I’m I’m convinced
there is a good player in there I think
you know um particularly with Europe on
the hor in next season as well those are
the kind of games where actually he
might you know be a better fit
tactically um I guess one thing I’ll
quickly say as
well John Thompson’s point about he’s
rated 77 on EA so I got a copy that the
other day because I’m very late buying
these things and I decided to do a
player career you know the one where you
make a you make a guy and you just place
that one player in the team so I like
all right I’ll go I’ll go to Hearts I’ll
be a number 10 because you Hearts need a
number 10 so that’s what I’ll be and I’m
like oh it’s gonna be great I’ve got
lawen shankin up ahead of me I spping
him in balls all time you know I’m gonna
get a million assists it’s gonna be
great I played one friendly and shank
was sold
region take play up front every
week well if if there’s anyone that’s
going to get a a tune out a Tiga it’s
going to be you h g to be you James uh
going back
to just on T the amount of times I the
mount I’ve heard about he’s finishing in
training is H makes him makes him as if
he is one of the best finishers in the
world but we just need him to get get
get those chances
um moving to back to kind of the start
of the game Gordon we talked about how
poor the the goals were that were given
up from a collective heart’s point of
view what did you make of Gordon’s
involvement in in in both goals Hef
sympathy or do you think he was um at
fault for one or two or played a part in
one or
two
um yeah I think I’ll be honest I put the
blame for the first go at Gordon’s door
I’ll be honest um I think I don’t get I
don’t think he’s helped out by the
defense kind of switching off when the
long ball comes in initially but yeah I
I don’t think it that was very good the
second goal could he do better probably
yeah is that his I I’ll give him a Buy
on that one though I don’t think that’s
the end of the
world let’s just hope I mean obviously
we were surprised when the team Sheet
came out and we saw he not playing
Clark’s not playing and Gordon’s in and
afterwards you they explained the idea
was well you know semi finals coming up
want give him a game first so he’s not
going into cold and all he say is that
well let’s hope that n Gordon got the
got that out of system yes you know
ahead of what is a bigger game of all
respect to Livingston what’s a bigger
game of the weekend I thought the I’ve
got sympathy for yeah so looking back I
think the the big one probably was the
first goal and the fact he came out
afterwards and spoke in the press and he
talked about how it was a right decision
but the execution wasn’t right for what
he did and I had sympathy for him
because he read the through ball really
well I he got there and he did did have
to come it was awkward for him it was
just awkward height so it was it was
almost like it looked like at times he
was from one end it looked like he was
trying to control it and then sorry it
looked like he was in between caught in
between trying to control it and trying
to clear it and then it was it just
looked like um half hearted effort but
the way the ball bounced I just thought
it was a a really
awkward ball to deal with because he was
having in control at quite a height so
he couldn’t get any purchase uh behind
it and clear it so he I think he put it
into a decent area because it was out
wide it wasn’t Central but it was just a
fact that the the one player in the
Livingston team you didn’t want to
follow to was stepen Kelly who’s got
fantastic ability from certainly like
kind of long range and got good
technique next we’ talked about Rea him
so yeah I think that one I think this
the second goal I don’t think it went in
an ideal position and he’s goal I think
I just goalkeepers don’t like to be beat
at what is their their front post but I
thought kley used used his eyes well
used the angles well and it was a really
well well struck shot but yeah like you
said hopefully that’s um that’s just H
that’s any any mistakes within there
were H were out his system and he’s
backed his very best on Sunday because I
think he probably will have to be for
yeah I imagine he’ll be kept busy for
sure um although you know I don’t know I
watched some of the Rangers game
yesterday and like I’m not going to say
anything
no no no let’s move on we’ll cross that
bridge later on in the
week two more players I want to talk
about before we can of finish up and
that is first is Lauren Shanklin I
thought H I would P I would um suggest
anyone go and read James’s stats bomb
report it was yesterday it’s on the on
the front of the site and right at the
end you kind of showcased some key numb
for shankland and we saw him he didn’t
get too many scoring positions he
obviously got got the penalty but he was
uh um fantastic in a creative sense and
we know that we know he has that about
him because last last season he was at
times the be the team’s best number 10
and best number nine all roads into one
and just some of
his his touches his awareness his vision
was just out of this world and you look
at the flick he played into the path of
Cochran for the third goal and also the
touch he took from bny mck’s pass and it
was it was between his crotch and his
knee and he was still be able he was
still able to control it perfectly but
in a direction that was going to help
him just H I just thought it was on one
of those days where okay might not have
loads of chances or score fantastic
goals but watching him was was a real
Joy no absolutely and you know the
performances like that that’s why when I
look at shankin I go he can play you
know you can play international football
no bother yeah you can play Scotland
yeah you play the Euros yeah it’s fine
because it’s not you know people look at
him go oh okay he’s got you know 30
goals this season he’s a goal scorer guy
that’s his thing you know like as if
he’s somebody like I don’t know with a
great respect something like Chris Boyd
you know absolutely wonderful goal
scorer but you know that’s kind of all
he does and it’s just so abundantly
that’s not what he does you know he got
so much more to his game than that um
and I think that you know as crosses
about for both assists were absolutely
spot on um is that interesting is he hit
the penalty because I assumed it would
be Grant and Grant had the the ball to
begin with I think then gave it to
shankland um because
obviously Grant’s been the penalty taker
whenever shangin has been on the park
and so that that I guess that’s maybe
the end of that for for Grant I thought
was a nice we moment though um but yeah
I thought he was just his all play the
was a to Dro even get involved to to
build up I mean I think in the St Mar
game hars really missed that and it
showed I he was really conspicuous by
his absence and then you look at a game
like that where you know you’ve got
shanan back in the team you got beninger
back in the team and there’s a reason
that Hearts ended up with an extra 20
odd per possession like obviously it’s
different conditions different opponent
all that fine but I think that yeah
Shang con’s just heart are building out
from the back and you know try again try
to find that loose man if he’s able to
drop deep he becomes that loose man and
when then when you play on the ball he
tends not to lose it either and he can
hold off like one two players at a time
as well so yeah there just another
another brilliant performance for him um
and yeah the goal was deserved he
deserved a goal for that for the way he
played and finally what did you make of
Camy Devin’s
performance oh big fan yeah I you know
you’re a big fan and I thought it was
interesting that the reaction to to um
Tom’s piece during the week because the
amount of a lot of the engagement we got
was around Camy develin and just
I think genuinely I think he is very
very well liked by hars fans I know
there’s there’s always the debate around
he’s passing what he did brings the team
in possession but you just watch him
he’s just such an infectious personality
infectious character who wants to wants
to do I’m G to compare him to a dog but
I mean that’s in the nicest way possible
he just wants to please he just just
wants to please the fans wants to please
his teammates by the amount of running
he does the amount of um amount of work
he does maybe sometimes there too much
but H yeah I thought he was he thought
he was really important in the intense
intensity Tempo out possession as kind
of just getting the getting the team
going when we were struggling early on
yeah no you know he it was his usual
just energetic self in the middle just
but you know bundle just running around
constantly getting get himself involved
you know when when the momentum did
swing Hearts his way and they started
scoring goals towards the end of the
first half I mean it was notable that it
was a lot of time it was when Deon was
getting further forward but having said
that you know he would get forward he’d
get into the box try and you know do
stuff and he run all the way back as
well and make sure he like last man it
came like long BS forward and stuff like
that so yeah that was a really good all
around performance from
um one thing I learned earlier though
that this did surprise me because I mean
Devin’s what 23 24 something like that
well I think maybe 25 now actually 25
that’s hard got quite a boyish face
doesn’t he quite quite your schol
looking um he’s yeah 25 he’s 26 in June
26 in June yeah um I don’t know you
might have already you might have read
this already but do you know how many
goals he’s got this in his
career H yes because I read your piece
yeah D I thought you did Dam I won leave
the listeners in Jeff it’s nine he’s
only got nine I might be wrong on that
perhaps I’m wrong but as far as I could
tell he’s got nine goals um not just for
hearts I mean in total full stop I think
that was a six goal for hearts which I
thought was surprising I mean obviously
you know that’s not his game he’s not
this number 10 but I would have expected
to be a little bit higher than that I
suppose but again we’re starting you
know I think that Devon’s definitely the
most natural kind of boxto boox player
in that team and you know like myself
and Tom discussed at length on Friday
he’s you know a sensation he’s
absolutely Sensational winning the ball
back is off the ball stuff and he’s
better on the ball and people giv credit
for as well so really pleased for him um
thought took his goal well bonus points
for getting the nutmeg as well that was
nice mean not by Jamal George which I
didn’t realize until watching the
replays of it um also worth pointing out
just um that the XG for his chance was
about 0.33 I think it was yeah noticed
that and then Grant was 0.75 OD was 0.8
something or other so that’s a
significant low basically because he got
you know georgees in the way as well
and there was also though that one
moment in the second half where he
probably should have got a second goal
whereas we D ball through to him and he
kind of went sliding in and just poked
it wi so yeah yeah noral Serv resumed
after that I suppose but um yeah great
another really good performance from him
um and another one that just you know
gives n Smith another selection headache
going into Sunday ESP noon um half I
doubt hopefully he’s back but we don’t
know we can’t say for sure um but at
least now heart if if no can’t make it
Devin’s more capable and more than ready
to get involved I’m sure yeah yeah
absolutely there it’s good that the
options the squad death is is getting
there towards the end of the season
hopefully kind of stays that way going
into next season just just seen John’s H
John Thompson’s question here it’s a
very good question and I’m not sure I’ve
got an answer to
but everyone said Xander couldn’t be
dropped because he has done well if
Gordon has a great semi-final can he be
dropped serious
question that’s
uh
interested I don’t know I
think I think that’s a big it’ be a big
big call I don’t know if it’s a case of
right maybe give Xander a couple of
games and then if if if Gordon has a
great game on Sunday hopefully means
harer into the final and then if that’s
the case you’re probably just thinking
just keep him keep playing him because
if he’s going to play the final you may
as well just get a run of games for them
yeah I suppose yeah um yeah I don’t know
that’s a good point I
suppose that conversation’s been had
between you know n Smith and Clark and
Gordon I’m sure they’ve all had this
chat
but yeah that’s a very interesting fight
uh don’t know John but yeah good
question hopefully hopefully because he
has he’s had such a good game and he’s
got hearts up the final hopefully we’ll
find out ideally we want him to do
absolutely nothing all game that’d be
the perfect just take a few goal kicks
Grant I can’t see that
though we will leave it there kind of
run out of time uh just a couple things
I would want to bring I want to bring up
H first one is um the win at the weekend
confirmed Hearts will be in Europe next
season of course can’t finish any lower
than fourth now but the obviously the
aim is to be third but it does mean that
Hearts will have
been H in Europe it means Hearts have
will will partake in European F
competition for three seasons in a row
the first time in the club’s history um
quite a um not the greatest stat I don’t
think especially with Cons considering
St Johnston have done at least four
season in a row in in in European
competitions so yeah it’s it’s I think
it points to the the sheer inconsistency
and underachievement at the club since
1960 but at least it has been achieved
and the second thing I need to raise is
we have got a subscription offer on at
the moment a spring sale at harst
standard.co.uk you can subscribe for one
pound for six months or1 18 for 12
months what that will do well obviously
you get access to all our content well
it’s the app um and all the written
content but you will be entered into the
draw alongside all our current
subscribers and H for a chance to win
one of two signed Hearts home kit signed
by the full first team squad so there is
a nice we potential um gift if you are
if your name’s chosen out I think it’ll
be at the end of the month I am away on
holiday very shortly so um I’m sure
it’ll get worked out one way or another
but yes please do if you’ve not
subscribed H think about it maybe maybe
take up the six pound the six month
offer and have a we taste if you have
subscribed but you think others might
enjoy it then please spread the
word but yeah other than that thank you
very much James thank you very much
everyone for listening subscribing
supporting engaging watching etc etc
we’ll be back later on in the week not
exactly sure when we have H we’re kind
of all over the place this week due to
the buildup to the Scottish cup
semi-final but we will be back at some
point H until then have a good week and
goodbye byby
