I like Michael Beale. Mainly because the Rangers boss speaks a lot of sense, normally. But at the weekend I’m afraid it was utter NONSENSE spilling out his mouth when he claimed Aberdeen were “the third best team in the country at the moment”.
That’s the biggest crock of s*** I’ve heard all season. And there’s been quite of a lot of it flung around to be fair! Sorry but Beale is absolutely taking the Michael with that comment. It’s outrageous. Hearts finished third by a country mile last season and are currently back there - six points clear of the Dons - ahead of tomorrow’s meeting of the sides at Tynecastle.
Which, by the way, has now just got that bit more tasty. Beale’s blooper might have been an innocent mistake and barely registered with Rangers fans. But believe me it won’t have been missed in Gorgie. In fact the Gers gaffer might just have done Robbie Neilson a wee favour with his inadvertent slip of the tongue in what is a huge week for the Jam Tarts.
It would certainly have p***ed me off as a player. You try not to get bothered by these things but everyone at Hearts has worked their backsides off to get to third place so quickly after being in the Championship. They’ll have seen that comment and it will have focused their minds that bit more ahead of the Dons fixture which is followed up quickly by a trip to Leith for Sunday’s Scottish Cup derby.
Aberdeen are a massive club and have a rich history but so do Hearts and right now the statistics all show my old club are the third best in the country. And player by player they are as well. I went for breakfast with Robert Snodgrass on Sunday.
He was telling me all about how focused the entire squad is to making sure they finish third again, secure European football, and keep the club motoring ahead. Snoddy is a student of the game and loves nothing more than to talk about systems and coaching styles and that’s benefiting Hearts on the park as much as off it.
He’s doing his B Licence and is thinking about what comes after his playing days, But Snoddy has a good couple of years left in him yet. He’s that experienced he just takes everything in his stride.
Weeks like this are made for him and what Aberdeen would give to have someone of his quality in their side. Hibs even more so.
Sunday is massive. I said after the recent derby I’d never known such a big gap between the two sides. But this is a cup game, it’s at Easter Road and all form goes out the window.
You see upsets all over the country every year. The Scottish Cup is massive for Hearts and if they want to better last season’s success then they have to go and win the trophy. Simple as that.
Everybody knows Robbie has done a great job. But he’ll be desperate to deliver silverware. Qualifying for Europe and being third is great. But that doesn’t bring the euphoria of winning a major trophy.
Incredibly it’s been 11 years now since they last did that with the 5-1 Scottish Cup final demolition of Hibs. Of course I missed that ‘not-to-be-missed’ occasion in a playing sense because I’d decided to head to Ipswich for eight months before returning to the trophy-winning Jambos.
I’ll never forget the celebrations that went on for days while I was sat in the house watching on TV knowing I could have been part of it! I actually went to the game as a fan and sat with the Jambos and let’s just say it was pretty special.
I was so made up for the boys and Paulo Sergio - who I loved as a manager - that it didn’t really bother me that I’d missed out. Okay maybe just a little! I’m planning to be there again this Sunday and, to be honest, I’ve no fear for Hearts at Easter Road.
They’re in good form and have players throughout their team that can hurt Hibs. Lee Johnson’s side on the other hand are up and down and heavily reliant on Kevin Nisbet. Of course Nizzy’s form makes them dangerous. He’s a fantastic striker. I played with him at Partick Thistle when he was breaking through and you could see then he had talent.
He’s a natural finisher and only needs half a chance in this form. Hearts will have to be on their guard. Just like Lawrence Shankland at the other end. They are of the same ilk, the way the finish and the way the move around the pitch.
It’s two Scottish strikers at the top of their game in the biggest match of the weekend and I can’t wait to see it. I just reckon Hearts have the calibre of defender to make sure Nisbet’s half chances are few and far between whereas at the other end my old team have far too hot for Hibs to handle.
The next few days should prove without doubt who’s number one in Edinburgh. And number three in Scotland.
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