The sobering reality at Tynecastle: Where Hearts are right now and where they are going

The booming din of celebration emanating from Tynecastle’s Roseburn Stand was a sobering reality on Tuesday night. Sturm Graz players joyfully dived around the sodden turf in front of travelling fans at full-time as drums banged and chanting pierced the Gorgie night air. Eliminating Hearts from the Champions League brought the Austrians significant delight. The 6-0 aggregate scoreline was the Edinburgh club’s biggest defeat in a two-legged European tie, exposing deficiencies just days before the new Scottish Premiership kicks off.

Both legs of the fixture underlined that Hearts are not ready to compete at elite European level. This is a club very much still in the infancy of its relationship with Tony Bloom and recruitment partner Jamestown Analytics. After losing the spine of a starting line-up, plus last season’s management team, signing nine new players and appointing a new head coach just a month ago, were Hearts realistically expected to match a hardened European side like Sturm?

The answer is no. There was hope that they might make a decent fist of it, but analyse the structure of the new-look squad and it was always an extremely tall order. Europe is not the priority. Not yet. Hearts now drop into the Europa League to face either St Gallen or Benfica and may find it difficult to hold their own at that level, too. A Conference League play-off could be on the cards next month. The Edinburgh club failed to progress from the league phase of the Conference League in both 2022 and 2024. Until they master that feat, that tournament must be considered their level. As it should for every Scottish club entering European competition, other than Celtic and Rangers.

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The gradual development taking place at Tynecastle is just that: Gradual. Bloom’s £9.86m investment deal only went through last summer. This year’s recruitment drive wasn’t designed to elevate Hearts from Scottish Premiership runners-up to a Champions League team. There simply isn’t the finance to facilitate that leap within a few weeks. Transfer expenditure is increasing at Tynecastle but spending high six-figure sums doesn’t bring you in line with established clubs in Europe’s premier tournament, where multi-millions are spent on players every year without an eyelid batted.

Hearts’ starting line-up on Tuesday night included new recruits like defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott, who played for York City in England’s fifth tier last season. Attacking midfielder Sabri Guendouz was signed from Belgian second division club Beerschot, winger Calvin Miller from Falkirk and full-back Jordi Altena from RKC Waalwijk in the Dutch second tier. Substitutes included midfielder Tom Renaud and striker Amado Ba-Sy, both recently arrived from the third division in France. Realistically, these players were not brought in to compete in the Champions League, or the Europa for that matter. They were signed for domestic duty, primarily.

Jamestown’s focus is on growing Hearts in Scotland first and foremost. Challenging so long for last season’s Premiership title was perhaps an overachievement based on short-term projections. Following that up will be difficult enough given the amount of change in the squad and the dugout. New coach Wouter Vrancken is still finding his feet and trying to implement different methods. Qualifying for Europe every year while trying to challenge Celtic and Rangers is seen as important, allied to potential cup success. Recruitment reflects that.

Jamestown believe some players - Ba-Sy rated very highly on their data analytics - can develop into major assets over the next 18 to 24 months, but no-one in power expected Hearts to click into gear and motor through this summer’s Champions League qualifying phase. As is always the case with Jamestown’s speculate-to-accumulate approach, some of Hearts’ signings will thrive and develop while others won’t cut the mustard and will eventually move on.

Both legs against Sturm demonstrated some issues which clearly need addressed. Vrancken is well aware of shortcomings such as poor defending and the lack of a killer touch up front. He wants an aggressive, attacking team but Hearts were opened up too easily in both legs. They require more mobility and creativity in central midfield, wingers are flattering to deceive so far, and striker Claudio Braga doesn’t quite look the same without Lawrence Shankland by his side. Then there is a new goalkeeper to factor in as Dutchman Beau Reus prepares to take the gloves from the departing Alexander Schwolow.

There is clearly plenty for Vrancken and his coaching staff to work on. It is very early in the Belgian’s tenure, indeed way too early to judge him. He needs time. Watching both legs against Sturm, there are signs of what he is try to create. Hearts controlled 67 per cent of possession in Graz and 64 per cent at Tynecastle, managing 19 and 15 shots at goal in each match respectively. Some passages of combination play in the final third look exciting with the obvious absence of an end product so far. There are movements and forward runs being made which augur well. Proof will be in the Premiership pudding.

Sturm’s clinical edge isn’t carried by teams in the Scottish league, where physical battles often dominate. Vrancken was a robust defensive midfielder in his playing days and will be aware of the difference between Scottish and European football. Hearts’ campaign starts on Saturday at Pittodrie, where Aberdeen are typically competitive under Stephen Robinson. Players brought to Tynecastle this summer were identified to compete in the Premiership first as Jamestown look to develop the club into a proper domestic force.

A difficult pre-season has not helped following the departure of former manager Derek McInnes to Rangers. That word ‘undercooked’ is being used a lot in reference to Hearts right now. They have had five friendlies since players reported back to Riccarton on 25 June - strangely a week later than many other top-flight teams. Having beaten St Mirren [in Spain], Arbroath, Rayo Vallecano and Raith Rovers, losing to Livingston in between, the two legs against Graz were something of a reality check.

Right now, Hearts are firmly in a state of transition. New players need time to adapt, Vrancken needs time to mould his team, and supporters need time to adjust to the new approach. Vrancken has attributes which could see him become an excellent Hearts manager. First, he must deal with Aberdeen at Pittodrie and show an aptitude to get results in Scotland. Any progress in Europe will be considered a bonus while Hearts grow further over the next few years.