What Hearts are getting in new signing Mihai Popescu

Craig Fowler with the lowdown on Hearts’ latest signing
Mihai Popescu battles Uche Ikpeazu for possession in a league fixture at Tynecastle in February 2019. Picture: SNSMihai Popescu battles Uche Ikpeazu for possession in a league fixture at Tynecastle in February 2019. Picture: SNS
Mihai Popescu battles Uche Ikpeazu for possession in a league fixture at Tynecastle in February 2019. Picture: SNS

When returning boss Robbie Neilson surveyed the widespread wreckage that was last season's relegated squad, centre-back wasn't an obvious and immediate requirement. In John Souttar and Craig Halkett he had two centre-backs who, when at their best, receive Scotland national team consideration. Neither played like it last term, but in the Scottish Championship it was safe to assume they'd be strong enough to help the club claim the title.

In addition to the pair, there was returning ex-captain Christophe Berra. He showed in a brief loan loan at Dundee that he remained more than good enough to cut it in the second tier. Throw in promising youngster Chris Hamilton and ex-defender-now-midfielder Peter Haring and Neilson could afford to concentrate his rebuilding elsewhere.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Then disaster struck. Souttar sustained a second injury on his torn Achilles and would be out for another few months. Suddenly there was a pressing need for another centre-back.

In steps Mihai Popescu. Hearts fans probably aren’t too familiar with the defender, seeing as supporters tend not to notice the opposition too much, but he already has previous of starring at Tynecastle. The Romanian was excellent for St Mirren in a 1-1 draw in February 2019, where he was able to subdue Uche Ikpeazu at a time when opposing centre-backs were still coming to grips with the hulking striker. Instead of trying to outfight him, as everyone attempted and failed, Popescu instead used his wits to lay off Ikpeazu, waited for him to turn and then retook possession for his side. He was one of the first defenders to do that in Scotland and it was a blueprint most would follow.

The 27-year-old was a big hit in Paisley. Fans were mainly impressed with the composure in which he played the game. He wasn't a particularly great passer of the ball, so falls sort of Souttar's standard in that sense, but did everything with an air of confidence that bordered on nonchalance.

Not that he wasn't a committed defender. Pospescu ranked in the top 30 for defensive duels and shots blocked per 90 minutes and percentage of aerial duels won in the 2018/19 campaign (according to Wyscout). He was willing to put his body on the line to stop the opposition from scoring.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The only real downside is that he’s got below-average speed for a centre-back, so Neilson's side might be susceptible to balls over the top. Halkett is hardly blessed with pace either and while Berra used to be deceptively fast in a sprint, he's always been slow on the turn and has lost a yard or two since his 2018 hamstring injury.

The two-year deal given to Popescu – and his new manager insisting he'll play a key role – would suggest Berra is going to be the third wheel. A back three is a possibility, but Popescu is right-footed and Berra showed in the dying days of the Craig Levein era that he should only play in the centre of a trio. Besides, Neilson doesn't have much history with three-man defences.

Popescu and Halkett will most likely be the partnership for this campaign. They'll fight to keep out the opposition and with each other to ensure they're top of the pecking order when Souttar returns.

Message from the editor

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

Subscribe to the Edinburgh Evening News online and enjoy unlimited access to trusted, fact-checked news and sport from Edinburgh and the Lothians. Visit https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.