Wouter Vrancken faces rising Hearts 'expectation' challenge as Jambos long-term approach backed
A pundit has had a look at Hearts after watching them live at the weekend.
Wouter Vrancken’s Hearts project has been labelled a long-term mission amid rising Tynecastle expectations.
The Jambos came within minutes of winning the Premiership last term under Derek McInnes and successor Wouter Vrancken has changed the playing style. They’ve moved away from a more pragmatic approach to an all-action attacking style and Rory Loy insists that’s a process that takes time. He watched the club’s 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock live on Saturday for Sportsound, and believes last season’s success means Vrancken deserves patience, as he assessed the game.
Formerly of Rangers, St Mirren and Dundee, Loy said: “I just think when you look at the core of the squad, compared to last season with the players that have maybe left the club, including the manager, new manager coming in, I know it's a bit cliché, it's a bit boring, but things take time. I do think they were well ahead of time last season as well, which probably hasn't played favourably for the manager.
How have Hearts adapted under Wouter Vrancken?
“If you've got a team that was seconds away or minutes away from winning the league title, the expectation almost is to come in and repeat that. I don't know if that's realistic when you're just in the door, when you're recruiting new players, when you've got to get things across in your way, how you want things done.
“Hearts started brightly. I thought, for large parts of the first half especially. They look quite disjointed at times, whether that is down to the three left-footers at the back. Even in midfield, I didn't think that they were particularly cohesive. I wouldn't have said Kilmarnock bullied Hearts, that would have been a stretch too far, but I think they dealt with the physical side of the game much, much better.
“Joe Hugill and Tyreece John- Jules were asked to get in and amongst the back four, and I think it upset Hearts, I don't think they dealt with it particularly well. They couldn't get any momentum, they couldn't continue any sustained pressure, because any time the ball dropped into midfield, John-Jules was winning fouls, he was holding the ball in, Hugill was running in behind.
Kilmarnock 1-1 Hearts review
“So whilst I wouldn't have taken it as far as getting bullied, I do think Kilmarnock's physicality played a big part in the first half, and they played to their advantage. There wasn't a lot of quality on show at the start of the second half, but in the dying embers of the game, Hearts came strong, and with the chances they created, they started to go from flashing the ball across the face of goal to asking questions of Calum Ferrie from crosses to getting some more clear-cut opportunities,
“None more so than through JJ Williams twice, one when they were 1-0 down, and then one to win it right at the end. On the balance of play and all things considered, it would have been harsh on Kilmarnock to lose it at the end, and 1-1 probably just about covers it.”
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