Hearts

Hearts will be the 1st team in the UK to carry the name of a national charity (Save The Children) next season ! pic.twitter.com/XyPrensL7e

— Hearts FC Supporters (@heartsfc74) April 1, 2015

Hearts are entering uncharted territory in British football for a good cause. 

The Scottish side will have their shirt sponsored for the next three years by a charity. 

"Save the Children" will be on the club's shirts after they were funded by an anonymous "group of philanthropists," as per the BBC. 

Respect. 

Hearts owner Ann Budge confirmed the move and the seven-figure deal and explained more, according to the same BBC report. 

Through their enormous generosity they have agreed to provide funds at a level which more than removes the need for a commercial shirt sponsor. 

(The group) indicated that they wanted to offer financial support to the club—and when they asked if there was a specific area in which they could help, the idea was born. 

These business people believe that we are promoting true family values and they want to help. 

It also demonstrates that—with a bit of lateral thinking—things can be done differently in football. We don't have to be constrained by the statement that we hear all too often: 'This is how things are done in football.' 

The club also said that they will use the funds for stadium repairs and to bolster their academy. 

[BBC]

Rangers host Heart of Midlothian at Ibrox on January 16 in a match that is set to define the Scottish Championship title race. With first place and automatic promotion looming for Hearts, they travel to Glasgow with the intention to end the title hopes of their closest rivals. Kick-off is set for 7:45 p.m. GMT.

Rangers have struggled to keep up with the Edinburgh pace-setters this season, dropping points in matches they were expected to win, while Hearts remain unbeaten, winning 17 of their 20 games.

The importance of the clash has been evident in the heated build up to the fixture, as players on both sides have attempted to gain a psychological upper hand.

Per BBC Sport, in a recent interview, Hearts' new signing—Dutch striker Genero Zeefuik— announced, "If we beat Rangers on Friday then I think it's over." It's a confident assumption, but one this writer agrees with.

Should Hearts win on Friday, they will open up a 16-point gap over Rangers. Such a gap would only be surmountable if Hearts were to at least lose six of their 15 remaining fixtures, something that does not look likely given their form so far.

Rangers' Fraser Aird did not take kindly to such a statement, arguing that Rangers have the superior squad, saying, per the Daily Record: "I still think that we have a better squad than them and better individual players but we need to go out and prove that."

Such an opinion would have garnered weight at the start of this campaign, but Hearts have shown strength in depth to rival their higher spending counterparts as the season has gone on. Ahead of the clash with Rangers, Hearts were without Osman Sow, Kevin McHattie and Soufian El Hassnaoui but have not shown any signs of faltering in their absence.

The last time the two sides met was at Tynecastle in November of last year. Hearts ran out 2-0 winners on that day, negotiating a gruelling affair with greater tactical organisation and quality in the final third.

In a fiery encounter, Rangers lost their cool, with Steven Smith sent off for a rash challenge and several tackles from other players fortunate to be punished only with a yellow card. Rangers will need to show more discipline if they are to win on Friday.

However, their cause will not be helped by confusing off-field circumstances of late, with the club's ownership and future the subject of much uncertainty.

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has loaned money to the club and has offered more, though a consortium of Rangers shareholders led by Douglas Park are said to be prepared to offer increased funding to prevent Ashley from gaining Ibrox as a security, per the BBC.

Difficulties off the field have been replicated on it, as Ally McCoist left the club following some poor results. The first match Rangers had under the tenure of new manager Kenny McDowall began equally inauspiciously, however, as they lost 0-4 to Hibernian.

Additionally, Rangers have a Scottish League Cup semi-final against Glasgow rivals Celtic in early February. It will be the first Old Firm derby in two years, and although it will excite Rangers fans and players, it may also prove a distraction to important league fixtures.

Hearts opened the season by travelling to Ibrox and beating Rangers 2-1, and a second away win would all but secure them the Scottish Championship.

The two teams will meet for a final time at Tynecastle on the last day of the season, but unless Rangers earn a win on Friday, Hearts will most likely enter that final showdown with the title already in the bag.

Football league seasons can be long and gruelling affairs. Hearts, however, have shown little sign of flagging upon entering their critical Scottish Championship top-of-the-table clash with Rangers at Tynecastle this Saturday (kick-off is at 12:45 p.m. local time). 

After 13 matches, the Jambos sit proudly atop the league table on 35 points. Rangers are right behind them in second place—albeit with a six-point disadvantage.

Prior to last weekend, Hearts held a four-point lead but, following Rangers' unexpected 1-1 draw at home to Alloa and Hearts' 2-1 away victory against Falkirk, the gap between the two was extended, making tomorrow's meeting all the more crucial.

The opportunity is clearly present for Hearts to further embolden their control at the summit of the Scottish Championship—possibly even swinging the title race in their favour once and for all—by beating Rangers in front of a fervent home crowd on Saturday afternoon.

Despite such high stakes, Hearts manager Robbie Neilson has maintained an assuredly calm stance ahead of the game. Speaking in a press conference this morning, Neilson stated:

"I don't think we're under any pressure. It's up to Rangers to decide if they are or not. I don't know what they think. We don't look at it as a pressure game for us. It's a great game. We look at it optimistically, that we can go into it, perform and hopefully get the three points."

Neilson's confidence is symptomatic of a season in which Hearts have confounded expectation levels following a year of turbulence on and off the pitch.

With a squad full of home-grown youth players (such as Billy King) mixed with Scottish Premier League drop-outs like Morgaro Gomis, the Edinburgh club have asserted themselves upon almost everyone they have played this season, matching aesthetically pleasing football with the ability to grind out results.

This combination was evident from the very first day of the campaign, when Hearts travelled to face Rangers at Ibrox. On territory where most Scottish clubs tend to flounder, Hearts played without fear, taking the lead before recovering from an injury-time equaliser to win the game at the last gasp. 

Ibrox was deathly quiet—bar a small gathering of Hearts supporters—following that late defeat, but that isn't the only game in which Hearts have delivered a fatal last-minute blow upon a rival this season.

On October 26, Hearts trailed their loathed neighbours Hibs 1-0 going into the final seconds. With little hope remaining, centre-half Alim Ozturk unleashed a shot from the gods—a 40-yard thunderbolt that caught the wind and swirled over Hibs goalkeeper Mark Oxley, hitting the underside of the bar on its way in.

In asking what to expect from Hearts this weekend it may seem cliche to suggest "the unexpected," but based on the moments they have tended to produce in key matches this season, it seems perfectly appropriate.

Rangers, meanwhile, have dropped points in surprising fashion. Also, lingering off-field uncertainties—including near-disastrous financial issues, per the BBC's Chris McLaughlin and Richard Wilson, and a protracted conflict regarding the ownership of the club—are hardly conducive to strong on-pitch performances, even if manager Ally McCoist has urged his players by saying, "the only thing[s] they should concentrate on are the things they can affect."

Hearts, however, have already navigated the best part of that long, dark tunnel. Their financial woes have been alleviated by Ann Budge's purchase of the club earlier this year, and victory this weekend will move them even closer to seeing the light of Scottish Premier League football next season.

Csaba Laszlo has stated that the Hearts are the only club in Scotland capable of producing talent for the future and claimed that the Hearts are No. 1 in Scotland for it.

The Hungarian tactician has used Andrew Driver’s call up to the England squad for the European Under-21 Championship in Sweden, as well as the departure of Craig Gordon, Christophe Berra and Robbie Neilson to the Premier League and the Championship respectively.

“Celtic and Rangers take players for big money. We try a different way and in this way we are the number one,” Laszlo told The Evening News. “This season, Robbie Neilson has gone to The Championship, Christophe Berra is now in the Premier League, there is also Craig Gordon. We know we are in the right way and we have a very good plan. I am very proud of Driver, I think Hearts are the only team in Scotland who has produced a player for the England Under-21 team for some time. He was brought through and he grew with Heart of Midlothian and is now with the England Under-21 squad. I think this is a big thing for Scottish football. Not so many teams in this country can say they have the facilities and the academy to grow players for the English national team."

“I am very pleased about Andy and I hope he can have a good tournament with England," he went on to add. "His career can be greater, definitely, and this can be great for Heart of Midlothian. You can see how many players have left us to go to The Championship and The Premier League. In this direction Hearts are number one in Scotland.”

I would have to point out to Csaba Laszlo though, that Robbie Neilson came through the Youth system from 1994 through 1996 before joining the Hearts, so he really isn’t the product of Hearts youth set up.

On top of that, he has failed to mention the likes of Alan Hutton, Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor for Rangers and Aiden McGeady, Shaun Maloney, Darren O’Dea for Celtic, to name but a few who have made the grade. The same could be said of Edinburgh rivals Hibernian who have nurtured the likes of Derek Riordan, Garry O’Connor, Steven Fletcher, Kevin Thomson and Scott Brown.

Maybe it is all about stealing the limelight in the case of Laszlo, during a quiet summer period or maybe is it cover for a lack of signings for the Tynecastle in the upcoming transfer window?

We will just have to wait and see, but there is no disputing that the likes of Christophe Berra, Craig Gordon and Andy Driver are good players.

Tayside Police have warned that they will be out in force as the Rangers head to Tannadice to try to claim back the SPL title. If the Ibrox side beat Dundee United on Sunday, they will be crowned League champions. However, if the Rangers draw or lose, and the Celtic win against Hearts, then the SPL title will head to Celtic Park for the fourth consecutive year.

Tayside Police said supporters and coaches could be searched for alcohol, and sectarianism would not be tolerated. The force said there would be a high-profile police presence at the match.

Ch Supt Colin Mackay, the match commander, said, “The all-ticket fixture promises to be a great game with the added excitement for Rangers fans hoping that their team win the top spot in the SPL and Dundee United fans hoping their team qualify for Europe. Dundee United supporters will also celebrate the club’s centenary at the game. ‘We are working closely with both clubs to ensure that the event is an enjoyable occasion for everyone. I’d like to remind everyone attending the match that strict segregation will be in place and anyone found in the wrong end of the ground or attempting to enter the wrong section will be immediately ejected, their ticket confiscated, and the respective clubs notified.”

Mackay said no alcohol would be allowed into the stadium, and anyone found under the influence would not get into the ground. Ch Supt Mackay added that coaches travelling to the match could be stopped to try to detect those with alcohol and the drivers allowing people to drink.

He continued, ”In keeping with Rangers ‘Follow with Pride’ campaign we would encourage all travelling supporters to promote good sporting behaviour. If Rangers win the SPL we would ask that supporters remain within the stands and don’t spoil the atmosphere by invading the pitch. Similarly, no form of sectarianism will be tolerated.”

Celtic v Hearts & Dundee United v Rangers, SPL, May 24, 2009

It may be the same two clubs as always slugging it out for the SPL title on Sunday, but no one can deny Celtic and Rangers don’t know how to make the Scottish title race dramatic.

This is the fourth time in seven years that the race for first place has gone to the final day of the season, with previous campaigns in 2003, 2005 and 2008 offering up drama and tension right up until the final whistle of the season.

The final day denouement of the season even has a nickname, “Helicopter Sunday,” describing how the SPL have to charter a helicopter to ferry the trophy to the correct destination come full time on Sunday afternoon. The pilot for the helicopter, John McKenzie, has already been profiled in the Scottish papers and last year Setanta tried to secure a camera on the chopper to record events.

Rangers have taken the spoils dramatically on the first two occasions and the blue half of Glasgow are sitting in the ascendancy as we approach the final furlong. Walter Smith’s side lead by two points, although Celtic have a superior goal difference, but there have been so many twists and turns in recent weeks that predicting a winner is no easy task.

Last season, Rangers were foiled on the last day as their quest for a quadruple was hit by exhaustion. As a result, they will now be eager to prevent Celtic from securing their fourth consecutive title. But a visit to fourth-placed Dundee United is undoubtedly a challenge for Rangers.

Tannadice has not been a happy hunting ground for Rangers in recent times. Their last win at Dundee United came in April 2006 (Rangers a 1/2 to win this weekend, the draw is 11/4 and the home win is 5/1) and they have failed to gain all three points in their last five visits.

On a more positive note, the league’s top goal scorer Kris Boyd hasn’t scored in his last three matches and is due at least one more goal this campaign, and the experience of their midfield schemer Pedro Mendes is bound to play a part. Barry Ferguson also made his comeback from injury in the 2-1 win over Aberdeen last week and who would bet against the former Scotland International capping a nightmare few months with a crucial goal in what will likely be his last game for the club.

Celtic blew their chance to reclaim top spot last week with a 0-0 draw at Hibernian and, although they are at home to third-placed Hearts on the last day of the season, the match will unlikely be a stroll in the park. The last two games between these two sides have ended in draws and Gordon Strachan’s side may have already psychologically lost the title.

Hearts are also eager for some payback after Celtic nicked the title from under their noses in 1986 on another example of final day drama in Scotland. Under Strachan, Celtic have developed a team good enough to beat the lesser teams in the division and Georgios Samaras, Scott McDonald, and Scott Brown are usually too good for visiting teams to Parkhead. (Celtic are 2/9 for the home win, the draw is 9/2 and the Hibs win is 9/1)

This particular gambler is going for Rangers to win the SPL by grabbing the win they need. Walter Smith’s side deserve some luck after last season’s heartbreak and will prevent a fourth successive title for their rivals in green. Celtic will rue the draw last week and leaving Aiden McGeady on the bench for the recent Old Firm game may well have cost them the title.

101gg predicts: Celtic 3 – Hearts 0 (7/1) & Dundee United 0 – Rangers 2 (11/2)

Fulls odds for the Celtic-Hearts match can be seen here.

Fulls odds for the Dundee United-Rangers match can be seen here.

In 1986, Hearts were a mere ten minutes away from winning the League Championship only to lose out on goal difference to Celtic who got the required result of 5-0 against St. Mirren to snatch the league trophy out of the clutches of the Tynecastle side. For years, Hearts fans blamed St. Mirren with the usual conspiracy theories that the Paisley side gifted Celtic all five goals and laid down to the Parkhead side, while Hearts were beaten 2-0 by Dundee.

So with this season going down to the very last game of the season, and Celtic needing a win against Hearts to have any hope of lifting the SPL title, and hope that Dundee United hold Rangers at Tannadice, the question is will Hearts simply field a weakened team at Parkhead on Sunday, since they have nothing to play for?

Rangers must win at Tannadice to secure their first trophy in four years, but this season Rangers and Dundee United have drawn twice - 3-3 at Ibrox and 2-2 at Tannadice. The last time the two clubs faced one another was January 31st when the Ibrox side won 2-0.

However with Dundee United needing at least a point to secure qualification to the Europa league next season, it will be a tough game for the light blues who must win to lift the SPL title, any slip ups and they could see the title head to Parkhead. If Rangers draw or lose to United, Celtic must win against Hearts as a draw is not good enough for the Parkhead side.

Despite sitting two points behind their rivals, a win would propel them one point ahead of Rangers, and if Rangers do draw with Craig Levein’s men then both sides will be on equal points, with goal difference then taken into account. And if that does occur then Celtic will win the title as they currently have a goal difference of +1 over Rangers, so any form of a draw is not good enough for Walter Smith’s men - a win is a must.

Given some comments made in several Hearts forums, it is plain to see the Hearts fans are split on what should happen in the last game of the season. Some want Csaba Laszlo to field a side filled with up and coming talent, replacing those players who will not be at Tynecastle next season and to give their best players a rest.

This would definately cause huge uproar over in Ibrox, but the Hearts fans mentioning such a plan would just love to see such a heartache, a heartache that they suffered back in 1986. There is also an ulterior motive to this reason as well.

If such a result does happen and Celtic win the title, then Rangers will not be guaranteed any Champions League money, and they will therefore have to sell their top assets to balance the books and with an already poor Rangers side weakened further, it could prove an added advantage to Hearts who could close the gap if not split the Old Firm once again.

However the majority of Hearts fans would also like to see Celtic crash and burn at Parkhead, wanting to field their strongest side and go for broke and take Celtic on, to make them work for every ball and hope that Rangers win, so they can see the anguish on the Celtic fans faces at Full Time.

In both scenarios, Hearts have nothing to lose, they have already secured third spot and a Europa League place so they are safe in the knowledge that they are in a win-win situation. The title is in Rangers hands and it is for them to lose it, and if they do manage to drop points against United, then they must surely be punished by a Celtic side playing at home in front of a partisan but nervous crowd.

However there is no guarantee that either side of the Old Firm will win their games or pick up a point either, given how poor both have been this season at home and away domestically. It will all come down to Sunday and which side has the guts, the bottle and the balls to grab the title by the scruff of the neck.

But will Hearts lie down, will Dundee United secure that all important single point to secure European qualification, will Rangers beat United to lift the trophy, will Celtic manage the win they need to heap the pressure on Rangers or will they bottle it once again? We want your views.

Rangers fans and players can harp on about the "goal that never was" against Hibernian in midweek, till they are blue in the face, that was down to a split second judgement call by an official unsighted by the goal post. However the scandalous act of Kyle Lafferty taking a swan dive and feigning injury, after an apparent headbutt from Aberdeen defender Charlie Mulgrew, should demand all Rangers fans hang their head in shame over a blatant act of cheating by one of their players.

The fans come out of the cracks in their hundreds to voice their opinions on how referees have cheated them out of games, how the opposition have been given decisions against them, yet where were these same fans saying that Kyle Lafferty was nothing more than a cheat? His antics led to Charlie Mulgrew being sent off, when TV replays showed plain as day that it was Lafferty who stuck his head out towards Mulgrew and not the other way around.

Now the same TV footage must be used by the SFA review committe to hammer Kyle Lafferty for his blatant cheating and unsportsmanlike behaviour in this match, especially given recent days the calls for both Scott McDonald and Glenn Loovens to both be hammered for their late tackles on Lee Wilkie and Maurice Edu respectively. There is a difference between a late tackle and blatant cheating, and Lafferty has brought the game into disrepute, in fact he has shamed Rangers FC with his antics.

If Rangers do go on to win the title, then it will be remembered more for that incident than the football on show this season itself. In fac,t if the referee had taken the appropriate measure in the first place to punish Lafferty instead of Mulgrew, yesterday’s scoreline would have certainly been different.

It might sound presumptious or hypothetical to state that Aberdeen would have kept a clean sheet, but would they have conceded that own goal if Lafferty was not waiting to pounce, if he had been sent off? Would Aberdeen have allowed such a ball to be played into their box in the first place?

Now why target Charlie Mulgrew? Only one reason—his lethal left peg. Lafferty’s wink towards a fellow player reeks of what Daniel Cousin did to Stephen McManus earlier in the season, when he blatantly went in with the intent of causing damage only to see McManus being stretchered off.

On that day Cousin smiled and winked towards Rangers assistant Ally McCoist, so is it the management’s mentality to get their players to go out and injure players or get the threats sent off by any means necessary? Is the stress of the title race getting to the Rangers management, who if they do not secure the title will be out on their ear, looking for new jobs?

If the tackles of Loovens and McDonald are to be punished by the SFA committee, then Lafferty should be hammered for his cheating. Players get booked for blatant dives on the pitch, so what should Lafferty’s punishment be, given that he was booked for the late tackle on Mulgrew in the first place? And if all three are to be punished, why wasn’t Allan McGregor punished for his tackle on Hearts Calum Elliot earlier in the season? Or Barry Ferguson grabbing an Aberdeen player, Chris Maguire, round the throat punished also?

Allan McGregor and Barry Ferguson were banned from ever playing for Scotland again after a booze session and sticking their two fingers up at the press. Now what does Lafferty deserve from the SFA for deliberately getting a fellow professional footballer sent off when it was Lafferty who made the move with his head in the first place? And who then winked in amusement, in celebration towards a fellow Rangers player.

The game was also blighted by the sending off of Madjid Bougherra, who made a dangerous lunge on Aberdeen keeper Jamie Langfield, catching him square in the face with his studs. Bougherra was applauded off the pitch by the Rangers supporters who voted him their "Player of the Year" as if he had done nothing wrong with the fans then chanting “Who’s the f****n in the black” - a clear violation of Scottish football’s anti-sectarian rules towards referee Staurt Dougal. What punishment will befall the Rangers support in regards to another one of their chants?

Walter Smith said afterwards that he would have a word with the Northern Irish international, but I doubt it would be nothing more than a well done and maybe a wee slap on the wrist for getting caught winking. Nothing will come of it from Rangers side, it is now up to the SFA to stand up and be counted. If they have the guts to do so that is.