CONFESSION time.
I was one of the ones saying Rangers would win the Championship this season but I have ended up with egg on my face for that one. Anything other than a Hibs victory at Easter Road today would see Hearts crowned champions and I have to say it has been a revelation the way they have gone about it. I know exactly how hard a division it is to win.
I thought it would be close between Hearts, Rangers and maybe Hibs but I certainly didn't see Hearts running away with it the way they have. They have done everything right, pretty much everything Rangers haven't done. While Hearts got the fans in and encouraged them to stay, Rangers have pretty much chased theirs away. They have the right business plan in place, won the fans back, got a young modern manager in place and I love the way they have set about structuring their squad.
The blend of experience and energy they have got has been excellent, with the likes of Morgaro Gomis and Prince Buaben anchoring the midfield, and plenty of fine young players being showcased. I know that many English clubs are keeping an eye on Sam Nicholson. When they had to buy they done it at the right time. First they brought in Osman Sow to lead the line up front, then when he got injured they brought in Genero Zeefuik.
The best teams just know how to win games, it is as simple as that, and Hearts have done that. If they are at their best they can go and win games easily like the 10-0 win against Cowdenbeath, if not then they can grind out the 1-0 or 2-1 wins they have been managing all season. It is just professionalism and to have so many of their players playing so well at such a tender age can only be good for their development.
As much credit as Ann Budge deserves, Craig Levein has excelled in the director of football role and he has certainly picked well when it comes to Robbie Neilson. We actually had Robbie in for pre-season with us at Queen of the South last summer and he was just looking to play. Although he had worked really hard and done the full pre-season, we said we weren't sure because of his injury history and he went away again looking for another club. I was surprised when he was announced as manager of Hearts shortly afterwards.
Craig obviously knew him as a guy, knew how focused he was and knew he would tackle the challenge head on. Everything you hear about their training is positive, all modern, with plenty of information given to his young players. As well as he has done to date, I would love to see Robbie prove his credentials over a longer period of time. We are too quick to get carried away in this country.
MY old gaffer Dick Advocaat is back in football as manager of Sunderland and I have to say I am surprised. Not because he has been given the opportunity, because you can't argue with his record. But more because this is a different type of challenge for him.
Dick is usually very careful when it comes to choosing his options in terms of what is going to be best for his career. He went to Rangers and Zenit when there was plenty of money and a good chance of success, and managed Holland and Russia where there are plenty of players to choose from. But I am not sure Sunderland fits that category.
It isn't exactly a risk, because if it doesn't go well he can walk away, and if it does go well then he gets the job. But you have to say there is more chance of him failing there.
I thought me and Dick hit it off during our time together at Rangers but I would never say I was one of his main players. When Craig Moore signed for him at Borussia Moenchengladbach, wee Dick asked him if he still kept in touch with Billy. When Craig said he did, wee Dick replied 'I liked Billy, not as a player, but as a person'. That showed the kind of relationship I had with him.
The reason he liked me is because he liked players who didn't take the huff and throw the toys out of the pram when he didn't pick them. I couldn't really have done any more to change Dick's mind but once his mind is made up it is made up and that is why I think he might have problems down there.
This time last year Sunderland were nearly down then they went on an unbelievable run to save themselves. They are going to have to do the same this year. Dick will have to hit it head on, fall out with people if he has to, but be careful because I feel the best way of getting a team like Sunderland up is by cultivating a team spirit.
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