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BBC News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Hearts need more bang for their buck from Jamestown Analytics this time'
The next Hearts manager will be identified, scrutinised, and put forward by one of the most advanced and world-renowned analytical models in sports. But just how much pressure are Jamestown Analytics under to get this appointment right?When Neil Critchley was appointed in mid-October, Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay was keen to emphasise that "the analytics only guide us," but also referenced the fact that "Neil was the preferred candidate from an analytics perspective and also when we spoke to him".McKinlay also said Critchley would be the ideal candidate to work within a club that now had access to the data modelling used by Brighton and Union though, the numbers have to add up for the Hearts board after Critchley lasted just six months before being jettisoned."I'm quite optimistic about the Jamestown Analytics, think it's a good thing for Hearts to try, but the Critchley experiment probably wasn't the best advertisement for it," The Herald football writer Stephen McGowan said on the Scottish Football Podcast."I think Hearts should be looking for a bit more bang for their buck when it comes to Jamestown Analytics' intervention this time."I think they would be looking for them to come up with somebody who might be better suited to the Scottish game because it is a peculiar environment, isn't it?"Former defender Maurice Ross, who has both played and managed in Scotland, reckons analytics has its place when recruiting players but is a "bizarre" tool to use when identifying suitable candidates to lead a said: "When it comes to managers, [it's a] totally different, totally different kettle of fish. "How do you quantify leadership skills? How do you quantify the ability to gather a group? And by the way, I'm saying this about a club like Hearts, you're dealing with 40 people, not just playing staff."You've got the office staff, the groundstaff, how do you manage all these people? How do you quantify that? You cannot."And I think it's a bizarre, bizarre thing that's creeping into our game. And if that model is so great, why has he lasted six months?"
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Are Hearts still 'moving in right direction'?
After being consigned to the Premiership's bottom six before suffering Scottish Cup semi-final heartbreak on Saturday, would it be controversial to say Hearts are still "moving in the right direction"?Perhaps, but The Herald football writer Stephen McGowan feels there is no need for the Tynecastle club to overreact amid a disappointing campaign.A growing number of fans have started to doubt head coach Neil Critchley, who has faced intense criticism for failing to achieve a statement result in big games since his appointment earlier this feels that narrative could cause the Hearts boss a problem if he is unable to put an end to it, but he believes the Englishman deserves more time to improve the team with the help of Jamestown Analytics' player recruitment model."If you look at the record against Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and Hibs, it's problematic for any Hearts manager because you have to win those big games," McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast."I think what you would say is when he came in, Hearts were bottom and they have absolutely improved things since then."His point that if he'd been in from the start of season then they wouldn't be in anything like this situation is probably fair."It's massively disappointing to miss out on the cup final, but I don't think there should be an overreaction to missing out on the top six. "I think Hearts are still moving in the right direction and Jamestown Analytics have to be given time and opportunity to prove the standard of player they are signing. "The question is whether Critchley is the man to deliver the sustained improvement they're looking for. Personally, I wouldn't overreact."
BBC News
01-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Something has clicked' - Nisbet hitting form at key time
Aberdeen's return to form has coincided with one all-important factor: Kevin Nisbet is looking like his old goalscoring a European spot in their sights after securing top six, and a Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts on the horizon, Scotland striker Nisbet is hitting his stride at the opportune moment for Jimmy Thelin's double - his second brace in four games - in the 4-1 weekend trouncing of Motherwell took his tally to seven goals in his past eight matches, only one of which the Dons have 28-year-old put Saturday's game to bed with a header and 30-yard stunner from a combined xG of just 0.51, but it's not just his form in front of goal that's lifting spirits again around on-loan Millwall forward also created two chances for his team-mates, recovered the ball four times, and had the highest passing accuracy of anyone who played more than 45 minutes, with 19 of his 20 passes finding a red shirt. All while having the fewest touches, 38, of any outfield player, showing his ability to be an effective part of the game while often doing a lot of his work off the ball."Crucial for Aberdeen has been the return to form of Nisbet," Sunday Mail chief football writer Scott McDermott told the Scottish Football Podcast."He was just not producing enough, or not producing the form that we knew he was capable of obviously from his Hibs days. But something seems to have clicked in the last few weeks."He's back among the goals. And when you've got that threat that can pretty much guarantee goals up front, it's obviously a massive, massive help."
BBC News
01-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
How important was return of influential McGregor?
Callum McGregor returned to lead Celtic on Saturday as they cruised past Hearts and, once again, the skipper showed just how crucial he is to Brendan Rodgers' Rangers' 3-2 triumph at Parkhead in the previous outing, much of the post-match analysis for Celtic was dominated by the absence of McGregor through 31-year-old returned to action against Hearts and was running the show against a team who came to press just like Barry Ferguson's side, but Celtic were able to withstand the pressure and work well during the transition to hurt the 99% passing accuracy from 67 passes, one well-weighted assist for Daizen Maeda's crucial opener, and two chances created, McGregor was instrumental in Celtic's attacking play."People talked after the Old Firm defeat about how much McGregor was missed, I think you saw in the first 45 minutes at the weekend how he was missed," Sunday Mail chief football writer Scott McDermott told the Scottish Football Podcast."I'm convinced that Neil Critchley looked at the Rangers game and thought, 'We're going to go with that approach.' Five at the back, tried to press really high, play with intensity."McGregor was the guy that came up with the solutions to get Celtic out of that press - and that was proved in the first goal."When Hearts did venture forward, they were snuffed out by the midfielder, who won two duels, had a couple of interceptions, and recovered the ball on seven occasions for his side."That's what they couldn't really do against Rangers," McDermott said."It's not a slight against Arne Engels, who was playing in that position, but he's just not got the experience or the know-how of the fixture that Callum McGregor's got."
BBC News
19-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Respectful' Miller struck by bout of 'word vomit', says dad Lee
From John McGinn to John Carver, plenty folks have had their say on Lennon Miller's comments from last week after his debut Scotland as expected, his dad you're thinking he maybe put an arm around his 18-year-old's son shoulder, or gave him a clip round the lug, think again. He was right there, winding him up on his return from work.A proud dad, he thought "respectful and confident" Lennon gave an "excellent" press conference and was struck by a bout of "word vomit" when the Motherwell midfielder said he "could maybe in a couple of months be the best player" in the Scotland squad."I spoke to him when I came home from work and I said, 'I listened to your interview, it was excellent, it was really good... Two months and you're going to be the best player,' and he just laughed and thought, 'Oh I know, I know, I messed up'," Lee told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast."And I said 'No, you've got belief in yourself'. "Obviously the words didn't [come out right] but that's word vomit. "When you're put in front of that camera, when you're asked so many questions, you feel as if you have to say something and he's just blurted that out. "He probably never thought about it at the time, but when I was winding him up about it he just kind of laughed and thought 'Aw naw'."Listen and subscribe to the Scottish Football Podcast on BBC Sounds.
