Hearts

[Lesonthewest]

Can see why Zander is not getting a game, their sub goalie Craig Gordon has just produced an absolute world class save at the death to give them 3 points with 10 men.

[GazLaz]

43 and still Scotland’s number one.

[In the box]

Can see why Zander is not getting a game, their sub goalie Craig Gordon has just produced an absolute world class save at the death to give them 3 points with 10 men.

Gordon only played because their no1 goal keeper Schwolow was sent off today after only 45 mins  , how fortunate for us that we signed Zander Yesterday!!

[Sprotyrover]

Hearts are top of the Scottish premier and have been playing to full gates of over 18 k,
seems we done some decent business.

[old lad]

See the video on YouTube. In Q final for StJohnstone against Rangers, made a few good saves then losing 1-0 went up for a corner, and although his header was blocked on the line, it got tapped in. Then saved 2 pens in the penalty shoot out. He kept a clean sheet in the League cup final and Scottish cup final

[Metalmicky]

My Scottish family are from Edinburgh and all Jambo's.  Great to see a football club, owned by its fans through the Foundation of Hearts, doing so well and I am really hoping they win the SPL..

[GazLaz]

My Scottish family are from Edinburgh and all Jambo's.  Great to see a football club, owned by its fans through the Foundation of Hearts, doing so well and I am really hoping they win the SPL..

They are fan owned but the 29% of shares owned by Mr Bloom are the ones making the difference…

[Colemans Left Hook]

Yes you did warn us

Just an off the cuff observation but did we spend to much time celebrating and living off last years promotion. The pre season this year seemed unorganised (last minuet game hashed up with Blackpool) and the recruitment almost lets have a look at what's left...slim pickings with a low budget..Grant said he had no holiday till signings in door..all seems a bit rushed. Is Grant taking to much on..Delegation is a difficult skill in Management and takes trust.

A manager led football club where one man has full control over everything isn’t really sustainable imo. Surely having an environment where different people are responsibly for different areas, thus taking the pressure of the head coach, is a more healthy environment.

Is the manager fully in charge of recruitment? Nope.

Is the manager the person 'bank rolling' the club? Nope.

Does the manager involve himself as Chief Executive Officer of the club? Nope.

Does the manager involve himself directly with getting players back to fitness after injury? Nope.

Does it follow then that the manager as 'head coach' therefore have "...full control over everything....".? Nope.

But don't let that stop you throwing mud.

He does have full control over recruitment and everyone in the football department answers to him. We had a head of football operations when GM joined. There’s no mud slinging here, it’s how we (and other clubs btw) operate. It’s an option that can be successful. I’m just saying it’s not the best strategy, long term, for everyone involved.


Imagine being a football manager and only having to concentrate on setting up a team for Saturday, picking the squad and motivating the players. Has to be a less stressful job!

On this. Has anyone seen what’s happening at Hearts? Brought in the smartest data analysis in the world, they do recruitment and strategy. The head coach follows their direction and they are now 5 points clear of Celtic at the top of the SPL and 13 points clear of Rangers.

They finished 7th last season. This progress has come about in less than 12 months. That’s the impact the taking certain decisions away from the manager, and giving them to super smart teams behind the scenes, can have.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Of course they are top due to the unusually bad performance of the big two.  Let's see if they sustain it.

[Chris Black come back]

My Scottish family are from Edinburgh and all Jambo's.  Great to see a football club, owned by its fans through the Foundation of Hearts, doing so well and I am really hoping they win the SPL..

Thought they were owned by the Brighton guy, hence them doing so well these days.

[GazLaz]

Of course they are top due to the unusually bad performance of the big two.  Let's see if they sustain it.

Tony chose to go in to Scottish Football when he did because he saw the regression curve Rangers and Celtic were on. This is not happening by accident. Maybe slightly quicker than planned but it was always likely.

[Blue Green Algae]

Given our disastrous recruitment you'd hope the club may begin to recognise the value of analytics. However, I suspect as long as Grant is in charge he would veto it.

[Metalmicky]

Given our disastrous recruitment you'd hope the club may begin to recognise the value of analytics. However, I suspect as long as Grant is in charge he would veto it.

Why exactly...?

[Blue Green Algae]

My understanding is, as it stands, Grant has total control over recruitment and prefers to sign players he judges to be up to it. He doesn't view analytics as superior to his own judgement.

If you look at the amount of players we sign who have either played for him already, or who he cites as having playing well against us, this suggests to me that what I've heard can't be too far from the truth.

[Usher wide.]

Tony Bloom is the smartest bloke, in any capacity, I have ever met. He’s always thinking 2 or 3 steps ahead of everyone else.

He has done things at Brighton that have taken the club to new heights, playing European Football & being a top ten Premiership club was a vision he sold to the fans who at the time thought he must just be talking the club up for publicity.

He’s done there exactly what he set out to do. He buys players ‘cheap’ who he knows are going to get even better then sells them on for 4-5 times more than he paid for them.

And he does this consistently, not just 2 or 3 but 7 & 8 such players. These players help Brighton to progress while they’re playing but allow Tony’s ‘process’ to continue with the money they’ve brought in through their transfer.

He’ll do exactly (IS doing) the same thing at Hearts.

[GazLaz]

Tony Bloom is the smartest bloke, in any capacity, I have ever met. He’s always thinking 2 or 3 steps ahead of everyone else.

He has done things at Brighton that have taken the club to new heights, playing European Football & being a top ten Premiership club was a vision he sold to the fans who at the time thought he must just be talking the club up for publicity.

He’s done there exactly what he set out to do. He buys players ‘cheap’ who he knows are going to get even better then sells them on for 4-5 times more than he paid for them.

And he does this consistently, not just 2 or 3 but 7 & 8 such players. These players help Brighton to progress while they’re playing but allow Tony’s ‘process’ to continue with the money they’ve brought in through their transfer.

He’ll do exactly (IS doing) the same thing at Hearts.

In what capacity did you meet him?

[Nudga]

Tony Bloom is the smartest bloke, in any capacity, I have ever met. He’s always thinking 2 or 3 steps ahead of everyone else.

He has done things at Brighton that have taken the club to new heights, playing European Football & being a top ten Premiership club was a vision he sold to the fans who at the time thought he must just be talking the club up for publicity.

He’s done there exactly what he set out to do. He buys players ‘cheap’ who he knows are going to get even better then sells them on for 4-5 times more than he paid for them.

And he does this consistently, not just 2 or 3 but 7 & 8 such players. These players help Brighton to progress while they’re playing but allow Tony’s ‘process’ to continue with the money they’ve brought in through their transfer.

He’ll do exactly (IS doing) the same thing at Hearts.

Begs the question why you think Gazlaz talks b*llocks then.

[Usher wide.]

Tony Bloom is the smartest bloke, in any capacity, I have ever met. He’s always thinking 2 or 3 steps ahead of everyone else.

He has done things at Brighton that have taken the club to new heights, playing European Football & being a top ten Premiership club was a vision he sold to the fans who at the time thought he must just be talking the club up for publicity.

He’s done there exactly what he set out to do. He buys players ‘cheap’ who he knows are going to get even better then sells them on for 4-5 times more than he paid for them.

And he does this consistently, not just 2 or 3 but 7 & 8 such players. These players help Brighton to progress while they’re playing but allow Tony’s ‘process’ to continue with the money they’ve brought in through their transfer.

He’ll do exactly (IS doing) the same thing at Hearts.

In what capacity did you meet him?

You have a very abrupt manner, some might say verging on rudeness. I don’t know if you’ve ever been told that before?

If you’d structured your question more civilly perhaps along the lines of “I’ve met him too at such & such. He’s a fascinating man. Do you mind if I ask how you came to know him?”

It’s almost as if you (of all posters) doubt that I might indeed know him which in effect is tantamount to calling me a liar.

So on that note (& for those reasons) I politely decline to answer your demand…I mean enquiry.

[Rovers Red]

I know that Brighton only have 4 scouts

[i_ateallthepies]

Tony Bloom is the smartest bloke, in any capacity, I have ever met. He’s always thinking 2 or 3 steps ahead of everyone else.

He has done things at Brighton that have taken the club to new heights, playing European Football & being a top ten Premiership club was a vision he sold to the fans who at the time thought he must just be talking the club up for publicity.

He’s done there exactly what he set out to do. He buys players ‘cheap’ who he knows are going to get even better then sells them on for 4-5 times more than he paid for them.

And he does this consistently, not just 2 or 3 but 7 & 8 such players. These players help Brighton to progress while they’re playing but allow Tony’s ‘process’ to continue with the money they’ve brought in through their transfer.

He’ll do exactly (IS doing) the same thing at Hearts.

In what capacity did you meet him?

You have a very abrupt manner, some might say verging on rudeness. I don’t know if you’ve ever been told that before?

If you’d structured your question more civilly perhaps along the lines of “I’ve met him too at such & such. He’s a fascinating man. Do you mind if I ask how you came to know him?”

It’s almost as if you (of all posters) doubt that I might indeed know him which in effect is tantamount to calling me a liar.

So on that note (& for those reasons) I politely decline to answer your demand…I mean enquiry.

This is as close as you'll get to an admission he has never met him, GazLaz.

[Usher wide.]

Well I see the ‘GazLaz Gang’ is in town!

It does beg the question, has this bloke saved your lives at some point in some dusty corner of the world or perhaps he entertains you by showing you his latest Tatoo or regaling you with tales of his daring do’s?

Just wondering.

[i_ateallthepies]

You obviously don't pay attention otherwise you would see that I have on occasion posted comments challenging GazLaz' opinions.  Perhaps I need to do more of it, on the tripe you sometimes post.

[GazLaz]

Tony Bloom is the smartest bloke, in any capacity, I have ever met. He’s always thinking 2 or 3 steps ahead of everyone else.

He has done things at Brighton that have taken the club to new heights, playing European Football & being a top ten Premiership club was a vision he sold to the fans who at the time thought he must just be talking the club up for publicity.

He’s done there exactly what he set out to do. He buys players ‘cheap’ who he knows are going to get even better then sells them on for 4-5 times more than he paid for them.

And he does this consistently, not just 2 or 3 but 7 & 8 such players. These players help Brighton to progress while they’re playing but allow Tony’s ‘process’ to continue with the money they’ve brought in through their transfer.

He’ll do exactly (IS doing) the same thing at Hearts.

In what capacity did you meet him?

You have a very abrupt manner, some might say verging on rudeness. I don’t know if you’ve ever been told that before?

If you’d structured your question more civilly perhaps along the lines of “I’ve met him too at such & such. He’s a fascinating man. Do you mind if I ask how you came to know him?”

It’s almost as if you (of all posters) doubt that I might indeed know him which in effect is tantamount to calling me a liar.

So on that note (& for those reasons) I politely decline to answer your demand…I mean enquiry.

Fairly straight forward question for a fairly straight forward answer.

There is a big irony around the fact you can’t stand me but rate his intellect higher than anyone else you have ever met…


Game set and match to me.

[Nudga]

Well I see the ‘GazLaz Gang’ is in town!

It does beg the question, has this bloke saved your lives at some point in some dusty corner of the world or perhaps he entertains you by showing you his latest Tatoo or regaling you with tales of his daring do’s?

Just wondering.

Give over you pathetic child, about time you grew up.

Yes Gaz is a good friend of mine but that's got nothing to do with me challenging you.
Gaz does actually have a couple of fingers and toes in the professional football world, I'm not at liberty to tell you who for and what he actually does.

[scawsby steve]

People don't have to agree with everything Gazlaz says, but it's fairly obvious that he has a close connection to professional football, and is involved in analytics for a living.

I don't see why anyone would doubt this.

[Usher wide.]

For crying out loud.

I don’t give a flying fig what he does for a living but let’s just put the record straight here.

I have NEVER questioned that his job entails looking & working with statistics & analysis obviously part of which (because boy doesn’t he love the world & it’s dog to know it) encompasses the football world.

I don’t know the guy, apart from the fact he’s clearly obese (his mate Nudge Nudge told us he was 20 stone & at 6’4” which gives him a bmi of 34….heart attack territory) & has an ego the size of football pitch but hey ho, no one’s perfect.

He flatters himself if he thinks “….you can’t stand me…”, if he thinks that (“I think NOTHING about you”) he seriously needs help & not just with that weight he’s carrying around.

I take exception to some of his posts. I ‘pull him up’ when I do so & explain why I am & yes, I will have a dig at his pomposity & negativity when I feel his posts warrant it but in doing so, I will more often than not quote the ‘offending’ narrative he uses back at him to underline my point.

On this forum he has called me a wa***r & a cnut. Well out of order.

His ‘mates’ like to dive in too with their abuse…don’t you Nudga.

Water off a ducks back.

Does anyone know what I did for a living?
Does anyone know how I make my money now…still?

Last season a poster asked me, very politely but clearly he didn’t believe my claims, if I had any evidence to back up my claims that I had won money (we’re talking in the £k here) at a rate over the past 12 months that equated to odds of 14/1.

So I downloaded my account figures from a betting agents & posted them on the forum.

He thanked me & congratulated me.

Now do you think I could do that (& I do so consistently) without using analysis?

But I don’t ram it down peoples throats. It’s not necessary. There are ways & means to do it, when asked politely.

All poker players use it, including Tony Bloom.

Royal Flush to me.

[Nudga]

I dont even now where to go with all.that waffle apart from i have never abused you and I have never said anything about how much Gaz might weigh. I did say he is 6'7" though so you're only 3 inches short.

Story of your life I suppose.

[Usher wide.]

I dont even now where to go with all.that waffle apart from i have never abused you and I have never said anything about how much Gaz might weigh. I did say he is 6'7" though so you're only 3 inches short.

Story of your life I suppose.

I rest my case.

[Nudga]

What case?

You didnt apologise for the homosexual jibes the other week did you.

[GazLaz]

I dont even now where to go with all.that waffle apart from i have never abused you and I have never said anything about how much Gaz might weigh. I did say he is 6'7" though so you're only 3 inches short.

Story of your life I suppose.

I rest my case.

Bringing a man’s BMI into a discussion is an interesting one!