I knew Robbie was made for management when he told me he wouldn’t give players a day off ...he was thinking like Sir Alex
Levein tells of Neilson’s discipline
ROBBIE NEILSON had impressed Craig Levein throughout his career.
With his attitude, professionalism and outlook on the game.
So when it came to selecting a manager for Hearts in 2014, he was firmly in Levein’s thoughts.
Then Neilson uttered the words that were music to the new Tynecastle director of football’s ears. No days off. For that hardline idea from the 33-year-old reminded Levein that no less a figure than managerial genius Sir Alex Ferguson swore by similar rules.
And he was confident it could work with a Hearts group that was youthful by necessity as a consequence of the administration meltdown a year earlier.
The hour-long conversation over a coffee in Bridge Of Allan secured Neilson a step up from the Tynecastle academy as Under-20s manager to the main job.
Disclosing to Levein that he planned to scrap days off for the first team placed a massive tick next to his name, cementing his status as potential boss material.
Ahead of Neilson leading Hearts out in tomorrow’s Scottish Cup Final, Levein said: “We talked about, if he was manager, what his training week would look like.
“And he spoke about not giving them any days off. I liked that idea. That if he could get them winning, then the winning would justify the lack of days off.
“I remember speaking to Darren Fletcher when I was Scotland manager. He talked about how very rarely they got days off at Manchester United and how Sir Alex made a big thing of them having an advantage over everyone else – because they worked harder every single week.
“I thought it was interesting Robbie had the same view. In some ways it would give players a degree of confidence.
“As the only team in the league grafting every day they’d know they had an edge.
“You still have to convince players, of course. But Robbie got the whole team going very quickly.
“When you start winning, even experienced players are happy to buy into what you want. That season just
only team As the league inthe day g every graftin know they they’d edge have an HOW TELLSOF CRAIGLEVEIN WORKED IDEA ROBBIE’S
went from good to great to fantastic quickly.” Hearts grafted so hard and so well that what was tipped to be a hot title race featuring Rangers and Hibs turned into a procession.
Neilson’s prior knowledge of and relationship with younger players helped Sam Nicholson, Billy King and Jamie Walker prove key figures as promotion was clinched with seven games to go.
He then steered Hearts back to Europe with a third-place finish on return to the Premiership.
Yet the results achieved were frequently undermined by rumours Levein meddled more than a mentor should. That perception, insists Levein, was nonsense.
He said: “Robbie and I had an understanding. If he wanted my help,
I was there. At half-time I would come downstairs.
“If he didn’t have anything to ask, he’d go straight in the dressing room.
“If he did want to ask what I thought about this or that, I’d give my opinion. But I wasn’t going into the dressing room and speaking to players.
“At the end of the match I would – and nine times out of 10 it was to congratulate everyone.
“But it became ‘a thing’ in the media and when that happens, people start to believe it.
“All that stuff about passing notes down to the dugout, it just didn’t happen either.”
Levein had no requirement to fret over the rookie appointment being capable of calling his own shots.
Behind the scenes, Levein witnessed a different side to the one
projected in public by Neilson. Speaking with a whisper in interviews, the young boss was content not to cause much of a stir in his first season.
However, Levein said: “Being quietly spoken didn’t mean he wasn’t determined or doesn’t have emotion.
“He could easily get players to understand he was annoyed. I haven’t seen it often. But I’ve seen it. Seen him lose the plot, be angry.
“I remember once with a player after a training session, something had happened and it all kicked off. I thought, ‘Oh aye, nice to see!’”
Neilson’s methods worked such a treat that, by the end of November 2016 and midway through Premiership season two, Hearts stormed into second place.
The negative upshot for the Jambos was their manager was in demand. MK Dons were 19th in English League One but able to tempt Neilson south.
Levein admits the manner of the exit irritated himim because Neilson didn’t seek out his advice on a job that lasted onlyy 13 months.
He said: “It’s hard to be annoyed because he didd a brilliant job at Hearts. But I was slightly annoyed when he didn’t consult me.
“I was quite close with him. MK Dons had been in touch behind our backs and he’d already agreed to go when he told mee he wanted to leave.
“I wasn’t annoyednoyed at him being ambitious andd going to England. We’d spoken aboutbout that before.
“And, from thehe view of leaving, he maybe aybe picked a good d time. But I’d have 100 per cent advised him against it. “The chairman’s son was in charge of recruitment. It was the wrong club because of that set-up.” p Some fans flew a ‘NeilNeilson Out’ banner over Tynecastle six months before his departure, upsetups at his style of football. There were few objobjections, however, when Neilson was tempted to leave Dundee United aand return to replace Daniel StendeStendel. Levein said: “When it wwas made known Robbie would cocome back, Ann (Budge) saw it as an ideal opportunity to get somsomeone she knew. And whwho had a calmness calmnes about him that was the th oppos si te of Daniel.” D
GOOD TURN Turnbull has impressed and Sutton claims Brown, below, should not start final showdown
SCOTT BROWN has led Celtic to 11 successive trophies.
Tom Rogic is a Hampden specialist who started the run of Trebles by bagging the winner in the 2017 showpiece against Aberdeen. Ryan Christie scored a magnificent goal in the semi-final and has been an integral part of the club’s recent run of silverware. But, if I were Neil Lennon, I wouldn’t pick any of the trio to start tomorrow’s William Hill Scottish Cup Final against Hearts. The Celtic manager’s team selection is the hot topic for supporters going into the clash. Current form against loyalty and a proven track record.
If it was down to me, I’d go with the current form.
Neil has a strong mind and will have his own views on what he sees as the way to set about Robbie Neilson’s men with a quadruple Treble at stake. For me , i t ’s a pre tty straightforward decision. Play the players who have helped pick the performances up off the floor. What sort of message does it send out in the dressing room if you don’t? That’s a question I’d ask. Let’s get the easy one out of the way first. David Turnbull simply has to start. It has taken longer than expected for the ex-Motherwell kid to make a mark as his chances had been limited until the past week or so. But he’d shown in a cameo against Hibs earlier in the season he could slot easily into the side and the displays against Lille and Kilmarnock have proved it. Composed and energetic, creative with a goal threat. He’s also provided two set-pieces for Christoper Jullien and Shane Duffy to score. It might be a tight game so that dead-ball expertise could be crucial. Turnbull has grabbed the bull by the horns and really taken his opportunity. There is a spark and a zest about him. I’m a fan of Rogic but you cannot justify bringing the Aussie back at the expense of the Scotland Under-21 ace. The Brown issue is clearly the biggest conundrum for Neil. This is a true leader who is the ultimate professional. Giving him a kicking is not in my thought process and the reason for that is I have nothing but respect and admiration for what he’s done and still does. Here’s a story. I was doing TV work at the Europa League game against Lille when Brown didn’t play. Afterwards, as usual, the players who didn’t feature go out and do some training work when the rest are in the showers and the cameras are off.
Brown led the group. First in every sprint. Professional to the last. At 35 years of age, he could have lobbed around. Ran in the pack. But no. He was setting the example. He was first.
I tip my hat to that. That shows me one thing. You are dealing with a committed and outstanding professional here.
Brown’s attitude is magnificent and I don’t doubt he’d do a job against Hearts.
But Ismaila Soro has gone into his position and played superbly. He has been a real tiger in the middle of the park, he sees danger, he snuffs it out and passes the ball crisply.
Soro has done nothing to be dropped. I don’t think it would be fair to do so. Neil might prefer big-game experience on the day and go for Brown but it’s not the choice I’d make.
Christie also has that big-time CV. He has scored goals in finals and semifinals and I find it harder to justify leaving him out.
It’s more about how the game might be played than anything else.
Hearts are not going to open up. They’ll have seen Celtic struggle to get around packed defences and I’m sure they’ll stay compact. If Christie plays off the right and comes onto his left foot, he’ll come into traffic.
Now I’m not daft. He did just that against Aberdeen in the semi-final and curled a sensational opening goal into the top corner, so I understand anyone who would prefer him in the role.
been ilahas inthe Isma tiger , real park a the leof er midd dang sees s he he snuff and itout
However, I’d go for Jeremie Frimpong. His pace and ability to get down the sides and to the byeline might just be vital. I’ll be honest, it’s flip of a coin stuff with those two.
I’m just giving my own personal preference and, while I think Christie is a better player than Frimpong, it’s about the right picks for the specific task and the Celtic manager has to get them correct.
It is unthinkable for Neil not to win this game.
Peter Lawwell’s speech for the AGM regarding his manager was very refreshing and necessary.
It had taken too long for the head to come above the parapet to give big backing to the boss, so the fact it happened in such emphatic fashion was important.
But it doesn’t change the fact that a loss at Hampden will bring the criticism back and start all the questions again about Neil’s future. His team selection has to be right. He simply can’t afford for it to go wrong at Hampden.
If I were in his shoes, I’d be leaving out some stalwarts such as Christie, Rogic and Brown.