MUCH ADAO ABOUT NOTHING
Levein is quick to defend Joaquim’s disciplinary record
FIVE games, five bookings. One in each of his appearances for Hearts. So far. It’s fair to say Joaquim Adao hasn’t exactly tip-toed his way into Scottish football with a meek smile and a polite reverence for opponents.
Yet Hearts boss Craig Levein insists the 25-year-old Angolan midfielder with the eye-catching disciplinary record is anything but a clogger.
A combination of over-delicate refereeing and inconsistency have simply conspired against the man on loan from FC Sion, argues the former Scotland manager
Defending Adao’s salvo of yellow cards, Levein argued: ‘He’s been unlucky with three of them — and I do get a little exasperated when I see some of the other things going on that are unpunished.
‘Listen, that’s life. I see a lot of tackles in the league that are a lot worse than any of the ones he has made — and sometimes they are not even bookings, never mind anything else.
‘He feels hard done by. He’s a defensive midfield player and he is going to make more challenges than other midfield players.
‘But I believe he should still be able to make tackles, it’s still not outlawed — although we’re getting there slowly!
‘There is an art in it, he is good at it, and I do feel we have gone a little too far the other way in that. It seems like with every challenge there has to be a decision, whether it’s a foul or not, rather than letting the game flow.
‘We had Kevin Clancy for the cup game against Hibs and that was a good old-fashioned derby where people were allowed to make challenges.’
Adao will be desperate to play his part in tomorrow’s Scottish Cup quarter-final at Motherwell. Levein, for his part, is desperate for the game to be given the all-clear, with the prize of a semi-final appearance at Hampden really getting the juices flowing.
After battling his way through five-foot snow drifts to reach training at Oriam yesterday, he would hate to see all his preparations go to waste.
The director of football, who stepped back into the technical area following the dismissal of ill-fated rookie Ian Cathro, said: ‘If we could get to Hampden, it would be fantastic for everyone, especially the supporters.
‘We’ve had a difficult year. There have been a lot of changes and also the huge expense of the new main stand. I normally associate Hampden with finals but, the way the tournament is shaping, it looks like both of the semi-finals will be there.
‘So, I am hoping we can give our fans a day to look forward to. I hope the game goes ahead. We have Hibs soon afterwards and, if the game has to be rearranged, that would mean us playing Tuesday then Friday.’
With John Souttar and Demetri Mitchell both doubtful, Levein knows he has a job on his hands to beat Motherwell, insisting: ‘This is one of the hardest draws we could have got.
‘They had a little blip when Louis Moult left for Preston. But they seem to have steadied the ship and added Curtis Main, who has done well.
‘They’re back to pretty much where they were pre-Christmas, when they were going really well.
‘When you get to the quarter-finals of the cup, the first thing you’d like is a home draw, then you’d like to avoid the top teams in the league and we’ve managed to do that. Motherwell away is probably the next hardest one, but we still have a great opportunity.
‘Stephen Robinson has them playing in a way where they all understand what they are doing, and it’s always dangerous when a team have a way of playing and they’re good at it.
‘We’re not quite there yet, we’re still a work in progress and I am hopeful come the transfer window in the summer that we can kick on again.
‘But I have been relatively happy with the way things have gone. I am disappointed not to have picked up more points in the league.
‘But to get into a situation where we have got to the quarter-finals of the cup, I don’t think we have been there for a while, so that feels good.’
Meanwhile, Hearts keeper Jon McLaughlin is dreaming of making regular visits to Hampden — for big Scottish Cup occasions and in the dark blue of Scotland.
The Edinburgh-born goalie has been watched in action twice by new national team boss Alex McLeish.
And McLaughlin, who says he would leap at the chance of joining the end-of-season tour of Mexico and Peru, is keen to catch the new gaffer’s eye at Fir Park tomorrow.
‘A few people have said that, now the new man is in charge, he’s been coming to games and getting around to see people,’ said the 30-year-old former Burton Albion No 1.
‘So, it’s good if you can play well in front of people like that. If you can impress them, it’s even better.
‘I wouldn’t mind that trip to South America… although the missus probably wouldn’t be too happy if I get to run off to Mexico and Peru. ‘I’ll definitely be up for it, though.’ Before he even considers his Scotland chances, McLaughlin has a chance to make it to Hampden by helping Hearts into the Scottish Cup semi-finals this weekend in Lanarkshire.
‘It’s a big carrot and would be a big reward for everyone.
‘For the fans too, the chance to play one of the big boys, if all the favourites get through, would be brilliant — if we can get through this tie.
‘If you’re lucky enough to be involved with the national team, it would be brilliant to play an international at Hampden too.’