NAISMITH ADAMANT HEARTS PLAYERS MUST TAKE FLAK AFTER THRASHING
Naismith adamant players must take flak
STEVEN NaismiTh insists delays to the naming of a new hearts manager can’t be blamed for a woeful defeat to Rangers at ibrox.
a 5-0 thrashing for the leaderless Gorgie side made it just one win in seven games and two in their last 14.
Only goal difference separates the Tynecastle side and st mirren from bottom club st Johnstone.
Chief executive ann Budge is in advanced talks with former Barnsley coach Daniel stendel and hopes to appoint the German before Wednesday’s league match with Livingston at Tynecastle.
as the search for Craig Levein’s replacement in the dugout now extends into a fifth week, however, scotland striker Naismith admits the delayed appointment of a new boss cannot be used as an excuse by the under-performing players.
‘That wasn’t an easy afternoon, far from it,’ said the former ibrox star. ‘Rangers are a very good team as they have shown all season.
‘in spells we looked okay, but we’ve got to be disappointed with the goals. The way they went in, from our point of view, wasn’t good enough in all honesty.
‘austin (macPhee) is taking the team at the moment and we go out to try and do, as a group, what he and the coaching staff want us to do.
‘Today’s performance was not down to who was in charge. The team, as a whole, wasn’t good enough and didn’t defend well enough and that was the problem today.’
Declining to use a lack of clarity over the managerial situation as mitigation for some shambolic defending for the five goals lost yesterday, Naismith insisted that a busy period of games between now and Christmas will define the club’s season.
‘The clarity will come when it comes,’ added the 33-year-old.
‘The club has made the point pretty clear that they are going to look for the right man rather than just a shotgun reaction to try to get someone in quick.
‘We have enough experience in the squad that should be able to deal with this.
‘The games between now and Christmas will determine what happens this season for us as a club.
‘as players, we need to fight for the chances we get. But what the squad need to understand is that whatever manager is linked with us, or interested, is going to be watching these games.
‘it’s not as if they are going to turn up on day one without an idea on the squad.
‘Whether that happens this week or next, the players should be on their toes already.’
Fresh injuries to defenders aidy White and aaron hickey could add to the catalogue of woe afflicting the Edinburgh club.
insisting they have the resources to overcome their current problems, however, Naismith added: ‘i train with them every day. i think that a lot are just low in confidence.
‘There is a lot of naivety in there. and that needs to change. But it’s not going to change overnight.
‘We need to work hard and start being stronger as a unit defensively.
‘The games coming up will fundamentally decide what happens this season for us.’
With next to no idea as to what comes next, shell-shocked interim boss macPhee admitted he is managing an uncertain situation on a day-to-day basis.
‘What i would say is that, in the next period of time, mrs Budge will make the right decision for the long-term future of the club,’ he said.
‘and we all know the importance of hearts picking up points in the very busy Christmas period, so we move up the league.
‘Right now, all i do is manage this on a day-to-day basis and try and be as honest with everyone as i can, and to try and get the team on the pitch that can pick up three points on Wednesday (at home to Livingston).
‘The most important thing is we win on Wednesday night. i spoke to the players about their performance against Rangers and about the situation day-by-day as the club look to make the best decision for hearts’ future.
‘No manager is going to get judged on the result of a game here. hearts haven’t won at ibrox in the (top) league since 2012, so the expectations are different.
‘The expectations on Wednesday night are absolutely that we must take three points. i’ll be doing all i can to ensure the right team is on the pitch with the right approach to do that.’