QUICK FIX OR QUICKSAND
Stendel scrambles for answers as a Hearts team in freefall faces a frantic and fateful festive period
FOUR games crammed into 12 days of festive revelry. Four fixtures that may define the entire season for a Hearts team caught in an ever-quickening downward spiral.
If now is not the time for urgency bordering on panic, when is?
Daniel Stendel, having previously spoken in terms suggestive of a grand long-term plan, at least seems to have a better understanding of the situation after 90 terrifying minutes on the job.
His fresh admission that ‘we need to change things really quickly’ sounds like a man suddenly awake to the threat in front of him. Which is just as well.
Because, frankly, unless the new head coach can find a way to effect instant improvement, they will definitely go into the winter shutdown rooted to the bottom of the table.
The mid-season break will be anything but pleasant, the enforced hiatus something to be endured, rather than enjoyed.
And Hearts will then face the challenge of trying to build momentum from a standing start. A task hard enough for teams oozing confidence, never mind one leaking belief from every open wound.
Having seen Plan A fall flat against St Johnstone on Saturday, Stendel’s insistence on implementing Plan A-plus for tomorrow night’s game against Celtic may leave some in the cheap seats slightly alarmed.
Hardly about to abandon all of his footballing beliefs one game into the new gig, however, the former Barnsley boss insisted: ‘It will be the same style — but hopefully a better game.
‘I think the expectation won’t be as high as Saturday and the players can play more like they can play with less pressure.
‘It’s a different game but we want to get the support from the fans. Hopefully, we can do that.
‘It’s more hard work than I expected but the players give me the feeling they’re ready to work hard.
‘We need to change things really quickly. Four days is not four weeks and the situation for the players is not easy. They have less confidence.’
Suggesting that Hearts are low on confidence is hardly a departure from accepted wisdom.
Even the supposed advantage they hold heading into this next run of fixtures, the fact that three of four games are at home, is unlikely to lift spirits.
Have you been to Tynecastle for a game lately? Inspiring it ain’t. Unless you’re referring to the effect it has on visiting teams, once the home fans start their entirely justified grumbling.
A fortress that once shook and swayed whenever Celtic, in particular, rolled into town has become just another ground.
Neil Lennon’s men will arrive full of confidence tomorrow night. Hibs will fancy their chances on Boxing Day; derby is derby, as former Hearts boss — and one-time Stendel team-mate — Valdas Ivanauskas famously said.
Aberdeen, for all their inconsistencies, will be favourites to win in Gorgie on the 29th.
With an away day on the plastic at Hamilton dropped into the middle of that mix, you can see why some are so fearful. Stendel’s job is to keep that fear from infecting his squad.
‘I’m here to change things,’ he said. ‘I know we can’t change things in four days but we have to do it in a short time.
‘The first thing is to change the mindset of the players, to have more trust in yourself, your performance and qualities. After Saturday, this is the biggest point for me, that the players have more belief in themselves.’
Hearts are still missing key on-field leaders, of course. The absence of men like Steven Naismith, John Souttar and Peter Haring, in particular, explains the obvious weakness right down the spine of this team.
Yet, given the injury records of all three, Stendel will understandably be wary of relying on their return to revitalise the season.
Having been told in no uncertain terms that he will have to offload players before bringing anyone in during the January window, his options are limited.
‘We have four games left this year and we work hard with the players we have at the moment,’ said the German coach.
‘We hope maybe some can come back from injury but there are no guarantees. I hope when they come back we have more quality to change things. Then we talk about what we can do in January.
‘The club and I want to give all the players a chance. Then we need to decide whether they’re the right players for us, or not.’
For many Hearts fans, there are squad members — even first-team regulars — who have already made a convincing argument against further involvement.
They are in an unforgiving mood, the Gorgie boys. A product of the dangerous environment in which their team is mired.
Never mind the unfair equivalence currently being drawn between the present campaign and the relegation season of 2014-15, a footballing year skewed beyond all relevance by administration and all its attendant miseries.
Just take a look at the last five years of the top flight. And recognise that the average points total needed just to finish second from bottom — only halfway to safety — has been precisely 34.
Sitting on 12 points after 17 games, Hearts are in desperate need of results to put them ahead of that curve. Over the next dozen days, they have four chances to do just that. Or else.
The situation for the players is not easy. They have less confidence