The Reasons Hearts' Historic Title Tilt Isn't as a Shock.
HEARTS ON FIRE
Maybe the only surprising aspect of Hearts' victory over Celtic in the Scottish Premiership was just how surprised people appeared when reports of the outcome and its impact for the top of the standings emerged. While this convincing victory at their home ground, which leaves the Edinburgh side leading of the league and a significant margin ahead of Celtic, was earth-shattering in scale, nobody who has been following the fortunes of both squad this campaign will have been even remotely shocked by the result.
For each of the last four decades, the Glasgow duopoly of Celtic and Rangers have divided the Scottish football between them, reducing fitba to something of a punchline in the meantime. Nine games into the present season it has become apparent that Heart of Midlothian – who number Stephen Hendry, Sir Chris Hoy and renowned actor among their celebrity fans – might just be ready to make their move while the Old Firm influence is freezing cold.
THE CHAMPIONS' SLUMP
While much of the attention in Scotland has been on the disastrous season being suffered by Rangers, the full-spectrum nightmare of the circumstances at their stadium has meant that the title holders' slightly less terminal decay has been allowed to worsen unnoticed. The defending title winners have already lost a considerable number from their opening nine league games this season under Brendan Rodgers. The team's boss has acquired the distant look of a man who constantly consulting his Google calendar to see how many days are remaining until his deal ends, and awoke this day to discover the answer is 246.
"No one has put in more effort in all my time here," he informed reporters following the defeat, after they had doubted his appetite for anything resembling a championship battle. "Therefore the drive is present to try and reverse the levels that we're at. It's absolutely fine, there is plenty of time."
NEW CHALLENGER
Considering the horrific beginning to the season being experienced by the other Glasgow side, Rodgers and his players could typically be anticipated to escape scrutiny for their own failure to start strongly, but on this occasion an capital city challenger has joined the fray. In spite of being obliged to function with a war-chest that is not just a tiny fraction of Celtic's as a comparative budgetary baw-hair, Hearts have added the investment and expertise of Tony Bloom to the SPL mix. As well as investing ten million pounds during the off-season, the Brighton owner has provided Hearts exclusive use of his highly confidential analytics-based Jamestown Analytics recruitment tool.
In an Irish defender, a Greek talent and Cláudio Braga it has allowed them to discover unpolished gems from an English lower-league side, the Slovakian top flight and the Norway's second division, among other lesser-known leagues, for the total price of a modest car. Spotted at their home venue on matchday sporting a Hearts scarf, the famously shrewd sports betting expert could be seen cheering each score with the gusto of a man who had likely noticed the oddsmakers had greatly underestimated his side's chances of defeating the struggling champions, and filled his boots accordingly.
MANAGER'S REACTION
"I don't think it's a message-sending victory," said bearded Hearts gaffer the head coach after his side's latest victory, their eighth in nine league matches. "Perhaps it is for those on the periphery. It might change opinions. It might validate views that there's a fine line. But let's not kid ourselves, we're really pleased with what the players have given us. Technically, we appear in a strong position, and certainly in fitness we look in a excellent shape, so we hope it persists. Naturally, this is not a situation that the team is accustomed to being in." No, Derek, it is not. But the wonderful, data-driven reality is that for the initial occasion in many years, Scottish football might genuinely have a championship battle that a team besides Celtic or Rangers can win.
