New Hearts attacking set-up – and how it will be used in future.
The Hearts lineup announcement 75 minutes before Sunday’s match against Rangers conveyed a clear message: ‘We’re going for it. Tynecastle head coach Neil Critchley’s decision to put Lawrence Shankland, James Wilson, and Elton Kabangu in attack for the first time was a clear statement of intent. It’s a novel strategy that he plans to utilise again. Shankland played at the top of a diamond-shaped midfield, with Wilson and Kabangu as forwards. All three had scoring opportunities and Kabangu in particular might have claimed a hat-trick on another day. The final 3-1 scoreline in Rangers’ favour, with Hearts’ goal coming from central defender MIchael Steinwender, might indicate that the attacking plan failed. Delving into the detail suggests otherwise.
“It’s rare that you’d create that many opportunities,” Critchley told the Edinburgh News. “Normally, it’s the other way around, so it demonstrates our intent and tactical approach to the game. I thought we were the better team, so losing 3-1 to the Rangers feels bizarre when you feel like you should have gotten more out of the game. I had to go and deal with my emotions for 24 hours.”
Deploying three forwards undoubtedly influenced the quantity of chances Hearts created. “Yes, we felt it. We’re at home, and we always want to go toe-to-toe with opponents and attempt to take the game to them,” the Englishman added. “We felt that by putting three forwards on, we demonstrated our intent. We remained positive and attempted to take the game to Rangers. “We knew it would be difficult against a talented side with good players, but we believed it was our best chance to press them. It also offers us an excellent opportunity to counter-attack with numbers at the top of the pitch. Aside from the final small thing, I believe it worked.”
Conversely, it shouldn’t be overlooked that the diamond midfield left Critchley’s side open down the flanks – allied to some gaps between midfield and defence for Rangers to exploit. If those issues can be addressed, then it could be a format used more often in specific matches.
Regardless of formation and tactics, no manager can legislate for strikers not converting opportunities. That was one of the reasons Critchley left Tynecastle, by his own admission, scratching his head at Sunday’s final outcome. “Exactly, yeah. Those last kicks of the game, you’re then relying on the player to take those chances,” he remarked. “Unfortunately, whoever the chances have fallen to on Sunday, we haven’t taken them. I’m not downbeat by the performance and I thought the players showed real belief in who we are and who we want to be in the future. I’m sure I’ll be feeling a little bit better and more positive than I was right at the end on Sunday.”
Who do Hearts want to be in future, exactly? Under Critchley, a team with attacking intent, lots of possession and a clinical edge. They enjoyed plenty of the first two against Rangers thanks to the 4-4-2 diamond, which was a slight variation on Critchley’s traditional 4-4-2 preference.
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