What was the burning issue for Hearts fans after yesterday’s 4-1 home defeat from Celtic?
Was it the ease that their midfield was brushed aside, how simple it was for Celtic to play through the Jambos defence or the failure of their strikers to seriously trouble the Celtic defence and Joe Hart?
All of that points towards the management, or lack of from Steven Naismith but BBC Scotland had a convenient lifeboat for the struggling Hearts boss to cling onto.
Lets focus on the dodgy penalty Celtic got, when Alex Cochrane ran into Kyogo Furuhashi at an angle to send the striker to the ground. A decision given by Bearsden PE teacher Nick Walsh, on VAR duty even Andrew Dallas couldn’t find a way out of the decision.
Regardless of all that logic BBC Scotland opted to highlight the penalty controversy that apparently went in Celtic’s favour. That takes some of the heat off their pal Naisy and puts a spotlight on the officials at future Celtic matches over penalty decisions.
Despite the deflection tactics Hearts fans can see straight through their current manager. When they were squealing for Robbie Neilson to get sacked it wasn’t to be replaced by a second rate clone in the Tynecastle dug-out.
As his demeanour in the video clip shows wee Naisy is a thoroughly underwhelming character, at least Neilson could get a side up for the visit of Celtic and prepared to test the tolerance levels of the match officials.
If Naismith takes the same low key attitude into the matches against Pip Clement over the next two weekends he’ll soon be a regular with the BBC, competing with his pals Kenny Miller, Lee McCulloch, Richard Foster and Neil McCann for a seat with big Thommo on Sportscene.
🗣️ “VAR is supposed to eradicate these decisions.”
Steven Naismith says Celtic striker Kyogo was “clever” in earning a penalty against Hearts, as they went down 4-1 at home. pic.twitter.com/cF66ddZt9I
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) October 22, 2023
Is he blind or just stupid?
— Andy P (@DroooPeacock) October 22, 2023
Hilarious that BBC focus on an event that had absolutely no effect on the outcome of the game whatsoever. Garbage journalism from a spent force.
— B (@BrianMcVeigh7) October 22, 2023
He’ll soon be a regular on Sportscene 🫣
— Joe Le Taxi (@JLwalrus67) October 23, 2023
He’s gone by December 👋
— 💚☘️ (@bhoy__88) October 22, 2023
What difference does it make? He missed it and we still scudded 4 goals into yous
— Crackerman (@mostlyceltic81) October 22, 2023
Was there contact🤔 yes! & plenty of it into his knee…
He’s not been clever, your player has been stupid🍀
— TheHoops🍀🏴🇮🇹 (@67_Celtic_1888) October 23, 2023
Why waste time? Ask him about his tactics. Ask him what he said to ‘turn’ things around in the second half. Ask him what he thinks the aggregate score will be in the next 2 rangers’ games. Ask him where he thinks Hearts will finish this season.
— Jack Maguire (@JackDMagi) October 22, 2023
Has he forgotten about this one .🍀👍 pic.twitter.com/gIvrN5CfNG
— 🍀Penecelt 🇻🇦 (@penecelt) October 22, 2023
Perhaps he could explain why his side put up perhaps the weakest, disjointed, uninspired performance that I’ve ever seen from a home side at Tynecastle?
Hearts fans let him know what they thought of that show at both half time & full time.
Fortress Gorgie?
Aye right— Wladek Wolanski (@Spartackle) October 23, 2023
Naismith made a career out of that
— Frankincense (@DonegalBall) October 22, 2023
The most unlikely manager I can ever remember.
Imagine him trying to motivate you ?
Be as well just staying in the house if he was your manager.
Which is probably where hearts wish they stayed today.
😂😂😂— 🤘R4tser ラット 🐈⬛ (@R4tser) October 22, 2023
Some statement from one of the worst divers for years! In fact…. Didn’t he get sent off in a Glasgow derby for it! 😂😂😂
— Wes Murdiff (@wesolingo) October 22, 2023
Jeezy peeps man.
A player who’s career was based around his diving is complaining about a player being “clever” 🙈. 😂
— Soup Campbell (@Iansdiscos) October 23, 2023