The Reasons Hearts' Landmark Title Tilt Isn't as a Surprise.
HEARTS ON FIRE
Maybe the only surprising aspect of Heart of Midlothian's triumph over Celtic in the Scottish Premiership was just how surprised observers seemed when news of the result and its impact for the summit of the table circulated. Although this 3-1 win at Tynecastle, which puts the Jambos leading of the table and eight points ahead of their rivals, was seismic in nature, no one who has been following the fortunes of either team this season will have been even remotely shocked by the result.
Over the last 40 seasons, the dominance of two Glasgow clubs of Celtic and Rangers have carved up the Scottish football between them, reducing the beautiful game to something of a joke in the meantime. Nine games into the present season it has become apparent that Heart of Midlothian – who count Stephen Hendry, Sir Chris Hoy and renowned actor among their celebrity fans – could be prepared to make their move while the Old Firm influence is at its weakest.
THE CHAMPIONS' SLUMP
While much of the attention in the Scottish game has been on the absolute bin-fire being endured by the Ibrox club, the full-spectrum nightmare of the situation at Ibrox has meant that Celtic's slightly less terminal decay has been allowed to fester below the radar. The defending title winners have already lost a considerable number from their opening nine league games this term under Brendan Rodgers. The team's boss has acquired the distant look of a man who can't stop consulting his schedule to find out how many time are remaining until his deal ends, and awoke this day to learn the number is over two hundred.
"I've never worked harder in my entire tenure at the club," he informed the media following the defeat, after they had questioned his appetite for any kind of a championship battle. "Therefore the drive is present to attempt to reverse the levels that we're at. It's absolutely fine, there is plenty of time."
NEW CHALLENGER
Given the dreadful beginning to the season being endured by Rangers, the Celtic boss and his players could typically be expected to get away with their own failure to roar out of the traps, but this year an capital city challenger has joined the fray. In spite of being forced to operate 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 a renowned businessman to the Scottish Premiership mix. In addition to putting in ten million pounds during the off-season, the Brighton owner has granted Hearts exclusive use of his top secret data-driven proprietary scouting recruitment tool.
In Oisin McEntee, a Greek talent and a Brazilian prospect it has enabled them to discover hidden talents from an English lower-league side, the Slovak first division 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 club colours, the famously shrewd sports betting expert could be observed cheering each goal with the gusto of a man who had likely realized the oddsmakers had greatly misjudged his side's chances of defeating the struggling title holders, and placed large bets accordingly.
MANAGER'S REACTION
"In my opinion it's a message-sending victory," said bearded team manager the head coach after his side's latest victory, their eighth in nine league matches. "Perhaps it is for those on the outside looking in. It could alter opinions. It may confirm opinions that there's a tightrope. But let's not kid ourselves, we are delighted with what the lads have provided us. In terms of skill, we look in a good place, and certainly physically we seem in a excellent shape, so we hope it persists. Of course, this is not a situation that the team is used to being in." Correct, the manager, it isn't. But the glorious, data-driven truth is that for the first time in many years, Scottish football might actually have a title race that somebody other than Celtic or Rangers can claim.
