Give us a break… Michael Smith says winter shutdown will aid Hearts fightback

Michael Smith says the winter break can’t come fast enough for struggling Hearts.

The Edinburgh side welcome Aberdeen to Tynecastle this afternoon where they will be desperate to try to end what has been a dismal run of five straight defeats.

Supporters, furious about performances that have taken the club to the foot of the Premiership, howled their displeasure at the end of the most recent, the Boxing Day loss to Hibs.

“Week in, week out, it is tough for us just now,” said Smith.

“We are conceding really poor goals and we are not scoring any goals, so it is a recipe for disaster.

“I understand the fans are upset, I’m upset, we’re all upset.

“At the same time I think they can see we’re working hard on the pitch, so I’d ask them to stick with us.

“As much as we are focusing on Aberdeen, I do believe January can’t come soon enough.

“I am sure by the break we will have identified some players who can come in and help the squad.

“We can get away from things and not think about football for a couple of days, and that will help us.”

More than anything, the 31-year-old argues, it will allow new manager Daniel Stendel (below) the chance to get the Hearts squad accustomed to the type of high pressing football he will demand from his new charges.

“The games have come thick and fast since he’s come in, so getting a couple of weeks on the training pitch will let him set out exactly what we need to do in games,” he said.

“And we will have guys coming back to us.

“Conor Washington is going to be ready and John Souttar is close as well. Hopefully Steven Naismith, too.

If Stendel’s furiously animated turn on the Tynecastle touchline in the derby defeat on Thursday is anything to go by, the process of sorting things out is likely to be anything but dull.

“I hear my name being shouted a few times but I try not to look over in case he’s shouting at me,” said Smith with a laugh.

“That’s the manager’s mentality, he wants everyone to work hard, wants the press and everyone to be alert and energetic.

“For him to do it at the side of the park, it helps us on the pitch.

“Listen, I like his style, I like his persona, he is a good guy and he wants the best for us.

“Come January I’m sure we’ll all be working hard to get ourselves out of this position.”

For high pressing tactics to work, teams have to be disciplined, co-ordinated and, above all, energetic.

From the outside then, the exclusion of 35-year-old Glen Whelan would appear a sign of the direction the new manager wants to take.

“I am not sure about that – I can’t identify any players who think that way,” said the Northern Irishman.

“You are fighting for your place in the squad day in, day out, in training.

“It is intense because everyone wants to play.

“I’m only 31 but I can still get about the pitch. I’m fit and always have been pretty fit.

“I’ve played a few positions to help the squad out and he realises that, so he must think I’m doing an OK job.

“He will bring in some players who will play in his style and there are some players here who like different styles so it will be interesting to see what happens.

“But whatever happens, things do definitely need to change.”