Hearts – specifically, Robbie Neilson and Joe Savage – are building towards making a major challenge to Celtic and Rangers.
To do this, they are having to find affordable gems in the permanent transfer and player loan markets, searching the world, not just the UK.
Take Atkinson himself. A young but proven player from Australia. He was affordable within Hearts modest budget. He has the potential to grow with the club, as Hearts work towards making that serious assault on the Premiership “crown”.
However, as he himself notes, Nathan will need to adapt to the pace and physical challenges of Scottish football. He has talent – but he needs to battle to earn the right to strut his stuff.
It will not be easy – but by next season he should be fully prepared.
There are several players in the same position as Atkinson, needing to adapt and improve.
The good news is that Hearts now have a high quality squad, with potential. That squad will be added to during the summer.
The challenge to Celtic and Rangers WILL come, which, considering their massive financial advantage, is remarkable in itself.
The path has been a little less rocky this season – but there has been the odd setback.
Last Sundays defeat at Ibrox has been the biggest so far.
I think some Hearts supporters felt that Rangers were there for the taking, after their Parkhead set-back – but this was a wounded Rangers, with three key players back for their first 90 minutes in weeks. Including the troubled but iconic Morelos.
On top of that, Hearts had three key defenders missing.
I thought Hearts battled as they needed to in the first half. Robbie put out an energetic team and, though Rangers had a couple of excellent chances, Hearts limited them to a one goal lead.
Hearts then came out for the second half and dominated possession, as well as making at least three excellent chances.
The Ibrox crowd were getting restive and a goal for Hearts in this period would have changed the whole direction of the match.
But the goal didn’t come and then, after 65 minutes, a defensive lapse plus a wonderful Morelos finish effectively put the match out of Hearts reach.
To be honest, some heads then went down a little, in the disappointment of the moment – and three more goals were conceded.
I watched the match from start to finish, so I shared the pain of that last 25 minutes with all my fellow Hearts supporters.
As it unfolded, it was hard to bear.
But it was a 25 minute lapse in an otherwise largely excellent season. The players thought they had a good chance of getting something from the match and the disappointment of the second goal induced a very poor performance for those sad 25 minutes.
However, that’s done with now. Hearts management and players will already have regrouped and readied themselves for the next challenge – tonight against Dundee.
I am sure both players and supporters will get their heads up, to ensure Hearts immediately return to winning ways.
3rd in the Premiership and European football is well within Hearts grasp. The Scottish Cup is also a realistic target.
And then the Summer, more building and a huge challenge to the Old Firm next season.
Now is the time to BELIEVE, even when the setbacks along the way are particularly hard to take.
Robbie and Joe are winners. They can deliver what Scotland so desperately needs – NEW CHAMPIONS.
37 seasons of only Celtic or Rangers winning the Premiership cannot be allowed to reach 40.
That’s the challenge for the Hearts duo.
AND THE INCREDIBLY LOYAL HEARTS SUPPORT WILL BE WITH THEM ALL THE WAY.
Time for Change?
NOW.
— Read on http://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/nathaniel-atkinsons-eyes-opened-rangers-23022111.amp
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