2007–08 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season

Season Overview

Hearts began the season in a disappointing manner being defeated 1-0 in the Edinburgh Derby with Hibernian.

On 31 December 2007, Romanov announced that, following five successive defeats which saw the club fall to 10th (third bottom) place in the league, the club would be looking to appoint a 'British-style' manager who would have complete control over team affairs. Since then, Stephen Frail has been the caretaker manager, although it was not made clear at the time that Frail would be manager until the end of the season.

Hearts were defeated 1–0 in the 4th round replay of the Scottish Cup by Motherwell after a 2–2 draw on 21 January 2008. Rangers defeated them 2–0 in the semi-final of the CIS Cup on 30 January at Hampden Park. Hearts then sold their top scorer, Andrius Velička, to Norwegian side Viking Stavanger on 26 February 2008. A 0–0 draw with Kilmarnock on 5 April 2008 meant that Hearts failed to make the "Top Six" of the SPL, for the first time since the split league format was introduced in 2001.

Results and fixtures

Pre-season / Friendlies

For the second consecutive pre-season Hearts visited Austria, although on this occasion the side also played four tour matches in Germany. Only one pre-season match was played in Edinburgh, a "glamour friendly" against FC Barcelona at Murrayfield Stadium, which attracted Hearts' largest ever attendance for a "home" match.

Troyansky Balke Mäkelä Stewart Jónsson Santos

Scottish Premier League

Main article: 2007–08 Scottish Premier League

Donati Brown Hesselink Nakamura Velička Tall Stewart Ivaškevičius Beasley Brewster Stewart Velička Žaliūkas Velička Nadé Moutinho Robson Nish Gibson Velička Tall
Nadé Žaliūkas Velička Rankin Bayne Higdon Hunt Mcdonald Hinkel Novo Elliot Glen Kingston Mason Finnigan Giacomo

Scottish League Cup

Main article: 2007–08 Scottish League Cup

Kingston Berra Elliot Darcheville

Scottish Cup

Main article: 2007–08 Scottish Cup

Velička

First team player statistics

Squad information

:Last updated 13 May 2008 During the 2007–08 campaign, Hearts used thirty-six players in competitive games. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player.

Team statistics

League table

Management statistics

:Last updated 13 May 2008

Club

Managers

Just prior to the season's commencement Anatoly Korobochka and Stephen Frail were confirmed as the club's permanent coaching team.

After several other discouraging results, the Scottish media began to scrutinise why the team was not matching supporters expectations, with one particular area of interest being the coaching structure. As neither Korobochka or Bulgarian assistant coach Angel Chervenkov spoke fluent English, a translator was required to aid management and team communication, a situation Frail admitted was "frustrating" and "not ideal" after a 1–1 draw with Gretna.

Stephen Frail was appointed manager on 31 December following a difficult start to the season, although it was not made clear at the time that Frail would be manager until the end of the season.

On 22 May 2008 reports came out that caretaker manager Stephen Frail was on his way out of Tynecastle as he was not part of the new managerial structure at Hearts.

Transfers

Several Lithuanian players left the club during the close-season, while two more Audrius Ksanavičius and Ričardas Beniušis arrived on loan from FBK Kaunas. Other summer signings included Rubén Palazuelos from Gimnástica de Torrelavega and Michael Stewart, who returned to the club after two seasons with rivals Hibernian. Scottish international goalkeeper Craig Gordon moved to Sunderland for £9 million in early August. This fee meant that Gordon was the most expensive Hearts and Scottish player ever, and the most expensive goalkeeper in British football history.

Players in

Players out

Loans in

Loans out

References

References

1. (18 August 2007). "Hearts launch formal search for traditional manager". The Scotsman.
2. "Soccerbase Hearts Squad Stats 2007/08".
3. (30 July 2007). "Korobochka and Frail are Hearts coaching duo". [[Edinburgh Evening News]].
4. (18 August 2007). "Frail slams communication issues". BBC Sport.
5. (11 May 2007). "Hearts buy kid keeper from County". [[BBC]].
6. (7 June 2007). "Hearts finalise Kingston transfer". BBC Sport.
7. (27 June 2007). "Pinilla back at Hearts after loan". BBC Sport.
8. (30 June 2007). "Hearts call tempts Stewart back". BBC Sport.
9. (12 July 2007). "Palazuelos pays for Hearts move". BBC Sport.
10. (31 August 2007). "Keeper Basso wins move to Hearts". BBC Sport.
11. "Who's the Nade!". [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.]] official website.
12. (31 January 2008). "Screpis completes Hearts transfer". BBC Sport.
13. (3 July 2007). "Norwich land Brellier from Hearts".
14. (8 August 2007). "Gordon completes Sunderland move". BBC Sport.
15. (13 August 2007). "Soccer's big three announce more deals". Ekathimerini.
16. (14 October 2007). "Hearts opt to cut Beslija loose". BBC Sport.
17. (21 January 2008). "Pospisil moves to Belgian outfit". BBC Sport.
18. (26 February 2008). "Velicka seals Stavanger transfer". BBC Sport.
19. (31 July 2007). "Beni wins loan deal at Hearts". The Scotsman.
20. (5 August 2007). "Mole moves on loan to Palmerston". BBC Sport.
21. (12 August 2007). "McCusker given Stair Park chance". BBC Sport.
22. (15 August 2007). "Beslija vows to return after loan". BBC Sport.
23. (31 August 2007). "Bednar agrees to West Brom loan". BBC Sport.
24. "Hearts youngster signs". Clyde F.C..
25. (2 January 2008). "Templeton moves to Kirkcaldy". BBC Sport.