2007–08 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season
2007–08 season | |
---|---|
File:Heartslogo.png | |
Chairman | ![]() |
Manager | ![]() ![]() |
Stadium | Tynecastle Stadium |
Scottish Premier League | 8th |
Scottish Cup | Round 4 Replay |
League Cup | Semi Final |
Top goalscorer | League: ![]() All: ![]() |
Highest home attendance | 17,131 v Hibs SPL 19 January 2008 |
Lowest home attendance | 10,500 v Dunfermline League Cup 25 September 2007 |
The 2007–08 season was the 111th season of competitive football by Heart of Midlothian, and their 25th consecutive season in the top level of Scottish football, competing in the Scottish Premier League. Hearts will also compete in the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup.
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation[a] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | Hibernian | 38 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 49 | 45 | +4 | 52 | Qualification for the Intertoto Cup second round[b] |
7 | Falkirk | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 45 | 49 | −4 | 49 | |
8 | Heart of Midlothian | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 47 | 55 | −8 | 48 | |
9 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 38 | 13 | 4 | 21 | 51 | 62 | −11 | 43 | |
10 | St Mirren | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 26 | 54 | −28 | 41 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
- ^ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches.
- ^ Hibernian qualified for the Intertoto Cup as the highest ranked club to apply for a place in the competition.
Matches
Pre season
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.
7 July 2007 Friendly | Austria Wien | 1–2 | Hearts | FRANZ HORR STADION |
Metz ![]() |
Schiemer ![]() Troyansky ![]() |
Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Fritz Stuchlik |
13 July 2007 Friendly | BV Cloppenburg | 2–1 | Hearts | Stadion an der Friesoyther Strasse |
Breiremeiter ![]() Balke ![]() |
Kostadinov ![]() |
Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Jochen Zdebel |
14 July 2007 Friendly | Rot-Weiss Essen | 1–1 | Hearts | Georg-Melches-Stadion |
Klinger ![]() |
Pospisil ![]() |
Attendance: 2,800 Referee: Guido Winkmann |
20 July 2007 Friendly | Heracles Almelo | 1–5 | Hearts | Coesfeld |
Marnix Smit ![]() |
Ivascevicius ![]() Makela ![]() Stewart ![]() Jonsson ![]() |
Attendance: 200 Referee: Detlef Scheppe |
21 July 2007 Friendly | Moroka Swallows F.C. | 1–0 | Hearts | |
Tsutsulupa ![]() |
Attendance: 500 |
24 July 2007 Friendly | Hearts | 1–3 | Barcelona | Murrayfield Stadium |
Makela ![]() |
Ronaldinho ![]() Santos ![]() |
Attendance: 57,857 Referee: Dougie McDonald |
Scottish Premier League
6 August 2007 SPL | Hearts | 0–1 | Hibs | Tynecastle |
Kerr ![]() |
Attendance: 16,436 Referee: Stuart Dougal |
12 August 2007 SPL | Aberdeen | 1–1 | Hearts | Pittodrie Stadium |
Nicholson ![]() |
BBC SPORT | Stewart ![]() |
Attendance: 13,134 Referee: Brines |
18 August 2007 SPL | Hearts | 1–1 | Gretna | Tynecastle |
Driver ![]() |
Barr ![]() |
Attendance: 16,407 Referee: Dougie McDonald |
25 August 2007 SPL | Celtic | 5–0 | Hearts | Celtic Park |
Berra ![]() Donati ![]() Brown ![]() Hesselink ![]() Nakamura ![]() |
Attendance: 57,300 Referee: Brines |
3 September 2007 SPL | Motherwell | 0–2 | Hearts | Fir Park |
Kingston ![]() Velicka ![]() |
Attendance: 5,081 Referee: Charlie Richmond |
15 September 2007 SPL | Hearts | 4–2 | Rangers | Tynecastle |
Driver ![]() Tall ![]() Stewart ![]() Ivaskevicius ![]() |
Cousin ![]() Beasley ![]() |
Attendance: 15,948 Referee: Mike McCurry |
22 September 2007 SPL | Inverness | 2–1 | Hearts | Caledonian Stadium |
Wyness ![]() Brewster ![]() |
Black ![]() |
Attendance: 4,918 Referee: Mike Tumilty |
30 September 2007 SPL | St Mirren | 1–3 | Hearts | Love Street |
Driver ![]() |
Driver ![]() Stewart ![]() Velicka ![]() |
Attendance: 4,233 Referee: John Underhill |
6 October 2007 SPL | Hearts | 4–2 | Falkirk | Tynecastle Stadium |
Ksanavicius ![]() Zaliukas ![]() Velicka ![]() Nade ![]() |
Barrett ![]() Moutinho ![]() |
Attendance: 15,855 Referee: Stuart Dougal |
20 October 2007 SPL | Hearts | 1–3 | Dundee United | Tynecastle Stadium |
Kingston ![]() |
Robertson ![]() Robson ![]() |
Attendance: 16,436 Referee: Craig Thomson |
27 October 2007 SPL | Kilmarnock | 3–1 | Hearts | Rugby Park |
Wales ![]() Nish ![]() Gibson ![]() |
Tall ![]() |
Attendance: 6,373 Referee: Willie Collum |
4 November 2007 SPL | Hibs | 1–1 | Hearts | Easter Road |
Berra ![]() |
Nade ![]() |
Attendance: 17,015 Referee: Charlie Richmond |
11 November 2007 SPL | Hearts | 4–1 | Aberdeen | Tynecastle Stadium |
Driver ![]() Velicka ![]() Tall ![]() Nade ![]() |
Visscher ![]() |
Attendance: 17,122 Referee: Iain Brines |
24 November 2007 SPL | Gretna | 1–1 | Hearts | Raydale Park |
kingston ![]() |
kingston ![]() |
Attendance: 1,544 Referee: Mike Tumilty |
1 December 2007 SPL | Hearts | 1–1 | Celtic | Tynecastle Stadium |
Velicka ![]() |
Mcdonald ![]() |
Attendance: 16,454 Referee: Kenny Clark |
8 December 2007 SPL | Hearts | 1–2 | Motherwell | Tynecastle Stadium |
Driver ![]() |
Porter ![]() Zaliukas ![]() |
Attendance: 16,633 Referee: Craig Thomson |
15 December 2007 SPL | Rangers | 2–1 | Hearts | Ibrox |
Mcculloch ![]() |
Velicka ![]() |
Attendance: 48,392 Referee: Dougie McDonald |
22 December 2007 SPL | Hearts | 2–3 | Inverness | Tynecastle Stadium |
Berra ![]() Velicka ![]() |
Duncan ![]() Rankin ![]() Bayne ![]() |
Attendance: 16,202 Referee: Willie Collum |
26 December 2007 SPL | Hearts | 0–1 | St Mirren | Tynecastle Stadium |
Mcginn ![]() |
Attendance: 16,476 Referee: Iain Brines |
29 December 2007 SPL | Falkirk | 2–1 | Hearts | Falkirk Stadium |
Finnigan ![]() Higdon ![]() |
Palazuelos ![]() |
Attendance: 6,614 Referee: Kenny Clark |
2 January 2008 SPL | Dundee United | 4–1 | Hearts | Tannadice |
Robson ![]() Hunt ![]() |
Berra ![]() |
Attendance: 7,507 Referee: Alan Freeland |
5 January 2008 SPL | Hearts | 1–1 | Kilmarnock | Tynecastle Stadium |
Velicka ![]() |
Giacomo ![]() |
Attendance: 14,346 Referee: John Underhill |
19 January 2008 SPL | Hearts | 1–0 | Hibs | Tynecastle Stadium |
Velicka ![]() |
Attendance: 17,131 Referee: Kenny Clark |
9 February 2008 SPL | Hearts | 2–0 | Gretna | Tynecastle Stadium |
Velicka ![]() |
Attendance: 16,139 Referee: Charlie Richmond |
16 February 2008 SPL | Celtic | 3–0 | Hearts | Celtic Park |
Hesselink ![]() Mcdonald ![]() Hinkel ![]() |
Attendance: 56,738 Referee: Dougie McDonald |
23 February 2008 SPL | Motherwell | 0–1 | Hearts | Fir Park |
Craigan ![]() |
Attendance: 5,925 Referee: Craig Thomson |
27 February 2008 SPL | Hearts | 0–4 | Rangers | Tynecastle Stadium |
Darchecille ![]() Novo ![]() |
Attendance: 16,173 Referee: Stuart Dougal |
1 March 2008 SPL | Inverness | 0–3 | Hearts | Caledonian Stadium |
Karipidis ![]() Elliot ![]() |
Attendance: 4,489 Referee: Alan Freeland |
15 March 2008 SPL | St Mirren | 1–1 | Hearts | Love Street |
Hamilton ![]() |
Mikoliunas ![]() |
Attendance: 4,557 Referee: Willie Collum |
22 March 2008 SPL | Hearts | 0–0 | Falkirk | Tynecastle Stadium |
Attendance: 16,682 Referee: Charlie Richmond |
29 March 2008 SPL | Hearts | 1–0 | Dundee United | Tynecastle Stadium |
Kingston ![]() |
Attendance: 16,871 Referee: Eddie Smith |
5 April 2008 SPL | Kilmarnock | 0–0 | Hearts | Rugby Park |
Attendance: 5,901 Referee: Craig Thomson |
19 April 2008 SPL | Hearts | 3–2 | St Mirren | Tynecastle Stadium |
Johnson ![]() Glen ![]() Kingston ![]() |
McCay ![]() Mason ![]() |
Attendance: 15,259 Referee: Mike McCurry |
26 April 2008 SPL | Hearts | 1–0 | Inverness | Tynecastle Stadium |
Glen ![]() |
Attendance: 15,423 Referee: Dougie McDonald |
5 May 2008 SPL | Falkirk | 2–1 | Hearts | Falkirk Stadium |
Scobbie ![]() Finnigan ![]() |
Cesnauskis ![]() |
Attendance: 4,638 Referee: Craig Thomson |
10 May 2008 SPL | Hearts | 0–2 | Kilmarnock | Tynecastle Stadium |
Murray ![]() Giacomo ![]() |
Attendance: 10,512 Referee: Mike Tumilty |
13 May 2008 SPL | Gretna | 1–0 | Hearts | Raydale Park |
Skelton ![]() |
Attendance: 1,090 Referee: John Underhill |
Scottish Cup
12 January 2008 Scottish Cup Round 4 | Hearts | 2–2 | Motherwell | Tynecastle |
Česnauskis ![]() Velička ![]() |
BBC Sport | Porter ![]() |
Attendance: 13,651 Referee: Stuart Dougal |
22 January 2008 Scottish Cup Round 4 Replay | Motherwell | 1–0 | Hearts | Fir Park |
McCormack ![]() |
Attendance: 8,300 Referee: Stuart Dougal |
Scottish League Cup
28 August 2007 League Cup Round 2 | Stirling | 0–2 | Hearts | Forthbank Stadium |
BBC SPORT | Laurie Ellis ![]() Kingston ![]() |
Attendance: 2,059 Referee: J Underhill |
25 September 2007 League Cup Round 3 | Hearts | 4–1 | Dunfermline | Tynecastle Stadium |
Nade ![]() Berra ![]() Elliot ![]() |
BBC SPORT | Simmons ![]() |
Attendance: 10,500 Referee: Brian Winter |
31 October 2007 League Cup QF | Celtic | 0–2 | Hearts | Celtic Park |
BBC SPORT | Velička ![]() |
Attendance: 21,492 Referee: Kenny Clark |
30 January 2008 League Cup SF | Rangers | 2–0 | Hearts | Hampden Park |
BBC SPORT | Ferguson ![]() Darcheville ![]() |
Attendance: 31,989 Referee: Stuart Dougal |
Transfers & loans
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.
Managers
Just prior to the season's commencement Anatoly Korobochka and Stephen Frail were confirmed as the club's permanent coaching team.[1]
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.[2]
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.
Season
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.[3] 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.
See also
References
- ^ "Korobochka and Frail are Hearts coaching duo". Edinburgh Evening News. 30 July 2007.
- ^ "Frail slams communication issues". BBC Sport. 18 August 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
- ^ "Hearts launch formal search for traditional manager". The Scotsman. 18 August 2007.