Naismith Q&A: Hibs approach, Lowry talks, Shankland surprise

The Hearts head coach discussed the match against Hibs and what he expects. He also answered questions on Lawrence Shankland, Alex Lowry and provided a fitness update.

It is going to be a proper derby tomorrow, horrendous weather and everything that goes with it...

Who knows what the weather is going to be? It may be a yellow warning now but tomorrow it could be sunny. It will be (a proper derby). I think in the last couple of weeks both clubs have done well in their games, gone through in the cup. So there’s loads of optimism around the game. Both teams will go into it fancying their chances. It all bodes well for a good derby. We'll be confident. The pleasing thing for me is we’ve experienced a lot of derbies in terms of the squad. It’s one we’re looking forward to.

Is that an advantage?

That experience helps you make better decisions within the moment and gives you an understanding of the environment. That’s a big part of derbies, understanding the environment, not getting too caught up in emotion. You need that passion and you need the fight going into every game. That's something we consistently talk about for every game. The more experience you have of these games it becomes slightly easier to deal with the occasion, I believe.

READ MORE: Hearts v Hibs: How to prepare for an Edinburgh derby

It will be quite a refreshing change from going up against teams which sit in to going up against a team that are likely to be more attacking?

I think it will be an entertaining game because both teams want to attack. Hibs are definitely a different team to what they were under the previous manager. They have a different style, they try to attack, they get bodies forward. We’re very similar in that that’s what we want to do. So yeah, it bodes well for a good derby. It’s a different challenge. For me as a coach that’s the bit I like the best. The back to back games are different, the challenge is different. How you get control is different. On top of that you add in it’s a derby and the surroundings. That, as a player, is something you need to deal with as well. We’re confident and looking forward to it.

Does their attack threat mean a tweak to the style or is it a case of continuing to play the same way no matter the opponent?

Since I have retired and gone into coaching, you can’t compromise when we have the ball. We’re in control and we do what we want. Out of possession is different for every game because when they have the ball if you do things the same way it’s not going to work all the time. We’ll not change what we do, we just need to make sure we’re good at it. There are certain moments and things in games you need to watch out for, they obviously have pace going forward, that’s one of their strengths. It’s about minimising that risk of them using that but when we have got the ball our decision making can impact that as well. Because if we have the ball for good spells they’ll need to change and adapt how they try and press us or how they are going to get the ball back. I’m really excited because it should be an open game.

Is winning the battle first still particularly relevant in derby games?

What the emotion and crowd do is up the levels of that buzz to get going. You can’t go too far but in every game in Scotland in the first 10 minutes I imagine the ball turns over double probably what it does for the rest of the game. That’s just because it’s that direct play and people are finding their feet and nobody is taking risks. So there is an element of that but for me, if you’re good enough to take a touch and find a good pass rather than playing safe, that’s more valuable to us than not taking a risk and pumping it forward. So it will be key at the start of the game. It's like that for every game. And the edginess of a derby, the player needs to be brave, they need to do their job and have a calmness in their decision making. That’s inevitably what gets you the matchwinners in the derbies.

As a player did you enjoy derbies more than regular games and as a manager do you get a chance to enjoy them from the sidelines?

Derbies as a player you definitely feel there’s a wee bit more to it, you’d put it on a par with a semi-final or getting into a final. As a manager it is different because you work a certain way every day that you’re not so drawn into a specific game. So I would say I feel much calmer going into derbies, and every game in general as a coach, than I was as a player.

Do you get as much enjoyment out of that?

I have heard a million managers say 'there is nothing like playing' and there isn't. You don't get as much enjoyment out of being on the sidelines because you can affect it to a point but you’re not directly affecting it, that’s the thing you crave as a player.”

Do you subscribe to the notion that players should treat derbies like any other game or should players harness the emotion of the game and the crowd?

Partly it is like every other game because we can't get too high and at the end of the day it is three points. That's the biggest thing it is. But you can use the emotion and adrenaline and the build for the game to your advantage. As a player I thrived on that, I enjoyed it and it got me going. I think it is about coaching, over a period of time, your players who are dealing with this for the first time, that this is normal, don't be afraid of this. Inevitably in these big games it's who has the calmness more that comes out best, who plays better, who are the better players. If you go on the other side of that and you're nervous, second guessing yourself, inevitably you are going to make a mistake or play poorly and the other team will get the points.

The number of Aussies involved, they'll be looking for the bragging rights between each other?

You could probably find a lot, even some of the Scottish players involved might have mates that play. Guys playing their first derby who want to make an impact. There are loads of wee duels you could look up. But for us we're on three out of four wins, you want to build that. Winning builds that and then you go into an international break which you will inevitably enjoy more if you win.

READ MORE: Hibs are the perfect opponent for Shankland to break Hearts drought

Have you spoken with Lawrence Shankland after his recent goal drought and used your experience of such situations?

We chat regularly. It is something we are quite big on with all the players. There are loads of factors. Especially for a goal scorer it is emphasised more because it is the best thing to do in a game. Shanks is a proven goal scorer. He has had these situations where he's maybe not scoring but for me he brings so much more. I think his all-round play as a forward since he came here has gone up. He's now looking like an experienced leader. One thing I was surprised by was his leadership skills. I first met Shanks when I was in the Scottish squad playing and so was he. Naturally he is going to be really quiet but my perception of him was that he was just a forward, loves scoring goals. But his game intelligence and leadership skills are really good. I think getting the captaincy has helped him massively in that respect. But he brings so much more. Yes, there have been times he's not been at his level. Again, because his level is so high it gets emphasised. Shanks is a goal scorer so if we are not providing opportunities for him he's going to suffer. I've got no concerns with him not scoring goals. I think by the end of the season he will have another good season of scoring goals. The way we play, when we get in our stride suits him.

If there is any disappointment of him being left out of the Scotland squad, is this the ideal game to bounce back?

I spoke to Steve about Shanks and having the relationship with him and understanding of what he wants. Shanks not being in the Scotland squad, circumstances mean he's not at where he was last season. Is it worth him going away for a week and a half, training sometimes, travelling, not playing and wasting time. The gaffer knows him, the gaffer trusts him. All round the best decision is that he stays. If Scotland need him he can definitely turn up and play his part. But he's not really had a big break. He was away in the summer came back in and because he was a leader he wanted to come back in and be involved through pre-season. He was away last month. There is so much going on with him that the rest will do him a world of good.

He's started every game but there has been change around him, he's still building relationships?

I think that's the biggest issue for us this season. Our biggest area which has not been like it was for the seven games (of last season) is in possession. I put a lot of that down to different players that have come in, whether it is attackers or our most important defenders they are the ones that have been injured. That connection is the hardest part to get and build and work and to understand. When the ball has to move as quick as it can to get you a chance you need to get the connections, we've not done that enough, we've not had the time. I've got no issues with where Shanks is at. 

READ MORE: Hearts v Hibs: Back 4 or back 3, Grant or Lowry to start?

Based on his recent performances, are you ready to put Alex Lowry into the starting XI?

Alex is somebody we've brought because we think he can contribute. On the flipside of that he is very young. His game time at first-team level has not been a lot and that's partly why he has come in on loan because he wasn't going to get that at Rangers. I've got a good relationship with him in that I can sit and be very honest with him and say that it is the out of possession stuff, the risks you take. There is a certain point he can take a risk because we are set up well and it's worth taking a risk. But there are other moments like against Kilmarnock. He gets all the plaudits but his first action is to try to nutmeg a boy on the half-way line and lose the ball. In that moment the game can flip two ways. They can go and score and he's the villain or it plays out the way it does. We can't stop Alex from doing that but we can help him with the risk and reward. He is still on that journey and I have no doubt this season he will play big parts in games, whether it is from the start or coming on as a sub. He's valuable to us and he's learning and understanding that and that's why in the last couple of games he has had a big impact.

Are there any changes to the squad from Ross County?

Kyosuke Tagawa is back involved, Cammy Devlin is back involved. [Alex] Cochrane is back training.

Could Cochrane be involved against Hibs?

He's trained today [Friday]. We will wait and see and as the day goes on we have our meetings and we see how the data has looked and how he has felt.

READ MORE: What Hearts can expect from Nick Montgomery's Hibs

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