Naismith on Hearts AGM criticism, 3 injured, contract offers

The Hearts head coach spoke about the reaction to the defeat at Aberdeen, the team's style of play which came in for criticism at the AGM, the injury situation, Lawrence Shankland's contract and more. Here is everything he had to say...

READ MORE: What Steven Naismith said on Lawrence Shankland Hearts contract talks

Have you seen a reaction after last week?

It's not as straightforward as a big reaction because of that. It was a tougher meeting on Monday than it had been after the previous four. It was the manner of how we did it. The general consensus in the meeting was that everybody understood that part wasn't good enough. We weren't tactically outdone, it was first contact, second contact, 50-50 balls and poor defending that cost us. Earlier in the season, when we've had setbacks we have managed a reaction so I'll be hoping for one on Saturday.

What did you make of the criticism of the team's style of play at AGM?

It's always going to be there. Being involved with the club, you are always going to feel it, but it's an opinion. At times, yes, I would say the football hasn't been the way we wanted it to be, but at other times it has been. From when I started as a player to now, the club has moved and the dynamic of the league has moved so much. The need to survive has changed so teams come to Tynie and you can't play waving attacking football if they have 10 men behind the ball on their own 18-yard box. Our last two home games have been like that so you need to win them a different way. Is it as entertaining as going end-to-end and having chance after chance? No, but teams are setting up that way to stop you, so you need to deal with that first. I experienced it as a player at some big clubs. For 90 minutes, it's not end-to-end. I'm pretty certain that, earlier in the season, there was some good entertaining football. Then the squad dynamic changes, which probably changes the formation, which has probably held us back in the respect of bodies in attack. We are asking more of our wing-backs to get forward and at times that hasn't happened, which leaves you less bodies in attack. We want to play it [more attacking football], at times we have played it, and other times we haven't.

Does the fans' language effect you?

Fans are passionate. They are going to use words and feelings that they feel. For me, you need a clear mind and a level head and understand it. I've been in all these situations as a player and as a coach at times when you're not winning games. The last thing you can do is start getting emotional and reactive. That goes against what you really believe in, which won't have any long-term success for me.

Goals conceded last week...

It will be slightly different. I don’t imagine Celtic will be quite as direct. So what you’re trying to defend is different to last week. We work on it a lot during the week. There’s going to be times you don’t have the ball and it’s more about your positioning than your actual defending. Then in the moments you can go and win the ball you need to go at it and not be tentative. That’s where we can’t show any nervousness or negativity when it’s time to press we press and we have to be committed 100 per cent. That gives you the best opportunity especially when you’re playing away to the Old Firm.

READ MORE: Tale of two Hearts AGMs: Board left with no doubt over fan view and climate communism

Were you happy with the press last week?

The second balls, 50/50s weren’t good enough last week. But that’s one area. You don’t go out on the training pitch and one session changes that. You’re probably getting a bigger reaction watching the opportunities back and what the players can do differently. At times this season we have pressed really well. It’s more an understanding of the boys physically being able to do it.

What is the injury situation?

Very much the same as last week. [Alex] Lowry has a small issue in his back which between Hearts and Rangers we are trying to get to the bottom of. At the moment he has come out more precautionary until we find out the full extent of it. Everything else will be much of a muchness. [Liam] Boycey was out on the pitch today but it’s a muscle injury so we don’t want to risk it. [Calem] Nieuwenhof will be out this week. Potential next week he is getting a cast made and it’s more about how comfortable he can be in the session with protection on his hand. Next week we will wait and see. 

READ MORE: Could Aidan Denholm be set for Hearts opportunity at Celtic Park? Predicted line-ups

Is Atkinson over his illness?

Yeah. He has trained the rest of the week. He was back at the start of the week so he has had a normal week.

Can you add anything to what Andrew McKinlay said about Lawrence Shankland's contract situation?

Not really. There’s been a lot of noise, the club’s stance is very clear and it’s the stance of a club that’s trying to be progressive and wants to be successful. As a club and as you’ve seen with some signings and hopefully others in the near future, the club are trying to grow and by doing that you need to try and keep your best players. It would be silly not to offer new contracts to the guys you feel are valuable and can play a part in the long term future of the club.

How confident are you of getting the three others offered contracts over the line?

The conversations I’ve had with all the players we want to keep have been good. They understand what they’ve got but I know football, it’s a business where there’s loads of factors to it. For a player they will take the time they need and for a club if that takes too long you need to think about moving on and looking at other things. If not they sign and you move forward.