RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Former Hearts forward Ryan Stevenson was vociferous in his criticism after Hearts crashed out of the Champions League qualifiers following a 6-0 aggregate hammering from Sturm Graz.
Hearts, who just 73 days prior came within minutes of a historic title win at Celtic Park, have lost their talisman, central-midfield enforcer and manager this summer and now lack a connection between players and fans, according to Stevenson.
"Worrying", "freefall" and "rude awakening" were all bandied around in the immediate aftermath of the club's heaviest ever two-legged European defeat as new boss Wouter Vrankcen's tenure got off to a rocky start.
After the departures of Lawrence Shankland, Cammy Devlin and Derek McInnes to Rangers, and a glut of other players leaving, the club have made 11 new additions and looked disjointed in both legs against their Austrian opponents.
"Hearts just look as if it's just a new squad flung in together, with the manager too, trying to find their way," Stevenson said.
"You don't get time in football, it's game after game after game.
"If you don't get results, we all know what Tynecastle is like. It can be electric, but can they deal with the stadium turning? Are they big enough characters to deal with that?
"If they don't play well, I would give it to mid-September, and it would not be nice."
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With only a couple of competitive games under their belt, there was a sense of unease around Tynecastle, where many fans left well before the final whistle.
The defeat was Hearts' first at home in 15 months and supporters can be forgiven for expecting more from a side assembled with the aid of lauded recruitment tool Jamestown Analytics.
Regardless, it is still just two games into the season for a new-look team who will be expecting to compete for domestic honours and still have a chance at Europa League or Conference League football.
"It's early days, but if you look at that squad, you have to be a big character to go out when things aren't going well to demand the ball and drag the team forward," Stevenson added.
"How long does the manager get if they come under pressure? What do Jamestown do? Do they stick their heels in? And then it becomes ugly.
"It's like an absolute freefall, it's totally a new team. There isn't a connection between the team and the fans. Again, it's the first game, so I'm being totally critical, but the signs for me just now are worrying."
With no competitive warm-ups before their Champions League journey began, Vrancken insists his players weren't ready.
However, in the first leg, nine of the starters were at the club last season. And in Tuesday night's second leg, eight starting players remained from last season.
They looked like strangers at times, particularly in the final third and when high balls were launched into their box.
"Physically, yes," Vrancken said when asked if these games came too soon.
"When you see both games again, what we did with the ball was really good until the moment that you physically cannot bring it any more and that made it difficult.
"I hope everybody starts scoring. It doesn't matter who, as long as the goals come.
"It comes together with physical preparation too, then you make the better decisions, and in the final moments you're there to finish it. I cannot blame the players in intentions and how they did it at all.
"It's not about quality. When you play against Sturm Graz who are experienced in Europe, and you play like that in the first half in both games, then it's not about lacking quality, it's more about we have to make some steps physically."
Hearts' Scottish Premiership duties start on Saturday evening with a tricky trip to Aberdeen, where they have a dismal record, losing 10 of their past 11 league visits.
Their title bid last year garnered worldwide acclaim, but building on that benchmark is a tough ask.
Setting the tone for the season ahead, particularly after such a lacklustre start, is vital, with a performance now just as important as the result.
"It will be an eye-opener for the new players against Aberdeen at Pittodrie," Stevenson said.
"They will be in their faces. It will be a rude awakening. I don't think the fans will accept finishing below third, and I don't know if that Hearts team would finish third.
"I am genuinely worried about Saturday. If you are Aberdeen, you're going to play it off the full-backs, get at them through the middle, and they will steamroll Hearts. They look so weak."
Vrancken, though, struck a more optimistic tone in the face of early turmoil.
"We have to go step by step again, but we can't wait until we're physically top to start getting results," the Belgian said.
"We have to take the results and go into games like we did today, but hopefully finish it."
Scott: We can't defend and we can't score. Players are surely needing time to adjust to the new style of play. It could be a long season ahead but we cannot expect 10 new players to assimilate immediately. We cannot lose a manager and our main striker and expect to carry on from where last season left off. It's hard but we need to face reality.
Ian: Oh dear! The head coach thought we controlled the first half. That worries me if he truly believes that. Third place is the least I expected this season, but, albeit only after two competitive games, we'll get nowhere near that. Poor defensively, overrun in midfield and no goal threat up front is a recipe for disaster.
Chris: The manager has only been in place for a few weeks, but I am already concerned with what I've seen. He said after the game there was a lot of intensity and an energy to score goals, I have to disagree. We looked flustered, disorganised, can't defend and can't score. I'm convinced that we will start the domestic campaign with a defeat if we continue to play in this manner.
Calum: Vrancken's been dealt a bad hand with litt...
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