As an attacking power, Heart of Midlothian’s numbers speak for themselves.
This season, two players have directly contributed to almost one-third of the team’s goals. More than 25% of the team’s open-play opportunities in the Scottish Premiership have been set up by those two individuals. It only gets worse when you include set pieces.
Of course, those are James Penrice and Blair Spittal. The left side is the Hearts.
Their collaboration and its development have been delightful to observe. Both organic and natural development have contributed to its development.
It is both spontaneous and well-thought-out. The most recent 6-0 victory over Dundee demonstrated that. Spittal released the overlapping Penrice down the left with one of the season’s best deep throws. In another instance, Spittal found his teammate moving forward after making a pass through the legs of an opponent.
The two have a keen awareness of each other’s actions. It can be catastrophic at times and is psychic.
Neil Critchley said, “It’s been very easy really,” during a recent Hearts Standard live event for subscribers. The fact that Spitz is right-footed, Penners is athletic, and Spitz wants to play inside the game creates a wonderful combination that we must attempt to replicate on the opposing side. It’s not like we practice it a lot.
The supporters have been talking about the team’s unbalanced offense this season, and as Critchley said, he and his coaching staff will try to figure out the mystery. It might be a relationship rather than a duplicate, but it can provide the team a different perspective.
According to Critchley, they “haven’t quite found it in periods of games or from game to game.”
No one has taken over the right flank position as Spittal has on the left, despite there being rotation at right-back, specifically between Adam Forrester and Daniel Oyegoke, who is now gone.
Although Alan Forrest, Yan Dhanda, Jorge Grant, and Kenneth Vargas have all played there, Musa Drammeh has been the team’s favorite in recent weeks.
And now for Sander Kartum.
The Norwegian was an important contribution for several reasons. His ability to attack, his adaptability, and the fact that he is left-footed, which sets him apart from all other wide attacking alternatives.
“He was playing at Brann and he was playing in a three-man midfield but on the right and he’s left-footed and he’s good going forward,” said Critchley.
“He can pass forward and search forward; he is technically proficient. Therefore, seek for strikers who can cross into the box. He is left-footed, and Penners is the only left-footed player we have.”
Critchley was prompted to explain why he likes the way his wide men play. He argues that Hearts should be an offensive team that strives to advance and play on the front foot.
The head coach of Hearts stated that in order to play as a typical winger, one must have “blistering” speed in order to take on opponents down the flank and reach the byline. Thus, there is a rationale for the inverted winger tendency.
As Spittal, who he called “an inside midfield player,” did for Penrice, a wide player playing infield not only frees up the flank for the full-back, but it also makes it simpler for the wide man to play forward with his better foot.
In contrast, a right-footed player entering from the right is more likely to go backward or make a sideways pass.
Critchley stated what he wants: “Pass forwards, get the ball in the box, pass into the strikers, or can you play a through ball or can you cross it.” “We must play the opposite side if he has a right foot because he will play square across the field or back to the center-backs.
