It’s been a while since I have blogged about Hearts, in the meantime, we have basically gone bust, been relegated, and started all over again.
For those of you not used to the world of soccer/football, the team that finishes bottom (and sometimes second bottom too) of a league is relegated to the second tier league (in Scotland there are four leagues in the senior game – to complicate it even more there are additional feeder leagues). It’s almost like the worst team in Major League Baseball getting replaced by the best AAA team).
Well, due to them going into administration last year, Hearts were docked 15 points and finished bottom of the league (only just as it would end up). This should have been the perfect opportunity for our cross-town rivals Hibs to look down on us and laugh. However, being Hibs, they decided to finish second bottom and get relegated too!
So this year in the Scottish Championship (the top league is the Premiership) are three of Scotland’s biggest teams: Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian and Glasgow Rangers (how they got there is a long story, but Google it is you want a laugh). The team finishing top will automatically get promoted back to the Premiership, while there is a complicated play off thingy involving the teams in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th along with the second bottom team from the Premiership.
Before the season started, all the money was on Rangers walking away with first place, but that’s not how it looks just now:
The SPFL Scottish Championship Table as of 2/22/2015
As you can see, Hearts are doing rather well!
With a brand new management team and a great mix of young players and obscure veterans it has been quite a season so far. However, as a seasoned Hearts fan, I know only too well the dangers of counting chickens. To this end, until the magic number is zero I won’t be assuming anything (even if magic numbers aren’t really a Scottish Football thing, there is a Google spreadsheet that I have tracking them!)
One of the most fun things about being in the 2nd Tier has been trips to all sorts of interesting places. This weekend it was down to Dunfries in the Scottish Boarders to play Queen of the South. How’s that for a match: “Queen of the South versus Heart of Midlothian”.
It was another close game, but the final result was just fine, a 2-1 win for Hearts. You can watch the goals here:
Three more points off my magic number (down to 21 points with 11 games left). I know you are keeping score at home so I will do my best to keep you up to date.
:: Justin ::
Wow, I have not followed Scottish Football in a long time but A. that is very impressive of Hearts to be 20 points clear at the top and B. surprised to see Rangers are in the Scottish Championship what is happening over there.
It’s a crazy old world! Rangers went into liquidation in 2012 following a whole bunch of dodgy financial shenanigans. They actually had to start again at the bottom of the 4th tier. They strolled through getting promotion each of the next two years, but assuming Hearts hang on to win, the play offs will be rather interesting. Hibs have started playing well and have already beaten Rangers three times this year. They will also have to contend with whoever comes 4th (my money is on Falkirk) and whoever is 11th in the Premiership (Motherwell, St. Mirren, or Ross County most likely). So it won’t be easy for anyone.
Fun times!
:: Justin ::