Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay says the Scottish Premiership club's management will still have to assess the character of potential signings earmarked through the new agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom's football data analysis firm Jamestown Analytics. (The Scotsman), external
Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Image source, SNSHearts have won both of their last two Scottish Premiership home games against Dundee, this after losing two of their previous three beforehand (D1).
Dundee have won three of their last six top-flight league games against Hearts (L3), as many as their previous 14 beforehand (W3 D3 L8).
No side has earned fewer points at home in the Scottish Premiership this season than Heart of Midlothian (6). Hearts have won just one of their last eight home games in the competition (D4 L3).
Dundee have won three of their last five league games (D1 L1), more than they had in their previous 18 (W2 D6 L10). They're looking to pick up back-to-back league victories for the first time since March.
Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland has had more shots than any other player in the Scottish Premiership this season (48). However, he's found the net with just one of these shots, giving him a conversion rate of just 2%.
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
The Hearts Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday morning had the prospects of turning into a fairly difficult morning for the board.
With the team languishing at the bottom of the Premiership table and Lawrence Shankland struggling to find his way towards goal few would have envisaged things being so cosy for those at the top table.
I think much of the credit for this must go to the outgoing financial officer Jacqui Duncan who gave a quite terrific presentation on the clubs current financial situation.
Some of the numbers were quite eye watering. In my opinion, the highlight was the total handed over by the Foundation of Hearts and the benefactors being close to £46 million.
Of course the deal with Jamestown Analytics was discussed and again, the view from all within the room was extremely positive.
But it's on the pitch that everyone cares about most and the current precarious league position cannot just be dismissed.
The next few months at the club will be one of change behind the scenes as both Graeme Jones and Shelley Kerr assume their roles at Tynecastle.
But things also have to change on the park in terms of results. Hearts are playing some decent football at times and you have to think that sooner or later fortunes will turn their way.
But this December period is where seasons can be defined. A mixture of league and European football lies in wait and with lots to play for in both competitions, those same shareholders who have kept faith with the team will be seeking an upward curve in terms of results.
The next two matches have their own difficulties.
Dundee are a very stubborn team to play against and to break them down you will have to overcome a very strong midfield.
Then on to Copenhagen who after victory early this week now sit top of the Danish Superliga.
This will be a formidable test for Hearts in their penultimate match in the Conference League but even a draw may well be enough to progress to the next stage of the competition.
Now that would be a welcome early Christmas present for fans and shareholders alike.
The Foundation of Hearts fans' group have passed a resolution to amend the organisation's articles of association, which would allow Brighton owner Tony Bloom to purchase shares in the club as talks continue over potential investment of up to £10m. (Edinburgh Evening News)
Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSShankland's current deal is due to run out at the end of the season
Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay says his "gut" feeling is that captain Lawrence Shankland will run down his contract with the club.
Speaking to the media after the club's AGM, he also admitted he has "no idea" if the Scotland striker will still be at Tynecastle once the January window closes.
Shankland's contract expires at the end of the season and the 29-year-old has been the subject of intense speculation surrounding his future for some time.
"At the end of January? I have no idea," McKinlay said.
"I've spoken ad nauseam about Lawrence for the last four transfer windows and I genuinely am not sure what else you want me to say about it.
"I've put it on record that my gut has always been that he'll run down his contract. Who knows what will happen in January?"
While uncertain about what will occur in January, McKinlay says signing a striker is "the priority".
And he added that "finances are available" to improve head coach Neil Critchley's forward options.
"There's a particular striker we're looking at, but not just one," McKinlay said.
"Often you don't get your first choice. We're looking at a few, all of who have come from Jamestown. Other positions and other things that we do, I think, might depend on what might go out."
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSHearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay spoke to the media after the club's AGM
Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay has been speaking to the media after the club's annual general meeting.
Here are the key points:
The tie-up with Jamestown Analytics will be "game-changing" for the club in terms of their ambitions.
He says the partnership will help Hearts challenge for the title.
McKinlay confirms that Tony Bloom has intimated his desire to invest in the club and talks are ongoing.
He expects Lawrence Shankland to run down his contract but is open to discussions with his representatives.
A striker is the priority in the January transfer window and finances are available if required.
Refused to mention the word "relegation".
Image source, SNSMusa Drammeh believes his Hearts career is ready to take off following his disappointment at being left out of the club's European squad for their Conference League matches.
The 22-year-old joined Hearts in the summer as a free agent after his Sevilla deal expired, but was not registered with Uefa for the Tynecastle side's Conference League group stage games by Steven Naismith.
"It's just where he sits within the squad at the moment," Naismith said in September of Drammeh's exclusion. "He hasn't had a lot of first-team football."
"The day Naismith told me this, I didn’t sleep," Drammeh said.
"They sent me a message saying I was not going to be in the squad but I'm going to have more game time [in domestic games]. He told me I had to understand Scottish football.
"But I think the Musa of four months ago and now is not too different. I don't know if I played three months ago if I would have helped score these goals, but I think if you are a footballer, you think you are ready for that.
"It’s been a tough time for me because I haven't played, I didn't make the squads, and for someone who's 22 and comes from Spain to be here alone, that's difficult."
Drammeh scored his first Hearts goal against Celtic recently, and his deflected header earned a point against Aberdeen last time out.
"The last few games have been worth it, worth it very much," he added. "For me, I'm 100% secure, I'm going to be good here.
"The manager told me I had been good for the last month because I was training well, that's why he gave me the chance.
"He tells me, your moment is going to arrive. Keep training, keep training. I keep training and my chance has arrived.
"And to hear the fans sing my name, I have waited for this for five months. I hope this is the beginning for me.
"I said when I first came here I want to be remembered when I leave."
Greg Playfair
Fan writer
Hearts have entered December still rooted to the bottom of the league table and the question is, at what point do Jambos concede that we are involved in a relegation battle?
People will argue we've had three tough fixtures including playing the league's top two sides at home sandwiched in between a tough European trip to Cercle Brugge but at what point are supporters of the club supposed to be worried?
There's no doubt that there is quality in this side, and a lot of people in Scottish football media said in the summer that this was the third best squad in the country, so it can be said that a number of the players are underperforming.
We can't talk about drop-offs in form without mentioning Lawrence Shankland. I think some of the flack he took after the Cercle Brugge penalty miss and defeat was way over the top. Still, one goal in 21 games for Hearts this season is worrying and it needs to be addressed.
If I was Neil Critchley, I'd be tempted to take Shankland out of the team for a number of reasons. Firstly, I think he needs to be unburdened with the pressure of expectation.
I also think he is over analysed in terms of his body language and how he communicates on the pitch. When things aren't going well, every little facet is questioned. To be fair, at 1-0 down against Aberdeen, he was the only player I saw with their head held high, encouraging others in a maroon jersey.
The final point is, I think we'd soon come to realise how much Shankland does for us when he's not in the team. The drop-off between him and the rest of our strikers is the biggest disparity in any side in our league. It might perhaps also help ignite a desire in him to show his doubters what he can produce. I remember the last time that happened, was in the 4-3 home defeat to Celtic a couple of seasons ago and he netted a hat-trick from the bench.
This month is going to be tricky, but we've got three out of the next four league games at Tynecastle and we really need to make home advantage count - seven points from nine in those games I reckon, starting with a win against Dundee on Saturday.
Forward Musa Drammeh, 23, feared he had made a mistake joining Hearts after being left out of their Conference League squad. (Record), external
Drammeh feels his Hearts career is ready to flourish. (Scotsman - subscription), external
Image source, SNSHearts have been drawn away to Brechin City in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.
The tie will take place on the weekend of 18/19 January.
Sportscene analysis: 'Hearts struggling with injury disruption'
The Sportscene panel discuss Hearts' injury problems following their 1-1 draw with Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.
We asked for your views on Hearts' 1-1 draw against Aberdeen.
Here's what some of you said:
Paul: It all comes down to quality up front, there's not enough of it, the real shining lights in the performance were Musa Drammeh, Cammy Devlin and Craig Halkett, who came on to add leadership to back four. Alan Forrest's lack of commitment when tracking back is woeful. What a difference having Musa up front in terms of pace and real commitment, just need somebody who can finish.
Kevo: They could have felt sorry for themselves, dominating, shifting the entire defence, losing a goal out of nothing, but they didn't. Brave, determined and perseverant. Well done Hearts.
Alan: Obviously the two defensive injuries hampered our chances but we did create enough to win the game. Unfortunately it was the same old story of playing well enough but not winning. This form is not looking to shift any time soon and we are in real danger of relegation on our own merit.
Raymond: No better than when Steven Naismith was the manager. Neil Critchley is the wrong choice for the job and his team selections are difficult to fathom.
Gavin: Musa was a breath of fresh air. Driving forward and never stopped.
Frederick: If we make the top six this season that will be acceptable given the start we've had. I think Kilmarnock and St Mirren would accept the same. We will have to have the luck of the draw in the cup though and bring back our confidence. Let's hope January brings some changes with incoming players and some leaving. We can't seem to be able to handle Europe.
Chris: I'm bemused that Critchley thought we played well. The game had little to no quality. We were fortunate to get a draw, Aberdeen were poor too which helped. We are so weak up front and the individual quality was nowhere to be seen. Lots of endeavour from Musa and Devlin did all the dirty work, man of the match easily.
Highlights: Hearts 1-1 Aberdeen
Hearts ended their run of four defeats with a hard-fought draw against Aberdeen at Tynecastle, but it was not enough to lift them off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.
Hearts are two points behind city rivals Hibernian, who occupy second-bottom spot.
What did you make of the game? Did anyone impress you?
What went right, and what went wrong?
Image source, SNSHearts head coach Neil Critchley told BBC Scotland: "We started the game very well, the better team, on the front foot, created good moments. The two injuries disrupt us and the flow of the game.
"We ended up with a makeshift back four. They score with their first shot. We could feel sorry for ourselves but we showed hunger, desire, passion in the second half. We got the crowd involved and we went for the game.
"The least we deserved was a point.
"Frankie [Kent] has been outstanding, he's played every minute for me so far. He's a leader for us, a great guy in the dressing room. It's his quad, it looks less serious but you never know. We'll have to wait and see.
"If we keep playing like that, it's not difficult. I've only come in in the last seven weeks and I've been really encouraged by our performances. It's just a snapshot of where we are. You have good spells, bad spells. The league won't lie at the end of the season.
"We're not even half way through, we've got plenty of games to play, the league is quite congested. If we keep showing the same commitment, passion, energy, with more quality at times - and a little bit of luck - things will change in our favour.
"I'm used to that [congestion]. Down the road, you play plenty of games in the Championship and League One. That's why you have a squad - and [Craig] Halks and Musa [Drammeh] are great examples that you need to keep training and be ready."
Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSAfter Hibernian's surprise 3-0 win over Motherwell on Saturday, there was more pressure on this game than Hearts fans would have hoped for.
While a point against the team in second place isn't a bad outcome, the game had a similar ineluctable feeling to the last few performances - Hearts would show plenty of endeavour but fail to win.
That was not helped by the loss of Kingsley, who was left writhing in agony with a hamstring injury, and Kent, who hobbled off with an apparent knee problem.
With Gerald Taylor already injured, Neil Critchley's defensive options - during a month with eight fixtures - have been hampered further and adds to his headache, meaning he is counting the cost of this potentially pivotal point.
One positive was Musa Drammeh's performance, which drew plaudits and adds real flair to Hearts' currently limited attacking threat.
Image source, SNSMusa Drammeh. The 23-year-old Spaniard has had to wait for his chance at Hearts after his summer move from Sevilla's B side, only making his first start this afternoon.
Being left out of the European squad might now work in his favour, given the heap of games coming up domestically and in the Conference League, as he will continue to be fresher than his teammates.
This afternoon he was unlucky not to score and add to his goal against Celtic last weekend, and showed more than enough to earn a place against Dundee next Saturday.
Celtic have the highest average attendance in the Scottish Premiership this season so far with 59,022, with Rangers next on 47,878, followed by Heart of Midlothian on 18,527 and Aberdeen on 18,194. (Football Scotland), external
Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Image source, Getty ImagesHearts head coach Neil Critchley has challenged his players to bounce back from their disappointing Conference League loss against Cercle Brugge as they host Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership on Thursday.
The Dons sit second in the league, but have taken just one point from their last two games - a 2-1 loss against St Mirren and a dramatic 3-3 draw against Hibs.
Critchley's side had chances in Belgium, but Lawrence Shankland's missed penalty proved costly as they eventually fell to a 2-0 defeat.
"They are all important games, they are all big games," Critchley said. "We have been in a run of tough games and Aberdeen is a tough game at home.
"I have said that to the players, we can’t dwell on the game or the defeat.
"You have to dust yourselves down and move on psychologically and physically, because we have to get ready for a tough game on Sunday."
