Hearts’ excellent start to the Scottish Premiership this season has comprised of an unbeaten run of twelve games with nine wins and three draws. Going into the international break seven points clear, 29% shareholder Tony Bloom seems to be delivering the statement ‘Hearts can disrupt the pattern of domination.

Having acquired his share in a £9.86 Milliondeal back in June, Bloom has looked to dismantle the supremacy of Glasgow and Rangers. The last time a team outside of the two superpowers won the First Division of Scottish Football was Aberdeen back in 1985.

Celtic and Rangers huge financial advantages have enabled them to build and maintain a monopoly within Scottish Football, able to pay higher transfer fees and attract better quality players with a higher wage budget. According to Capology, Celtic’s gross payroll for players is £25.48 Million and Rangers’ is £24.258 Million. Compare this to Hearts £5.733 Million, it is easy to see why clubs have struggled to challenge Celtic and Rangers.

However, Hearts new financial expert Tony Bloom and his Jamestown Analytics company specialise in the acquisition and sale of players. Tony Bloom has a proven track record of his recruitment bringing success to his other clubs: Royal Union Saint Gilloise (USG) and Brighton and Hove Albion.

In 2018 Bloom became the majority shareholder of Brussels based USG. The ex-professional poker player’s shrewd recruitment has led USG’s rise from the second division to winning the Belgian League last season and qualifying for the 25/26 Champions League. Since the boyhood Brighton fan’s purchase in 2009, the Seagulls have risen from League One to the Europa League. Brighton have become well known for their ability to scout and develop raw talent into world-class players and sell them for huge profits. The most notable sale being Moises Caicedo to Chelsea in 2023 for £115 Million.

The astute acquisition of talents from obscure leagues has continued at hearts with three key summer signings hitting the ground running. Free transfer Alexander Schwolow was Union Berlin’s back-up goalkeeper last season and has been vital to Hearts only conceding 4 goals in the league this season.

Free transfer Greek 24-year-old Alexandros Kyzirdis from the Slovakian First Division, has completed 12 dribbles and created a league-high 24 chances this season. The direct winger has registered three goals and four assists putting him joint-second in league goal contributions along with Portuguese attacker Claudio Braga.

The versatile forward Braga is Hearts most unique signing of the summer. Signed for just over £500K from the Norwegian second division, the 26-year-old is widely considered to have been Hearts’ best player this season scoring six goals and providing one assist.

Another part of their remarkable start has been manager Derek McInnes. McInnes was instrumental in Aberdeen’s success from 2013-201, ending Aberdeen’s 19-year silverware draught, producing consistent top 3 finishes and Europa League football.

McInnes began the season utilising a 3-5-2 but now seems to have settled on a 4-4-2, opting for it in the last seven games. Hearts and McInnes have shown their tactical flexibility this season, against teams such as Dundee and Kilmarnock, Hearts have dominated the ball and created high volumes of chances through possession and breaking teams down.

However, in games against Rangers and Celtic they utilised counter attacks through high pressure and turnovers and when necessary, sitting in a compact rest defence absorbing pressure. Hearts have scored a lead high 29 goals and conceded the second least number of goals, their tactical versatility is represented by them having the 4th highest percentage of possession but also the 3rd highest percentage of accurate long balls only beaten by two teams battling relegation.

Despite Hearts’ excellent start and all the reasons behind it, Celtic are still the overwhelming favourites to win the title. Bookmaker odds give Celtic have a 61% chance of retaining the Premiership with Hearts sitting at 27%. Celtic have recently parted ways with Brendan Rodgers and are looking to bring in 2024 MLS head coach of the year Wilfred Nancy, whilst Martin O’Neill takes over on a temporary basis. Nancy having never managed in Europe before is a risky appointment but has proven his tactical astuteness winning silverware in Canada and the U.S.

Ultimately, Hearts are in the strongest position with pressure on them to keep up this form. As the league format involves thirty-three games playing each team twice, Hearts will have four more crunch games against Rangers and Celtic.

Before playing them both again in the Champions group, assuming all three make it. Hearts have already beaten Celtic and Rangers, can they repeat the trick multiple times and secure their first title since 1960?

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