Never Loved Elvis….

Unsure if the Wonder Stuff had a song called never loved Elvis but they did have an album of that title. The Wonder Stuff was one of the biggest bands at ma high school. Me? I didnae get them at all. All that size of a cow and circle square just didnae register wie me at that time. Now welcome to the cheap seats I can refer to been in many a hell hole- Livingston? - where all the seats are cheap- Ibrox?

It wasn’t until a few years ago that I started to like the wonder stuff and that was only because I heard their lead singer Miles Hunt do a solo session of some of their “hits”. Another reason I was put of all those years ago was due to the singer name. I mean would you trust a band whose singer name was cockney rhyming slang for a term of abuse?

But I always thought Steven Pressley was a Miles Hunt. His caveman appearance, his image in the meeja as the natural successor to braveheart throne, his general demeanour and his comments aboot poor old Neil Lennon always made me think he was a Miles Hunt.

All this with oot knowing the guy. But we all know it’s a fitbaw fan right to character assonate blokes we dinny ken. I mean we pay their wages and the money we spend going to watch games gives us the right to shout what we want to somebodies son.

Now, when I heard Elvis had left the building I text a few readers of this site ma fears that GS may just fancy him. I knew that he wee ginger ninja may just see an international captaino with experience going for sod all while myself and a few others only saw a ex r*nger over-rated buffoon who looked like he could do with a decent wash. I also thought GS may just see a chance to get one over Romanov and also that Elvis saw things the same way.

When Balde broke his leg I knew Elvis would be wearing the hoops. The questions regarding him being a bit part player were answered in the moment Balde buckled under his weight. So as I left the game I prepared maself for the sight of Elvis in the hoops. And to tell you the truth while being strange it disnae seem as wrong as I 1st thought.

So he made his debut, I was in a boozer watching it, and a round of applause went up both in the stadium and in the pub when he took his 1st touch. Surprised I was at this judging by the indifference the signing had been received. But this maybe down to the fact that we have signed a quality- in the Scottish league sense- stopgap until Big Mick and Caldo returning from injury.

Now big Mick had been playing on one leg for months now and needed a break and I’m sure GS thinking was a pairing of Balde and Elvis until his 1st choice CB’s are available again. Balde bad luck put paid to that and the young O’Dea has stepped up to the plate with great aplomb.

While a pairing of O’Dea and Balde would have me having sleepless nights I’m comfortable with Pressley and O’Dea. I mean, Elvis made Webster look like a player and he has enough experience to help O’Dea settle doon and continue his impressive start to his hopefully hoopy career and not a Steve Cahill or Lex Baille hoopy career.

On Sunday Elvis returns to Gorgie of Lithuanian with possible revenge on his mind. For him to achieve this he needs more than just him to be up for the mission as oor away performances have been as bad as the 1st episode of “Shameless” the other night with the Motherwell game ranking as shocking.

With Lenny having the day oaf for being stupid oor midfield presents problems. Tommy G, Jaro and Sno are the 3 competing for two places but to tell you the truth are any of them man enough to stand up to the bully boy, rough hoose tactics that Hearts will employ.

GS again berated Tommy G at the game at Fir Park for not following orders and his lack of discipline when following a game plan makes playing him in this game along with Naka a risk. Tommy G sees himself as an old fashioned number 10 while Naka is oor old-fashioned number 10. But ye have to play the gravedigger. Too much ability and he has stood up and been counted on the goal front in hard away games already this season.

Jaro canny tackle a fish supper, but is disciplined when it comes to following orders. Also he looked like a fitbawer against Killie in the middle of the park instead of a giraffe on ice when he played centre forward. Is he tough enough to handle Gorgie? Well, 1st time oot rabbit caught in headlights was the phrase I used and that may play on GS mind.

Sno the big fellow is built like a boxer and tackles like Jaro. The pace of the game may catch him oot but there is no question the boy has ability and he is useful doing the waterboy job i.e. fetching, carrying and playing the simple ball. A lot has been placed on the big mans shoulders, to early for me, but again his ability to follow orders could see him get the nod and also the ability to keep the ball could be useful if the game gets to hectic.

Naka is usually dropped for this game. I think the formation will depend if GS feels the Japanese magician is ready to handle the most dangerous ground in Scotland.

Miles Hunt once sang “Welcome to the cheap seats” he must have visited Tynecastle. I’m hoping I’m no calling the Hearts manager this week, for the time being anyway a Miles Hunt for an OTT celebration on Sunday this time.

FORZA THE HOOPS