The numbers are good down Tynecastle way. That should probably come as no surprise when Jamestown Analytics are firmly plugged in.
In fact, one look at Hearts' squad makes it clear that, if anything, the figures are too big. The arrivals of Calvin Miller, Josh McPake, Amadou Ba-Sy, MJ Kamson-Kamara, Malachi Fagan-Walcott, and the imminent signing of Tom Renaud push the first-team group beyond the 30 mark. Given there is still a pressing need to replace Lawrence Shankland and perhaps Cammy Devlin, you can be certain more will arrive.
But it is the lack of bodies in the position charged with forming a winning side out of all that which is causing more than a tremor of concern. To say Derek McInnes' exit for Rangers had something of a bombshell effect around Tynecastle in the last week might not be an exaggeration.
Only a fortnight earlier, sporting director Graeme Jones had made a rare appearance to update fans on his optimism ahead of the new season and described the manager at that point, McInnes, as 'best in class'. High praise indeed, and well deserved after McInnes' work galvanising a squad and a support base to create a force of nature at Tynecastle that went within minutes of ending a 66-year wait to become Scottish champions.
Fast forward 17 days, and McInnes is now in direct opposition while Hearts are in the process of interviewing candidates to replace him in Gorgie. No wonder some are worried. Yet in Tony Bloom and his Jamestown Analytics supercomputer, Hearts are confident they have the perfect shield to withstand the blow of losing their boss. Convinced? Time will tell.
The incredible USG manager trail shows that Hearts can trust Tony Bloom and Jamestown Analytics. At Union Saint-Gilloise, Bloom's data-driven approach has repeatedly delivered successful appointments. When USG needed a new manager after Felice Mazzu left for Anderlecht in 2022, they turned to an unconventional choice: Karel Geraerts, a former Belgian international with no top-flight managerial experience. Geraerts led USG to a second-place finish and a Belgian Cup final. After he left for Schalke, USG appointed Alexander Blessin, who had been sacked by Oostende. Blessin won the Belgian Cup and secured another second-place finish.
When Blessin left for Genoa, USG turned to Sebastien Pocognoli, a 36-year-old former Belgium international with limited coaching experience. Pocognoli delivered the club's first top-flight title in 90 years as USG were crowned 2024-25 Belgian champions, along with a Super Cup double. When Monaco poached Pocognoli last October, Jamestown's cogs cranked into gear again, delivering another surprise: David Hubert, a former Belgium international who had been fired by Anderlecht six months earlier and had a less-than-convincing two wins from 10 games in charge of OH Leuven. But some metric amidst that mediocrity stood out to USG. Last month, they celebrated another Belgian Cup triumph against Hubert's former employers at Anderlecht, as well as a runners-up spot in the top flight.
Whatever way you slice and dice those numbers, it has been successful appointment after successful appointment for Union Saint-Gilloise, who just 12 years ago were languishing in the third tier of Belgian football. Looking for a pattern that might hint at where Hearts might turn next is pointless, although the USG example does appear to have stuck heavily to their own borders in Belgium.
Dutchman Rene Hake is one name that has been interviewed by Jambos chiefs. A select few from inside and outside the UK have also been identified after going through the Jamestown check. For Hearts fans, they can only hope the metrics are as in tune with Scottish football as they appear to be in Brighton and Belgium.
