Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has admitted he is impressed by Tony Bloom's 10-year masterplan at Hearts, a revealing comment given Celtic's apparent lack of a long-term strategy.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's clash between last season's title rivals, O'Neill praised Hearts' recruitment and the system in place, which has been used at Brighton.
He said: "I think their recruitment is really good. They've got a certain system in place at this minute, which has been used down at Brighton. They used it there and they're scouring the European scene for these kind of things."
Celtic's summer spending criticised
In contrast, Celtic's summer was spent on expensive signings without a clear plan, with the Champions League money running out and the club resorting to deadline-day bargain hunting.
Celtic spent £18m on two attackers in Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran, yet there appears to be no thought on how to play them together, especially after also signing winger Haissem Hassan for £6m.
Duran was signed as one for the future but has become the man needed now, while Hogh has struggled to score, a dangerous position for a centre forward at Celtic.
Pressure on Hogh and O'Neill
Hogh has been given patience by the fans, won over by his smile and hat-trick at Kilmarnock, but that patience is wearing thin. He is the club's record signing yet performing worse than former player Johnny Kenny.
At Bodo, Hogh was allowed to attack the penalty box, but at Celtic he often receives balls lumped up to him with his back to goal from panicking defenders.
Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken will have seen how to unsettle Celtic, and if his players put it into practice, the pressure on O'Neill will only increase.
