We all saw the same thing. Gassama was nowhere near the level needed and the tactical approach from Danny Rohl simply invited trouble. The two problems fed each other: a forward who wasn’t providing an outlet, and a team shape that left gaps to be exploited.
Gassama: position, timing and end product
To be fair, it started up front. Gassama rarely kept his shape. Too often he wandered out of position or didn’t bother to recover when the team needed him to press or block passing lanes. When he did get on the ball there was very little to suggest he offered a reliable option.
The timing with Meghoma was also off. Meghoma tried to support him, but kept getting the ball at awkward moments, making runs or support ineffective. That kind of disjointed link-up kills momentum and makes it easy for the opposition to isolate wide players or flood the middle.
So why didn’t Rohl change the plan?
The question about tactics is a fair one. Hearts recently beat Motherwell by sitting deeper, congesting the central areas and then winning the second ball. That approach is low-risk and bluntly effective against teams that like to play through a press.
Danny Rohl instead opted to press. Why? It could be a read on how he wanted the game to go — to force turnovers high up and create quick transitions. Problem is, when the press is not synchronised it creates the exact second-ball situations Hearts used to their advantage. If your forward line isn’t holding channels and your midfield isn’t compact, the press looks flimsy and is easy to play around.
What would I have liked to see?
Simple adjustments: a more compact midfield shape, clearer roles for the press (who steps, who covers) and a quicker reaction from the bench if the frontman is missing in action. Subbing a struggling forward earlier, or switching to a denser central shape, would have reduced the number of chances Motherwell had to break lines.
Truth is, tactics aren't abstract — they depend on players executing. On the night both elements failed. Frustrating for the fans, and something the manager needs to answer for, sooner rather than later.
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