David Vanecek was meant to be the man to supply the goals up top for Hearts in the second half of this season. Signing a pre-contract last summer, the Czech Republic forward arrived at Tynecastle in January. To say it’s been a horror show so far is being kind to the struggling forward.
On his league debut, he lasted 30 minutes against Dundee due to his lack of fitness. “Rubbish” was how Hearts manager Craig Levein described the performance. It’s not got quite as bad as that since then, but that hasn’t taken away from how disappointing he has been so far.
Another barren performance against Hamilton seen him hooked after 45 minutes, denting Vanecek’s confidence even more.
He hasn’t helped himself though. The striker hyped up his arrival via social media, with fans excited by the posts the striker was putting up, some of which displayed the ability he could bring to Tynecastle.
The striker seems to have left his shooting boots at former club FK Teplice though, with his performances for the Jambos proving a different picture to the YouTube video pinned to his Instagram profile.
There’s time to salvage his Hearts career
Vanecek came to Tynecastle off the back of some decent form in the Czech top flight. He scored seven goals in 14 starts. This was the type of goalscorer Craig Levein desperately needed, so he was relying on the Czech forward to get firing straight away.
It’s been a woeful time for Vanecek in Gorgie so far. His Dundee embarrassment was just the start of things, he hasn’t improved in any shape or form since his debut.
The forward’s movement is almost non existent, struggling to provide a focal point for Levein’s attack. His fitness is still an issue clearly, with 67 minutes against Dundee at Dens Park the longest time he’s been on the park for.
Not only that but he looks so short of confidence in front of goal. He really should have got his goal tally up for the first time in a maroon jersey against Hamilton. Just minutes before the interval, he turned a close-range effort onto the bar, something which should have bulged in the back of the net. Any confidence he had ahead of this move surely evaporated when he didn’t appear for the second half.
The only positive for Vanecek is that it’s only been five games. Perhaps the style of play Levein implements doesn’t help the forward. The Hearts boss’ style of long ball from back to front clearly doesn’t play to Vanecek’s strengths. With his fitness already in question, his manager could be doing more to give him a hand.
Vanecek has paid the price for hyping himself up online though. He’s hardly flattered himself in maroon and will only have a few games left before the whole Tynecastle faithful turns on him. He’s talked enough about his ability, Vanecek now has to back up his claims on the pitch.