There is no denying that Hearts made critical errors during key moments at the stadium where their championship aspirations dissolved last May.
Former Tynecastle defender Ryan McGowan remarked that multiple individuals failed to perform and that Vrancken's game plan was completely ignored on the pitch. Meanwhile, former Scotland international Kris Boyd expressed disbelief regarding the tactical methodology deployed at a ground where the Edinburgh club triumphed previously last autumn.
Boyd noted on Sky Sports that such defensive fragility was unprecedented in his experience, criticizing Hearts for attempting an open contest against Celtic in the dying moments of the match. He emphasized the necessity of respecting Celtic's caliber, warning that a man-to-man strategy inevitably leads to heavy defeats.
Analyst Halliday echoed these sentiments, suggesting that Vrancken should consider modifying his tactical philosophy for such challenging fixtures. He pointed out a lack of accountability, noting that the manager focused exclusively on player mistakes rather than his own glaring strategic oversights.
Highlighting a specific vulnerability, Halliday observed that Celtic consistently exploit the front post during set-pieces, yet Hearts failed to implement measures to counter this known threat. Despite praising Vrancken's overall management and projecting a top-three finish, Halliday expressed concern that the coach would repeat the exact same approach given another opportunity.