Kid defenders must stop run on the Banks

Aug 3 2008 By Gordon Waddell

STEVE BANKS walked into Hearts' dressing-room three years ago and saw a team full of men. Been there, seen it all, done it all men.

Next week he steps out to kick off a make-or-break season against Motherwell with a back four in front of him whose average age is 22.

Which is why he's pleading for patience from Hearts fans waiting for a quantum leap. Six months ago the team was second bottom of the SPL.

Anyone who thinks they're suddenly going to rocket to second top again, inspirational new boss or not, is dreaming according to the 36-year-old keeper.

Banks is already a paid-up member of Csaba Laszlo's fan club but insisted: "For Hearts as a club, the history it has, targeting the top six isn't good enough.

"But put it in context, look at what we did last season. Improvement is what we want and that's top six, like it or not. We must make small steps for a better future, for stability.

"The manager is making us a better team, putting foundations down for the long term rather than trying to buy our way out.

"It's a pleasure to work with him. When I first arrived under George Burley, I looked around the dressing-room and saw MEN.

"Full internationals at the peak of their careers. You look at the back four now?"

Chances are he's talking about a right to left of Jason Thomson, Marius Zaliukas, Christophe Berra and Lee Wallace - aged 21, 24, 23 and 20 respectively.

Banks said: "I don't doubt in two, three years these guys will be at the same stage as the ladswere when I first arrived.

"Fully grown men, stronger, comfortable in their positions.

"The long-term future is good - but it takes patience.

"People will expect us to make the quantum leap from second bottom to third top - or better - inside a year.

"We all want that but reality has to set in at some point.

I've played the game long enough to know things like that just don't happen, even at big clubs. It took Alex Ferguson five years to come to terms at Manchester United.

"You have to accept it - small steps for a bigger reward."

To be fair, and to give credit to Stevie Frail, some of those baby steps were taken late last season, rising from the depths of 11th to being one game away from a top-six place.

But the history books will show Hearts going from second to second bottom to eighth inside 24 months and Banks sighed: "It was desperate.

I got close to Shaggy.

"He gave himself 24/7 to the club, did everything he could. But without sounding too sentimental, he has gone and that's football.

"I've been at 11 clubs and seen managers and players come and go. It has happened to me - it's the game and Shaggy knows it.

"But he came so close to getting us out of it.

"It was hard for the players though. The fans weren't happy and we understood why. We were trying hard for them but it just wasn't happening.

"But the way we recovered was good and it's a thin line. If we'd got into the top six and finished fourth it would have been seen as a solid recovery.

Instead it looked bad."

Now it's looking a lot better than it might have done - particularly if the suitors casting an eye over Berra and Wallace had pitched in with serious dough.

Banks said: "It's a strength of the club, producing talent.

"Whether they stay or get sold is up to the owner.

But I'm pleased Lee and Christophe stayed because they're part of the future.

"It's great they were being talked about for big money moves or international places.

"When I first came Christophe was fourth or fifth choice. Now he's captain, in the Scotland squad, attracting big clubs. It's great Hearts are working to keep him."

Now Banks is hoping gaffer Laszlo can take the bricks and mortar and build something substantial.

He said: "His training methods are direct, he tells you exactly what he wants.

"Footballers are simple guys at heart. We want to be told what to do and what we can't. If we all get it right we'll be up for a good season."