Best Hibs’ team from last 50 years

[theonlywayisup]

Interesting read - one that will bring back loads of memories. Some great players who have played for the Hibees.

Link to webpage and text below.

http://www.theedinburghreporter.co.u...for-newspaper/

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the Edinburgh Reporter’s sports correspondent John Hislop’s first visit to Easter Road. Here he looks back on some of the great players he has seen and selects his best eleven from that period.

“Alan Rough kept us in the top flight whilst Jim Leighton showed why he was the most capped and john ‘Budgie’ Burridge helped us to win the League cup, but in my opinion, Andy Goram was the best ever Hibernian goalkeeper. Some of his performances were outstanding and one in particular at Tynecastle had the Hearts’ fans chanting his name.

“David Gray captained us to a Scottish Cup win as well as scoring the winning goal and Steven Whittaker helped us to a CIS Cup win but there is only one candidate for the right back spot and anyone who saw him play will agree. John Brownlie was capped at 19 when this was almost unheard of and if there was a better player anywhere in that position then I never saw him. He was deservedly inducted into the Hibernian Historical trust Hall of Fame in 2017.

“Lewis Stevenson has served the club with distinction for ten years and David Murphy was a key player in the 2007 CIS Cup win but Erich Schaedler gets my vote. Hard as nails, the son of a German POW flew into tackles against opponents twice his size. Sadly Erich is no longer with us but his memory marches on.

“We have had many decent central defenders over the years, Jim Black, Jackie MacNamara, Craig Paterson, Gordon Rae, Gordon Hunter, Rob Jones, James McPake, Paul Hanlon and Darren McGregor spring to mind however I have chosen Sloop John Blackley, an elegant tough as teak defender who represented Scotland at the 1974 World Cup in Munich and the great Franck Sauzee. Franck spent most of his career in midfield but Alex McLeish moved him to the centre of the Hibs’ defence where he was outstanding. 39 caps for France.

“In midfield, one name stands out. Born and brought up in Craigmillar, Pat Stanton stayed with Hibs when he could have moved to any of the top clubs in England. Scotland manager Tommy Docherty once described Pat as being better that England’s World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore and he was correct. For Pat to only have 16 caps is a national disgrace.

“Other contenders include Peter Cormack, Peter Marinello, Eric Stevenson, George Best, Arthur Duncan, Des Bremner, Ralph Callaghan John Collins, Michael Weir, Scott Brown and Super John McGinn but I have gone for three fans’ favourites.

“Eddie Turnbull signed Alex ‘Mickey’ Edwards for £12,000 from Dunfermline. Given his first team debut by Jock Stein as a 16-year-old, Alex is often described as Scotland’s best uncapped players. Occasionally temperamental Mickey often fell foul of referees but we could put up with his many suspensions for the occasional flash of brilliance.

“Russell Latapy was known as the Little Magician in his native Tobago. He was recommended to Alex McLeish by his international team mate Tony Rougier and it took only a few minutes in a friendly match against Brechin City to convince ‘Big Eck’ that he had found a genius. His first touch was sublime and he always seemed to have acres of space.

“Another of the famous ‘Turnbull’s Tornadoes’ takes the left sided role. Alex ‘Sodjer’ Cropley was an elegant footballer with a ferocious tackle. He left Hibs for Arsenal then moved to Aston Villa where he is still revered. His left foot volley at Tynecastle would have been enough to secure his place in this team on its own.

“Selecting two forwards was also a difficult task considering the talented strikers to have worn the famous green and white jersey in the last 50 years.

“Colin Stein won a European trophy for Rangers, Joe McBride would have done likewise with Celtic but for an injury and of course Joe Baker returned from England to delight the Hibs fans.

“In addition, Keith Wright, Darren Jackson, Derek Riordan, Garry O’Conner, Steven Fletcher, Anthony Stokes, Leigh Griffiths and Jason Cummings all deserve a mention but I have chosen two players who formed a prolific partnership in the early 1970s.

“Jimmy O’Rourke made his debut as a 16-year-old against Utrecht whilst Alan Gordon was a bargain bye from Dundee United. Although neither were capped for Scotland, Alan was chosen to play for a ‘Rest of the World’ team in a testimonial match for German international Willi Schultz.

“The manager would be the late great Eddie Turnbull.

“So to sum up, my Hibernian team from the past 50 years is Goram, Brownlie, Schaedler, Stanton, Sauzee, Blackley, Edwards, Latapy, Cropley, O’Rourke, Gordon. Subs: Rough, Gray, Bremner, Collins, Baker.

“Feel free to argue!!!!”

[AltheHibby]

Okay. Let the bunfight begin.

How can Conrad Logan not be there? Sure, Goram was a great keeper, but Logan, in my opinion, inspired us against Dundee Utd and then gave us great confidence on THAT day.

All that, and its nice to see a keeper with my ample profile doing a great job for us.

[Northernhibee]

James McPake should be nowhere near that list as a 'decent' centre back. He'd be fifth choice in this team.

[hibsbollah]

David Murphys absence is the obvious controversy. Better than Shades at the creative side and just as good defensively so I'd have him in.

[heretoday]

What a pointless thread.

[Tom Hart RIP]

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David Murphys absence is the obvious controversy. Better than Shades at the creative side and just as good defensively so I'd have him in.

Close thing but Shades just shades it for me. His long throws to Alan Gordon created many chances as well.

[MWHIBBIES]

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James McPake should be nowhere near that list as a 'decent' centre back. He'd be fifth choice in this team.

His first 6 months at Hibs were excellent, no doubt about that.

Afterwards he was pretty rotten and had some injuries.

[Super_JMcGinn]

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James McPake should be nowhere near that list as a 'decent' centre back. He'd be fifth choice in this team.

Ever heard of the word opinion?

Anyway here's mine on this boring Saturday when we're not playing, feel free to tell me who doesn't deserve a place.

Goram
De La Cruz
Murphy
Jones
Sauzee
Latapy
Brown
Collins
Riordan
Archibald
Griffiths

433 and all players I have seen play for Hibs.

[theonlywayisup]

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What a pointless thread.

Why?

Better talk about the Hertz or The Rangers I suppose.

[heretoday]

OK I surrender. Here we go.

Leighton,
Bremner, Sauzee (capt), Hunter, Laursen,
Agathe, McGinlay, Brown,
Marinello, Archibald, Collins

Subs: Blackley, Murphy, Durie, Kane

[Tornadoes70]

My choice off the top of my head would be -

Manager Eddie Turnbull

Budgie (Mainly due to the performance against the huns in the Skol Cup semi final and what a character)

Brownlie Stanton Sauzee Shaedler

Duncan Edwards Cropley Latapy

O Rourke Gordon

Subs Jim McArthur, Keith Keith Keith, Matty Jack, Ulrich Laursen, John O'Neill, Lee Griffiths, David Gray, Derek Riordan.

[theonlywayisup]

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OK I surrender. Here we go.

Leighton,
Bremner, Sauzee (capt), Hunter, Laursen,
Agathe, McGinlay, Brown,
Marinello, Archibald, Collins

Subs: Blackley, Murphy, Durie, Kane

McGinlay was a favourite of mine

[HibeeSince85]

Leighton
McGregor Jones Sauzee
Whittaker Murphy

McGinn Latapy Brown

Riordan Mixu

Based on the players I have seen. 3-5-2

[Halmyre Hibee]

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My choice off the top of my head would be -

Manager Eddie Turnbull

Budgie (Mainly due to the performance against the huns in the Skol Cup semi final and what a character)

Brownlie Stanton Sauzee Shaedler

Duncan Edwards Cropley Latapy

O Rourke Gordon

Subs Jim McArthur, Keith Keith Keith, Matty Jack, Ulrich Laursen, John O'Neill, Lee Griffiths, David Gray, Derek Riordan.

As above but Goram for Budgie.

[Paisley Hibby]

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What a pointless thread.

Did you get out of the wrong side of bed or something? I'd say this kind of thread is exactly what a fans' forum is all about!

Here's my choice

Goram
Murphy
Brownlie
Jones
Sauzee
Latapy
Jack
McGinn
McAllister
Gordon
Archibald

[Northernhibee]

Lewie

SDG Lewie Lewie Lewie

Lewie Lewie Lewie Lewie

Lewie Lewie



21 Scottish Cups and League cups between them

[Stantons Angel]

Well what a choice of players i have for my team...... easy really!

Heriott, Brownlie, Schaedler, Stanton, Black, Blackley, Edwards, O'Rourke, Gordon, Cropley Duncan.

TURNBULL'S TORNADOS FOR EVER!

[superfurryhibby]

Goram, Brownlie, Murphy, Stanton, Blackley- Collins, Brown, Cropley, Duncan- O'Rourke, Gordon.

Subs: Rough, Sauzee, Latapy, Edwards, Weir, Wright, McGinlay, Jackson, McNamara, Archibald and Bremner.

Stanton would play in defence.

That team, with those guys playing to their best Hibs form would be an awesome proposition.

[Sioux]

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Well what a choice of players i have for my team...... easy really!

Heriott, Brownlie, Schaedler, Stanton, Black, Blackley, Edwards, O'Rourke, Gordon, Duncan.

TURNBULL'S TORNADOS FOR EVER!

Is that a 4-4-1, 4-3-2, 3-5-1 or what?

[Lochin]

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Well what a choice of players i have for my team...... easy really!

Heriott, Brownlie, Schaedler, Stanton, Black, Blackley, Edwards, O'Rourke, Gordon, Duncan.

TURNBULL'S TORNADOS FOR EVER!

No Cropley?

[GST1875]

I can only go on the players I've actually seen, but trying to form a team that would actually work I'd go with this (3-4-1-2):

Colgan (went downhill towards the end of his time with us but was quality the first year or two as far as I recall)

McGregor Sauzee (c) Hanlon - Sauzee and Hanlon getting the team moving with their quality of passing, McGregor for the blood and thunder

Whittaker Brown Beuzelin Murphy - Perfect mix of athleticism and technical ability. Solid and a threat going forwards

Latapy - the only true no 10 of quality we've had during my time supporting Hibs

Griffiths Fletcher - thinking back, a shame that we only ever got one or two years out of these two at their best and they never really got to be club legends. Hardworking, quality in front of goal and I think would compliment each other well

Bench

Logan
Jones
Gray
McGinn
Sproule
Riordan
O'Connor
Feel this would be a good mixture of cover and impact.

Building hypothetical football teams, what a way to spend a Saturday night in Barcelona

[hibby6270]

A composite team is well nigh impossible for everyone to agree with.

If it's "a team" that played together and I had the pleasure of watching - only one answer.......

Turnbull's Tornadoes.!!!!

End of!!!!

[Stantons Angel]

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Is that a 4-4-1, 4-3-2, 3-5-1 or what?

Whatever Eddie decided on the day was aways good enough!

[Stantons Angel]

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No Cropley?

oops!

[overdrive]

I had a go but gave up. There were too many left sided players to try to fit in that I ended up putting a number out of position to accommodate them so it looked weird.

Laursen, Murphy, O'Neill amongst them

[ancient hibee]

I would have thought that George Stewart is by far the best centre half we've had in the last 50 years.