The main problem here is Neil Lennon

[221000]

I dont disagree with him. Some of the stuff the defence produced (Gray perhaps excused) on Saturday was bordering on laughable.

Porteous would have done a better job than Efe on Saturday, so he needs told - and would much rather have a Lennon saying it how it is than the identikit manager some clubs have.

Totally agree .... if the players can take the plaudits when they're doing well, then they can sure as hell take a blast from the press and/or their manager when they are clearly well below standard. If they can't take a bit of a hard truth in such scenarios I suggest they've not got the back bone required for the team NL is trying to build. If you look at what NL has said you can't argue with ANY of it.

[HibernianJK]

I must admit I haven't seen us apart from when we've been on TV this season but I saw us a fair bit last year and the Bartley/Mcginn pairing just is missing something.

Both are brilliant players in their own right but neither are the ones that put their foot on the ball and pull strings. Mcginn is a driving force and Marv is a rock.

I may be wrong based on performances this year but seems there could be something missing there.

[Sammy7nil]

This sentence is bonkers. Slivka has had one really good game for us against 10 man Rangers. He has played ok a couple of other times and thats about it.

People are being blinded by the fact he came from Juventus, its the only explanation for the exaggerated tales of his brilliance so far on here.

He came off the bench on Saturday and showed a couple of nice touches but gave the ball away at least 3 times with poor passes.

Lets Ignore the Juventus link, watch what is actually happening on the pitch and stop using Slivka as a stick to beat Lennon with.

:agree::top marks:agree:

Totally agree all the posts saying his CLASS are based on very little game time. I fail to see how anyone can make a sound judgement on around 200 minutes of football. He may be class I hope he is but we certainly dont know that now based on his time at Hibs. Be had no impact on Saturday if anything the team got worse when he and McGeoch came on not their fault as by then the team had gone.

McGeoch has a far greater claim to start in front of Slivka, having said all that I hope the both start tomorrow and have great games.

[SRHibs]

Dare I say it, but I think another problem is a lack of leadership on the pitch. As much as I love SDG, think I'd prefer the armband to be on SJM or possibly Hanlon. Thoughts?

[1van Sprou7e]

I must admit I haven't seen us apart from when we've been on TV this season but I saw us a fair bit last year and the Bartley/Mcginn pairing just is missing something.

Both are brilliant players in their own right but neither are the ones that put their foot on the ball and pull strings. Mcginn is a driving force and Marv is a rock.

I may be wrong based on performances this year but seems there could be something missing there.

It seems to work well against teams with no midfield (3-1 vs hearts last season) but I agree against most teams we should be playing 3 or even 4 in centre midfield

[J-C]

Dare I say it, but I think another problem is a lack of leadership on the pitch. As much as I love SDG, think I'd prefer the armband to be on SJM or possibly Hanlon. Thoughts?


I agree, I mentioned it in a thread about a year or so ago, nothing against Gray but I always felt he wasn't vocal enough on the pitch and at times disappeared when things got tough, maybe a good captain behind the scenes but doesn't do it enough for me on the pitch. I'd give the armband to either Hanlon or my preference would be McGregor.

[B.H.F.C]

Dare I say it, but I think another problem is a lack of leadership on the pitch. As much as I love SDG, think I'd prefer the armband to be on SJM or possibly Hanlon. Thoughts?

Considering the number of experienced players we have I thought there was a real lack of leadership on Saturday. Nobody really stood up and tried to do anything to change the way the game was going. The goals we lost were just a case of everybody leaving it to each other to sort out.

[ekhibee]

He forgets it his team, his tactics and he's responsible- cannae blame other folk now. Never his fault. Sorry Neil, today is down to you - stop tinkering and pick your best (fit) players in the right positions.
He did accept responsibility in his interview after the game. Maybe you should listen to the whole interview.

[Heisenberg]

I'm sure Lennon said at the start of the season we were the second best team in the league?

Lennon said something along those lines after we were beaten by Aberdeen in the SC which seems to have really stuck for some people. It was heat of the moment and he'd just watched us gift the tie to Aberdeen (the actual second best team in the country).

This season he's mainly tried to avoid setting any targets in the media as far as I know. Seems like plenty of folk expected us to be winning most weeks and going for 2nd though.

[Smartie]

Dare I say it, but I think another problem is a lack of leadership on the pitch. As much as I love SDG, think I'd prefer the armband to be on SJM or possibly Hanlon. Thoughts?

Leadership isn't just about having the right captain, you need leaders throughout your team.

Our squad is absolutely dripping with experience and we have loads of leaders, yet they're not showing it on the park.

I don't think I've ever seen a Hibs squad that has had more by the way of leadership. Gray, Ambrose, McGregor, Fontaine, Hanlon, Stevenson, Whittaker, Bartley, McGinn - all of these players are leaders in their own way, potential captains.

Yet I do agree that at times we look like we lack leadership.

I think we need to be better organised, to have the right people in the right positions carrying out the right roles and for a few individuals to be looking at themselves in the mirror.

[GreenOnions]

:agree::top marks:agree:

Totally agree all the posts saying his CLASS are based on very little game time. I fail to see how anyone can make a sound judgement on around 200 minutes of football. He may be class I hope he is but we certainly dont know that now based on his time at Hibs. Be had no impact on Saturday if anything the team got worse when he and McGeoch came on not their fault as by then the team had gone.

McGeoch has a far greater claim to start in front of Slivka, having said all that I hope the both start tomorrow and have great games.

I've got to say Sammy I've found that I seem to disagree with virtually everything you post (opinions eh!) but I do agree with the last bit in bold :agree:

[Sammy7nil]

I've got to say Sammy I've found that I seem to disagree with virtually everything you post (opinions eh!) but I do agree with the last bit in bold :agree:

No probs, Onions and Apples eh! :greengrin

[emerald green]

Lennon said something along those lines after we were beaten by Aberdeen in the SC which seems to have really stuck for some people. It was heat of the moment and he'd just watched us gift the tie to Aberdeen (the actual second best team in the country).

This season he's mainly tried to avoid setting any targets in the media as far as I know. Seems like plenty of folk expected us to be winning most weeks and going for 2nd though.

:agree: The first two Aberdeen goals were, yet again, the result of p*** poor defending. Which ultimately cost Hibs a place in another Scottish Cup final.

[Sammy7nil]

:agree: The first two Aberdeen goals were, yet again, the result of p*** poor defending. Which ultimately cost Hibs a place in another Scottish Cup final.

Something NL has yet to sort out as we continue to leak soft goals.

[jacomo]

I dont disagree with him. Some of the stuff the defence produced (Gray perhaps excused) on Saturday was bordering on laughable.

Porteous would have done a better job than Efe on Saturday, so he needs told - and would much rather have a Lennon saying it how it is than the identikit manager some clubs have.


We had a tight defence. Lenny changed it and now we are leaking goals every game.

The buck stops with the manager I'm afraid.

[Blackfordhibby]

Lennon made the following statement (allegedly ) on the 17/05/17. The Aberdeen game was around the 22/04/17 about a month earlier.

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/hibernian/hibs-are-aiming-for-second-says-neil-lennon-1-4447751

[emerald green]

Something NL has yet to sort out as we continue to leak soft goals.

The head coach ultimately takes responsibility, and Lennon stated that, but the players have to take some too.

The goals Hibs lost to Aberdeen last season at Hampden, and again on Saturday, weren't as a result of good play from the opposition. They were gifts.

Although to be fair, Moult took his second goal well, but only after rank bad defending and at least two Hibs players diving into tackles and selling themselves.

[Hi Heid Yin]

Neil Lennon and our team can only be judged at the season's conclusion.
We are at present still in September, but some have already become judge and jury and written our great manager and our team off.
It's head-shaking stuff to read some of the anti-Lennon stuff being posted.
A lot of these negative comments are premature to say the least.
One or two posters need to manage their own expectations better and refrain from touching a keyboard until their frustrations have diminished.

[wookie70]

Neil Lennon and our team can only be judged at the season's conclusion.
We are at present still in September, but some have already become judge and jury and written our great manager and our team off.
It's head-shaking stuff to read some of the anti-Lennon stuff being posted.
A lot of these negative comments are premature to say the least.
One or two posters need to manage their own expectations better and refrain from touching a keyboard until their frustrations have diminished.


There are just as many on the pro Lennon side who can't manage their expectations and were a bit premature too. Should they step away from the keyboard too.

I'll stick with my middle of the road average manager so I won't be too far off the mark as he is definitely neither a world beater or a dud.

[stantonsboots]

I'm sure Lennon said at the start of the season we were the second best team in the league?And if we had taken our chances against Dundee and St johnstone we would be!!!

[wookie70]

He did accept responsibility in his interview after the game. Maybe you should listen to the whole interview.

He slated the players and many of the issues during the game and then said that was not a reflection on him. After he said all the mistakes were their fault he then said he took responsibility. Not exactly as noble as they way you said it. Ultimately he will have to take responsibility because that is what managers do. He has no choice in that. If he is doing it for a reaction then fair enough. It hasn't worked for him before, after last year's Raith game, but there are a few new players. My issue is that he perhaps needs to be looking at his own performance and that of the others involved in preparing the team..

Much of what he said I agree with but there are lots of areas in the team that need attention. Our slow starts, lack of communication, set piece defending, kick offs, throw ins (taking and defending), corners, closing down teams and a host of other elements where we are well below what a well organised team at our level should be producing. They are all in his control and some had a major bearing on the weekends performance.

[WhileTheChief..]

Agree with every word he says...


https://youtu.be/hochYNC4rWE

[flash]

Everything he says is reasonable. We are doing ok this season. Should be 4 points better but still ok.
The problem is if you look back the posters most vocally anti Lennon now didn't want him in the first place.
Sadly it's more important for some people to be right than for Hibs to do well.

[andybev1]

Lots of questinoable decisions and tactics. Get Stevenson back in at left back and drop whittaker to begin with.
Most baffling decision for me was just before their 2nd goal. Bid dave was marking a player at the throw in, just imfromt of the taker. Queue Lennon (I believe) telling hik to drop off and mark the player further up the park. Dave moves and the throw goes to the player that he was initially marking. 2 passes later Goal... Can't fathom the logic behind it whatsoever. Should have been someone else marking him perhaps but that's another issue.

I tried to find this on Hibs tv but the camera did not show it. It turns out that you were bang on and it was mentioned on sportscene but, I think it was, michael steward was blaming the player for running away for no reason - I am a fan of lennon and it will take a lot to change that but this is something he needs to put his hand up to if he is to blame the boys for their mistakes,vif only to keep the respect he rightfully seems to have. It has to be said that Ambrose stll should have been on goalside of moult to stop the shot from going towards goal.

[WhileTheChief..]

Today's press conference where he talks about Saturday again and the Livi game....


https://youtu.be/vxF9DKuyLWQ

[Stevie Reid]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41351812

Doesn't want us to be the great entertainers, and wants to keep clean sheets.

[Centre Hawf]

Rangers???Absolute nonsense.This is the same Rangers you refer to that we destroyed on their own patch?

it's fans like you that are the problem with the club.No belief in the team at all despite the fact its the best squad we have had in over a decade.The current situation is Lennon's doing. we have the tools on the park more than capable of top 3.

Destroyed Rangers? Ffs man we won 3-2 against ten men. Fwiw this collection of players imo has nothing on the Scottish Cup winning team. That was our best team since Mowbrays.

[GreenOnions]

I just watched highlights of yesterday's match on Sportscene.

The defending for Motherwell's second goal was as bad as their first. The programme actually pin pointed Matulevicius (I think it was) turning his back on the Motherwell player taking the throw in which led to their goal. He just turned his back and trotted off down the pitch. It's not clear if he was trying to pick up a Motherwell player, but it didn't look like it from the pictures.

Then, experienced players sold themselves at least twice diving into "tackles" before the ball was banged into the net.
I haven't seen anyone mention the reason Motherwell got the throw-in from which they scored (and it wasn't included in the highlights). One of our central defenders played a square pass to David Gray who had no-one near him. He took his eye off the ball and it rolled under his foot and out for a throw-in. 30 seconds later Motherwell had equalised from that throw-in