St Johnstone 1-1 Hibernian (Shaw)

[Hibrandenburg]

I can't believe this place sometimes.

I had to leave my hotel at halftime and I didn't manage to find somewhere with wi-fi until after the game had finished.

When I logged back in to the MB, I was dreading finding out that we'd lost so I gave a small cheer when I saw we had taken a point.

Then I read the rest of this thread to see that for some folk, the sky has fallen in. Again.

Under plenty of previous managers, Hibs would have crumbled after losing the first goal. We didn't.

We're still in second place along side our rivals who also have a win and a draw to their name so far.

And, to put things in perspective, Celtic won the league in a canter last year and they drew 10 times and lost 4.

We're unbeaten after 7 games. Try to enjoy it.

Exactly, 7 games into the season and we're still unbeaten. 4 of those games have seen us progress through 2 rounds of UEFA games and we're in a decent position to get our 3rd scalp in that competition. We're sat 2nd in the league after 2 games and our average attendances are around 16 000 with the club showing a willingness to reinvest in the team.

All in all the start of the 2018/19 season is arguably the best in decades but still some on here are filled with doom and gloom, how ever did they survive being Hibs fans the last 30 odd years.

[JimBHibees]

To have this exciting wee run in Europe yet still keep kicking up points on a Sunday is pretty special and we should be proud of these guys.
Our manager has transformed this club and we should enjoy every minute we have of him.

Totally agree it is a great time to be a Hibby we need to step back at times and appreciate that.

[Borderhibbie76]

To have this exciting wee run in Europe yet still keep kicking up points on a Sunday is pretty special and we should be proud of these guys.
Our manager has transformed this club and we should enjoy every minute we have of him.Very true...how many teams struggle on a Sunday after euro games yet we've managed 4 out of 6 so far...not bad going at all

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[The Spaceman]

Exactly, 7 games into the season and we're still unbeaten. 4 of those games have seen us progress through 2 rounds of UEFA games and we're in a decent position to get our 3rd scalp in that competition. We're sat 2nd in the league after 2 games and our average attendances are around 16 000 with the club showing a willingness to reinvest in the team.

All in all the start of the 2018/19 season is arguably the best in decades but still some on here are filled with doom and gloom, how ever did they survive being Hibs fans the last 30 odd years.

:top marks

[The Leith Dutch]

While I'm sure nobody would argue the St Johnstone game was a good result it's also not a bad one (and yes, I get it's these points dropped that tell at the end of the season). Gametime for MacLaren, Horgan and Hyndman plus, if we get the same on Thursday it'll have been a very good week where we maintain 2nd place in the league and get to the cusp of the group stages in Europe.

And this having lost our amazing midfield from last season.

Someone had offered you that during the fag end of Butcher's spell in charge and you'd have snapped their hand off.

[SHODAN]

Btw that's one defeat in our last 21 competitive games. Just thought I'd mention it.

Yeah but we didn't win all 20 of those games. Not good enough.

[IWasThere2016]

Unbeaten in 7, one defeat in 21..

There's still player(s) to come in and some aren't up to speed yet.

Chill pills needed for some..

[Heisenberg]

Looks like a member of the Swanson family isn’t best pleased with Lenny...

[The Leith Dutch]

Btw that's one defeat in our last 21 competitive games. Just thought I'd mention it.

And during that run we've scored 50 goals and beaten Celtic, Aberdeen, Rangers and Hearts.

[The Leith Dutch]

Looks like a member of the Swanson family isn’t best pleased with Lenny...

Well now that some throbber on Twitter has commented I for one am no longer impressed with NL's win ratio of 51% or the fact that he's only lost 16 of his 99 matches as Hibs boss.

For the record Butcher had an identical % to Lennon......in terms of loss ratio where he managed to rack up 15 losses in his 29 games in charge.

[Smartie]

Yesterday was the first time I looked at Swanson and thought "this guy guy doesn't have what it takes to play for Hibs".

There was one basic pass in particular out to Stevenson that was shockingly under hit.

He had a great game against Celtic and has shown flashes in his brief cameos but sadly I just don't think he has what it takes.

[Austinho]

Looks like a member of the Swanson family isn’t best pleased with Lenny...Swanson has obviously had terrible off field issues to contend with, but unfortunately there’s no room for sentiment when there’s better in front of you. He’s had a lot of slack from the fans, especially being a Hibs fan - unfortunately for him Lennon picks the team for footballing reasons only.

Seems like Danny has been mouthing off to friends about Lennon rather than knuckling down and fighting for his place.

[The Leith Dutch]

Swanson has obviously had terrible off field issues to contend with, but unfortunately there’s no room for sentiment when there’s better in front of you. He’s had a lot of slack from the fans, especially being a Hibs fan - unfortunately for him Lennon picks the team for footballing reasons only.

Seems like Danny has been mouthing off to friends about Lennon rather than knuckling down and fighting for his place.

Completely agree on the first part but to be fair to Swanson there's no evidence he's been mouthing off - families can be total pricks on their own without the need for prompting ;)

[500miles]

Yesterday was the first time I looked at Swanson and thought "this guy guy doesn't have what it takes to play for Hibs".

There was one basic pass in particular out to Stevenson that was shockingly under hit.

He had a great game against Celtic and has shown flashes in his brief cameos but sadly I just don't think he has what it takes.

Based on 4 minutes yesterday? That's bold.

[Austinho]

Completely agree on the first part but to be fair to Swanson there's no evidence he's been mouthing off - families can be total pricks on their own without the need for prompting ;)Whilst he’s able to form his own opinions about team selection, the part about ‘management skills’ allude to having inside information IMO.

[blackpoolhibs]

Whilst he’s able to form his own opinions about team selection, the part about ‘management skills’ allude to having inside information IMO.

His management skills had us fighting right up to the last day of the season for 3rd, and the week before 2nd.

He must have been very lucky to have his team go so well over the course of a full season, rather than the fragmented seasons we've had in the past, where we've had poor 2nd halfs to the season under different managers.

He's also started this season undefeated, after losing the best midfield in Scotland, and replacing them with different types, and bedding them in, but also chopping and changing them to try and keep the team fresh for Europe, another thing he must have been lucky to qualify for.

Players who dont play much, will always be unhappy, and players who support the club and have family who support the club will always back their man.

If we were struggling, i could see their point, we are not and we are at an all time high with crowds since i have been watching us.

Seems like sour grapes to me, and while i have lots of sympathy with Danny over what happened to his good friend, but that and his part in the problems we had in the hotel while abroad have given Lennon problems which he had to address, and others have come in and overtaken Danny in the pecking order.

I had great hopes when we signed him, in fact Lennon signed him, was that a mistake too?

It's looking like he's just one of those players who looked like a good signing, but its just not worked out.

[Heckys Wheel]

Yesterday was the first time I looked at Swanson and thought "this guy guy doesn't have what it takes to play for Hibs".

There was one basic pass in particular out to Stevenson that was shockingly under hit.

He had a great game against Celtic and has shown flashes in his brief cameos but sadly I just don't think he has what it takes.

To be fair, I think the ground was holding the ball up by that stage. Whittaker did the same minutes later. Poor Lewy was throwing himself into hospital balls with his usual 110% effort.

Danny won’t be anywhere near match fit and will struggle to get there with 5 minutes here and there.

Unfortunately for him, I think the writing is on the wall. Lennon doesn’t fancy him but more than anything, I think he’s came to the club at a time when our Calibre Of player is much higher than it has been for years. I’m sure he would’ve walked into a few of our teams in the darker days.

[Smartie]

Based on 4 minutes yesterday? That's bold.

Based on a succession of things really.

Why does Lennon (whose opinion I trust) not deem him worthy of more than 4 minutes at a time when we're playing 2 games every week early in the season?

Why has he not really made his mark in any of his brief cameos?

I take the point above that the ball was holding up a bit on the pitch, and that it wasn't the only dodgy pass out to Lewis but all of the other players had positive contributions at other times to make up for the odd dodgy pass - Swanson sadly didn't.

It was just a hunch I got. He should have been champing at the bit and starting against his former club. As it was, he failed to make a positive impression during the last 5 minutes.

I've been urging him to do well and I'd love to see him get a proper chance and make it. Those 4 minutes were the first time I looked at him and thought he didn't really have what it took to play in our team.

It was brief, and it is probably very harsh but that was just the way I saw it.

[flash]

One thing I noticed in the highlights was McLarens shot was well over the line when the boy cleared it.

[leither17]

Don’t listen to what Danny’s cousin is saying he is forever opening his mouth before engaging his brain

[SirDavidsNapper]

Yesterday was the first time I looked at Swanson and thought "this guy guy doesn't have what it takes to play for Hibs".

There was one basic pass in particular out to Stevenson that was shockingly under hit.

He had a great game against Celtic and has shown flashes in his brief cameos but sadly I just don't think he has what it takes.

I agree. Lennon sees him every day in training and he still only gets a few minutes here and there. Just cant see him featuring too much in the team this season.

[matty_f]

One thing I noticed in the highlights was McLarens shot was well over the line when the boy cleared it.

I thought it was too hard to tell for certain. Obviously, I'd have given it :greengrin

[matty_f]

Based on a succession of things really.

Why does Lennon (whose opinion I trust) not deem him worthy of more than 4 minutes at a time when we're playing 2 games every week early in the season?

Why has he not really made his mark in any of his brief cameos?

I take the point above that the ball was holding up a bit on the pitch, and that it wasn't the only dodgy pass out to Lewis but all of the other players had positive contributions at other times to make up for the odd dodgy pass - Swanson sadly didn't.

It was just a hunch I got. He should have been champing at the bit and starting against his former club. As it was, he failed to make a positive impression during the last 5 minutes.

I've been urging him to do well and I'd love to see him get a proper chance and make it. Those 4 minutes were the first time I looked at him and thought he didn't really have what it took to play in our team.

It was brief, and it is probably very harsh but that was just the way I saw it.

I think that's fair. Managers don't keep their best players out the side, so if someone's not in the team it's because there's a better option ahead of them.

I like Swanson, I'm desparate for him to do well but he needs to do more to get a jersey from someone in the first 11 already.

[flash]

I thought it was too hard to tell for certain. Obviously, I'd have given it :greengrin

I just went by where the boy ended up and the reaction of the Hibs players. Well over the line was probably a bit speculative.

[alihibs1]

Can't believe the absoulte meltdown from some. If we sign a decent box to box central midfielder then we are back to a very good team. One draw to St Johnstone who are the only team we didn't beat last season doesn't really prove anything especially when we were resting key players and had a game on the Thursday night.

I have full faith in Lennon to deliver both in Europe and the league this season.

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[Centre Hawf]

Can’t say I’m overly impressed by Swansons brief cameos but know there’s perhaps a player in there. I think it would be better for all parties to maybe cut ties and go separate ways. He’ll be 32 by the end of the year and him sitting on the bench isn’t good for his final career stages. Nor is it good for our squad and budget.

[G B Young]

Probably been mentioned earlier in the thread but was Tony Watt getting stick from the Hibs fans yesterday? If not, what on earth was his celebration supposed to prove? Was he honestly trying to play the 'ex yam' card?! If so, he's a sad case given that he was hopeful for the yams and was quickly punted - as he has been with pretty much every club he's been at.

[Sammy7nil]

I think that's fair. Managers don't keep their best players out the side, so if someone's not in the team it's because there's a better option ahead of them.

I like Swanson, I'm desparate for him to do well but he needs to do more to get a jersey from someone in the first 11 already.


I agree. Lennon sees him every day in training and he still only gets a few minutes here and there. Just cant see him featuring too much in the team this season.

Managers do keep their best players out the team - Riordan at Celtic anyone?

For whatever reason NL just does not want Danny in his team I douby any of us will get the full answer. Danny has not really had a chance although when he has had 60 mins plus I agree he could have done better but those all came at a bad time for him. So with that I think it is best for Him and Hibs if he moves on and I wish him all the best.

[J-C]

After Hibs gave him all their support during the trial he didn't help himself by what happened in Portugal, he's lost Lennon's trust and the fact Lennon tried to move him on in January says it all. It would be best if he moved in.

[andybev1]

I think, maybe like Scot Allan, Swanson might just be a better fit at st Johnstone. I hate to see a good player go to waste - especially one I think is a good guy. Msaybe Lennon has not forgiven him as I cannot figure why he did not play directly after his great performance against Celtic but either way he needs to be playing at this time in his career. Msybe he will wait to see out our Euro adventure first as you never know how things might turn out if we do the unthinkable and get to the group stages as we vwill need every player in our squad to contribute......lets hope that he gets that chance.

[Mr_F]

We’re bang average without McGinn. Midfield is slow, devoid of drive, urgency & a leader..

Bad enough to lose him, Dylan & Allan then to replace all 3 with players nowhere near as good..

Nobody expects us to replace like for like but if we don’t even come close we’ll be miles off from last season

Was ripped for this on Sunday but now the general consensus seems to be similar...

Midfield is desperately in need of fresh faces...