Our midfield - Fans opinions

[Sammy7nil]

I constantly read on here Slivka is a great player a "real class act" I have to say I don't agree I think he is fine. I have yet to see him control of dominate a game and his efforts off the ball could be much better as demonstrated last night.

Omeonga again i think he is a good player who has had only a little time to prove himself however we have some people on here saying he will be a real great.

I think we all just need to take a step back and agree the reality is as usual somewhere in the middle.

Currently we don't have a good midfield if we did we may have had a an effort on goal at home in a must not lose cup tie. Our midfield could not conjure an effort in 90 minutes.

I am not picking on these guys Mallan Horgan Milligan could all do better.

We certainly need changes in this area if we are to avoid a struggle for top six again next season.

This is turning in to a ramble so I will stop my point is we currently have no class acts in midfield, we have good solid players who need to do better if we are to improve.

[DetroitHibs]

For me it's not so much the midfield, more the shape. Our biggest issue is the full back positions. We play a narrow diamond formation and rely on Stevenson and Gray to deliver quality in to the box. Gray is good enough when fit, baring yesterday where his deliver was awful, but Stevenson isn't effective enough. If your going to play the diamond formation, you need two quality full backs that can bomb up and down the flanks, take players on and cross the ball.

[Heisenberg]

We currently have no proper right midfield player due to injury/poor recruitment. Milligan is ok against the smaller teams but struggles in games against the better sides. Slivka is average, which is why he couldn’t get into the team last season when we had a better midfield. Horgan is inconsistent and can’t last a full game. Mallan is brilliant at delivering the ball and shooting but isn’t very good at a lot of other things.

Major work required in the summer.

[Allant1981]

For me it's not so much the midfield, more the shape. Our biggest issue is the full back positions. We play a narrow diamond formation and rely on Stevenson and Gray to deliver quality in to the box. Gray is good enough when fit, baring yesterday where his deliver was awful, but Stevenson isn't effective enough. If your going to play the diamond formation, you need two quality full backs that can bomb up and down the flanks, take players on and cross the ball.

Apart from the last 3 games where we have played with a 4-4-2 you mean and not a diamond?

[BoomtownHibees]

I don’t know why Horgan was moved over to the right to accommodate Omeonga despite being one of our best players over the last few weeks. If we wanted to bring Omeonga in for Mallan then for me it should have just been a straight swap, no real need to make 2 changes when 1 will do

[DetroitHibs]

Apart from the last 3 games where we have played with a 4-4-2 you mean and not a diamond?

No we played a diamond in those games with Mallan at the top of the diamond and Milligan at the bottom. Must be watching a different game from me.

[BoomtownHibees]

No we played a diamond in those games with Mallan at the top of the diamond and Milligan at the bottom. Must be watching a different game from me.

No we didn’t. Mallan has played on the right, Horgan left with Slivka and Milligan in the middle

[Allant1981]

No we played a diamond in those games with Mallan at the top of the diamond and Milligan at the bottom. Must be watching a different game from me.

Must have been as mallan was playing wide right

[truehibernian]

Have to move on Marvin Bartley and Milligan - way to slow for the top league and neither have game or spatial awareness and they cost goals whenever they play. And neither can drive the team forward which even as defensively minded players they should be able to do when possession is won centrally.

We really aren't helped by Boyle being out which is a blow, and as for Agyepong - he should have been sent back in January and another wide player brought in. Gauld hasn't offered anything in the number of games he has been involved in too (for me). So that's two creative players offering zero with the likelihood they won't see many games hereon in.

Midfield needs legs, energy and creativity. We're looking at a big summer recruitment drive in my opinion. New right back and left back to really challenge (or replace SDG and Lewis), a new centre half, up to four midfielders and three strikers. That's a big overhaul. But one which is required.

[Sammy7nil]

Have to move on Marvin Bartley and Milligan - way to slow for the top league and neither have game or spatial awareness and they cost goals whenever they play. And neither can drive the team forward which even as defensively minded players they should be able to do when possession is won centrally.

We really aren't helped by Boyle being out which is a blow, and as for Agyepong - he should have been sent back in January and another wide player brought in. Gauld hasn't offered anything in the number of games he has been involved in too (for me). So that's two creative players offering zero with the likelihood they won't see many games hereon in.

Midfield needs legs, energy and creativity. We're looking at a big summer recruitment drive in my opinion. New right back and left back to really challenge (or replace SDG and Lewis), a new centre half, up to four midfielders and three strikers. That's a big overhaul. But one which is required.

That is TEN players out gorgie chums would be proud of such recruitment :greengrin

[truehibernian]

That is TEN players out gorgie chums would be proud of such recruitment :greengrin

I think that would be required Sammy (10 players) - not in any 'panic driven' way, just in a well thought through recruitment drive. McNulty, Omeonga, Nelom, Gauld, Bogdan, Agyepong, Johnson are all loans - so they will be gone. From the development side I would say Fraser Murray can (and will) step up, Mackie has been around the squad latter end of the season, but I honestly don't see anyone from there that is banging on the door to force themselves into the first team.

One thing we can also rely on - again sadly - is our back line having injuries which keep them out a run of games. SDG, Daz and Hanlon have all been out the last two seasons for a clutch of games which really impacts on the side. We don't have decent, quality cover. Lewis is a mainstay but even he has been out and he needs a proper challenge - dare I say someone who can come into that position and offer more going forward.

Sounds like a big turnaround, but on the face of it we need that to refresh the squad and make it competitive and have players who can play that high press/energy game that PH wants.

[number9dream]

Allan and Boyle to come in next season. Loan players to disappear. PH needs to build around Allan. Not sure where that leaves Mallan. Is Murray going to break through?

With hindsight, it might have been better to play Omeonga central and push Slivka right, with Horgan left since Brown was allowed to strut around under little pressure last night. Not sure it would have made much difference though...

[Since90+2]

I'm not Slivka's biggest fan but I thought he played well yesterday.

Bartley is finished and I'm not really sure what Milligan brings to the team.

We probably need 3 or 4 new midfielders in the summer.

[Sammy7nil]

I think that would be required Sammy (10 players) - not in any 'panic driven' way, just in a well thought through recruitment drive. McNulty, Omeonga, Nelom, Gauld, Bogdan, Agyepong, Johnson are all loans - so they will be gone. From the development side I would say Fraser Murray can (and will) step up, Mackie has been around the squad latter end of the season, but I honestly don't see anyone from there that is banging on the door to force themselves into the first team.

One thing we can also rely on - again sadly - is our back line having injuries which keep them out a run of games. SDG, Daz and Hanlon have all been out the last two seasons for a clutch of games which really impacts on the side. We don't have decent, quality cover. Lewis is a mainstay but even he has been out and he needs a proper challenge - dare I say someone who can come into that position and offer more going forward.

Sounds like a big turnaround, but on the face of it we need that to refresh the squad and make it competitive and have players who can play that high press/energy game that PH wants.

Put like that you are probably right.

[SChibs]

Keep on hearing that we didn't have a shot on goal but I seem to remember at least 1, just saying.

[B.H.F.C]

Keep on hearing that we didn't have a shot on goal but I seem to remember at least 1, just saying.

McNulty had a couple from distance that trundled to the goalie.

I think a more accurate thing to say would be that we didn’t create any real chances.

[neil7908]

Think we have to remember that come the summer we will have Allan and Boyle available, both of whom would have started yesterday.

I think we need to seriously look at Milligan and Bartley and whether they offer us enough if we want to push on.

We also have a very unbalanced squad that is bloated in some areas but threadbare in the others. I had totally forgotten about the midfielder we got from Motherwell in January.

A clear out is needed and a real emphasis on quality over quantity this summer. My worry is the defence needs work as well given the age of all bar Porteous so we could have another huge overall, with the uncertainty that brings.

I said this under Lennon and I think it's true that we have the nucleus of a very good team.

We need a bit more targeted approach this summer as we can't afford to throw money on the likes of Marvais, Agyepong, Nelom etc. We simply don't have the resources.

[truehibernian]

Think we have to remember that come the summer we will have Allan and Boyle available, both of whom would have started yesterday.

I think we need to seriously look at Milligan and Bartley and whether they offer us enough if we want to push on.

We also have a very unbalanced squad that is bloated in some areas but threadbare in the others. I had totally forgotten about the midfielder we got from Motherwell in January.

A clear out is needed and a real emphasis on quality over quantity this summer. My worry is the defence needs work as well given the age of all bar Porteous so we could have another huge overall, with the uncertainty that brings.

I said this under Lennon and I think it's true that we have the nucleus of a very good team.

We need a bit more targeted approach this summer as we can't afford to throw money on the likes of Marvais, Agyepong, Nelom etc. We simply don't have the resources.

Would not surprise me in the slightest if Lennon bids for Boyle in summer given the praise and backing he has always given him.

[B.H.F.C]

Looking ahead to next season then the creative side of our midfield is shaping up well enough. Horgan and Boyle. Allan to come in. And although Mallan splits opinion his goals and assists can’t be totally discounted.

It’s still the McGinn and McGrough replacements we need, same as last year. As soon as we come to up against one of the better sides in the league we toil to control the game whatsoever.

[J-C]

Our midfield recruitment by Lennon was scattergun approach as was the whole squad, we have holes all over the pitch and very little decent back up options.

A bunch of short term loans, an ageing defensive midfielder, a freekick specialist with the pace of a tortoise, Horgan who flips a coin to decide how he's going to play, Agyepong who we thinks is still here but know one has seen him due to permanent injury, Slivka who looks a player but frustrated the hell out of you because can't take the game by the scruff of the neck, Bartley who is past his best and another seemingly injury prone player in Gauld.

We're desperately missing Boyle and the pace and directness he gives to the team. Porteous is another we really miss as he was fast becoming an important player for us.

As said earlier playing a narrow diamond means we need quality down the flanks from both wingbacks, Stevenson although tries his best is not and never will be a natural attacking wingback, he's a fullback and Gray doesn't seem the same player this season, maybe injuries and age catching up with him.

What I don't understand is the lad Mackie did reasonably well when he came in, he's very good at going forward and plays naturally as a left attacking midfielder, plus he has a lovely left foot and his crossing is top quality. Also is Nelom so bad he doesn't get a look in, is that's the case why didn't we release him in January, seems a waste of a wage.

The whole squad just seems like a makeshift unit, jumbled together without any thought process, I remember Leeann stating when she and Craig took over that they wanted 2 players per position and a few youngsters added for experience. Well if that's the case why did we have 3 RB's? and not enough strikers etc.

[SChibs]

McNulty had a couple from distance that trundled to the goalie.

I think a more accurate thing to say would be that we didn’t create any real chances.

The stats show we had 2 on target and Celtic had 3

[calumhibee1]

There's not one midfielder in our squad who I would be really disappointed at losing. I think that says a lot about the squad we've built.

A lot of them could probably be described as fine but that's about it imo.

[BoomtownHibees]

The stats show we had 2 on target and Celtic had 3

Stats eh. Our 2 on target rolled in to the goalies hands. 2 out of Celtc’s 3 banged in to the back of the net

[Eyrie]

We need to decider the shape we want to use and recruit for that.

The flat four doesn't work against Celtc because Milligan/Bartley want to sit deep, which forces Slivka to drop back to avoid gaps appearing and that means we're unable to press them. The diamond places a reliance on the full backs for width which doesn't work in games like yesterday where we need them to be defenders and pick their moments to go forward. We don't have the personnel to play 3-5-2 with a midfield trio.

Next year we'll have Allan, Slivka, Boyle and Horgan as starters and Milligan, Mallan and Murray on the bench. That starting four is lightweight, so we need a McGinn-style grafter for balance and preferably two if we can come to an agreement with Milligan.

Once we know what the midfield shape is, we can then decide if we're recruiting for three at the back or four.

[wookie70]

Would not surprise me in the slightest if Lennon bids for Boyle in summer given the praise and backing he has always given him.

What team will we be wanting to sign him for.

[GreenPJ]

Slivka is a quality player on the ball and a man down off it. His technical ability, some of his passing and his ability to step away from a man are all very good, but off the ball (i.e. defending) he sits miles off his man, can't tackle, loses his energy. I can see why he was at Juve and I can also see why he is now at Hibs, if he can't improve his off the ball play and defending he needs to be released.

Omeanga is a good player - for a foreign player he has adapted to our game pretty well and was decent on the left side - one to keep if we can.

Milligan - good player just trying to work out exactly what his position is but think he will go in the summer anyway.

Horgan - decent, could do better but again needs to be played in a consistent position

Murray - needs to take his chance soon - he does very well at development level and clearly had a few injuries but soon make or break time I think.

Allan - will improve us immensely.

Marv - love him but looked really off the pace and error prone but would still have him for every derby but think he will be gone in the summer.

Boyle - great to have him back and much needed pace (assuming its still there)

Vacancy - hate to say it we need a Neil Lennon type - someone to do the dirty work and then let Allan, Horgan, etc do their stuff.

[Aim Here]

Would not surprise me in the slightest if Lennon bids for Boyle in summer given the praise and backing he has always given him.

Unlikely. It's still not a given that Lenny will be recruiting the players in summer, and if he does do that, that'll mean not one, but two years of Boyle not getting a game with the likes of Forrest ahead of him in the queue. He'd spend half his time at Celtic playing cribbage with all the other players in Celtic's hoard and the other half being loaned back out, in the style of Allan or Mulumbu.

[gaz1875]

Our midfield - Fans opinions

Painfully low.

Slivka I like but he is quicker when he has the ball than when he doesn't, 2 poor efforts at both Celtic goals at closing down the goal scorers.

Milligan one paced and that's slow, terrible at getting caught square on by attacking oppositions, goal 1 yesterday a typical example as well as the bookings he gets for pulling players back who walk past him, and his marking at corners is another story, he can also cut down the backwards passes when there is space to run, or someone in front available.

Mallan best striker of the ball by a mile, heart of a mouse, loves to look at the opposition numbers on the back of the jerseys, at least it looks that way when they stroll past him unchallenged.

Omeonga, no wonder the boy got cramp, never stopped closing players down, and trying to start counter attacks.

Horgan okay, needs to keep wide left to stretch the opposition.

[CMac1988]

Our midfield - Fans opinions

Painfully low.

Slivka I like but he is quicker when he has the ball than when he doesn't, 2 poor efforts at both Celtic goals at closing down the goal scorers.

Milligan one paced and that's slow, terrible at getting caught square on by attacking oppositions, goal 1 yesterday a typical example as well as the bookings he gets for pulling players back who walk past him, and his marking at corners is another story, he can also cut down the backwards passes when there is space to run, or someone in front available.

Mallan best striker of the ball by a mile, heart of a mouse, loves to look at the opposition numbers on the back of the jerseys, at least it looks that way when they stroll past him unchallenged.

Omeonga, no wonder the boy got cramp, never stopped closing players down, and trying to start counter attacks.

Horgan okay, needs to keep wide left to stretch the opposition.

Agree with this. Fair analysis that points out some issues with our midfield especially in the case of Mallan and Slivka. I must say that Mallan made a fair nuisance of himself up at Dens though and I had hoped to see more of the same at McDiarmid Park but he reverted to jogging around again off the ball.

[Hibees1973]

Mallan and Milligan fall short of the quality we need.

Would persist with Omeonga, Horgan, Slivka and Bartley. Obviously we do miss Boyle. If there are any other midfielders at the club bin them.

Key for midfielders nowadays is energy to get around the park and strength. Mallan and Milligan have neither. Mackie is a better option than these two. He is physical and gets around the pitch. Good left foot too.

Why doesn’t Fraser Murray get near the team. He is at an age now when he should be making regular appearances. If he is not good enough now then why is he still at the club.

[Weegreenman]

I constantly read on here Slivka is a great player a "real class act" I have to say I don't agree I think he is fine. I have yet to see him control of dominate a game and his efforts off the ball could be much better as demonstrated last night.

Omeonga again i think he is a good player who has had only a little time to prove himself however we have some people on here saying he will be a real great.

I think we all just need to take a step back and agree the reality is as usual somewhere in the middle.

Currently we don't have a good midfield if we did we may have had a an effort on goal at home in a must not lose cup tie. Our midfield could not conjure an effort in 90 minutes.

I am not picking on these guys Mallan Horgan Milligan could all do better.

We certainly need changes in this area if we are to avoid a struggle for top six again next season.

This is turning in to a ramble so I will stop my point is we currently have no class acts in midfield, we have good solid players who need to do better if we are to improve.



I think we are quite a way short all over the park tbh. Our defence, average at best but because there’s a few legends in there, they seem to escape criticism and some of my fellow supporters are happy to except mediocrity. Our midfield is toothless with maybe the exception of Horgan who has potential to become an important player for us. Up top, we have two strikers I like but we need to see much more from Kamberi. His contribution isn’t anywhere near enough for my liking. Pretty sure we’ll see a few old faces leave and some new ones come in before the start of next season. Whether that’ll be enough to please the fair weather season ticket holders is something we’ll need to wait and see.

[CMurdoch]

End of the season:
7 players are loans McNulty, Omeonga, Nelom, Gauld, Bogdan, Agyepong, Johnson - from what i have seen, retain McNulty, Omeonga & Bogdan but I don't expect to see them.

5 players are out of contract McGregor, Grey, Bartley, Bigirimana & Nelom - I would keep McGregor 1 more year if his knees are up to it. Grey might get another year. Alternately, the Heck might clear these 2 guys out given their poor use of the ball in their playing areas plus medical issues.

Whittaker - hopefully he gets some game time so the manager can decide if he is part of his plans for next season. If not they can have a chat about moving on, coaching etc


Next season:
The manager will have those players who are under contract, including Porteous & Boyle plus perhaps 6 new signings, including Allan, a couple of loans and 1 or 2 retained from the above list.

[truehibernian]

End of the season:
7 players are loans McNulty, Omeonga, Nelom, Gauld, Bogdan, Agyepong, Johnson - from what i have seen, retain McNulty, Omeonga & Bogdan but I don't expect to see them.

5 players are out of contract McGregor, Grey, Bartley, Bigirimana & Nelom - I would keep McGregor 1 more year if his knees are up to it. Grey might get another year. Alternately, the Heck might clear these 2 guys out given their poor use of the ball in their playing areas plus medical issues.

Whittaker - hopefully he gets some game time so the manager can decide if he is part of his plans for next season. If not they can have a chat about moving on, coaching etc


Next season:
The manager will have Porteous, Allan & Boyle back plus perhaps 6 new signings, a couple of loans and 1 or 2 retained from the above list.

I'd be shipping out Whitty, Bartley and Daz. We need younger, less injury prone and more athletic players next season.

[J-C]

End of the season:
7 players are loans McNulty, Omeonga, Nelom, Gauld, Bogdan, Agyepong, Johnson - from what i have seen, retain McNulty, Omeonga & Bogdan but I don't expect to see them.

5 players are out of contract McGregor, Grey, Bartley, Bigirimana & Nelom - I would keep McGregor 1 more year if his knees are up to it. Grey might get another year. Alternately, the Heck might clear these 2 guys out given their poor use of the ball in their playing areas plus medical issues.

Whittaker - hopefully he gets some game time so the manager can decide if he is part of his plans for next season. If not they can have a chat about moving on, coaching etc


Next season:
The manager will have those players who are under contract, including Porteous & Boyle plus perhaps 6 new signings, including Allan, a couple of loans and 1 or 2 retained from the above list.
Nelom isn't a loan, end of season contract.

[CMurdoch]

Nelom isn't a loan, end of season contract.

Of course he is. Doh moment for me.
Always in the squad but almost never on the pitch.
Has probably had less game time than Lewis Allan.

[Mutu]

Some pretty on point analysis in this thread.

In general, it is a squad which has been assembled without a clear vision in mind.

We have some good ball players (Mallan, Slivka, Horgan and now Gauld, Omeonga and Bigirimana) which in my opinion are suited to playing a narrow midfield. Guys like Mallan are never going to be able to dominate a midfield as a flat 4 but with bodies around him in a diamond for example, I think he can flourish. However, playing narrow in midfield means width is achieved with full backs who are good ball players who can run all day. Gray and Stevenson are neither.

A narrow midfield therefore isn't optimal.

But neither is a 4-4-2 because we have in my view only 3 midfielders who can actually be truly effective in a midfield flat 4: Horgan on the wing. Slivka and Omeonga central.

It's a mess.

The smart choice for next season would be to build a midfield around Allan and get in some new full backs.

[jacomo]

I constantly read on here Slivka is a great player a "real class act" I have to say I don't agree I think he is fine. I have yet to see him control of dominate a game and his efforts off the ball could be much better as demonstrated last night.

Omeonga again i think he is a good player who has had only a little time to prove himself however we have some people on here saying he will be a real great.

I think we all just need to take a step back and agree the reality is as usual somewhere in the middle.

Currently we don't have a good midfield if we did we may have had a an effort on goal at home in a must not lose cup tie. Our midfield could not conjure an effort in 90 minutes.

I am not picking on these guys Mallan Horgan Milligan could all do better.

We certainly need changes in this area if we are to avoid a struggle for top six again next season.

This is turning in to a ramble so I will stop my point is we currently have no class acts in midfield, we have good solid players who need to do better if we are to improve.


My take on it is that we have some good individual players but we have rarely had the right balance all season.

I do think Omeonga looks quality though and someone who it would be worth trying to sign on a permanent deal. I think he gives us energy and love to see him in a central role more to see what he can do.

[04Sauzee]

My take on it is that we have some good individual players but we have rarely had the right balance all season.

I do think Omeonga looks quality though and someone who it would be worth trying to sign on a permanent deal. I think he gives us energy and love to see him in a central role more to see what he can do.
I'd very much doubt we could afford his fee or his wages. He's definitely someone if we were into speculating to accumulate then he could make us money.