We are too nice; a couple of dirty, cynical bassas required

[Hibernia&Alba]

Another lead thrown away. How many points have we now dropped from winning positions? When we're ahead, instead of building on it, we fold like a cheap suit. We need to be more professional, more ruthless. When ahead in the second half, make it difficult for the opposition: slow the game down, waste time, know which areas to give away a foul, get in the referees ear. There's nothing wrong with sleekit game management; that's craftsmanship as a professional footballer, and all the good teams do it.

Leadership is the thing: stalwarts who know what's required to get their team over the line. We don't seem to have any leaders just now and are a soft touch as a consequence. Put the tackles in, break up the game, battle for the points when ahead. We need a commanding centre-half and central midfielder to lay down the law and take charge out there; the type of player Scott Brown has been at Celtic for years.

Any suggestions regarding a couple of signings who could give us that edge?

[Sweet Left Peg]

Bartley?

[blackpoolhibs]

Not convinced we need a hard bugger, its better players we need, and if they can put the boot in too all the better.

[lyonhibs]

Not convinced we need a hard bugger, its better players we need, and if they can put the boot in too all the better.

Quite. Leave the debase thuggery to other teams.

Ball players with the capacity to remain calm and still put a shift in are what's required to see out games not hatchet men.

[Pretty Boy]

We need a player who can control possession and dictate the tempo. Someone who can remain calm and keep it simple when it all gets a bit frantic. If only we could think of such a player known to both the club and the manager......

[scooby]

We need a player who can control possession and dictate the tempo. Someone who can remain calm and keep it simple when it all gets a bit frantic. If only we could think of such a player known to both the club and the manager......

Yup, the very man for the job.

[B.H.F.C]

Quite. Leave the debase thuggery to other teams.

Ball players with the capacity to remain calm and still put a shift in are what's required to see out games not hatchet men.

Time and a place for everything. John McGinn was our best player by a mile in recent history. But when he had to kick someone, he kicked them to stop an attack or whatever.

[vuefrom1875]

Another lead thrown away. How many points have we now dropped from winning positions? When we're ahead, instead of building on it, we fold like a cheap suit. We need to be more professional, more ruthless. When ahead in the second half, make it difficult for the opposition: slow the game down, waste time, know which areas to give away a foul, get in the referees ear. There's nothing wrong with sleekit game management; that's craftsmanship as a professional footballer, and all the good teams do it.

Leadership is the thing: stalwarts who know what's required to get their team over the line. We don't seem to have any leaders just now and are a soft touch as a consequence. Put the tackles in, break up the game, battle for the points when ahead. We need a commanding centre-half and central midfielder to lay down the law and take charge out there; the type of player Scott Brown has been at Celtic for years.

Any suggestions regarding a couple of signings who could give us that edge? Marvin Bartley.

[lyonhibs]

Time and a place for everything. John McGinn was our best player by a mile in recent history. But when he had to kick someone, he kicked them to stop an attack or whatever.

But he was first and foremost our best actual football player by a mile in recent history, so he did a lot more of that for us than kicking folk. My aversion is not to great football players who know when to put the boot in but rather that "dirty, cynical bassas" are what the team requires.

We need far more John McGinns than Paul Loverings, put it that way :greengrin

[147lothian]

Quite. Leave the debase thuggery to other teams.

Ball players with the capacity to remain calm and still put a shift in are what's required to see out games not hatchet men.

Sounds to me like your describing Dylan McGeough

[The Modfather]

Would a midfield 3 of Allan, Hallberg & McGeouch, off the ball, be good enough to compete for 3rd and 4th?

[Hibernia&Alba]

Not convinced we need a hard bugger, its better players we need, and if they can put the boot in too all the better.


Quite. Leave the debase thuggery to other teams.

Ball players with the capacity to remain calm and still put a shift in are what's required to see out games not hatchet men.

I'm not talking 'hatchet men' of the 1970s and 1980s, but leaders who know how to get their team across the winning line, such as Broony at Celtic. Players who know how to get a professional job done, but, aye, that might mean taking a yellow card for the team when required. Good (and even great) players can be ruthless professionals. Man United had Keane and Scholes; Liverpool had Gerrard; Man City had Yaya Toure; Arsenal had Viera. Think of the great defenders in Scotland, such as Willie Miller, Roy Aitken, Richard Gough.

We seem to lack the backbone and leadership required to get the job done just now. Every good team needs a blend, which includes real leaders who can do the dirty work when required :agree:

I think we need a couple of guys who can lead by example and really bark at other players when needed.

[Hibernia&Alba]

Time and a place for everything. John McGinn was our best player by a mile in recent history. But when he had to kick someone, he kicked them to stop an attack or whatever.

Exactly. It's possible to be both a good player and a hardened professional. You can't be a soft touch in this league, even in 2019 :agree:

[Hibernia&Alba]

Would a midfield 3 of Allan, Hallberg & McGeouch, off the ball, be good enough to compete for 3rd and 4th?

Definitely not. Too easily bullied.

[lyonhibs]

I'm not talking 'hatchet men' of the 1970s and 1980s, but leaders who know how to get their team across the winning line, such as Broony at Celtic. Players who know how to get a professional job done, but, aye, that might mean taking a yellow card for the team when required. Good (and even great) players can be ruthless professionals. Man United had Keane and Scholes; Liverpool had Gerrard; Man City had Yaya Toure; Arsenal had Viera. Think of the great defenders in Scotland, such as Willie Miller, Roy Aitken, Richard Gough.

We seem to lack the backbone and leadership required to get the job done just now. Every good team needs a blend, which includes real leaders who can do the dirty work when required :agree:

I think we need a couple of guys who can lead by example and really bark at other players when needed.

Now you're talking. "Dirty cynical bassas" brought to mind players who were that and basically only that.

[heretoday]

Marvin Bartley.

We shouldn't have let him go.

[Brightside]

Would a midfield 3 of Allan, Hallberg & McGeouch, off the ball, be good enough to compete for 3rd and 4th?

Yes if it was a 352.

[DetroitHibs]

Badly lacking any leaders on the field too.

[lord bunberry]

We shouldn't have let him go.

You’re right he’ll probably be Livingstons player of the year.

[Peevemor]

You’re right he’ll probably be Livingstons player of the year.You only need about 3 votes to win it.

[MWHIBBIES]

You only need about 3 votes to win it.

:faf:

[Barney McGrew]

We need a player who can control possession and dictate the tempo. Someone who can remain calm and keep it simple when it all gets a bit frantic. If only we could think of such a player known to both the club and the manager......

And he would come back to us in an instant given the opportunity.

[sleeping giant]

And he would come back to us in an instant given the opportunity.

Who we all talking about ?
Dylan or Marvin ?

[Hamish]

Stephen Gleeson worth a look? Not getting a look in at Pittodrie.

Anytime I saw him at Birmingham he was their best player.

That was 3 or 4 years ago though.

[G B Young]

I'm not talking 'hatchet men' of the 1970s and 1980s, but leaders who know how to get their team across the winning line, such as Broony at Celtic. Players who know how to get a professional job done, but, aye, that might mean taking a yellow card for the team when required. Good (and even great) players can be ruthless professionals. Man United had Keane and Scholes; Liverpool had Gerrard; Man City had Yaya Toure; Arsenal had Viera. Think of the great defenders in Scotland, such as Willie Miller, Roy Aitken, Richard Gough.

We seem to lack the backbone and leadership required to get the job done just now. Every good team needs a blend, which includes real leaders who can do the dirty work when required :agree:

I think we need a couple of guys who can lead by example and really bark at other players when needed.

A particular affliction which affects us when we make midweek winter trips to the Highlands - fixtures where our record must be pretty dismal down the years. We may have finished above Inverness and County more often than not, but better Hibs teams than this one have struggled in these fixtures. You almost get the sense the long trip is too much for them and a meek defeat is somehow regarded as acceptable. I know we're streets behind Celtic, who won 4-1 at County last weekend, but we really should, as you say, be capable of building on a 1-0 lead and not folding in all too familiar fashion.

[Stokesy's on fire]

Stephen Gleeson worth a look? Not getting a look in at Pittodrie.

Anytime I saw him at Birmingham he was their best player.

That was 3 or 4 years ago though.


If he isnt good enough for Aberdeen then he isnt good enough for Hibs. We need better

[ano hibby]

And he would come back to us in an instant given the opportunity.

Based on knowledge of the player, if you don’t mind me asking...?

[The 90+2]

If he isnt good enough for Aberdeen then he isnt good enough for Hibs. We need better

Aberdeen are quite a little ahead of us. Some players don’t fit right either.

[jacomo]

You’re right he’ll probably be Livingstons player of the year.


Another deemed:

‘Not good enough for where we want to be.’

Could someone tell me exactly where that is?

[Del Boy]

The guy Butcher at United does a good job in their midfield, watched him dominate in both the derby games v Dundee. Took out Jamie Ness in the first one (also scored couple goals) then smashed Dorrans in the second one. Not a great footballer but solid and allows others to play.

[snedzuk]

Another lead thrown away. How many points have we now dropped from winning positions? When we're ahead, instead of building on it, we fold like a cheap suit. We need to be more professional, more ruthless. When ahead in the second half, make it difficult for the opposition: slow the game down, waste time, know which areas to give away a foul, get in the referees ear. There's nothing wrong with sleekit game management; that's craftsmanship as a professional footballer, and all the good teams do it.

Leadership is the thing: stalwarts who know what's required to get their team over the line. We don't seem to have any leaders just now and are a soft touch as a consequence. Put the tackles in, break up the game, battle for the points when ahead. We need a commanding centre-half and central midfielder to lay down the law and take charge out there; the type of player Scott Brown has been at Celtic for years.

Any suggestions regarding a couple of signings who could give us that edge?

Derek mcinnes- see this Saturday

[Smartie]

Would a midfield 3 of Allan, Hallberg & McGeouch, off the ball, be good enough to compete for 3rd and 4th?

Possibly not, but they’d be so much better in possession that it might not matter.

Interesting shout about 352 elsewhere. The other night was the first time that the diamond was ruthlessly punished but we’ve now seen the weakness of one up front and the diamond. Even with our current personnel I’m thinking we need to be trying 352. Hecky would never have done it but Jack Ross has been known to go 3 at the back.

[B.H.F.C]

Possibly not, but they’d be so much better in possession that it might not matter.

Interesting shout about 352 elsewhere. The other night was the first time that the diamond was ruthlessly punished but we’ve now seen the weakness of one up front and the diamond. Even with our current personnel I’m thinking we need to be trying 352. Hecky would never have done it but Jack Ross has been known to go 3 at the back.

Whatever formation we play, there are going to be weaknesses because some of the players are just poor or playing poorly. The same things will continue to occur until we get an opportunity to change some of them.

Still don’t think last night was anything to do with playing the diamond. I am surprised that Ross hasn’t come in for a bit more criticism for playing Boyle on the left of it though.

[Smartie]

Whatever formation we play, there are going to be weaknesses because some of the players are just poor or playing poorly. The same things will continue to occur until we get an opportunity to change some of them.

Still don’t think last night was anything to do with playing the diamond. I am surprised that Ross hasn’t come in for a bit more criticism for playing Boyle on the left of it though.

Who do you think is playing poorly?

Stevenson has been taking some criticism but you don’t have his medals and number of appearances if you can’t prevent a cross from coming into the box. He’s hung out to dry in a diamond, especially when it is Boyle in that role in the left.

Hanlon has played his best football for Hibs on the left of a 3.

[B.H.F.C]

Who do you think is playing poorly?

Stevenson has been taking some criticism but you don’t have his medals and number of appearances if you can’t prevent a cross from coming into the box. He’s hung out to dry in a diamond, especially when it is Boyle in that role in the left.

Hanlon has played his best football for Hibs on the left of a 3.

Porteous, Hanlon and Stevenson all playing poorly. I have some sympathy for Porteous as the inexperienced one of the three.

Look back at the first goal last night. Boyle has the boy on the right covered, Stevenson made no attempt to put pressure on the ball though. He literally watched the boy cross it. He wasn’t hung out to dry last night, Boyle because he’s quick enough, was able to get back in and cover a number of times. Even when we weren’t playing the diamond, the crosses were still coming in. At what point do we accept he’s culpable?

[Ronniekirk]

Porteous, Hanlon and Stevenson all playing poorly. I have some sympathy for Porteous as the inexperienced one of the three.

Look back at the first goal last night. Boyle has the boy on the right covered, Stevenson made no attempt to put pressure on the ball though. He literally watched the boy cross it. He wasn’t hung out to dry last night, Boyle because he’s quick enough, was able to get back in and cover a number of times. Even when we weren’t playing the diamond, the crosses were still coming in. At what point do we accept he’s culpable?

The Manager will make that call In the meantime a Sports Psychologist is working with the Team so be interesting to see if that changes things


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[andymcc1875]

Another lead thrown away. How many points have we now dropped from winning positions? When we're ahead, instead of building on it, we fold like a cheap suit. We need to be more professional, more ruthless. When ahead in the second half, make it difficult for the opposition: slow the game down, waste time, know which areas to give away a foul, get in the referees ear. There's nothing wrong with sleekit game management; that's craftsmanship as a professional footballer, and all the good teams do it.

Leadership is the thing: stalwarts who know what's required to get their team over the line. We don't seem to have any leaders just now and are a soft touch as a consequence. Put the tackles in, break up the game, battle for the points when ahead. We need a commanding centre-half and central midfielder to lay down the law and take charge out there; the type of player Scott Brown has been at Celtic for years.

Any suggestions regarding a couple of signings who could give us that edge?

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibernian/hibs-hand-french-midfielder-chance-to-earn-a-deal-at-easter-road-1-5058634

[Ronniekirk]

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibernian/hibs-hand-french-midfielder-chance-to-earn-a-deal-at-easter-road-1-5058634

Although Manager has come out and said this was set up before he came in and he has honoured the arrangement
But he made it clear he is in no hurry to sign players and may try Halberg in this position
So it’s evidence that work goes on behind the scenes all the time re player identification and positions that need strengthened


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