Small squad = zero options off the bench.

[Scotty Leither]

We're all sore tonight for sure, and i'm convinced Gollum thought about awarding a penalty for us with the last kick of the ball with the tug on Doidge, but he **** himself and that led to him awarding two softer penalties which ultimately became the defining moments off the game...but it struck me that when they brought on Naismith and Haring and immediately they got a toe-hold on the game, while our options off the bench are/were limited to say the least...Sean Mackie is a prime example of that.

If Gordon's serious about a "league challenge" or seeing Hibs consistently challenge for domestic honours, including seeing Championship teams off in a semi-final, then he's going to have to "pony up" and give whatever manager is in the dugout more choices and a deeper squad than what we've got at the moment.

[BT58]

We had Gullan on bench, a STRIKER. But for some reason JR wont play him ??.
B

[-Jonesy-]

It’s a good point but in the current covid climate surely it’s more important to manage the playing costs of the club sensibly, don’t want to be in Utds situation

[Magpie]

It’s a good point but in the current covid climate surely it’s more important to manage the playing costs of the club sensibly, don’t want to be in Utds situation

The cup final appearance fee would have been nice.

[BlackSheep]

It’s a good point but in the current covid climate surely it’s more important to manage the playing costs of the club sensibly, don’t want to be in Utds situation

This.

[Scotty Leither]

It’s a good point but in the current covid climate surely it’s more important to manage the playing costs of the club sensibly, don’t want to be in Utds situation

Next season/one after that/one after that? Copyright Hibernian FC for the last 40 years.

[neil7908]

We've been left comically short upfront. The manager clearly doesn't trust Gullan, leaving literally no options if Nisbet and/or Doidge get injured or have an off day.

But we've got about 6 central midfielders.

[Peevemor]

We've also lost about half our income.

[J-C]

I think Ross has went for 3-4 players who can play in various position as the squad is small, unfortunately we need solid players in their correct positions and not someone like McGennis out left. I also think playing 2 up top limits our shape, everyone seems to want 2 strikers but few teams play that system.

[B.H.F.C]

We've also lost about half our income.

We’d have been better spending what we had on a striker as opposed to a midfielder, who we then play out of position maybe.

As per, no our fault .

[Smartie]

We had Gullan on bench, a STRIKER. But for some reason JR wont play him ??.
B

He was absolutely brutal up front against Brora - then looked like a different player when allowed to drift in off the left late in that game then in subsequent ones.

Which we had Murphy to do today off the bench.

Our options off the bench today were abysmal, and we were always going to be in trouble if we didn’t get the job done with the team who started the game (on paper at least, a strong team who should have been more than capable of getting the job done.)

We arguably had players who could come on and consolidate a win, nobody (apart from Murphy) who could lift a struggling team.

Mallan offers something but I think you give away too much when you accommodate him in a derby. Ross knew that ultimately he couldn’t trust him.

[Peevemor]

We’d have been better spending what we had on a striker as opposed to a midfielder, who we then play out of position maybe.

As per, no our fault .We did spend money on a striker though.

[Scotty Leither]

We had Gullan on bench, a STRIKER. But for some reason JR wont play him ??.
B

He's a raw laddie, is in no way a challenge to the two guys in possession of the front two places, much in the same way as Ollie Shaw was... but's the way the club has operated in the last 5-10 years, but don't dare criticise the recrutiment or the "ambition" of Hibernian to have 17/18 players competing for 11 starting slots, it's just now the way we roll.

[Iain G]

He's a raw laddie, is in no way a challenge to the two guys in possession of the front two places, much in the same way as Ollie Shaw was... but's the way the club has operated in the last 5-10 years, but don't dare criticise the recrutiment or the "ambition" of Hibernian to have 17/18 players competing for 11 starting slots, it's just now the way we roll.

In the middle of a pandemic where we have seriously reduced income! And we have recruited pretty well this summer and spent a fair chunk of money on players

[B.H.F.C]

We did spend money on a striker though.

Yep, and we’re still well short in that area of the pitch.

Meanwhile, we spent a fortune on a midfielder who, as yet, we don’t really seem to have any set role for.

[RossScott1991]

Clutching at straws thread.

Due to current climate we’ve cut our cloth accordingly invested in a couple of players and for a season (or 2 depending) have to play with a smaller squad. It’s just how it is, it’s intentional by the club to fit the way the world is atm.

[Baldy Foghorn]

Yep, and we’re still well short in that area of the pitch.

Meanwhile, we spent a fortune on a midfielder who, as yet, we don’t really seem to have any set role for.

Did we get our priorities wrong? Plenty cover in midfield, not so much up front or defensively

[Scotty Leither]

Clutching at straws thread.

Due to current climate we’ve cut our cloth accordingly invested in a couple of players and for a season (or 2 depending) have to play with a smaller squad. It’s just how it is, it’s intentional by the club to fit the way the world is atm.


And the 5/6 seasons before this, when Kamberi was injured and we had to go with Ollie Shaw on his own up front on his own when we played them in the Cup at Tynecastle in 2018 and we lost 0-1? What was the excuse for having a thin squad then?

[HibsGW]

We had Gullan on bench, a STRIKER. But for some reason JR wont play him ??.
B

I like Gullan and have high hopes for him but at the moment he’s not good enough to come on for Doidge or Nisbet in a game of that importance yet

[B.H.F.C]

Did we get our priorities wrong? Plenty cover in midfield, not so much up front or defensively

IMO, yes

There is this idea that we’re good going forward. But there are too many players in that team who contribute nowhere near enough going forward .

Nisbet was crap tonight, which hasn’t happened often. Mates not there to dig him out though. No goal threat from the full backs. Little from the centre halves at corners and free kicks. Nothing from the middle of the park. Wee bits here and there from the wide players but not enough. Strikers need a hand. And a challenge.

[neil7908]

I think Ross has went for 3-4 players who can play in various position as the squad is small, unfortunately we need solid players in their correct positions and not someone like McGennis out left. I also think playing 2 up top limits our shape, everyone seems to want 2 strikers but few teams play that system.

After today I'd be going 433. I'm not sure Nisbet and Doidge are really linking up that well and it's leaving us light in the middle.

A midfield 3 of Gogic, Newell and Magennis plays to there strengths. We then pick 3 from Boyle, Murphy, Nisbet and Doidge up top. With Wright and Gullan also options.

[Turkish Green]

We're all sore tonight for sure, and i'm convinced Gollum thought about awarding a penalty for us with the last kick of the ball with the tug on Doidge, but he **** himself and that led to him awarding two softer penalties which ultimately became the defining moments off the game...but it struck me that when they brought on Naismith and Haring and immediately they got a toe-hold on the game, while our options off the bench are/were limited to say the least...Sean Mackie is a prime example of that.

If Gordon's serious about a "league challenge" or seeing Hibs consistently challenge for domestic honours, including seeing Championship teams off in a semi-final, then he's going to have to "pony up" and give whatever manager is in the dugout more choices and a deeper squad than what we've got at the moment.

What is overlooked is that Haring and Naismith were already at the club and had been out with injuries. Neilson bringing them on for the 2nd half was good tactics and did change the run of the game.

JR recruited wisely in the summer but the squad is still small especially when you can use up to 5 subs in normal time and another sub in ET. We have a good starting 11 but lack strength in depth. Them's the facts and the club must live within the current restrictions. Still hurts, though.