Mixu Speaks

[I'm Spartacus]

https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/mixu-paatelainen-compares-hibs-hearts-23687657

The big man has had his say. I've listed the managers since I started following Hibs, it was the Tommy Craig era as my mum was his hairdresser, I've stripped out the caretakers (hence the blanks) and that leaves 17, so the question relates to Mixu's comments:

How many of the below 17 managers below do you believe had us playing with the 'Hibs Flair' - just a number, no debate!




20/12/2021 - 30/06/2025
Shaun Maloney (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/shaun-maloney/)

24/01/1983








15/11/2019 - 09/12/2021
Jack Ross (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/jack-ross/)

05/06/1976








14/02/2019 - 04/11/2019
Paul Heckingbottom (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/paul-heckingbottom/)

17/07/1977








01/07/2016 - 30/01/2019
Neil Lennon (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/neil-lennon/)

25/06/1971


01/07/2014 - 30/06/2016
Alan Stubbs (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alan-stubbs/)

06/10/1971


12/11/2013 - 10/06/2014
Terry Butcher (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/terry-butcher/)

28/12/1958








25/11/2011 - 01/11/2013
Pat Fenlon (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/pat-fenlon/)

15/03/1969








19/10/2010 - 07/11/2011
Colin Calderwood (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/colin-calderwood/)

20/01/1965








01/07/2009 - 04/10/2010
John Hughes (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/john-hughes/)

09/09/1964


10/01/2008 - 30/06/2009
Mixu Paatelainen (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/mixu-paatelainen/)

03/02/1967


31/10/2006 - 20/12/2007
John Collins (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/john-collins/)

31/01/1968








24/05/2004 - 13/10/2006
Tony Mowbray (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/tony-mowbray/)

22/11/1963








25/02/2002 - 19/04/2004
Bobby Williamson (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/bobby-williamson/)

13/08/1961


14/12/2001 - 21/02/2002
Franck Sauzée (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/franck-sauzee/)

28/10/1965








11/02/1998 - 11/12/2001
Alex McLeish (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alex-mcleish/)

21/01/1959








30/12/1996 - 02/02/1998
Jim Duffy (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/jim-duffy/)

27/04/1959








15/11/1986 - 30/09/1996
Alex Miller (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alex-miller/)

04/07/1949

[SlickShoes]

4 - Stubbs, McLeish, Lennon, Mowbray

Edit: removed my debate and somehow missed Mowbray….

[DinkyTwo]

McLeish
Mowbray
Collins
Stubbs
Lennon

I believe that the style we played with these guys at the helm was predominantly attacking, flair football.

Stubbs is the only one I'd take back.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

[Onceinawhile]

4

Mcleish
Mowbray
Collins
Stubbs

[A Hi-Bee]

McLeish
Mowbray
Collins
Stubbs
Lennon

I believe that the style we played with these guys at the helm was predominantly attacking, flair football.

Stubbs is the only one I'd take back.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Spot on imh, :top marks

[Golden Bear]

Collins, Mowbray and to a lesser extent Stubbs.

[Since452]

Mowbray
McLeish
Stubbs
Lennon

Not counting Collins. A disaster appointment which started the downward spiral to our eventual apathy and relegation. McLeish obviously had good players but he had the budget for it.

[J-C]

Mowbray, Mcleish and Stubbs with Lennon for 6 months.

[Keyser Sauzee]

3 - Stubbs, McLeish, Lennon

Edit: removed my debate

Mowbray??

[Iain G]

Mowbray
McLeish
Stubbs
Lennon

Not counting Collins. A disaster appointment which started the downward spiral to our eventual apathy and relegation. McLeish obviously had good players but he had the budget for it.

John Collins won as a trophy in an amazing final on a great day to be a Hibs fan.

[18Craig75]

Mcleish
Mowbray
Collins
Yogi
Stubbs
Lennon

I enjoyed us under Jack Ross most of the time although I think I’m in the minority now.

Can’t really remember much about Mixu’s time.

[Waxy]

The Hibs flair the Hibs way.
Football was different back then.
The game has changed and we better change with it.

[Pretty Boy]

Mcleish
Mowbray
Collins
Yogi
Stubbs
Lennon

I enjoyed us under Jack Ross most of the time although I think I’m in the minority now.

Can’t really remember much about Mixu’s time.

Forgettable probably sums up Mixu's tenure at Hibs.

Tbf to him he went away, took some time out, changed his style and done a very good job at Kilmarnock after his time with us.

[Jones28]

McLeish
Mowbray
Collins
Stubbs
Lennon

I believe that the style we played with these guys at the helm was predominantly attacking, flair football.

Stubbs is the only one I'd take back.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Yepp agree with that.

I think some of the best football I've ever seen at ER was under Collins.

[easty]

Forgettable probably sums up Mixu's tenure at Hibs.

Tbf to him he went away, took some time out, changed his style and done a very good job at Kilmarnock after his time with us.

Was it Mixu who brought in Eremenko to Killie? Some player. A player like that can change the whole way a team plays in Scotland.

[easty]

McLeish
Mowbray
Collins
Stubbs
Lennon

I believe that the style we played with these guys at the helm was predominantly attacking, flair football.

Stubbs is the only one I'd take back.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Agree with the list, but wouldn't take Stubbs back.

[GreenPJ]

Miller had a team that had (M) ONeill, Jackson, K McAllister, Harper, Wright, Weir, McGinley and Super Joe - whilst not always attacking football he certainly had the players that had flair and an attacking mindset.

[Inconsequential]

John Collins won as a trophy in an amazing final on a great day to be a Hibs fan. Totally agree Iain! For all the criticism John Collins receives about his spell as manager he did win Hibs a trophy. Fact.

[DinkyTwo]

Yepp agree with that.

I think some of the best football I've ever seen at ER was under Collins.

McLeish had Zitelli, Luna, Sauzee, Mixu, O'Neil

Mowbray and Collins had the Golden Generation, Boozy, Zuma and Benji

Stubbs had SJM, McGeough, Prime Time Scott Allan

Lennon is probably the only manager that didn't have a real standout core group of players but being the most experienced of the lot, managed to set us up really well until it all exploded

I want to believe in Maloney (and don't want to derail the thread any further) but an observation as I'm typing this out is that, there's really not an attacking player in our team right now that's on the same level as the players mentioned above.

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[Iain G]

Totally agree Iain! For all the criticism John Collins receives about his spell as manager he did win Hibs a trophy. Fact.

And it was one of the best days as a Hibs supporter I have had, such a brilliant day and my god we played well 😊

[Stubbsy90+2]

McLeish
Mowbray
Collins to an extent
Stubbs
Lennon to an extent

[Inconsequential]

And it was one of the best days as a Hibs supporter I have had, such a brilliant day and my god we played well 😊 Like wise Iain! I won a competition where the prize was two tickets and £200 to spend. Add in the score and it was a brilliant day! Bit chilly though. :wink:

[500miles]

McLeish had Zitelli, Luna, Sauzee, Mixu, O'Neil

Mowbray and Collins had the Golden Generation, Boozy, Zuma and Benji

Stubbs had SJM, McGeough, Prime Time Scott Allan

Lennon is probably the only manager that didn't have a real standout core group of players but being the most experienced of the lot, managed to set us up really well until it all exploded

I want to believe in Maloney (and don't want to derail the thread any further) but an observation as I'm typing this out is that, there's really not an attacking player in our team right now that's on the same level as the players mentioned above.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

To be fair, Lennon had SJM and Dylan. He imploded without them.

[Jones28]

McLeish had Zitelli, Luna, Sauzee, Mixu, O'Neil

Mowbray and Collins had the Golden Generation, Boozy, Zuma and Benji

Stubbs had SJM, McGeough, Prime Time Scott Allan

Lennon is probably the only manager that didn't have a real standout core group of players but being the most experienced of the lot, managed to set us up really well until it all exploded

I want to believe in Maloney (and don't want to derail the thread any further) but an observation as I'm typing this out is that, there's really not an attacking player in our team right now that's on the same level as the players mentioned above.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

I agree with that too, we don't have a standout attacking player, we don't even seem to gave a decent spine at the moment.

We could take Macey/Porteous/Newall/JDH/Nesbit as the spine of the team. That doesn't inspire me really.

[DinkyTwo]

To be fair, Lennon had SJM and Dylan. He imploded without them.Yeah, I forgot about that. Only for a short while, I guess

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

[Jones28]

To be fair, Lennon had SJM and Dylan. He imploded without them.

We played some wonderful football under Lennon after them. 6-0 game against Accies was so good to watch.

[Smartie]

McLeish had Zitelli, Luna, Sauzee, Mixu, O'Neil

Mowbray and Collins had the Golden Generation, Boozy, Zuma and Benji

Stubbs had SJM, McGeough, Prime Time Scott Allan

Lennon is probably the only manager that didn't have a real standout core group of players but being the most experienced of the lot, managed to set us up really well until it all exploded

I want to believe in Maloney (and don't want to derail the thread any further) but an observation as I'm typing this out is that, there's really not an attacking player in our team right now that's on the same level as the players mentioned above.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Second half of Lennon’s second season he probably had the best core of players I’ve seen at Hibs.

Added Scott Allan to McGinn and McGeouch in midfield, had Kamberi on fire, Boyle at Rwb, Efe on form, other defenders all up to the task, Rocky in goal and Stevenson in as good form as any of them.

Fair enough he inherited a lot of them but he got a lot out of those he inherited and added well. He deserves as much credit for that as he deserves criticism for what followed.

Tbh - for me, that’s now the bar. We’ve got there before, we should be able to again.

[500miles]

I enjoyed us under Jack Ross most of the time although I think I’m in the minority now.

Can’t really remember much about Mixu’s time.

When we were on our game with Ross, we were really exciting on the counter attack - however we did struggle to breakdown stodgy teams we couldn't get in behind. Hence why St Johnstone were such a curse for us.

We didn't have a superstar in his team. Boyle was closest, but he's no McGinn or prime Griffiths. If we did, we'd have another cup or 2.

[Pretty Boy]

Was it Mixu who brought in Eremenko to Killie? Some player. A player like that can change the whole way a team plays in Scotland.

He did.

It was rumoured he had tried to bring him to Hibs but a deal couldn't be done. Not sure if there was truth in that or if it was a bit of anti Petrie mischief making though.

[I'm Spartacus]

McLeish
Mowbray
Collins
Stubbs
Lennon

I believe that the style we played with these guys at the helm was predominantly attacking, flair football.

Stubbs is the only one I'd take back.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

This is my list incidentally, the thought of taking Stubbs back and ruining his legendary status isn't one I'd be up for.

I wanted my list to be 12 out of 17 :(

[Rondon]

https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/mixu-paatelainen-compares-hibs-hearts-23687657

The big man has had his say. I've listed the managers since I started following Hibs, it was the Tommy Craig era as my mum was his hairdresser, I've stripped out the caretakers (hence the blanks) and that leaves 17, so the question relates to Mixu's comments:

How many of the below 17 managers below do you believe had us playing with the 'Hibs Flair' - just a number, no debate!




20/12/2021 - 30/06/2025
Shaun Maloney (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/shaun-maloney/)

24/01/1983








15/11/2019 - 09/12/2021
Jack Ross (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/jack-ross/)

05/06/1976








14/02/2019 - 04/11/2019
Paul Heckingbottom (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/paul-heckingbottom/)

17/07/1977








01/07/2016 - 30/01/2019
Neil Lennon (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/neil-lennon/)

25/06/1971


01/07/2014 - 30/06/2016
Alan Stubbs (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alan-stubbs/)

06/10/1971


12/11/2013 - 10/06/2014
Terry Butcher (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/terry-butcher/)

28/12/1958








25/11/2011 - 01/11/2013
Pat Fenlon (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/pat-fenlon/)

15/03/1969








19/10/2010 - 07/11/2011
Colin Calderwood (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/colin-calderwood/)

20/01/1965








01/07/2009 - 04/10/2010
John Hughes (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/john-hughes/)

09/09/1964


10/01/2008 - 30/06/2009
Mixu Paatelainen (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/mixu-paatelainen/)

03/02/1967


31/10/2006 - 20/12/2007
John Collins (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/john-collins/)

31/01/1968








24/05/2004 - 13/10/2006
Tony Mowbray (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/tony-mowbray/)

22/11/1963








25/02/2002 - 19/04/2004
Bobby Williamson (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/bobby-williamson/)

13/08/1961


14/12/2001 - 21/02/2002
Franck Sauzée (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/franck-sauzee/)

28/10/1965








11/02/1998 - 11/12/2001
Alex McLeish (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alex-mcleish/)

21/01/1959








30/12/1996 - 02/02/1998
Jim Duffy (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/jim-duffy/)

27/04/1959








15/11/1986 - 30/09/1996
Alex Miller (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alex-miller/)

04/07/1949









McLeish, Mowbray, Stubbs and Lennon

[BILLYHIBS]

Jim Duffy had us top of the League TBF


:duck:

[Iggy Pope]

Jim Duffy had us top of the League TBF


:duck:

And he arrived in a helicopter or something, can’t buy flair like that. And much as I liked Lennon, Duffy would’ve knocked him out at that square go!

[Just_Jimmy]

I'm 36 and Collins gave me the day I'd waited all my hibs supporting life for, winning a trophy. Not replicated until anything 9 years later when Stubbs delivered the greatest day of my life to date.

Collins also delivered the 81% Derby which we won 1-0 but I've never seen hibs so dominant in a Derby, even the 6-2 game, they had spells.

Mowbray played swash buckling football and that period is my favourite as a hibs fan. We went to ibrox and parkhead and schooled them. We took some pumpings but we were a young team that had a connection to the fans.

Stubbs as mentioned, some fantastic players but mostly at a lower level.

Lennon was fun for 6 months but ultimately it was a basket case

Mcleish team was brilliant and gave us big wins against rangers, hearts and a cup final but didn't really deliever considering the players we had and the budget. The football was sensational!

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

[weecounty hibby]

So out of 17 managers possibly 5 had us playing attacking exciting football. This would suggest that boring, negative and often absolutely ***** football is actually the Hibs way!!

[Skol]

I was never convinced by MacLeish if i am honest although some of the players were the best I have seen

Controversially, for all the negative spells miller had at least one if not two exciting teams on the park. Jackson, wright, O’Neill and crunchie along with others was a pretty good side.

[Iggy Pope]

I was never convinced by MacLeish if i am honest although some of the players were the best I have seen

Controversially, for all the negative spells miller had at least one if not two exciting teams on the park. Jackson, wright, O’Neill and crunchie along with others was a pretty good side.

And Archibald, Collins, McGinlay, Weir, Kano ….

[easty]

So out of 17 managers possibly 5 had us playing attacking exciting football. This would suggest that boring, negative and often absolutely ***** football is actually the Hibs way!!

I’ll take boring football, if it gets results. If you’re getting neither, Ross towards the end and Maloney now…then it’s absolutely ***** and something has to change.

[easty]

I was never convinced by MacLeish if i am honest although some of the players were the best I have seen

Controversially, for all the negative spells miller had at least one if not two exciting teams on the park. Jackson, wright, O’Neill and crunchie along with others was a pretty good side.

Watching Hibs under McLeish was good. He’s massively helped by the players he had at his disposal. They’d look great in almost any system.

[Stokesy's on fire]

Mixu is one of the ones that we should have given more time to.

[weecounty hibby]

I’ll take boring football, if it gets results. If you’re getting neither, Ross towards the end and Maloney now…then it’s absolutely ***** and something has to change.

Absolutely, I was more making comment on this talk of the Hibs way. I go back to the mid 70s watching Hibs. Can't really remember the Tornadoes but what has come after is certainly not swashbuckling free flowing football most of the time. Bertie Auld, Pat, Sloop, Miller(most of the time), Williamson, Calderwood, Butcher, Hecky, Duffy, Ross, Maloney.......christ uts been a hard watch for a lot of the time. Wouldnt swap it for the world though. I would be over the moon if we were to play pragmatic winning football like the famous one nil to the Arsenal team. In fact if we bore the tits off the viewing public on Saturday and win I will be ecstatic

[jacomo]

McLeish
Mowbray
Collins
Stubbs
Lennon

I believe that the style we played with these guys at the helm was predominantly attacking, flair football.

Stubbs is the only one I'd take back.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk


:agree:

I’ll be generous and add two more… Mixu and Yogi share a point because both had their moments, and Alex Miller delivered some good times.

[GoalsMcGinley]

Alex Miller is getting a bit of a bum deal tbh. Granted some of his teams were turgid and a hard watch but that 1994-96 team was superb and played some superb stuff.

O’Neill
Harper
McAllister
Jackson
Wright
McGinley


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[flash]

Alex Miller is getting a bit of a bum deal tbh. Granted some of his teams were turgid and a hard watch but that 1994-96 team was superb and played some superb stuff.

O’Neill
Harper
McAllister
Jackson
Wright
McGinley


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Think that's my favourite Hibs team with Crunchie and MON flying down the wings, DJ with all the tricks and subtlety finished off by the raw power of Keith Keith Keith.

[Ozyhibby]

Don’t really care about the teams style so long as they win. Simeone’s Atletico are supposed to be anti-football but who would really care if Hibs were matching their success?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Pretty Boy]

So out of 17 managers possibly 5 had us playing attacking exciting football. This would suggest that boring, negative and often absolutely ***** football is actually the Hibs way!!

I suppose another way to look at it is the managers being repeatedly mentioned as the ones who played the semi mythical 'Hibs way' are also the ones who delivered trophies and European qualification.

McLeish - 3rd and a cup final
Mowbray - 3rd, 4th and 2 semi finals
Collins - A League Cup
Stubbs - A Scottish Cup win and a League Cup final
Lennon - 4th and a semi final

Both Miller and Ross haven't been mentioned and are the only 2 who delivered comparable success not playing the 'Hibs way' (and arguably Millers greatest successes came when his teams did have a bit of attacking flair).

Ultimately football is a game of pragmatism and results are what matters. However fans will always be more forgiving of a team they connect with and who try to entertain. I remember Hibs losing to Kilmarnock in Mowbray's 1st season, it may even have been his 1st league game, and I left the ground absolutely buzzing because it was so obvious we were on to a good thing.

[MWHIBBIES]

Don’t really care about the teams style so long as they win. Simeone’s Atletico are supposed to be anti-football but who would really care if Hibs were matching their success?


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They're only really anti football in the champions league against better sides. They play great stuff in the league.

Fully agree, though. Winning Hibs comes first. Imagine binning a guy who had us in back to back finals and 3rd ffs.

[BoomtownHibees]

They're only really anti football in the champions league against better sides. They play great stuff in the league.

Fully agree, though. Winning Hibs comes first. Imagine binning a guy who had us in back to back finals and 3rd ffs.

Were you no in agreement with his sacking when it came?

[superfurryhibby]

They're only really anti football in the champions league against better sides. They play great stuff in the league.

Fully agree, though. Winning Hibs comes first. Imagine binning a guy who had us in back to back finals and 3rd ffs.

I wish posters would stop with the never ending divisive wee asides. We know We got rid of the manager who took us to third and back to back cup finals, but do we need reminded of it on every thread?

FWIW, he was dismissed because he seriously fell out with our owner and his representatives, not because of his team’s perceived boring football

[B.H.F.C]

I wish posters would stop with the never ending divisive wee asides. We know We got rid of the manager who took us to third and back to back cup finals, but do we need reminded of it on every thread?

FWIW, he was dismissed because he seriously fell out with our owner and his representatives, not because of his team’s perceived boring football

Is that last bit factual or just your view?

[MWHIBBIES]

Were you no in agreement with his sacking when it came?

Eh, I was a bit emotional after the Livi defeat. Otherwise, I strongly defended him.

[MWHIBBIES]

I wish posters would stop with the never ending divisive wee asides. We know We got rid of the manager who took us to third and back to back cup finals, but do we need reminded of it on every thread?

FWIW, he was dismissed because he seriously fell out with our owner and his representatives, not because of his team’s perceived boring football

Was aimed at the club. Not fans. Fans are emotional and care foo much to make sensible choices.

[Viva_Palmeiras]

Forgettable probably sums up Mixu's tenure at Hibs.

Tbf to him he went away, took some time out, changed his style and done a very good job at Kilmarnock after his time with us.


would be interesting he hear his reflections on his time - iirc first and foremost tried to make us hard to beat with the idea of building from there.

That didn’t work out either.

As a support I guess we need to figure out what we want. fWIW I think Ross was doing a good job - bearing in mind this was COVID too but things got stale and we were over reliant on Boyle. imo

It seems that Maloney needed to radically change things to demonstrate how he wants us to play - if that 25 mins against the Hearts is sustainable would we be happy? If he played “steady as she goes” like Ross would we have a glimpse of his intentions? Then would it now have been a bit “meh - why did we replace Ross for a copy”? He’s his own man and will live or die by his convictions as others like Hecky found out being inflexible has its dangers. I dunno what the answer is but I think Maloney needs more time and at least another window.

[SlickShoes]

People are praising Alex Miller here, a manager who was given time to build the teams that became exciting, Miller had long spells where we were abysmal and relegation fodder. But Maloney hasn't "earned" more than 3 months and should get the bullet because things aren't instantly better.

[MWHIBBIES]

People are praising Alex Miller here, a manager who was given time to build the teams that became exciting, Miller had long spells where we were abysmal and relegation fodder. But Maloney hasn't "earned" more than 3 months and should get the bullet because things aren't instantly better.
Miller took st mirren into Europe and built the side that won them the Scottish Cup. He was a proven manager.

[I'm Spartacus]

And he arrived in a helicopter or something, can’t buy flair like that. And much as I liked Lennon, Duffy would’ve knocked him out at that square go!

Does anyone know the story behind that?! I couldn't believe it at the time, expecting some French footballing god to step out.

[Wakeyhibee]

McLeish
Mowbray
Collins
Stubbs
Lennon

I believe that the style we played with these guys at the helm was predominantly attacking, flair football.

k

Agree this, enjoyed watching under all these the most

[H18S NX]

Mowbray, Mcleish and Stubbs with Lennon for 6 months.....I agree.

[SlickShoes]

Miller took st mirren into Europe and built the side that won them the Scottish Cup. He was a proven manager.

In his first 5 seasons we finished, 9th, 6th, 5th, 7th, 9th.

NO manager would survive that now, so because he was "proven", we gave him 5 seasons of mediocre football before it finally paid off and we won the league cup. Now people won't even give Maloney 4 months, and people wanted Ross out because he "didn't win big games".

[Dr What If?]

I’ll take boring football, if it gets results. If you’re getting neither, Ross towards the end and Maloney now…then it’s absolutely ***** and something has to change.
Generally I'd disagree, I want to be entertained......that said, if Maloney wants to bore me to tears with an attritional 1-0 win in the semi and then again in the final I think I will find a way to forgive :greengrin

[J-C]

I wish posters would stop with the never ending divisive wee asides. We know We got rid of the manager who took us to third and back to back cup finals, but do we need reminded of it on every thread?

FWIW, he was dismissed because he seriously fell out with our owner and his representatives, not because of his team’s perceived boring football


I mentioned the fall out months ago and no one listened, he did the same at Sunderland.

[Stevie Reid]

In his first 5 seasons we finished, 9th, 6th, 5th, 7th, 9th.

NO manager would survive that now, so because he was "proven", we gave him 5 seasons of mediocre football before it finally paid off and we won the league cup. Now people won't even give Maloney 4 months, and people wanted Ross out because he "didn't win big games".

You’ve shorn a hell of a lot of context from those league finishes.

Also impossible to compare that era to this one, the vast majority of Miller’s time was pre-Bosman, two subs (eventually two plus a goalkeeper) - were no 18 man match day squads, and there weren’t two transfer windows where teams would routinely release and sign large amounts of players.

Miller built a team over a number of years, which had to be done back then. He largely spent transfer fees very wisely. The 9th place finish in 1987 was actually very welcome at the time, when Blackley went we had lost 12 of our 21 league games to that point (only four wins).

We’d just lost 3-1 at home to Hamilton Accies, which I think was their first win all season. 11th and 12th both went down and we were in real trouble. We ended up staying up comfortably, which was the aim when he was appointed. The bottom three went down the following season due to league reconstruction, so the 6th finish was again very welcome.

The second 9th place finish was against the backdrop off the financial meltdown/Mercer business as well, which was obviously a really trying time. If we hadn’t appointed Miller after Blackley, or if he wasn’t in charge in 1990/91, things could easily have been much worse than they were.

Miller was a pragmatist for those early years, but ended up building two teams with an abundance of attacking quality. That pragmatism was never very far away, but I loved watching his best teams as young lad.

[MWHIBBIES]

In his first 5 seasons we finished, 9th, 6th, 5th, 7th, 9th.

NO manager would survive that now, so because he was "proven", we gave him 5 seasons of mediocre football before it finally paid off and we won the league cup. Now people won't even give Maloney 4 months, and people wanted Ross out because he "didn't win big games".

With the club under huge financial difficulties and winning a cup in the process? I'd probably give him that time now, yes. A safe pair of hands at a crucial time.

This is supposed to be the time we kick on. Maloney is putting us back years.

[superfurryhibby]

Miller took st mirren into Europe and built the side that won them the Scottish Cup. He was a proven manager.

He took over a Hibs side that had been struggling for years, we were dire and suffered from chronic underinvestment. His initial achievement was to remove fear of relegation and he did that.


Is that last bit factual or just your view?

Gossip.


I mentioned the fall out months ago and no one listened, he did the same at Sunderland.

Yes, there have been rumours of a serious falling out which made the parting of ways inevitable. Sunderland sold their striker in the January window and put finance before reasonable footballing ambition. I think there was reasonable cause for Ross to be pissed off. You would have to say, the club failed the manager during the summer window. I had had enough of Ross after the cup final, if Gordon had doubts he should have been emptied then.

[basehibby]

In his first 5 seasons we finished, 9th, 6th, 5th, 7th, 9th.

NO manager would survive that now, so because he was "proven", we gave him 5 seasons of mediocre football before it finally paid off and we won the league cup. Now people won't even give Maloney 4 months, and people wanted Ross out because he "didn't win big games".

We were also in financial **** street and almost ceased to exist during that period. Miller deserved plaudits at the time for being a constant and steadying influence and steering the football team through one of the most challenging periods in our history. Nb - he also won us the league cup in 91 against all the odds.

[I'm Spartacus]

https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/mixu-paatelainen-compares-hibs-hearts-23687657

The big man has had his say. I've listed the managers since I started following Hibs, it was the Tommy Craig era as my mum was his hairdresser, I've stripped out the caretakers (hence the blanks) and that leaves 17, so the question relates to Mixu's comments:

How many of the below 17 managers below do you believe had us playing with the 'Hibs Flair' - just a number, no debate!




20/12/2021 - 30/06/2025
Shaun Maloney (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/shaun-maloney/)

24/01/1983








15/11/2019 - 09/12/2021
Jack Ross (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/jack-ross/)

05/06/1976








14/02/2019 - 04/11/2019
Paul Heckingbottom (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/paul-heckingbottom/)

17/07/1977








01/07/2016 - 30/01/2019
Neil Lennon (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/neil-lennon/)

25/06/1971


01/07/2014 - 30/06/2016
Alan Stubbs (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alan-stubbs/)

06/10/1971


12/11/2013 - 10/06/2014
Terry Butcher (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/terry-butcher/)

28/12/1958








25/11/2011 - 01/11/2013
Pat Fenlon (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/pat-fenlon/)

15/03/1969








19/10/2010 - 07/11/2011
Colin Calderwood (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/colin-calderwood/)

20/01/1965








01/07/2009 - 04/10/2010
John Hughes (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/john-hughes/)

09/09/1964


10/01/2008 - 30/06/2009
Mixu Paatelainen (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/mixu-paatelainen/)

03/02/1967


31/10/2006 - 20/12/2007
John Collins (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/john-collins/)

31/01/1968








24/05/2004 - 13/10/2006
Tony Mowbray (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/tony-mowbray/)

22/11/1963








25/02/2002 - 19/04/2004
Bobby Williamson (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/bobby-williamson/)

13/08/1961


14/12/2001 - 21/02/2002
Franck Sauzée (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/franck-sauzee/)

28/10/1965








11/02/1998 - 11/12/2001
Alex McLeish (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alex-mcleish/)

21/01/1959








30/12/1996 - 02/02/1998
Jim Duffy (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/jim-duffy/)

27/04/1959








15/11/1986 - 30/09/1996
Alex Miller (https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/alex-miller/)

04/07/1949










Some great points about Miller being given years and SM just a few months. Thinking of some of the unreal players we've had over the years and it such a shame Shaun doesn't have 3 or 4 stars like other squads have had over the years.

Would be interesting to see how Lennon or Stubbs would do with this current squad.

[SlickShoes]

With the club under huge financial difficulties and winning a cup in the process? I'd probably give him that time now, yes. A safe pair of hands at a crucial time.

This is supposed to be the time we kick on. Maloney is putting us back years.

He has been here 5 months now and he has not put us back years, we are at the same point roughly as when he came in, but without our far and away best player that it was not his decision to sell. An unprecedented level of injuries in the squad, pre-acknowledged by all fans disastrous transfer window last summer, young manager in his first job so comes in with the expectation he is going to make mistakes and learn as he goes.

So Miller's extenuating circumstances count, but Maloneys don't. Got it.

No one is willing to give him time, no one cares about the injuries or the unbalanced squad he inherited, they just want to see solid non-losing football which is basically what we had under Ross apart from his big decline and there were threads constantly on here about getting rid of it through his whole tenure.

We should not have sacked Ross, we should not sack Maloney.

[Keith_M]

This 'Hibs Flair' stuff is just nonsense.

I've been attending Hibs matches for 40 years and the 'Flair' teams are the exception to the rule.

We have short spells where we play exciting, winning football but it never lasts long.

Probably the same as most other clubs.

[Stevie Reid]

Mowbray’s team at its very best probably played the most scintillating football but I prefer the balance to the sides that McLeish, Stubbs and Lennon had, alongside the best stuff that those sides played.

Could play cracking football no bother, but also had a real physicality about the teams as well, and could battle when required - which is often the case in our league.

Those three managers are also the only ones in my lifetime with whom I felt really confident going into derbies. Usually gave the Old Firm a real game as well.

I wouldn’t be against possession based football, but I’m not sure how that can be reconciled with high intensity, attacking football, like we were told to expect from SM.

I’d happily see us play like Moyes’ West Ham team. They have plenty football in them but get the ball forward quickly, put teams under pressure, and are a huge threat from set pieces. Hard as nails as well.

A team with those attributes will thrive in the SPL.