5 defenders against SJ

[Brooster]

I'm struggling to figure this one out. Apart from last week's tanking our back 4 had been doing really well then all of a sudden it's all changed to accommodate Rocky. I wish I could figure out what LJ and the coaching staff were thinking about. Baffling.

[McGruber]

Agreed.
Though not sure if the change was to shoehorn in Rocky or Magennis. If Kenneh plays we would go 4. Not sure if the extra centre back was to compensate for having a ball player in for his defensive mid.

Poor game management second half from Johnson.

Never reacted to Saints changes or shift in momentum. Magennis first start and saying himself has about hour/70 mins in the tank - tiring, on a yellow and already with subsequent fouls.
No reaction to red card - didn't need to leave on Boyle and Youan, both ineffectual anyway. Never reacted to their 1st goal even though every hibby in the ground could see what was coming

[theonlywayisup]

That's not the reason we lost though! Not having a striker that can take a higher % of chances is the reason we lost last night and same again against Dundee United. For large chunks of the game, having the three at the back and two wing-backs worked really effectively.

[theonlywayisup]

Agreed.
Though not sure if the change was to shoehorn in Rocky or Magennis. If Kenneh plays we would go 4. Not sure if the extra centre back was to compensate for having a ball player in for his defensive mid.

Poor game management second half from Johnson.

Never reacted to Saints changes or shift in momentum. Magennis first start and saying himself has about hour/70 mins in the tank - tiring, on a yellow and already with subsequent fouls.
No reaction to red card - didn't need to leave on Boyle and Youan, both ineffectual anyway. Never reacted to their 1st goal even though every hibby in the ground could see what was coming

Yes, from a place of virtually total domination we allowed Saints back into the game.

IMO, wrong to take the big Ukranian off. Boyle off for an equally ineffective Youan should have been the change. Kenneh for a tiring Magennis too, but you can imagine the reaction had he done that. Also, Stevenson on at left wing-back.

[Carheenlea]

It was a line up that and shape that created more than enough chances to be out of sight long before the red card. It’s a conversation we wouldn’t be having had we converted even a small percentage of those opportunities.

The shape of the team wasn’t the problem - the poor conversion rate (yet again) was our downfall

[Libby Hibby]

Im glad the big Ukrainian got his first, a great goal and a type of goal I love to see, however, he could’ve had a hat trick before it.

The amount of crosses that flashed across the face of goal were incredible 1st half.

I think we need to start McKirdy up top if playing a 2. The wee live wire will score goals.

[Pretty Boy]

I didn't get the change of shape at all.

Up until last night we had been playing really well even in defeat, Celtic excepted. I know others disagree but I found last night really disjointed and scrappy for long spells and was saying it long before the St J goals so that's not reactionary to the result.

The change in shape just didn't work. We were pretty toothless and whilst we controlled possession for long spells I never really felt a killer 2nd goal was coming. With the exception of Youan's passback we hardly worked their keeper in the 2nd half, everything seemed to break down about 30 yards from their goal. As long as it was 1 there was always the chance that sucker punch was coming.

I hope we go back to the formation that was largely working for us and if Johnson has to make a tough decision to leave out one of the CBs then so be it.

[Bridge hibs]

I didn't get the change of shape at all.

Up until last night we had been playing really well even in defeat, Celtic excepted. I know others disagree but I found last night really disjointed and scrappy for long spells and was saying it long before the St J goals so that's not reactionary to the result.

The change in shape just didn't work. We were pretty toothless and whilst we controlled possession for long spells I never really felt a killer 2nd goal was coming. With the exception of Youan's passback we hardly worked their keeper in the 2nd half, everything seemed to break down about 30 yards from their goal. As long as it was 1 there was always the chance that sucker punch was coming.

I hope we go back to the formation that was largely working for us and if Johnson has to make a tough decision to leave out one of the CBs then so be it.It was a very frustrating watch, there has always been the train of thought by many on here and myself included that we are going to give someone a right hammering

A few chances aside last night we appear to be a long way from that, probably the opposite to be honest going by last nights defensive collapse. I like big Miko, he is a very clever player and took his goal well and to be honest could have scored another one or two

What I found frustrating is this overpass ****, pass from defence, pass back to defence, pass out of defence, pass back to defence. We just seemed to lack any urgency and with Boyle off the boil we struggled more up front. Never thought I would say this but Im so ****ing keen to see Nisbet back in a shirt as he appears to be the only natural finisher we have in the first team just now

[JammyDoidger]

Our centre halfs aren't exactly world beaters, so unsure why we need to play 3 of them, Porto and Hanlon were doing fine before last weekend, he clearly had a style he was trying to implement it so why rip it up, St.Johnstone at home if anything he could have switched to a More attacking line up, very odd.

[lucky]

I didn't get the change of shape at all.

Up until last night we had been playing really well even in defeat, Celtic excepted. I know others disagree but I found last night really disjointed and scrappy for long spells and was saying it long before the St J goals so that's not reactionary to the result.

The change in shape just didn't work. We were pretty toothless and whilst we controlled possession for long spells I never really felt a killer 2nd goal was coming. With the exception of Youan's passback we hardly worked their keeper in the 2nd half, everything seemed to break down about 30 yards from their goal. As long as it was 1 there was always the chance that sucker punch was coming.

I hope we go back to the formation that was largely working for us and if Johnson has to make a tough decision to leave out one of the CBs then so be it.

Spot on. Neither of our wingbacks looks comfortable last night. I thought we were poor for large chunks of the game. But for me LJ got the formation and game plan wrong for the second game in a row.

[Brightside]

Im glad the big Ukrainian got his first, a great goal and a type of goal I love to see, however, he could’ve had a hat trick before it.

The amount of crosses that flashed across the face of goal were incredible 1st half.

I think we need to start McKirdy up top if playing a 2. The wee live wire will score goals.

I wish I saw anything to look forward to with mckirdy. To me he looks like a wee boy playing 5 aside. Totally lost in the game

[Brightside]

The formation worked fine. We just didn’t score. We totally dominated the game until the sending off. The quicker Boyle gets away to the World Cup and then back to us the better for all. He’s playing at 50% right now.

[The Green Sea]

It was a line up that and shape that created more than enough chances to be out of sight long before the red card. It’s a conversation we wouldn’t be having had we converted even a small percentage of those opportunities.

The shape of the team wasn’t the problem - the poor conversion rate (yet again) was our downfall

The inability to take our chances cost us badly. I’m sure most of us new that and although I didn’t expect us to lose, I also couldn’t see us winning by a single goal.

[JimBHibees]

I wish I saw anything to look forward to with mckirdy. To me he looks like a wee boy playing 5 aside. Totally lost in the game

To be fair to him think he needs to start against lesser teams. Thought he looked pretty good v United when he came on. Celtic wasn't the game to start him imo.

[MWHIBBIES]

Formation wasn't the issue. Dominated at 352, lost at 342.

Why would playing 5 defenders matter? It's not more or less defensive than any other formation. All about execution.

https://twitter.com/theeuropeanlad/status/1434862102007648262?lang=en-GB

I'll let the legendary Louis Van Gaal answer that.

[Still Smiling]

Spot on. Neither of our wingbacks looks comfortable last night. I thought we were poor for large chunks of the game. But for me LJ got the formation and game plan wrong for the second game in a row.
Until the sending off I thought Hibs were well organised and playing well!

[Since452]

It was working until the red card.

[Zambernardi1875]

The formation worked fine. We just didn’t score. We totally dominated the game until the sending off. The quicker Boyle gets away to the World Cup and then back to us the better for all. He’s playing at 50% right now.

i said the same to someone yesterday, id rather he didnt play till the world cup, hibs came out and said hell be rested till after, i know it wouldnt go down well but id totally understand and respect LG and the club more. its a huge deal for boyle and to just let him train and maybe come on as a sub would be a better idea

[McGruber]

It was working until the red card.

It was. Maybe the 4-3-3 would have worked better and had us 2 or 3 up, we'll never know.

Regardless, it was the players awful reaction to the red card and lack of reaction from the manager that done us in

[Brooster]

Formation wasn't the issue. Dominated at 352, lost at 342.

Why would playing 5 defenders matter? It's not more or less defensive than any other formation. All about execution.

https://twitter.com/theeuropeanlad/status/1434862102007648262?lang=en-GB

I'll let the legendary Louis Van Gaal answer that.

Why would it matter? We lost at home to St Johnstone, that matters. I'd like to see more attacking players on the pitch at home to St Johnstone.

[MWHIBBIES]

Why would it matter? We lost at home to St Johnstone, that matters. I'd like to see more attacking players on the pitch at home to St Johnstone.

More attacking players for not mean better football or more goals. We got it absolutely spot on for 70 minutes. If Kyle keeps the head we win.

[Steven1985]

More attacking players for not mean better football or more goals. We got it absolutely spot on for 70 minutes. If Kyle keeps the head we win. Sorry, I couldn't reply to you earlier because my thread got deleted. "Many people only like a winning Hibs. Which is their own business really, nothing I say will change that." Agreed. :-)

[Steven1985]

More attacking players for not mean better football or more goals. We got it absolutely spot on for 70 minutes. If Kyle keeps the head we win. Also agree. He might still be a bit rusty but without a couple of daft challenges we'd probably have won 1 or 2 nil.