One target man

[RIP]

Like many of you I’m enjoying seeing the ball in the box more often under Lee than under Jack or Shaun. But I’m also recalling two seasons ago when we finished third with Doidge, Nisbet and Squirrel up front.

That season, the opposition never knew who to mark and so between them, they scored a barrowload of goals. All three were experienced attackers performing at the top of their game.

Fast forward to Friday and we have a 21-year old loanee playing lone striker. Nobody playing off him. Boyle stuck 35 yards from goal under a manager who seems to prefer the ball on the wings to approaching the goal from the central areas of the pitch.

Johnson ends the game with Youan, Jair and McKirdy on the park in a frantic search for goals.

What was wrong with starting with a strike partnership from the start? Saints were rotten in that first half and were there for the taking. The big man looked like he’d been left to try and win the game on his own.

Baffling!

[MWHIBBIES]

We've been playing 3 guys up front all season

[Since452]

I don't disagree but you could argue that we should have been out of sight if we'd taken some of the chances we had and it would have worked fine. We pretty much dominated the game up until the sending off. Missed chances are hurting us badly. Would having Youan or McKirdy up with the big lad from the start have made any difference? Who knows?

[JimBHibees]

The issue in the last game was not scoring or creating it was losing soft goals. The 21 year old loanee is an excellent central striker

[RIP]

The issue in the last game was not scoring or creating it was losing soft goals. The 21 year old loanee is an excellent central striker

He was left all alone in the box. We could have been out of sight by half time if Lee had put another forward in there. When they took Myko off we were toothless. The ball wasn’t sticking up top and ended up in our half towards the end.

That first half was crying out for a wee man playing off the big man. Johnson bottled in by playing a lone striker at home in front of 20,000 fans and against one of the weakest teams in the SPL.

I’ll not be surprised if he plays the same cowardly formation against the better Saints this weekend. And he wonders why 65% possession (almost all farting about on the touchlines) doesn’t produce more goals.

[Tyler Durden]

He was left all alone in the box. We could have been out of sight by half time if Lee had put another forward in there. When they took Myko off we were toothless. The ball wasn’t sticking up top and ended up in our half towards the end.

That first half was crying out for a wee man playing off the big man. Johnson bottled in by playing a lone striker at home in front of 20,000 fans and against one of the weakest teams in the SPL.

I’ll not be surprised if he plays the same cowardly formation against the better Saints this weekend. And he wonders why 65% possession (almost all farting about on the touchlines) doesn’t produce more goals.

I'm not sure what game you were watching. Where do you think Boyle was playing?

If Myko was on his own, did we imagine Boyle in the box getting booked for diving? Or having 2 or 3 shots in the first half hour?

It's only the 2nd time we've started with a 3-5-2 so not sure what you're on about with cowardly formations. I hope we revert to 4-3-3 but getting men in the box has not been an issue whatever the formation.

[Libby Hibby]

We've been playing 3 guys up front all season

On Friday we never for whatever reason but I think it was to accommodate Rocky.

[Lago]

He was left all alone in the box. We could have been out of sight by half time if Lee had put another forward in there. When they took Myko off we were toothless. The ball wasn’t sticking up top and ended up in our half towards the end.

That first half was crying out for a wee man playing off the big man. Johnson bottled in by playing a lone striker at home in front of 20,000 fans and against one of the weakest teams in the SPL.

I’ll not be surprised if he plays the same cowardly formation against the better Saints this weekend. And he wonders why 65% possession (almost all farting about on the touchlines) doesn’t produce more goals.
Bottled it, cowardly formation, well I suppose your entitled to your opinions, can't say I share them at all.

[JimBHibees]

He was left all alone in the box. We could have been out of sight by half time if Lee had put another forward in there. When they took Myko off we were toothless. The ball wasn’t sticking up top and ended up in our half towards the end.

That first half was crying out for a wee man playing off the big man. Johnson bottled in by playing a lone striker at home in front of 20,000 fans and against one of the weakest teams in the SPL.

I’ll not be surprised if he plays the same cowardly formation against the better Saints this weekend. And he wonders why 65% possession (almost all farting about on the touchlines) doesn’t produce more goals.

Can't agree we only lost because of a red card and poor goals. Don't really get the bottled or cowardly comments either. We were playing 352 and Boyle was up front with Myko most of the game.

[BoomtownHibees]

Like many of you I’m enjoying seeing the ball in the box more often under Lee than under Jack or Shaun. But I’m also recalling two seasons ago when we finished third with Doidge, Nisbet and Squirrel up front.

That season, the opposition never knew who to mark and so between them, they scored a barrowload of goals. All three were experienced attackers performing at the top of their game.

Fast forward to Friday and we have a 21-year old loanee playing lone striker. Nobody playing off him. Boyle stuck 35 yards from goal under a manager who seems to prefer the ball on the wings to approaching the goal from the central areas of the pitch.

Johnson ends the game with Youan, Jair and McKirdy on the park in a frantic search for goals.

What was wrong with starting with a strike partnership from the start? Saints were rotten in that first half and were there for the taking. The big man looked like he’d been left to try and win the game on his own.

Baffling!

We played 2 strikers on Friday in a 352

Baffling

[MWHIBBIES]

On Friday we never for whatever reason but I think it was to accommodate Rocky.

It wasn't to accommodate anyone. Lee Johnson believed 352 was the best formation for this match. He was absolutely spot on because we dominated until a red card.

[Libby Hibby]

It wasn't to accommodate anyone. Lee Johnson believed 352 was the best formation for this match. He was absolutely spot on because we dominated until a red card.

Who else was the change in formation to accommodate if it was not for Rocky?

[MWHIBBIES]

Who else was the change in formation to accommodate if it was not for Rocky?

No one. It wasn't to accommodate anyone. He believed it was the best formation to win the football match. So he picked the best players and roles for that formation.

[hibsbollah]

No one. It wasn't to accommodate anyone. He believed it was the best formation to win the football match. So he picked the best players and roles for that formation.

Agree with this.

[Smartie]

Was it not probably to accommodate the fact that the wide players in particular had been a bit underwhelming in the 433, and as we appeared to have the players to do justice to the 352 (including having Rocky available, who was decent earlier in the season, and getting Cadden into RWB where he has played his best stuff for us) it was worth a pop?

I'd advocated trying 352 so I was a wee bit disappointed it didn't work out. There were plenty of logical reasons for it. Johnson is still finding out about his squad, what they can do and how well they play together in various combinations.

Whilst it hasn't been all sweetness and light, I quite like Johnson's approach and tend to understand what he's trying to do most of the time, arguably as much as any manager we've had.

[WeeRussell]

Was it not probably to accommodate the fact that the wide players in particular had been a bit underwhelming in the 433, and as we appeared to have the players to do justice to the 352 (including having Rocky available, who was decent earlier in the season, and getting Cadden into RWB where he has played his best stuff for us) it was worth a pop?

I'd advocated trying 352 so I was a wee bit disappointed it didn't work out. There were plenty of logical reasons for it. Johnson is still finding out about his squad, what they can do and how well they play together in various combinations.

Whilst it hasn't been all sweetness and light, I quite like Johnson's approach and tend to understand what he's trying to do most of the time, arguably as much as any manager we've had.

I think I agree with you, and I like Johnson too. It’s November next week though, and I don’t think we can allow the ‘still finding out’ card to be played much longer.

As has been said though, Friday was going fine until Kyle’s moment of madness. Unfortunately he cost us 3 points. These things happen.. another frustrating game but things aren’t so bad yet. Another run even close to the one we had before Tannadice and the grumbles will settle down again.

No reason why we can’t take points from all our remaining fixtures before the WC, which would help massively.

[davhibby]

Like many of you I’m enjoying seeing the ball in the box more often under Lee than under Jack or Shaun. But I’m also recalling two seasons ago when we finished third with Doidge, Nisbet and Squirrel up front.

That season, the opposition never knew who to mark and so between them, they scored a barrowload of goals. All three were experienced attackers performing at the top of their game.

Fast forward to Friday and we have a 21-year old loanee playing lone striker. Nobody playing off him. Boyle stuck 35 yards from goal under a manager who seems to prefer the ball on the wings to approaching the goal from the central areas of the pitch.

Johnson ends the game with Youan, Jair and McKirdy on the park in a frantic search for goals.

What was wrong with starting with a strike partnership from the start? Saints were rotten in that first half and were there for the taking. The big man looked like he’d been left to try and win the game on his own.

Baffling!

Boyle was supposed to be playing off him but wasn’t very good. It should’ve been Boyle that went off for Youan and you’d maybe have seen somebody playing that role.

[RIP]

Boyle was supposed to be playing off him but wasn’t very good. It should’ve been Boyle that went off for Youan and you’d maybe have seen somebody playing that role.

This!

Boyle was never in a million years playing off Myko and the posters above claiming such must have had their eyes painted on.

I love Martin but when he sets off on those mazy runs, he never seems to be looking for a specific player with whom to play a 1-2. Anyone who’s every played at a decent amateur level knows that training sessions for forwards usually consists of practicing 1-2s from the central positions. Playing two up front means developing a strike partnership which enables the team to almost walk the ball into the net.

In the first half Myko had some promising attacks on goal. Boyle also got in a couple of good positions but alas decided in one of them to predictably go to ground and get himself booked. And as for some of the other shooting, does nobody at Hibs teach them to keep their heads over the ball!

So yes, call me old fashioned but I do mourn the demise of a strike partnership under Johnson. Other clubs in Scotland are setting their teams up with a nine and a ten e.g. The Old Firm, Dons, St Mirren and more. All I saw on Friday and since Johnson arrived are individual attackers playing their own game with no interplay between them.

Until we see that on the park, I fear that goals will continue to be only a small percentage of chances created.

[basehibby]

He was left all alone in the box. We could have been out of sight by half time if Lee had put another forward in there. When they took Myko off we were toothless. The ball wasn’t sticking up top and ended up in our half towards the end.

That first half was crying out for a wee man playing off the big man. Johnson bottled in by playing a lone striker at home in front of 20,000 fans and against one of the weakest teams in the SPL.

I’ll not be surprised if he plays the same cowardly formation against the better Saints this weekend. And he wonders why 65% possession (almost all farting about on the touchlines) doesn’t produce more goals.

I don't think LJ's formations have been anything like cowardly since his arrival - usually 4-3-3 and plently of attacking play. Lke you though I was baffled as to why he then switched to a less attacking 3-5-2 at home to a struggling St Johnstone - there were plenty of fans who thought he should've lined up like that at Celtic the week before - but no he started 4-3-3. We did bring Rocky on to go three at the back that game but only after we were three down.
You can rationalise it by saying Rocky came on and had a good game at Celtic and deserved a start - but he was effectively coming in for a forward player. Seemed like the perfect game to start McKirdy for me - although that would have been a bit unfair on Youan after his debut goal.

[JimBHibees]

I don't think LJ's formations have been anything like cowardly since his arrival - usually 4-3-3 and plently of attacking play. Lke you though I was baffled as to why he then switched to a less attacking 3-5-2 at home to a struggling St Johnstone - there were plenty of fans who thought he should've lined up like that at Celtic the week before - but no he started 4-3-3. We did bring Rocky on to go three at the back that game but only after we were three down.
You can rationalise it by saying Rocky came on and had a good game at Celtic and deserved a start - but he was effectively coming in for a forward player. Seemed like the perfect game to start McKirdy for me - although that would have been a bit unfair on Youan after his debut goal.

Yep a week after being accused of being naive and too open he is now cowardly. :greengrin

[Libby Hibby]

No one. It wasn't to accommodate anyone. He believed it was the best formation to win the football match. So he picked the best players and roles for that formation.

And you’re so sure of this because?….

[Eyrie]

And you’re so sure of this because?….

There's no other reason for Johnson to do it other than his belief that 3-5-2 with those players was our best chance to win the game.

I'd have disagreed with him before kick off but we were winning until the red card.

[Since452]

Boyle was supposed to be playing off him but wasn’t very good. It should’ve been Boyle that went off for Youan and you’d maybe have seen somebody playing that role.

Yup. Boyle didn't have a good game at all. I hope he's not seen as untouchable. He's always been fairly inconsistent and should be subbed off if he isn't performing like any other player would.

[Since452]

No one. It wasn't to accommodate anyone. He believed it was the best formation to win the football match. So he picked the best players and roles for that formation.

I agree, however Rocky has been our best defender this season and we should accomodade our best players and Rocky is one of them. No issue with that at all.

[MWHIBBIES]

And you’re so sure of this because?….

Because he isn't Franco Baresi, you don't change the team to accommodate him after months out. Clearly tactical.

[Libby Hibby]

Because he isn't Franco Baresi, you don't change the team to accommodate him after months out. Clearly tactical.

But that’s exactly what he done. He changed the formation, from the tried and tested 433 to 352 to bring Rocky back in to the defence. It may have been tactical but it was also to accommodate Rocky for whatever reason. You say after months out, I say because he wanted to play him and didn’t trust him in a 4 for that particular match.

Let’s agree to disagree.

[MWHIBBIES]

But that’s exactly what he done. He changed the formation, from the tried and tested 433 to 352 to bring Rocky back in to the defence. It may have been tactical but it was also to accommodate Rocky for whatever reason. You say after months out, I say because he wanted to play him and didn’t trust him in a 4 for that particular match.

Let’s agree to disagree.


Again, he changed from 352 to counter the opposition, not to bring rocky back in. He'd have played Fish had rocky still been out.

"For whatever reason" - that's the reason. He changed to 352 for tactical reasons. We're all telling you that. Rocky has played well in a back 4 for us. That isn't the reason.

[Libby Hibby]

Again, he changed from 352 to counter the opposition, not to bring rocky back in. He'd have played Fish had rocky still been out.

"For whatever reason" - that's the reason. He changed to 352 for tactical reasons. We're all telling you that. Rocky has played well in a back 4 for us. That isn't the reason.

You’re all over the place with this.

You’ve contradicted yourself in your last two posts that I can’t be bothered even trying to have a reasonable conversation with you.

[MWHIBBIES]

You’re all over the place with this.

You’ve contradicted yourself in your last two posts that I can’t be bothered even trying to have a reasonable conversation with you.


You believe Lee Johnson entirely changed a formation that had been mostly working for weeks and has us playing well to accommodate a player who Johnson himself has said is quite a bit behind in his development and isn't fully ready yet and has been injured for months.

I, along with others on this thread, believe it was a tactical change because Lee Johnson believed that was the best way to play and win the match. A 3rd defender allows us to play a more offensive midfield trio, and out number their forwards winning the ball back quicker, which is exactly what happened. It was nothing to do with shoeing rocky into the side.

You're welcome to believe whatever you like, but I think it's quite clear you're wrong here.

[jacomo]

Yup. Boyle didn't have a good game at all. I hope he's not seen as untouchable. He's always been fairly inconsistent and should be subbed off if he isn't performing like any other player would.


He’s played a hell of a lot of football the past two years and we do need to freshen it up at times.

[RIP]

I see a lot of chat here about formations e. 3-5-2. This implies a strike partnership playing off each other.

But that’s not what we were watching in that first half. More like 3-6-1 with Myko left up against 2 or 3 Saints defenders.

Most other sides play a strike partnership and Hibs are yet to form one. The lack of a genuine goal threat in the Saints box was palpable last Saturday and if it hadn’t been for a great first goal for the big man, our penalty box activity would have been fairly toothless.

As soon as he went off our goal threat disappeared

[B.H.F.C]

I see a lot of chat here about formations e. 3-5-2. This implies a strike partnership playing off each other.

But that’s not what we were watching in that first half. More like 3-6-1 with Myko left up against 2 or 3 Saints defenders.

Most other sides play a strike partnership and Hibs are yet to form one. The lack of a genuine goal threat in the Saints box was palpable last Saturday and if it hadn’t been for a great first goal for the big man, our penalty box activity would have been fairly toothless.

As soon as he went off our goal threat disappeared

About two minutes after the big man went off we missed a great chance where one striker squared it to the other (Boyle to Youan). The goal threat disappeared because not long after he went off we got a player sent off.

Lack of goals is nothing to do with lack of partnership, it’s down to quality of finishing.

I’d also disagree that most teams play with a strike partnership these days. Most play one central striker. We didn’t last week.

[Brightside]

I only wish we could sign the big lad. He’s been our best forward by a mile this season. Work rate is exceptional.

[Brightside]

I agree, however Rocky has been our best defender this season and we should accomodade our best players and Rocky is one of them. No issue with that at all.

That’s a stretch.

[RIP]

Strike partnership at St Mirren
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/renfrewshire/curtis-main-believes-every-premiership-28242327.amp

At Aberdeen
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/aberdeen-fc/4954564/sean-wallace-bojan-miovski-and-duk-the-strike-partnership/

St Johnstone
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/st-johnstone-star-hopes-strike-partnership-is-the-way-forward-for-callum-davidsons-side-3890648?amp

Coming at Hibs
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/lee-johnson-teases-new-hibs-strike-partnership-as-he-explains-why-run-of-defeats-doesnt-concern-him-too-much-3890523?amp

[Smartie]

I only wish we could sign the big lad. He’s been our best forward by a mile this season. Work rate is exceptional.

I think he’s top notch too, really impressed with him.

All that’s really been missing has been goals, hopefully the one he scored in the last game will set him off on a wee run now.

[blackpoolhibs]

Again, he changed from 352 to counter the opposition, not to bring rocky back in. He'd have played Fish had rocky still been out.

"For whatever reason" - that's the reason. He changed to 352 for tactical reasons. We're all telling you that. Rocky has played well in a back 4 for us. That isn't the reason.

You have no idea if he'd have done that?

[JimBHibees]

I only wish we could sign the big lad. He’s been our best forward by a mile this season. Work rate is exceptional.

Agree gives us a new dimension we have been missing up front.

[B.H.F.C]

Strike partnership at St Mirren
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/renfrewshire/curtis-main-believes-every-premiership-28242327.amp

At Aberdeen
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/aberdeen-fc/4954564/sean-wallace-bojan-miovski-and-duk-the-strike-partnership/

St Johnstone
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/st-johnstone-star-hopes-strike-partnership-is-the-way-forward-for-callum-davidsons-side-3890648?amp

Coming at Hibs
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/lee-johnson-teases-new-hibs-strike-partnership-as-he-explains-why-run-of-defeats-doesnt-concern-him-too-much-3890523?amp

That’s no really most sides though. And two of them have scored even less than us!

Not really arguing the merits either system, but I don’t think you’re right in suggesting that most teams play a front two. And I don’t think the lack of a front two is the reason for our lack of goals.

[Tyler Durden]

That’s no really most sides though. And two of them have scored even less than us!

Not really arguing the merits either system, but I don’t think you’re right in suggesting that most teams play a front two. And I don’t think the lack of a front two is the reason for our lack of goals.

And Aberdeen and St Johnstone don’t generally play 2 up front anyway. Very few teams do, as we all know.

[RIP]

That’s no really most sides though. And two of them have scored even less than us!

Not really arguing the merits either system, but I don’t think you’re right in suggesting that most teams play a front two. And I don’t think the lack of a front two is the reason for our lack of goals.

There’s a lot of posters claiming we play 3-5-2. A lone striker is a 3-5-1-1 with a second striker or attacking midfielder in behind like Doidge with Nisbet behind. My point remains that last Friday Johnson played with only one man in the opposition box for the whole of the first half. Watching Sportscene on the same weekend and some other SPL sides had 3 or 4 in the box at times.

I’m not a fan of our midfielders being 30 yards from goal yet assuming that pushing every ball out to a crowded touchline is a productive play. Big Myko should have had someone playing behind or around him against Saints. Leaving him isolated was criminal IMO.

[B.H.F.C]

There’s a lot of posters claiming we play 3-5-2. A lone striker is a 3-5-1-1 with a second striker or attacking midfielder in behind like Doidge with Nisbet behind. My point remains that last Friday Johnson played with only one man in the opposition box for the whole of the first half. Watching Sportscene on the same weekend and some other SPL sides had 3 or 4 in the box at times.

I’m not a fan of our midfielders being 30 yards from goal yet assuming that pushing every ball out to a crowded touchline is a productive play. Big Myko should have had someone playing behind or around him against Saints. Leaving him isolated was criminal IMO.

He wasn’t in the box on his own though. Four Hibs players in the box at the goal including the two strikers and Magennis from midfield.

We haven’t had any problems getting players in to the box this season. They just haven’t taken their multiple chances.

I’m not sure where you’re going with this formation thing really. You seem to be alone in thinking we played one up too.

[Brightside]

He wasn’t in the box on his own though. Four Hibs players in the box at the goal including the two strikers and Magennis from midfield.

We haven’t had any problems getting players in to the box this season. They just haven’t taken their multiple chances.

I’m not sure where you’re going with this formation thing really. You seem to be alone in thinking we played one up too.

Agreed. We don’t play a loan striker.

[BoomtownHibees]

Agreed. We don’t play a loan striker.

Think he is on loan

[Brightside]

Think he is on loan indeed as Tam McManus will tell us. 😂