DOF Priorities

[The Modfather]

So, Mcdermott it is. What do we think his task list looks like and what are his immediate priorities?

Review the job Johnson has done? Probably with a mid/long term view in mind.

Sort the mess with the youth pathway, or lack off, B-team/highland league, B team signings like Mclelland & Hague etc etc

Begin the squad clear out?

Sort the scouting/recruitment department?

Longer term, create a consistent style of football to recruit managers to? Succession planning (player and manager)?

What else?

[Since452]

I think initially it'll be working with Lee to shape the squad for next season. Discuss targets and shipping players out.

[Donegal Hibby]

I think initially it'll be working with Lee to shape the squad for next season. Discuss targets and shipping players out.
Shipping players out will be tough , specially when they still have a couple of years left and are on good wages probably , like Henderson . Won't be easy but one of the priorities that needs sorting out first .

[Northernhibee]

Find out a way of ditching the likes of Tait, Tavares, McLelland, McKirdy, Hauge, Hendo, Melkersen, Mackay, and all the other B team players with no hope of being first team quality.

Sign players that give us depth and improve the first team squad.

Work with the manager to try to understand why we have been so inconsistent this season and put in measures to be more consistent.

Put in plans to get our most promising youth players into the first team squad.

[Pretty Boy]

Work with Kean and Johnson to develop a clear pathway from youth to 1st team be that through a development side or otherwise.

There seems a logjam currently with a talented crop of young players not playing enough games at their own level, a fair few loans that didn't work out and a lot of them not even making match day squads despite some players who are regulars on the bench being proven to not be of the required standard to contribute. It could well be that some of our own youngsters are similarly below the required standard but as it is we haven't seen that play out because almost none of them have had a chance.

Finding out who is good enough would potentially allow us to further reduce a squad that is still bloated with too much mediocrity and invest more of the budget in a solid core of quality over quantity supplemented by the most talented of our home grown players. I'm not against the odd punt but we have wasted too much time and money in the last 2 or 3 years on players who came with little evidence they would be good enough and then showed little to nothing here to suggest they were.

Also get back to basics with scouting and get bodies on the ground and out watching games regularly. By all means use stats and data up to a point but there is still a place for watching players and using personal judgement and even gut feeling. It's something we have neglected since the days of Graeme Mathie.

[Ronniekirk]

Keep an open mind and review our current structures with a view to changing what needs changed to get a team on the park that can in a few seasons time be consistently challenging for third place
In the short term ensure The Summer Transfer window is used to get the right players in with. Winning mentality and aim for a team Whete players can play in Their natural position so we get the best out them
Sign Youan and Nisbet replacement If Fish isn’t signing a really good Centre hslf is a must
Move on as many of the players who don’t have a future that we can
Unearth a few gems for the future and find a way to get a couple of youth players into the team every year that can be developed into first team players through time In that regard it’s easier to introduce young players into a winning team
All that on our Budget
Not too much to ask 🙏

[Vault Boy]

There needs to be a thorough review and reorganisation of our transfer strategy and, in fairness, this appointment is already a significant step in that process.

As mentioned in this thread, we have a bloated squad in certain areas, filled with players who will either never make it at Hibs, need first team football, or who simply have to leave to cut down on our expenditure.

We’re currently faced with losing a number of players who are out of contract, on loan, or need to be sold in the summer - so between players leaving the club organically and the myriad of squad players that need to be moved on, we’re about to undergo a significant turnover in playing staff.

This creates a lot of work in administrating these essential sales, contract negotiations, and trying to maximise profits/minimise loses on our failed investments - but it also creates opportunity, opportunity for McDermott and the revamped football department to put an immediate stamp on the club.

[Unseen work]

Speak to the manager about his thoughts on the players and areas he wants to strengthen. Once identified, use his contacts to help get potential players.

Speak with Kean about his thoughts on young players, if he see’s them getting into the first team or if a loan is required and then addres it accordingly. Laidlaw and O’Connor being two of the main ones.

Get a clean plan in place for those ‘Development’ players that are inbetween - Hauge, Delferriere, McLellend etc and if they’re deemed not good enough get plans in place to move them on, loans to build experience or create a path for them.

Fwiw, now McDermot is our DoF I have a feeling we’ll sign Steven Caulker in the summer. Heard it here first.

[Jones28]

Don't read ****ing twitter for starters.

[Torto7]

Scout players in Japan, Korea and the rest of that region. Cheap, technical and good attitudes.

[bingo70]

Scout players in Japan, Korea and the rest of that region. Cheap, technical and good attitudes.

Hearts and Motherwell have both signed Japanese guys and not sure if either of them have kicked a ball?

Is it maybe not only a good market if you’ve got decent money to spend?

I like the idea of us targeting the Australian market more, I know this is a huge generalisation but I think they have a good attitude to football and sport in general.

[Donegal Hibby]

Hearts and Motherwell have both signed Japanese guys and not sure if either of them have kicked a ball?

Is it maybe not only a good market if you’ve got decent money to spend?

I like the idea of us targeting the Australian market more, I know this is a huge generalisation but I think they have a good attitude to football and sport in general.
Remember me being slightly worried when I read this 😂😂😂
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/yutaro-oda-hearts-close-to-signing-japanese-mbappe-as-reports-claim-deal-already-agreed-3958465

[blackpoolhibs]

I'd just like him to target better quality players than we've been doing, whatever their nationality.

Half a dozen 1st team players better than the ones we will be losing will be a good start, suppliment them with those that remain and the best of the up and coming kids will be fine.

Over to you Brian. :pray:

[HFC93]

Ignore anything posted on hibs.net or by Hibs fans on Twitter would be my top tip.

[B.H.F.C]

Short term, work with the manager to sort the squad out going in to next season.

Longer term, get people to stop talking about the Director of Football role. If he manages that, it’ll mean we’re doing all right.

[JimBHibees]

Ignore anything posted on hibs.net or by Hibs fans on Twitter would be my top tip.

Rule number one

[HIBERNIAN-0762]

Ignore anything posted on hibs.net or by Hibs fans on Twitter would be my top tip.

This..

[hibsbollah]

Creating A Functioning Midfield
Directed by Lee Johnson.
Casting by Brian McDermott.
Starring….

[Lago]

I like that he said he goes about his business quietly, I want him to bring that to Hibs.

[Bobby's Cinema]

As a collective we've got to prioritise key positions we can all see we are short in and make sure we fill them.
Players coming in must be better than those going out.
Find a way to assist more young players getting first team minutes.

Simple.

And find a left back that can replace Lewy so he can get a well earned rest - good luck with that one Bri.

[JamesHFC]

A replacement for Magennis. Someone who can both score and assist goals from midfield.

[Lancs Harp]

Too many sassanachs running this club for my liking. 😀

[bingo70]

Too many sassanachs running this club for my liking. 😀

He considers himself Irish 😜

[Hibee Mac]

A replacement for Magennis. Someone who can both score and assist goals from midfield.Magennis has been that for 5 minutes! Anyone who is fit for 25% of the season would be an improvement on Magennis, let get over this thought that he's some star player in waiting!

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

[NORTHERNHIBBY]

McDermott has managed in the top flight in England and has a credible background in football. Hopefully he can have a positive influence on Johnson and the signing policy so that the targets are all the same.

[Paulie Walnuts]

If we fail in the last 5 games then imo it’ll be a case of replacing LJ.

After that it’s improving the recruitment. It’s by a mile the most important part of the Club imo and we’ve failed so badly recently.

[Donegal Hibby]

If we fail in the last 5 games then imo it’ll be a case of replacing LJ.

After that it’s improving the recruitment. It’s by a mile the most important part of the Club imo and we’ve failed so badly recently.
Our last 5 games are all pretty hard imo . St mirren I'd hope we'd win being at home though wont be easy by any means both Aberdeen and hearts games I'd probably put them as slight favourite's due to home advantage though both we could get results in too . Both old firm games I really don't expect us to get anything at all from though if we do I'd consider it a real bonus.

Your right about the recruitment failing badly though only imo it's been like that for longer than just recently and it is one of the most important parts of a football club too I'd say . Now that we have our DOF in for me it's about fixing the recruitment side of things that will help our manager in the long run which BM will need time to do . I think with LJ making top 6 with everything that's happened this year the club will stand by him and he will be our manager next season which i think is the right decision in all honesty 👍

[JamesHFC]

Our last 5 games are all pretty hard imo . St mirren I'd hope we'd win being at home though wont be easy by any means both Aberdeen and hearts games I'd probably put them as slight favourite's due to home advantage though both we could get results in too . Both old firm games I really don't expect us to get anything at all from though if we do I'd consider it a real bonus.

Your right about the recruitment failing badly though only imo it's been like that for longer than just recently and it is one of the most important parts of a football club too I'd say . Now that we have our DOF in for me it's about fixing the recruitment side of things that will help our manager in the long run which BM will need time to do . I think with LJ making top 6 with everything that's happened this year the club will stand by him and he will be our manager next season which i think is the right decision in all honesty 👍

I'd be very happy with a win against St Mirren & Hearts right now if it was offered. We are certainly able to take points off Aberdeen but the other two games are the must wins for me.

[WhileTheChief..]

All this talk of reviewing structures sucks. We’ve been doing it for well over 10 years.

He just needs to help us recruit better players for the first team.

I’m hoping that’s the full extent of the role. Not really wanting to hear about the great work he does with the younger players, women’s team, sports scientists or anything else!

I also hope that he’s got an open mind about replacing LJ if things don’t work out. LJ should be under pressure and if he’s a little uncomfortable with the appointment, or didn’t want a DoF at all, then fine.

ER is flat, and we need to do something to get the Bounce back.

Let’s sign some players that make us collectively go ‘nice one Hibs, didn’t see that coming’, instead of the head scratchers we’ve had the last 2 years.

Give us something to look forward to next season and it will have a been a good start to his time with us.

[Donegal Hibby]

Getting Youan signed up and doing everything we possibly can to either sign or get fish back on loan are hopefully top of the list of priorities now :thumbsup:.

[Brightside]

Getting Youan signed up and doing everything we possibly can to either sign or get fish back on loan are hopefully top of the list of priorities now :thumbsup:.

Youan is done.

[tamig]

Youan is done.

Is that right? How do you know? You come out with a quite a few statements put across as “fact”. Very rarely do any come to fruition.

[Bridge hibs]

Youan is done.

**** not another injury !!

[Brightside]

Is that right? How do you know? You come out with a quite a few statements put across as “fact”. Very rarely do any come to fruition.

Ok.

[CapitalGreen]

Priority number 1 should be a midfielder who has the composure to retain possession and then pick a sensible pass when we are under pressure.

[PPZPOL]

Priority number 1 should be a midfielder who has the composure to retain possession and then pick a sensible pass when we are under pressure.

Been priority number 1 for at least 4 seasons, hopefully we get him this summer. Need to push the boat out on this signing - that player in any team basically makes the team tick, dictates the play and tempo of a match and takes pressure off when needed by keeping the ball etc

[Mikey_1875]

Agree that a midfielder is top priority but the main qualities I want is someone who is a good ball carrier and can drive the team up the park. Provide a link/support to the forwards and chip in with more goals. Campbells goals have helped this season but it’s just not quite there for that role imo.