Passing the ball around the back

[KWJ]

Reading a lot of comments going on about no style of play, similar to Maloney etc which I find baffling.

While we're doing some similar things as we did under Maloney, and to a lesser extent Johnson too, I think it's clear as day to me that the passing the ball from the back has more structure and impetus to it. It might not be pinging it about silky stuff every time but there's clearly more intent to bring on pressure and find the space to play it forward. This was perfectly shown with Boyle's chance v Celtic shortly after we'd had a couple of examples of the dangers it can bring when Rocky fumbled and Jeggo slipped. With previous managers this has just seemed ponderous and breaks came about more from luck than the playstyle.

The full backs are further forward and can be quickly be in dangerous positions when found. I wouldn't mind seeing us go long to Miller a bit more as something different but it's working just about often enough already for me to be happy with it and excited about how we'll be doing the more the players are comfortable with it and as NM brings in players more suited to his style of play.

I'd have loved to see Porteous in this system as I think he'd have loved it with his ability to fire passes in and bring the ball out of defence.

We'll wait and find out whether or not it's the right style of football to succeed in Scottish football but I'm all for it.

[wookie70]

Reading a lot of comments going on about no style of play, similar to Maloney etc which I find baffling.

While we're doing some similar things as we did under Maloney, and to a lesser extent Johnson too, I think it's clear as day to me that the passing the ball from the back has more structure and impetus to it. It might not be pinging it about silky stuff every time but there's clearly more intent to bring on pressure and find the space to play it forward. This was perfectly shown with Boyle's chance v Celtic shortly after we'd had a couple of examples of the dangers it can bring when Rocky fumbled and Jeggo slipped. With previous managers this has just seemed ponderous and breaks came about more from luck than the playstyle.

The full backs are further forward and can be quickly be in dangerous positions when found. I wouldn't mind seeing us go long to Miller a bit more as something different but it's working just about often enough already for me to be happy with it and excited about how we'll be doing the more the players are comfortable with it and as NM brings in players more suited to his style of play.

I'd have loved to see Porteous in this system as I think he'd have loved it with his ability to fire passes in and bring the ball out of defence.

We'll wait and find out whether or not it's the right style of football to succeed in Scottish football but I'm all for it.

I can see where you are coming from but for me it is destined not to work for many of the same reasons it wouldn't work for Maloney. NM does have a few advantages that Maloney didn't though. Our pitch is far better and so are quite a few of the other grounds. We have Levitt who can make the pass that speeds up the play and gets us out of our third, he probably won't play though in a 442. The big issue for me is most of our players are not good enough to do it, the movement is nowhere near good enough and as very well shown last night the referees will let players make contact and foul without stopping the play. That means you are far more likely to make a mistake near your own goal than create an opportunity from moving the ball 10 times sideways and then eventually up the park. Bizarrely for me last night at 2 up was the perfect time to play the boring football we saw in the first half. If we did try to do it then we were unable to get any passing going as the personnel were even less able to do so due to the ridiculous subs or the extra pressure from County meant our system fell to bits. In injury time county settled for their draw, sat back and we wasted the majority of the time we had to sneak a win by playing needless passes. Even if he gets it right most teams we play in the league will let us play it about the back four and not commit. The teams better than us will swamp us and like The Rangers make us their best form of attack. NM needs to take the best things from the way he wants to play and use what he has in the environment he has until he gets players able to play the way he wants. Even then it is still a big ask for it to be successful as he will be trying to play that style in Scottish football on artificial surfaces sometimes, some poor surfaces come the bad weather and with refs that are awful.

The type of player that can play the style he wants isn't the cheapest to buy either so he will struggle in the transfer market. That means a long term commitment to bring youth through and build a squad. I doubt he will be afforded that time as most managers tenure is decided on results. All early days though and at least there are positives. He has youth coming into the squad, Jair has been integrated and it is clear every player will get a chance despite that likely costing us points. He looks like a manager who may do well given time. That is seldom the case at Hibs though and he will need to either get results or get a style of play that is far less boring or he will end up being like Maloney who lasted 15 league games at a point a game. NM is 7 games at 1.14 goals and also 1.14 points per game, over a season that is 43 points and usually around 9th or 10th place

[JimBHibees]

Reading a lot of comments going on about no style of play, similar to Maloney etc which I find baffling.

While we're doing some similar things as we did under Maloney, and to a lesser extent Johnson too, I think it's clear as day to me that the passing the ball from the back has more structure and impetus to it. It might not be pinging it about silky stuff every time but there's clearly more intent to bring on pressure and find the space to play it forward. This was perfectly shown with Boyle's chance v Celtic shortly after we'd had a couple of examples of the dangers it can bring when Rocky fumbled and Jeggo slipped. With previous managers this has just seemed ponderous and breaks came about more from luck than the playstyle.

The full backs are further forward and can be quickly be in dangerous positions when found. I wouldn't mind seeing us go long to Miller a bit more as something different but it's working just about often enough already for me to be happy with it and excited about how we'll be doing the more the players are comfortable with it and as NM brings in players more suited to his style of play.

I'd have loved to see Porteous in this system as I think he'd have loved it with his ability to fire passes in and bring the ball out of defence.

We'll wait and find out whether or not it's the right style of football to succeed in Scottish football but I'm all for it.

Agree with that i like that we are trying to keep possession and control the game. Think we will get better at it however good to have a style imo. Important the fans are patient though imo.

[KWJ]

I can see where you are coming from but for me it is destined not to work for many of the same reasons it wouldn't work for Maloney. NM does have a few advantages that Maloney didn't though. Our pitch is far better and so are quite a few of the other grounds. We have Levitt who can make the pass that speeds up the play and gets us out of our third, he probably won't play though in a 442. The big issue for me is most of our players are not good enough to do it, the movement is nowhere near good enough and as very well shown last night the referees will let players make contact and foul without stopping the play. That means you are far more likely to make a mistake near your own goal than create an opportunity from moving the ball 10 times sideways and then eventually up the park. Bizarrely for me last night at 2 up was the perfect time to play the boring football we saw in the first half. If we did try to do it then we were unable to get any passing going as the personnel were even less able to do so due to the ridiculous subs or the extra pressure from County meant our system fell to bits. In injury time county settled for their draw, sat back and we wasted the majority of the time we had to sneak a win by playing needless passes. Even if he gets it right most teams we play in the league will let us play it about the back four and not commit. The teams better than us will swamp us and like The Rangers make us their best form of attack. NM needs to take the best things from the way he wants to play and use what he has in the environment he has until he gets players able to play the way he wants. Even then it is still a big ask for it to be successful as he will be trying to play that style in Scottish football on artificial surfaces sometimes, some poor surfaces come the bad weather and with refs that are awful.

The type of player that can play the style he wants isn't the cheapest to buy either so he will struggle in the transfer market. That means a long term commitment to bring youth through and build a squad. I doubt he will be afforded that time as most managers tenure is decided on results. All early days though and at least there are positives. He has youth coming into the squad, Jair has been integrated and it is clear every player will get a chance despite that likely costing us points. He looks like a manager who may do well given time. That is seldom the case at Hibs though and he will need to either get results or get a style of play that is far less boring or he will end up being like Maloney who lasted 15 league games at a point a game. NM is 7 games at 1.14 goals and also 1.14 points per game, over a season that is 43 points and usually around 9th or 10th place

I'm more positive about it under NM than I was under Maloney because to me it clearly has much more purpose this time so it's considerably more effective. The good pitch and having Levitt will help, it'll be interesting if he manages to find a way to have Newell and Levitt in the same team without making us too weak defensively - it worked v Luzern when Johnson played a similar 4-4-2.

I agree about last night that it was a good time to slow the pace down and I'm surprised by some of the changes but I don't mind him trying things and giving players minutes in different roles. I do disagree a bit about reverting to needless passes in injury time. I think the majority made sense to try and find that space but that's where we needed a Porteous or even Rocky to drive into the space that was available ahead. We didn't really have anyone to play a high ball towards. The CB's seem to be far wider that we've had before so it does make the space quicker.

Fair points in last paragraph but I'll choose to remain optimistic that it if it does work it'll be bloody brilliant rather than just do the same old thing playing the general Scottish football dice roll. And mind, he's 7 games in but has played Rantic and Hearts at Tynie.

Glory Glory!