Let's be positive

[weecounty hibby]

New manager, a club legend no less, new sporting director and further investment that further allows more from the BKs I think. Now I'm the first to admit that I'm a bit of a happy clapper but I am feeling fairly upbeat about all of this. We now need to back the new manager and get in players who are big enough to wear our Jersey. I await with baited breath the replies. 😂😂😂

[leith lynx]

New manager, a club legend no less, new sporting director and further investment that further allows more from the BKs I think. Now I'm the first to admit that I'm a bit of a happy clapper but I am feeling fairly upbeat about all of this. We now need to back the new manager and get in players who are big enough to wear our Jersey. I await with baited breath the replies. 😂😂😂

Ditto!

[Jones28]

New manager, a club legend no less, new sporting director and further investment that further allows more from the BKs I think. Now I'm the first to admit that I'm a bit of a happy clapper but I am feeling fairly upbeat about all of this. We now need to back the new manager and get in players who are big enough to wear our Jersey. I await with baited breath the replies. 😂😂😂

Agree with all this.

Now, wheres Hermit Crab when you're needing a bubble bursting? :wink:

[SHODAN]

No go away I wanna be sad

[jeffers]

No need to convince me, I’ve been positive since I thought he was in with a chance of getting the job.

[Pedantic_Hibee]

Agree with all this.

Now, wheres Hermit Crab when you're needing a bubble bursting? :wink:

Not seen Hermit on here for a while. I hope the big bugger is doing ok.

[Gordy M]

New manager, a club legend no less, new sporting director and further investment that further allows more from the BKs I think. Now I'm the first to admit that I'm a bit of a happy clapper but I am feeling fairly upbeat about all of this. We now need to back the new manager and get in players who are big enough to wear our Jersey. I await with baited breath the replies. 😂😂😂

100% looking forward to this season. Cant wait now. Based on no reason whatsoever i think we will do well under SDG.

[Jones28]

Not seen Hermit on here for a while. I hope the big bugger is doing ok.

:aok: Likewise, he was on the PM forum not that long ago - weeks rather than months I think.

[Donegal Hibby]

Not seen Hermit on here for a while. I hope the big bugger is doing ok.

Couple of others missing too . Hope they are all doing ok .

[Since452]

I'm now really looking forward to the new season. We have someone in the dugout that knows Scottish football and the club inside out, will hopefully keep things simple and get the best out of the players. Feels like a fresh start.

[Pretty Boy]

I suppose somebody has to be THAT guys so it may as well be me.

Is this not just a rehash of the same sentiments we have heard or read about 5 times in the last 3 years? The words and rallying calls are easy, a new manager almost always creates a ripple of excitement, but what really matters is the actions and events that follow it. Hibs have been really good at the marketing and PR when appointing a new gaffer in recent times, it's the second part we have habitually failed at.

The job at Hibs is huge. Understandably fans often let their hearts rule their heads (myself included) and last summer was an example of that. We saw predictions that we were ready to battle for 3rd, a huge number had us finishing no lower than 4th and there was a common train of thought that we had an excellent transfer window. I said at the time we had an average to poor window and a squad set for somewhere between 5th and 7th and was roundly shouted down and told I was wrong. I was of course wrong because we finished 8th. When Montgomery came in it was hailed as an exciting and ambitious appointment, something different, a guy who would get more from the squad than Johnson. He arguably got even less from them. Now it's great we are appointing someone who knows the club, knows Scottish football etc etc. Basically what is good now is the polar opposite of what was good last year. We are starting from a worse base than last year: we have no obvious first choice goalkeeper, one first team CB, a number of the same midfielders who have been a problem for years and we are without the attacking player who's goals were a massive part in a poor season not being a disaster.

I'm not unhappy with the Gray appointment. I broadly agree with the idea that experience of Scottish football is a big requirement and Gray ticks that box. He has shown a level of pragmatism in the limited number of games he has managed which would be a welcome change from the ideological naivety of Maloney and Montgomery and the roulette wheel approach of Johnson. He has plenty credit in the bank with fans so will get a fair bit more leeway from the majority, at least initially. He has shown he isn't afraid to make big calls (replacing Marcondes with Campbell at the end of last season as one example) and he exudes a quiet confidence. I also like the appointment of Mackay. He recruited well at Ross County and he's an enthusiastic football man with bags of experience. It's not all doom and gloom.

I'm just very much tempering my expectations though. The job is so big and the last 3 or 4 years of bad plan and bad execution has left us in total disarray with the squad; it just isn't a quick fix and certainly not one that is going to turnaround from being 8th to 3rd or 4th in a single season, people may disagree with that assessment but for me we need about 6 or 7 starters and that will take time to assemble and gel. I've already said I'd be happy with 6th this season as long as there are signs of progress and obvious foundations being put in place to build from that. I just find it hard to get that excited about a transition season (hopefully a genuine one rather than just another mediocre one) and that makes it hard to feel all that positive.

[GreenNWhiteArmy]

Feels like for the first time in a number of years we've got a solid structure in place that KNOWS Scottish football

It'll be a fine balance for MM between supporting SDG and becoming TOO involved

We've got a new strip released this month, players are back and I've no doubt SDG will understand the type of player required to improve us

What he lacks in managerial experience I've no doubt he'll make up for in enthusiasm for the club and job and for the first manager in a while I feel the fans will be right behind the team

I remember the first game at home after Scottish Cup win (europa league game!?) And the buzz/energy the fans gave the club. I think that's where we'll be at this season too

It's also tempting me in to a ST

[Carheenlea]

I do think we’ve got to a point in football where we have elevated managers to such high levels of demands with a zero tolerance to anything that falls below that, however brief the slip below expectations might be.

It’s a job where most will fail, so having positive thoughts and anticipation for greater times when we move from one to another is natural, but the facts are that most managers get sacked in the end. A few are headhunted, and even fewer now fall on their sword and resign.

I think we’ve also elevated the role of the manager to being much more important than it actually is.

A poster made the observation recently about how when managers left in the past and others came in, it didn’t have the same frenzy amongst fans as to who takes over than it does now.
Of course it’s a hugely important role, but I’d argue the recruitment side of things is actually more important, and the role of Malky Mackay as head of football operations is a more important one.
With a good squad of players befitting our budget coupled with good coaching during the week, it shouldn’t be too difficult for a Hibs manager to pick a balanced side to be competing where we want to be. Give Gray the correct tools and I really believe he’ll do just fine.

If it all goes wrong and Gray is dispensed with later in year, you can bet your books Mackay, Kensell and the recruitment team will still be sat in place picking up their bumper salaries as they begin the search for the next.

[where'stheslope]

I do think we’ve got to a point in football where we have elevated managers to such high levels of demands with a zero tolerance to anything that falls below that, however brief the slip below expectations might be.

It’s a job where most will fail, so having positive thoughts and anticipation for greater times when we move from one to another is natural, but the facts are that most managers get sacked in the end. A few are headhunted, and even fewer now fall on their sword and resign.

I think we’ve also elevated the role of the manager to being much more important than it actually is.

A poster made the observation recently about how when managers left in the past and others came in, it didn’t have the same frenzy amongst fans as to who takes over than it does now.
Of course it’s a hugely important role, but I’d argue the recruitment side of things is actually more important, and the role of Malky Mackay as head of football operations is a more important one.
With a good squad of players befitting our budget coupled with good coaching during the week, it shouldn’t be too difficult for a Hibs manager to pick a balanced side to be competing where we want to be. Give Gray the correct tools and I really believe he’ll do just fine.

If it all goes wrong and Gray is dispensed with later in year, you can bet your books Mackay, Kensell and the recruitment team will still be sat in place picking up their bumper salaries as they begin the search for the next.
This is my biggest fear! we are still paying for our last failures and we don't need to compound this with another messy ending!
Gray knows everything about our club and its down to getting the right players in to balance the team on the park.
Is he going to be able to choose what players he wants or is that the Director of footballs job, and Gray gets to pick from a list he has come up with?
This coming season, we have to hit the ground running so we don't have the same again feeling of last season.
I have a strange feeling that the team will be made up of loanees from other clubs and if we have a good season they end up back with their parent club.
We want players that want to play for our jersey, not for their loan spell, so this close season has to bring in good players not journeymen at the end of their career.
I am positive enough about the up coming season, but, how many times have we all said this???

[A Hi-Bee]

Naw, its pissing on chips time at Easter Road.
:thumbsup:

[One Day]

100% looking forward to this season. Cant wait now. Based on no reason whatsoever i think we will do well under SDG.

Me to, A quiet confidence.

[Eyrie]

I'm always positive at this stage in the off season.

[Hillsidehibby]

The only positive thing I can think of is he can't make us worse.

[H18S NX]

I suppose somebody has to be THAT guys so it may as well be me.

Is this not just a rehash of the same sentiments we have heard or read about 5 times in the last 3 years? The words and rallying calls are easy, a new manager almost always creates a ripple of excitement, but what really matters is the actions and events that follow it. Hibs have been really good at the marketing and PR when appointing a new gaffer in recent times, it's the second part we have habitually failed at.

The job at Hibs is huge. Understandably fans often let their hearts rule their heads (myself included) and last summer was an example of that. We saw predictions that we were ready to battle for 3rd, a huge number had us finishing no lower than 4th and there was a common train of thought that we had an excellent transfer window. I said at the time we had an average to poor window and a squad set for somewhere between 5th and 7th and was roundly shouted down and told I was wrong. I was of course wrong because we finished 8th. When Montgomery came in it was hailed as an exciting and ambitious appointment, something different, a guy who would get more from the squad than Johnson. He arguably got even less from them. Now it's great we are appointing someone who knows the club, knows Scottish football etc etc. Basically what is good now is the polar opposite of what was good last year. We are starting from a worse base than last year: we have no obvious first choice goalkeeper, one first team CB, a number of the same midfielders who have been a problem for years and we are without the attacking player who's goals were a massive part in a poor season not being a disaster.

I'm not unhappy with the Gray appointment. I broadly agree with the idea that experience of Scottish football is a big requirement and Gray ticks that box. He has shown a level of pragmatism in the limited number of games he has managed which would be a welcome change from the ideological naivety of Maloney and Montgomery and the roulette wheel approach of Johnson. He has plenty credit in the bank with fans so will get a fair bit more leeway from the majority, at least initially. He has shown he isn't afraid to make big calls (replacing Marcondes with Campbell at the end of last season as one example) and he exudes a quiet confidence. I also like the appointment of Mackay. He recruited well at Ross County and he's an enthusiastic football man with bags of experience. It's not all doom and gloom.

I'm just very much tempering my expectations though. The job is so big and the last 3 or 4 years of bad plan and bad execution has left us in total disarray with the squad; it just isn't a quick fix and certainly not one that is going to turnaround from being 8th to 3rd or 4th in a single season, people may disagree with that assessment but for me we need about 6 or 7 starters and that will take time to assemble and gel. I've already said I'd be happy with 6th this season as long as there are signs of progress and obvious foundations being put in place to build from that. I just find it hard to get that excited about a transition season (hopefully a genuine one rather than just another mediocre one) and that makes it hard to feel all that positive.....Excellent post,spot on.:aok:

[One Day Soon]

I suppose somebody has to be THAT guys so it may as well be me.

Is this not just a rehash of the same sentiments we have heard or read about 5 times in the last 3 years? The words and rallying calls are easy, a new manager almost always creates a ripple of excitement, but what really matters is the actions and events that follow it. Hibs have been really good at the marketing and PR when appointing a new gaffer in recent times, it's the second part we have habitually failed at.

The job at Hibs is huge. Understandably fans often let their hearts rule their heads (myself included) and last summer was an example of that. We saw predictions that we were ready to battle for 3rd, a huge number had us finishing no lower than 4th and there was a common train of thought that we had an excellent transfer window. I said at the time we had an average to poor window and a squad set for somewhere between 5th and 7th and was roundly shouted down and told I was wrong. I was of course wrong because we finished 8th. When Montgomery came in it was hailed as an exciting and ambitious appointment, something different, a guy who would get more from the squad than Johnson. He arguably got even less from them. Now it's great we are appointing someone who knows the club, knows Scottish football etc etc. Basically what is good now is the polar opposite of what was good last year. We are starting from a worse base than last year: we have no obvious first choice goalkeeper, one first team CB, a number of the same midfielders who have been a problem for years and we are without the attacking player who's goals were a massive part in a poor season not being a disaster.

I'm not unhappy with the Gray appointment. I broadly agree with the idea that experience of Scottish football is a big requirement and Gray ticks that box. He has shown a level of pragmatism in the limited number of games he has managed which would be a welcome change from the ideological naivety of Maloney and Montgomery and the roulette wheel approach of Johnson. He has plenty credit in the bank with fans so will get a fair bit more leeway from the majority, at least initially. He has shown he isn't afraid to make big calls (replacing Marcondes with Campbell at the end of last season as one example) and he exudes a quiet confidence. I also like the appointment of Mackay. He recruited well at Ross County and he's an enthusiastic football man with bags of experience. It's not all doom and gloom.

I'm just very much tempering my expectations though. The job is so big and the last 3 or 4 years of bad plan and bad execution has left us in total disarray with the squad; it just isn't a quick fix and certainly not one that is going to turnaround from being 8th to 3rd or 4th in a single season, people may disagree with that assessment but for me we need about 6 or 7 starters and that will take time to assemble and gel. I've already said I'd be happy with 6th this season as long as there are signs of progress and obvious foundations being put in place to build from that. I just find it hard to get that excited about a transition season (hopefully a genuine one rather than just another mediocre one) and that makes it hard to feel all that positive.


Exactly this.

We are in a very big mess and the appointment of a new manager will not instantly sort that. I also now have zero faith in those at the top of the club which means I don't trust them to support those running the football side rather than meddle, nor do I trust them to make good strategic decisions.

In summary, I shall be expecting the worst while hoping for the best.

[Ronniekirk]

I suppose somebody has to be THAT guys so it may as well be me.

Is this not just a rehash of the same sentiments we have heard or read about 5 times in the last 3 years? The words and rallying calls are easy, a new manager almost always creates a ripple of excitement, but what really matters is the actions and events that follow it. Hibs have been really good at the marketing and PR when appointing a new gaffer in recent times, it's the second part we have habitually failed at.

The job at Hibs is huge. Understandably fans often let their hearts rule their heads (myself included) and last summer was an example of that. We saw predictions that we were ready to battle for 3rd, a huge number had us finishing no lower than 4th and there was a common train of thought that we had an excellent transfer window. I said at the time we had an average to poor window and a squad set for somewhere between 5th and 7th and was roundly shouted down and told I was wrong. I was of course wrong because we finished 8th. When Montgomery came in it was hailed as an exciting and ambitious appointment, something different, a guy who would get more from the squad than Johnson. He arguably got even less from them. Now it's great we are appointing someone who knows the club, knows Scottish football etc etc. Basically what is good now is the polar opposite of what was good last year. We are starting from a worse base than last year: we have no obvious first choice goalkeeper, one first team CB, a number of the same midfielders who have been a problem for years and we are without the attacking player who's goals were a massive part in a poor season not being a disaster.

I'm not unhappy with the Gray appointment. I broadly agree with the idea that experience of Scottish football is a big requirement and Gray ticks that box. He has shown a level of pragmatism in the limited number of games he has managed which would be a welcome change from the ideological naivety of Maloney and Montgomery and the roulette wheel approach of Johnson. He has plenty credit in the bank with fans so will get a fair bit more leeway from the majority, at least initially. He has shown he isn't afraid to make big calls (replacing Marcondes with Campbell at the end of last season as one example) and he exudes a quiet confidence. I also like the appointment of Mackay. He recruited well at Ross County and he's an enthusiastic football man with bags of experience. It's not all doom and gloom.

I'm just very much tempering my expectations though. The job is so big and the last 3 or 4 years of bad plan and bad execution has left us in total disarray with the squad; it just isn't a quick fix and certainly not one that is going to turnaround from being 8th to 3rd or 4th in a single season, people may disagree with that assessment but for me we need about 6 or 7 starters and that will take time to assemble and gel. I've already said I'd be happy with 6th this season as long as there are signs of progress and obvious foundations being put in place to build from that. I just find it hard to get that excited about a transition season (hopefully a genuine one rather than just another mediocre one) and that makes it hard to feel all that positive.

Agree we are in a mess and those responsible are all still in situ
Each mistake making it harder for new Manager to sort
Obviously Malky and Sir David now in post and Black Kights on board So there is potential that this is the turning point But it’s going to be a lot about recruitment and who we can offload
But Rome was t built in a day and to suddenly expect we have a great season and qualify for Europe this season is a hard task especially if Killie reinvest again and st Mirren consolidate Aberdeen are like us so remains to be seen if new manager galvsnises them and gets backed
So will wait and see who comes in as assistant and who the first few signings are in the window
Maybe then I will get really positive

[RIP]

I'm a cup half fu person generally.

My frustration is with the communication from club to fans. The majority of supporters dont appear to have a scooby about how a club should run and what roles the main people hold.

Some still wrongly claiming that Gray has been defensive coach, that he has a Manager job or that he will be signing a whole raft of new players. As if the club are paying Mackay and McDermott's wages but there's only one guy making all the decisions.

Last season the club issued the 'Inside Training' videos where they talked with Brian, Nick and Sergio. Same again for this season please but with more sharing across social media platforms.

[The Modfather]

My concern is how much input and learnings we have received/allowed from Bournemouth/Black Knights in yet another review. Maybe the role of a sporting director is part of those learnings, but it was about the last option available after trying a head of academy (or whatever Steve Kean was) and McDermott as DOF.

We appear to have recruited a manager and Sporting Director we could all have suggested ourselves and without having any link up. With cost/compensation appearing to be one of the first restrictive criteria to be applied in our search which doesn’t appear to have travelled further than Scottish football and no compensation required.

[GreenCastle]

I suppose somebody has to be THAT guys so it may as well be me.

Is this not just a rehash of the same sentiments we have heard or read about 5 times in the last 3 years? The words and rallying calls are easy, a new manager almost always creates a ripple of excitement, but what really matters is the actions and events that follow it. Hibs have been really good at the marketing and PR when appointing a new gaffer in recent times, it's the second part we have habitually failed at.

The job at Hibs is huge. Understandably fans often let their hearts rule their heads (myself included) and last summer was an example of that. We saw predictions that we were ready to battle for 3rd, a huge number had us finishing no lower than 4th and there was a common train of thought that we had an excellent transfer window. I said at the time we had an average to poor window and a squad set for somewhere between 5th and 7th and was roundly shouted down and told I was wrong. I was of course wrong because we finished 8th. When Montgomery came in it was hailed as an exciting and ambitious appointment, something different, a guy who would get more from the squad than Johnson. He arguably got even less from them. Now it's great we are appointing someone who knows the club, knows Scottish football etc etc. Basically what is good now is the polar opposite of what was good last year. We are starting from a worse base than last year: we have no obvious first choice goalkeeper, one first team CB, a number of the same midfielders who have been a problem for years and we are without the attacking player who's goals were a massive part in a poor season not being a disaster.

I'm not unhappy with the Gray appointment. I broadly agree with the idea that experience of Scottish football is a big requirement and Gray ticks that box. He has shown a level of pragmatism in the limited number of games he has managed which would be a welcome change from the ideological naivety of Maloney and Montgomery and the roulette wheel approach of Johnson. He has plenty credit in the bank with fans so will get a fair bit more leeway from the majority, at least initially. He has shown he isn't afraid to make big calls (replacing Marcondes with Campbell at the end of last season as one example) and he exudes a quiet confidence. I also like the appointment of Mackay. He recruited well at Ross County and he's an enthusiastic football man with bags of experience. It's not all doom and gloom.

I'm just very much tempering my expectations though. The job is so big and the last 3 or 4 years of bad plan and bad execution has left us in total disarray with the squad; it just isn't a quick fix and certainly not one that is going to turnaround from being 8th to 3rd or 4th in a single season, people may disagree with that assessment but for me we need about 6 or 7 starters and that will take time to assemble and gel. I've already said I'd be happy with 6th this season as long as there are signs of progress and obvious foundations being put in place to build from that. I just find it hard to get that excited about a transition season (hopefully a genuine one rather than just another mediocre one) and that makes it hard to feel all that positive.

Fair post.

I’m curious to see who we sign and who we let go.

It it’s the usual types then it will be pretty easy to predict how the season we go.

If we actually show some ambition and sort the spine of the team and fill it will leaders / winners / good players and characters that the fans can support then the togetherness will go a long way.

Many fans are still annoyed with the way last season went and lots of social media posts of safe standing or FF bar won’t help until we see some good signings and see the team getting a fresh new look.

We haven’t even had an announcement yet on the coaching staff which is a bit odd. Surely this is something Gray should have had in place before being officially announced.

[Crab apple]

I wanted McInnes as I think that would have guaranteed a short and longer term improvement in our fortunes. However, Gray is preferable to another leftfield appointment which the last few managers have been. Positivty will increase if we see that the standard of new signings is better than previous seasons.

[Groathillgrump]

I suppose somebody has to be THAT guys so it may as well be me.

Is this not just a rehash of the same sentiments we have heard or read about 5 times in the last 3 years? The words and rallying calls are easy, a new manager almost always creates a ripple of excitement, but what really matters is the actions and events that follow it. Hibs have been really good at the marketing and PR when appointing a new gaffer in recent times, it's the second part we have habitually failed at.

The job at Hibs is huge. Understandably fans often let their hearts rule their heads (myself included) and last summer was an example of that. We saw predictions that we were ready to battle for 3rd, a huge number had us finishing no lower than 4th and there was a common train of thought that we had an excellent transfer window. I said at the time we had an average to poor window and a squad set for somewhere between 5th and 7th and was roundly shouted down and told I was wrong. I was of course wrong because we finished 8th. When Montgomery came in it was hailed as an exciting and ambitious appointment, something different, a guy who would get more from the squad than Johnson. He arguably got even less from them. Now it's great we are appointing someone who knows the club, knows Scottish football etc etc. Basically what is good now is the polar opposite of what was good last year. We are starting from a worse base than last year: we have no obvious first choice goalkeeper, one first team CB, a number of the same midfielders who have been a problem for years and we are without the attacking player who's goals were a massive part in a poor season not being a disaster.

I'm not unhappy with the Gray appointment. I broadly agree with the idea that experience of Scottish football is a big requirement and Gray ticks that box. He has shown a level of pragmatism in the limited number of games he has managed which would be a welcome change from the ideological naivety of Maloney and Montgomery and the roulette wheel approach of Johnson. He has plenty credit in the bank with fans so will get a fair bit more leeway from the majority, at least initially. He has shown he isn't afraid to make big calls (replacing Marcondes with Campbell at the end of last season as one example) and he exudes a quiet confidence. I also like the appointment of Mackay. He recruited well at Ross County and he's an enthusiastic football man with bags of experience. It's not all doom and gloom.

I'm just very much tempering my expectations though. The job is so big and the last 3 or 4 years of bad plan and bad execution has left us in total disarray with the squad; it just isn't a quick fix and certainly not one that is going to turnaround from being 8th to 3rd or 4th in a single season, people may disagree with that assessment but for me we need about 6 or 7 starters and that will take time to assemble and gel. I've already said I'd be happy with 6th this season as long as there are signs of progress and obvious foundations being put in place to build from that. I just find it hard to get that excited about a transition season (hopefully a genuine one rather than just another mediocre one) and that makes it hard to feel all that positive.

Great post. :top marks

I think we all have to manage our expectations for the coming season. It certainly won't be a quick fix and lots of patience will be required - something that Hibs fans are notoriously short of. Recruitment will be key. We have to get it spot on this coming window because there really is no margin for error this time.

Personally at the moment I'm cautiously optimistic but ask me again after the League Cup group stages and the first round of league fixtures!

[Smartie]

I’m still a bit conflicted but much more positive since the decision was made to lose Monty and co and bring in Gray, MacKay and co.

My main concern is around the bugbear of the past few years - recruitment - and the slightly pretentious issues I have with not really understanding what the purpose of Hibs in the Gordon era is.

Under Farmer, Hibs were always going to be sensibly run - investment for long term gain, no daft casino type punts, he saved the club for the community of Leith and he was never going to jeopardise the fact that Hibs had to be around for the community of Leith for years to come.

We were bought by Ron Gordon, he obviously had his ideas and made his start but tragically he is no longer with us and I don’t really know where that leaves us.

A lot of our more questionable moves have had a whiff of “moneyball” about them but the signings of the likes of Marshall and ALF and the ongoing presence of Hanlon and Stevenson flew in the face of that a bit. Now they’ve all been emptied…

Then there’s the BK arrangement. That Lorient were relegated is of mild concern. Will we just be a vehicle for player trading or do we exist to train up players for our masters?

I’m still just a bit concerned that the sporting success of the Hibernian first team might not be the number one priority of Hibernian football club.

A decent summer transfer window could go a long way towards answering my questions and alleviating my concerns. It doesn’t even need to be a blinding window - just one where it looks like we might know what we’re doing.

There is something of the fresh start though, which is welcome, and I’m really looking forward to friendlies and league cup games with Gray in the dugout. It’s not been that often in recent years that it’s felt like we’ve had something to look forward to - and this time there’s just a hunch I have that our worst mistakes are now behind us.

[Tambo]

This is what I like to see! I don't think SDG was a lot of fans first choice but it seems to have gone down well for most.

Recruitment will always be key for any club, we seem to be rebuilding every season so let's get it right this year.

A week or so off but I'm ready and looking forward to the new season.

[Dashing Bob S]

I suppose somebody has to be THAT guys so it may as well be me.

Is this not just a rehash of the same sentiments we have heard or read about 5 times in the last 3 years? The words and rallying calls are easy, a new manager almost always creates a ripple of excitement, but what really matters is the actions and events that follow it. Hibs have been really good at the marketing and PR when appointing a new gaffer in recent times, it's the second part we have habitually failed at.

The job at Hibs is huge. Understandably fans often let their hearts rule their heads (myself included) and last summer was an example of that. We saw predictions that we were ready to battle for 3rd, a huge number had us finishing no lower than 4th and there was a common train of thought that we had an excellent transfer window. I said at the time we had an average to poor window and a squad set for somewhere between 5th and 7th and was roundly shouted down and told I was wrong. I was of course wrong because we finished 8th. When Montgomery came in it was hailed as an exciting and ambitious appointment, something different, a guy who would get more from the squad than Johnson. He arguably got even less from them. Now it's great we are appointing someone who knows the club, knows Scottish football etc etc. Basically what is good now is the polar opposite of what was good last year. We are starting from a worse base than last year: we have no obvious first choice goalkeeper, one first team CB, a number of the same midfielders who have been a problem for years and we are without the attacking player who's goals were a massive part in a poor season not being a disaster.

I'm not unhappy with the Gray appointment. I broadly agree with the idea that experience of Scottish football is a big requirement and Gray ticks that box. He has shown a level of pragmatism in the limited number of games he has managed which would be a welcome change from the ideological naivety of Maloney and Montgomery and the roulette wheel approach of Johnson. He has plenty credit in the bank with fans so will get a fair bit more leeway from the majority, at least initially. He has shown he isn't afraid to make big calls (replacing Marcondes with Campbell at the end of last season as one example) and he exudes a quiet confidence. I also like the appointment of Mackay. He recruited well at Ross County and he's an enthusiastic football man with bags of experience. It's not all doom and gloom.

I'm just very much tempering my expectations though. The job is so big and the last 3 or 4 years of bad plan and bad execution has left us in total disarray with the squad; it just isn't a quick fix and certainly not one that is going to turnaround from being 8th to 3rd or 4th in a single season, people may disagree with that assessment but for me we need about 6 or 7 starters and that will take time to assemble and gel. I've already said I'd be happy with 6th this season as long as there are signs of progress and obvious foundations being put in place to build from that. I just find it hard to get that excited about a transition season (hopefully a genuine one rather than just another mediocre one) and that makes it hard to feel all that positive.

As usual this pretty much nails it for me. The only thing I’d take issue with is top six. Even given last season and the rebuild need, with the level of investment and the standard of this league we have to be looking at top 4