50 years of mediocrity in the league expose Hibs' delusions of top-four status

[He's here!]

I think it's fair to say that when asked what we expect from a club of our size (ie similar-sized supports to Hearts and Aberdeen, better stadium and training facilities than both) when it comes to league performance most Hibs fans would say regularly challenging for a top-four spot.

However, a look back at our history shows that it's almost 50 years since this was an expectation which the club lived up to with any degree of consistency. For all the gnashing and wailing about what an underachieving club we are, the records show that feeble mid-to-lower table mediocrity with the occasional relegation thrown in is pretty much where we stand in the overall scheme of Scottish football. Here's how our top four-finishes look since the advent of the Premier Division in 1975/76 (ie when the old 18-team First Division was done away with) compared to Aberdeen and Hearts, plus a couple of supposedly smaller clubs. Hearts' record actually isn't all that much to write home about either, but quite clearly better than ours.

You feel it should be realistic to expect better, but half a century of only fleetingly living up to expectations indicates otherwise.

Hibs:
3rd place: 5 times
4th place: 4 times

Aberdeen:
1st place: 3 times
2nd place: 12 times
3rd place: 6 times
4th place: 10 times

Hearts:
2nd place: 4 times
3rd place: 10 times
4th 4 times

Dundee Utd:
1st place: 1 time
3rd place: 8 times
4th place: 11 times

Motherwell:
2nd place: 3 times
3rd place: 4 times
4th place: 2 times

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

How many different threads are you going to start basically saying the same thing?You'd be better finding something else to do with your Saturdays.

[easty]

I’m no really sure what 50 years of data tells us about today anyway?

The fact that we didn’t do too well 50/40/30 years ago, has absolutely nae bearing on the fact that we’re doing **** now.

In the last few years we’ve spent considerably more than teams around us who’ve managed to out-perform us. That’s the problem for me.

[B.H.F.C]

How many different threads are you going to start basically saying the same thing?You'd be better finding something else to do with your Saturdays.

I’m no sure his Saturdays actually have much to do with Hibs to be fair. Other than to find as many ways as possible to come up with threads like this.

[blackpoolhibs]

When you get a new owner come in, then tell you he's going to grow the income and get the team best of the rest and European league stage football.

Then bring in outside investment and help, take the money but ignore the help, sack managers like confetti, and basically watch the football side of the operations crumble before everones eyes, is it any wonder peoples expectations were raised with whats was said?

Unless the product on the park is good, all the investment in the world off the park will look stupid when fans drift away and their new suites are empty.

[Trinity Hibee]

I think it's fair to say that when asked what we expect from a club of our size (ie similar-sized supports to Hearts and Aberdeen, better stadium and training facilities than both) when it comes to league performance most Hibs fans would say regularly challenging for a top-four spot.

However, a look back at our history shows that it's almost 50 years since this was an expectation which the club lived up to with any degree of consistency. For all the gnashing and wailing about what an underachieving club we are, the records show that feeble mid-to-lower table mediocrity with the occasional relegation thrown in is pretty much where we stand in the overall scheme of Scottish football. Here's how our top four-finishes look since the advent of the Premier Division in 1975/76 (ie when the old 18-team First Division was done away with) compared to Aberdeen and Hearts, plus a couple of supposedly smaller clubs. Hearts' record actually isn't all that much to write home about either, but quite clearly better than ours.

You feel it should be realistic to expect better, but half a century of only fleetingly living up to expectations indicates otherwise.

Hibs:
3rd place: 5 times
4th place: 4 times

Aberdeen:
1st place: 3 times
2nd place: 12 times
3rd place: 6 times
4th place: 10 times

Hearts:
2nd place: 4 times
3rd place: 10 times
4th 4 times

Dundee Utd:
1st place: 1 time
3rd place: 8 times
4th place: 11 times

Motherwell:
2nd place: 3 times
3rd place: 4 times
4th place: 2 times

Aberdeen the only one there who have performed well id say. DU & Motherwell probably overachieved. I do struggle to see how we aren’t consistently better over a period of 50 odd years. All teams have bad seasons but we have huge spells with the odd one that we meet expectations. We have the structure to be successful with stadium, training centre, fan base but the football rarely lives up to what it should.

[He's here!]

I’m no really sure what 50 years of data tells us about today anyway?

The fact that we didn’t do too well 50/40/30 years ago, has absolutely nae bearing on the fact that we’re doing **** now.

In the last few years we’ve spent considerably more than teams around us who’ve managed to out-perform us. That’s the problem for me.

Because prior to that we had shown as a club that we were capable of competing at the top end of the table and justifying our status as a big club within Scottish football (and, in fact, beyond). Sure, things have changed since then when it comes to the financial advantage the Old Firm enjoy, but the fact that in half a century we have consistently fallen short of even contesting a top four spot points to something far wrong with a club of our size.

As someone brought up on tales of the Famous Five and who was lucky enough to catch the tail end of the Tornadoes it's hard to accept.

[Onion]

When you get a new owner come in, then tell you he's going to grow the income and get the team best of the rest and European league stage football.

Then bring in outside investment and help, take the money but ignore the help, sack managers like confetti, and basically watch the football side of the operations crumble before everones eyes, is it any wonder peoples expectations were raised with whats was said?

Unless the product on the park is good, all the investment in the world off the park will look stupid when fans drift away and their new suites are empty.

Then it's time to flatten ER, sell the land and head home.

[He's here!]

I’m no sure his Saturdays actually have much to do with Hibs to be fair. Other than to find as many ways as possible to come up with threads like this.

You're not entirely wrong...at least with the first part. I've been to more Hibs women's games this season than men's. It's the only 'Hibs' my daughter's interested in (my other kids drifted away from football yonks ago). I was about to say it's better for your sense of wellbeing than watching the men but Montrose have equalised in today's game...

[Kato]

You're not entirely wrong...at least with the first part. I've been to more Hibs women's games this season than men's. It's the only 'Hibs' my daughter's interested in (my other kids drifted away from football yonks ago). I was about to say it's better for your sense of wellbeing than watching the men but Montrose have equalised in today's game...Are you as much of a sour puss on the ladies teams board?

Sent from my SM-A528B using Tapatalk

[whiskyhibby]

I think it's fair to say that when asked what we expect from a club of our size (ie similar-sized supports to Hearts and Aberdeen, better stadium and training facilities than both) when it comes to league performance most Hibs fans would say regularly challenging for a top-four spot.

However, a look back at our history shows that it's almost 50 years since this was an expectation which the club lived up to with any degree of consistency. For all the gnashing and wailing about what an underachieving club we are, the records show that feeble mid-to-lower table mediocrity with the occasional relegation thrown in is pretty much where we stand in the overall scheme of Scottish football. Here's how our top four-finishes look since the advent of the Premier Division in 1975/76 (ie when the old 18-team First Division was done away with) compared to Aberdeen and Hearts, plus a couple of supposedly smaller clubs. Hearts' record actually isn't all that much to write home about either, but quite clearly better than ours.

You feel it should be realistic to expect better, but half a century of only fleetingly living up to expectations indicates otherwise.

Hibs:
3rd place: 5 times
4th place: 4 times

Aberdeen:
1st place: 3 times
2nd place: 12 times
3rd place: 6 times
4th place: 10 times

Hearts:
2nd place: 4 times
3rd place: 10 times
4th 4 times

Dundee Utd:
1st place: 1 time
3rd place: 8 times
4th place: 11 times

Motherwell:
2nd place: 3 times
3rd place: 4 times
4th place: 2 times


:troll::troll:

[hibsbollah]

I think it's fair to say that when asked what we expect from a club of our size (ie similar-sized supports to Hearts and Aberdeen, better stadium and training facilities than both) when it comes to league performance most Hibs fans would say regularly challenging for a top-four spot.

However, a look back at our history shows that it's almost 50 years since this was an expectation which the club lived up to with any degree of consistency. For all the gnashing and wailing about what an underachieving club we are, the records show that feeble mid-to-lower table mediocrity with the occasional relegation thrown in is pretty much where we stand in the overall scheme of Scottish football. Here's how our top four-finishes look since the advent of the Premier Division in 1975/76 (ie when the old 18-team First Division was done away with) compared to Aberdeen and Hearts, plus a couple of supposedly smaller clubs. Hearts' record actually isn't all that much to write home about either, but quite clearly better than ours.

You feel it should be realistic to expect better, but half a century of only fleetingly living up to expectations indicates otherwise.

Hibs:
3rd place: 5 times
4th place: 4 times

Aberdeen:
1st place: 3 times
2nd place: 12 times
3rd place: 6 times
4th place: 10 times

Hearts:
2nd place: 4 times
3rd place: 10 times
4th 4 times

Dundee Utd:
1st place: 1 time
3rd place: 8 times
4th place: 11 times

Motherwell:
2nd place: 3 times
3rd place: 4 times
4th place: 2 times

Youve been at it for years. I wonder why youre still here or why anyone pays attention.

[Hiber-nation]

Youve been at it for years. I wonder why youre still here or why anyone pays attention.

Yep, as long a thread title as possible, has to be slaughtering Hibs and if he can get in a reference to how great the UK is then it's bonus time.

[B.H.F.C]

You're not entirely wrong...at least with the first part. I've been to more Hibs women's games this season than men's. It's the only 'Hibs' my daughter's interested in (my other kids drifted away from football yonks ago). I was about to say it's better for your sense of wellbeing than watching the men but Montrose have equalised in today's game...

You revel in negative creating negative threads like this one despite the fact you bang on about not really being interested in watching us any more.

There’s plenty room for negativity at the moment but the constant drivel you come out with is on another level.

[JimBHibees]

I think it's fair to say that when asked what we expect from a club of our size (ie similar-sized supports to Hearts and Aberdeen, better stadium and training facilities than both) when it comes to league performance most Hibs fans would say regularly challenging for a top-four spot.

However, a look back at our history shows that it's almost 50 years since this was an expectation which the club lived up to with any degree of consistency. For all the gnashing and wailing about what an underachieving club we are, the records show that feeble mid-to-lower table mediocrity with the occasional relegation thrown in is pretty much where we stand in the overall scheme of Scottish football. Here's how our top four-finishes look since the advent of the Premier Division in 1975/76 (ie when the old 18-team First Division was done away with) compared to Aberdeen and Hearts, plus a couple of supposedly smaller clubs. Hearts' record actually isn't all that much to write home about either, but quite clearly better than ours.

You feel it should be realistic to expect better, but half a century of only fleetingly living up to expectations indicates otherwise.

Hibs:
3rd place: 5 times
4th place: 4 times

Aberdeen:
1st place: 3 times
2nd place: 12 times
3rd place: 6 times
4th place: 10 times

Hearts:
2nd place: 4 times
3rd place: 10 times
4th 4 times

Dundee Utd:
1st place: 1 time
3rd place: 8 times
4th place: 11 times

Motherwell:
2nd place: 3 times
3rd place: 4 times
4th place: 2 times

Another prophet of doom post. Yippee. Wish we had got Levein in as you hoped.

[JimBHibees]

You revel in negative creating negative threads like this one despite the fact you bang on about not really being interested in watching us any more.

There’s plenty room for negativity at the moment but the constant drivel you come out with is on another level.

Screams yam

[Not In The Know]

Did you start this thread on the bus to Pittodrie??

[Since90+2]

Screams yam

From the poster who said Hibs should think about appointing Levein.

Can you ever imagine any actual Hibs fan suggesting that?

[Jim44]

Instead of moaning about this guy’s incessant moaning, why don’t folk put him on ‘ignore’…… if that function is still available.

[fat freddy]

Without looking at the stats I think Hibs have played at Hampden in semis and finals more than any other team outwith Celtic since this century began.
Hibs won't win the league so our best chance of silverware is the cups, I think that's a better measure of our achievements compared to our performances in a tournament we can't win.

[Since90+2]

Without looking at the stats I think Hibs have played at Hampden in semis and finals more than any other team outwith Celtic since this century began.
Hibs won't win the league so our best chance of silverware is the cups, I think that's a better measure of our achievements compared to our performances in a tournament we can't win.

And let's not forget we've won both cups more recently than Hearts.

For all our failings, that will hurt Hearts fans (especially the ones that lurk and post on here) more than anything else.

[HarpOnHibee]

Without looking at the stats I think Hibs have played at Hampden in semis and finals more than any other team outwith Celtic since this century began.
Hibs won't win the league so our best chance of silverware is the cups, I think that's a better measure of our achievements compared to our performances in a tournament we can't win.

Kind of frustrating though isn't it? Considering how many opportunities we've had at the cups compared to how often we've actually taken the cups and looking at some of the teams who have beaten us in those finals who on paper, really had no right to beat us in them.

[He's here!]

Without looking at the stats I think Hibs have played at Hampden in semis and finals more than any other team outwith Celtic since this century began.
Hibs won't win the league so our best chance of silverware is the cups, I think that's a better measure of our achievements compared to our performances in a tournament we can't win.

Yes, our record of reaching the latter stages of cups this century was, until we sacked Ross, very good.

Nevertheless, we only actually won two (one for the first time in 114 years). Same number as Hearts and one less than St Johnstone.