Cabbage1875
20-10-2024, 08:17 PM
I've not posted here for a while, but I'm in need of some therapy after another day of almost inevitable disappointment for us yesterday - it's becoming almost unexplainable at this point.
Included in my anger at almost everything Hibs at the moment, I do feel for David Gray, with his vulnerability becoming more apparent with each passing week.
I love the man, of course I do, but I will admit I've never really felt he was a convincing appointment. As much as I wanted to. But that's not all his fault...
It's almost as if he was launched into the hot seat as an option which would be almost universally well-received by the fans (at first anyway) as we go through the motions this season (perhaps scraping top 6) before mass releasing the playing squad at the end of the season when their contracts run out.
The stumbling block with that idea appears to be that they haven't factored in that the perfect storm of the general feeling around the club, a weak mentality late in games with a rookie manager (and coaching staff if we're honest!) could spell disaster come that time.
And we remember what happened the last time we had players who knew they were being binned at the end of the season.
Our 150th year could realistically be spent hosting a rebuild in the Championship the way things are going.
I genuinely believe David Gray is a good football coach 'on the grass' week to week. He might even make a great Head Coach in time, but I feel like he's doomed to fail with the hand he's been dealt at Hibs so far.
Don't get me wrong, he has made some questionable decisions tactically and some even more questionable substitutions, but I find myself feeling sorry for a new coach finding his way with little to no support from those who should be in his corner. I admire him for his acknowledgement that responsibility for our frankly unacceptable position is ultimately his. But is it really?
We hear absolutely nothing from leadership at the club. Where is Ben Kensell? I'll concede we heard from Ian Gordon, who did an unconvincing job of owning up to Luke Shanley about some failings.
But where were they when we heard through the media that Foley wasn't happy with the appointment of Gray, in particular. That was the time for some strong leadership to get behind their man, and let the fans know what was going on from the club's perspective.
Our Head Coach was left hung out to dry, and it feels like he's still there, to me. He's fronting up constantly with little to no back up in my eyes.
As mentioned previously, he isn't blameless, of course, but it's easy to forget he is still finding his feet, in an environment featuring extreme pressure - which will only get worse with a bad result next weekend...
The hierarchy at the club is where any anger should be directed, not the Head Coach, yet.
That's the main message I wanted to get across with this post. We are in serious trouble on the pitch with this squad and current feeling, so our support is needed more than ever during matches.
And I don't want anyone to think that's a dig at the fans, who continue to support the club every single week, while being served up gut punches with a side of sub-standard efforts constantly.
The players need to have a look at themselves.
Bursik hasn't shown up well so far at all, he could (and should) be dropped this weekend, but again, it's a risk chucking an untested keeper into a derby.
Where's Conrad Logan when you need him?
Lewis Miller looked like he had bricks in his pockets at the weekend and our new centre back pairing has been more McGivern than Maldini so far. Senior players keep making vital mistakes at key times in matches, which is undoubtedly killing us.
No matter what you think of Gray, daft mistakes by players who should know better have had a huge impact on results so far.
Junior Hoilett has undoubtedly been a bright spark, Kieron Bowie would be bringing more to the table than big Myk, I'm sure of that. Dwight Gayle should be able to contribute.
Elie Youan's situation is one which needs addressed properly. He's our best player on his day for me. But if there's an issue where he can't/won't contribute, then he shouldn't be on the bench at all.
We do have players who can win matches, let's hope they do it this weekend. We've never needed a moment of magic more...
We need leadership. We need to get behind David Gray. But more than anything, we need a *****ing result!
Included in my anger at almost everything Hibs at the moment, I do feel for David Gray, with his vulnerability becoming more apparent with each passing week.
I love the man, of course I do, but I will admit I've never really felt he was a convincing appointment. As much as I wanted to. But that's not all his fault...
It's almost as if he was launched into the hot seat as an option which would be almost universally well-received by the fans (at first anyway) as we go through the motions this season (perhaps scraping top 6) before mass releasing the playing squad at the end of the season when their contracts run out.
The stumbling block with that idea appears to be that they haven't factored in that the perfect storm of the general feeling around the club, a weak mentality late in games with a rookie manager (and coaching staff if we're honest!) could spell disaster come that time.
And we remember what happened the last time we had players who knew they were being binned at the end of the season.
Our 150th year could realistically be spent hosting a rebuild in the Championship the way things are going.
I genuinely believe David Gray is a good football coach 'on the grass' week to week. He might even make a great Head Coach in time, but I feel like he's doomed to fail with the hand he's been dealt at Hibs so far.
Don't get me wrong, he has made some questionable decisions tactically and some even more questionable substitutions, but I find myself feeling sorry for a new coach finding his way with little to no support from those who should be in his corner. I admire him for his acknowledgement that responsibility for our frankly unacceptable position is ultimately his. But is it really?
We hear absolutely nothing from leadership at the club. Where is Ben Kensell? I'll concede we heard from Ian Gordon, who did an unconvincing job of owning up to Luke Shanley about some failings.
But where were they when we heard through the media that Foley wasn't happy with the appointment of Gray, in particular. That was the time for some strong leadership to get behind their man, and let the fans know what was going on from the club's perspective.
Our Head Coach was left hung out to dry, and it feels like he's still there, to me. He's fronting up constantly with little to no back up in my eyes.
As mentioned previously, he isn't blameless, of course, but it's easy to forget he is still finding his feet, in an environment featuring extreme pressure - which will only get worse with a bad result next weekend...
The hierarchy at the club is where any anger should be directed, not the Head Coach, yet.
That's the main message I wanted to get across with this post. We are in serious trouble on the pitch with this squad and current feeling, so our support is needed more than ever during matches.
And I don't want anyone to think that's a dig at the fans, who continue to support the club every single week, while being served up gut punches with a side of sub-standard efforts constantly.
The players need to have a look at themselves.
Bursik hasn't shown up well so far at all, he could (and should) be dropped this weekend, but again, it's a risk chucking an untested keeper into a derby.
Where's Conrad Logan when you need him?
Lewis Miller looked like he had bricks in his pockets at the weekend and our new centre back pairing has been more McGivern than Maldini so far. Senior players keep making vital mistakes at key times in matches, which is undoubtedly killing us.
No matter what you think of Gray, daft mistakes by players who should know better have had a huge impact on results so far.
Junior Hoilett has undoubtedly been a bright spark, Kieron Bowie would be bringing more to the table than big Myk, I'm sure of that. Dwight Gayle should be able to contribute.
Elie Youan's situation is one which needs addressed properly. He's our best player on his day for me. But if there's an issue where he can't/won't contribute, then he shouldn't be on the bench at all.
We do have players who can win matches, let's hope they do it this weekend. We've never needed a moment of magic more...
We need leadership. We need to get behind David Gray. But more than anything, we need a *****ing result!