Attacking formations - how can we produce more variety?

[RIP]

Our midfield seem to have a single tactic under Gray. As they did under previous Head Coaches.

Play it wide. Then in comes a high cross which is meat and drink to opposition defenders. 37? of those yesterday I believe, one of which we scored from. Too low a ratio for all that possession IMO.

Look at Celtic who admittedly have small, fast, nimble forwards. They get in the same positions on the wings but then as Boyle and Obita managed on one occasion each yesterday, worked their way into the box. In our case, only to find passing options limited.

David, please get more men into the box. One striker can't win the game on his own. And also attack the box centrally with 1-2s. More shots please.

[Jones28]

Next week needs to be 3 at the back with 2 strikers. We simply don't have the players for anything else.


Bursic
O'Hora Marv Iredale
Miller Traintis Newall Obita
Hoilett
Boyle Youan

[CentreLine]

By passing the ball forward and trying to hurt our opponents.

[J-C]

We have a striker that's only scored 10 professional goals at the age of 23, therein lies one our problems, getting crosses in wasn't a problem. We also have zero creativity in the 10 position, hence why all our attacks come from the wings, opposition know this do cram the box to nullify any threat.

[kentao]

We are too easy to defend against as we have no cutting edge in the middle of the park which allows teams to easily double up on our wingers knowing we either need to cross into the box where we will be out numbered or pass back to our defence / DM and try down the other side by that time the defending team have shuffled over.

I thought Dylan Levitt would have been the player to add to our attack who has an eye for a pass and can shoot from distance (goal vs Celtic) but he has been played deeper and hasn't been convincing. The other 3 first choice midfielders are all the same type more defensive than offensive.

We very rarely hit shots from the edge of the box, We never have someone from midfield driving at the heart of the defence committing defenders to come out of position or Wingers getting to the byline for a cut back and when we do (yesterday) our players never seem to be ready for the tap in.

[Jones28]

We are too easy to defend against as we have no cutting edge in the middle of the park which allows teams to easily double up on our wingers knowing we either need to cross into the box where we will be out numbered or pass back to our defence / DM and try down the other side by that time the defending team have shuffled over.

I thought Dylan Levitt would have been the player to add to our attack who has an eye for a pass and can shoot from distance (goal vs Celtic) but he has been played deeper and hasn't been convincing. The other 3 first choice midfielders are all the same type more defensive than offensive.

We very rarely hit shots from the edge of the box, We never have someone from midfield driving at the heart of the defence committing defenders to come out of position or Wingers getting to the byline for a cut back and when we do (yesterday) our players never seem to be ready for the tap in.

We hit a load of shots from outside the box against Ross County, they were just *****.

[McGruber]

Next week needs to be 3 at the back with 2 strikers. We simply don't have the players for anything else.


Bursic
O'Hora Marv Iredale
Miller Traintis Newall Obita
Hoilett
Boyle Youan

Agree with the 3 at the back. Hopefully Gayle is fit as an option

[snedzuk]

We hit a load of shots from outside the box against Ross County, they were just *****.

This. Mostly over the bar and in one case over the stand.

[Smartie]

Obviously the goal came from a great cross but I thought Obita had a superb first half and looked to be a very dangerous source of creativity. The ball in for the goal wasn't his only good one, and he also had his wee run when he ended up scampering along the bye line.

We looked good down his side first half, Hoilett also playing well at that time.

It did always break down when it came to having something in the middle. There was another time early in the game when we sprung them down the left with a quick throw in - only to have nobody in support or in the middle.

I wish I had the answer but it feels like we've currently got 8 of the 10 outfield positions largely sorted - back 4, 2 central midfielders and the wingers. It's just what we do with the last 2 places that is key.

[Tambo]

We have a striker that's only scored 10 professional goals at the age of 23, therein lies one our problems, getting crosses in wasn't a problem. We also have zero creativity in the 10 position, hence why all our attacks come from the wings, opposition know this do cram the box to nullify any threat.

Spot on with this, while both Kwon and Triantis might give us something more defensive/battle in the middle of the park it's leaves us short going forward, I don't think having a free role and getting forward as much as possible is Joe's game either.

We have Rudi who has talent but it's still rough and recently after a good start has not done aswell, giving the ball away etc.

No idea what to expect on Saturday vs St Mirren regarding tactics with Myko not available do we approach it the same way as we did first half vs United?

[richard_pitts]

Next week needs to be 3 at the back with 2 strikers. We simply don't have the players for anything else.


Bursic
O'Hora Marv Iredale
Miller Traintis Newall Obita
Hoilett
Boyle Youan

Hard to argue with that team. I'd maybe go with McKirdy instead of Boyle: latter deserves to be dropped. I'd be saying to McKirdy to go and cement his place in the team.

[flash]

We don't have a competent number 10 at the club therefore we need to change formation.

[BoomtownHibees]

Hard to argue with that team. I'd maybe go with McKirdy instead of Boyle: latter deserves to be dropped. I'd be saying to McKirdy to go and cement his place in the team.

McKirdy? Surely no

[Springbank]

This post isnt a dig at Kwon (who I like)

It's just about fine margins

At Tannadice our keeper coughs up possession, stranded off his line, the utd boys shot goes in off the bar for their winner

Yesterday their keeper coughed up the exact same chance at 1-0 Hibs. Keeper stranded. Kwon drifted his shot wide, off target, never going in.

These are the moments that can bring calmess instead of chaos

It really is fine margins & being ready

[flash]

This post isnt a dig at Kwon (who I like)

It's just about fine margins

At Tannadice our keeper coughs up possession, stranded off his line, the utd boys shot goes in off the bar for their winner

Yesterday their keeper coughed up the exact same chance at 1-0 Hibs. Keeper stranded. Kwon drifted his shot wide, off target, never going in.

These are the moments that can bring calmess instead of chaos

It really is fine margins & being ready

He had to score that.

[Donegal Hibby]

With Myko out and according to this Gayle in a race to be fit . If he doesn’t make it , it will have to be Boyle or Youan playing the striker role. My own preference would be to play Youan there . I don’t think Boyles been playing particularly well .

Hoping Miller will be ok though says he’s had an ongoing ankle issue , just wondering if him and Cadden weren’t available ( hopefully won’t come to that ) who would play RB ?…..

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/david-gray-provides-hibs-injury-update-on-duo-with-fears-of-potential-striker-crisis-for-st-mirren-4851118

[Leitherhibs]

Next week needs to be 3 at the back with 2 strikers. We simply don't have the players for anything else.


Bursic
O'Hora Marv Iredale
Miller Traintis Newall Obita
Hoilett
Boyle Youan



Says we need to play 2 strikers, names a lineup with two wide forwards in the team haha. Therein lies the problem.

[andrew70]

Next week needs to be 3 at the back with 2 strikers. We simply don't have the players for anything else.


Bursic
O'Hora Marv Iredale
Miller Traintis Newall Obita
Hoilett
Boyle Youan


The ball would come back at us very quickly with that pairing up front. Although I agree there’s not much more we can do.

I do think he’ll take a chance on Gayle, last chance saloon you could say.

[richard_pitts]

McKirdy? Surely no

McKirdy is a striker and there's nobody else fit as far as i can see.

[BoomtownHibees]

McKirdy is a striker.

That’s pushing it

[Jones28]

Says we need to play 2 strikers, names a lineup with two wide forwards in the team haha. Therein lies the problem.

Wheres your forwards coming from? It's literally all we've got if Gayle isn't fit.

[superfurryhibby]

Next week needs to be 3 at the back with 2 strikers. We simply don't have the players for anything else.


Bursic
O'Hora Marv Iredale
Miller Traintis Newall Obita
Hoilett
Boyle Youan


Agree with the 3 at the back. Hopefully Gayle is fit as an option

Three at the back didn't work on Saturday. We just handed the initiative to United who loaded up on the wings.

[JimBHibees]

He had to score that.

Or at minimum hit the target. Personally was thinking he would score when it broke to him

[Jones28]

Three at the back didn't work on Saturday. We just handed the initiative to United who loaded up on the wings.


Busic
Miller O'Hora Marv Obita
Newall Kwon
Boyle Hoillet Cadden
Youan

[andrew70]

Three at the back didn't work on Saturday. We just handed the initiative to United who loaded up on the wings.

We never played 3 at the back yesterday. O’Hora went to RB after Iredale came on. They loaded up on their left because Boyle refuses to work hard.

After they scored we were all over the place shape wise but somehow had more of the ball with Cadden playing on the opposite side to normal.

FWIW O’Hora was okay at RB, a position he’s played before but at times it was 3v1 out there.

[superfurryhibby]

We never played 3 at the back yesterday. O’Hora went to RB after Iredale came on. They loaded up on their left because Boyle refuses to work hard.

After they scored we were all over the place shape wise but somehow had more of the ball with Cadden playing on the opposite side to normal.

FWIW O’Hora was okay at RB, a position he’s played before but at times it was 3v1 out there.

I think it was a back three.

Cadden came on in the 94th minute, and as you say, it was chaotic by then.

[McGruber]

Three at the back didn't work on Saturday. We just handed the initiative to United who loaded up on the wings.

It's not how I seen it. For me what handed United the initiative is the team dropping deeper, midfield getting leggy and us having no out ball as Myko had become ineffective. Nowt to do with shape.
Was also nothing to do with shape when we were pushing up at 1-1. Difference is we had a bigger desire to score at 1-1 than at 1-0. Handed United the initiative because we'd settled for what we had, that's what invited them on.

[superfurryhibby]

It's not how I seen it. For me what handed United the initiative is the team dropping deeper, midfield getting leggy and us having no out ball as Myko had become ineffective. Nowt to do with shape.
Was also nothing to do with shape when we were pushing up at 1-1. Difference is we had a bigger desire to score at 1-1 than at 1-0. Handed United the initiative because we'd settled for what we had, that's what invited them on.

We were poor in the second half in general, but we struggled more after Miller went off in the 61st minute. I think the change of formation/personnel hindered us more than midfield getting tired or any lack of desire to score again.

It's all about opinions though.

[blackpoolhibs]

McKirdy is a striker and there's nobody else fit as far as i can see.

He's just so awful it would be a complete waste of a jersey, Boyle or Youan in my opinion would do a better job, not ideal but better.

I dont think i've ever seen a player as bad as McKirdy at Hibs, he's that bad? :boo hoo:

[McGruber]

We were poor in the second half in general, but we struggled more after Miller went off in the 61st minute. I think the change of formation/personnel hindered us more than midfield getting tired or any lack of desire to score again.

It's all about opinions though.

Yeah, for all the flak he's had recently we were definitely weaker when Miller went off. Was having a good game. Was compounded by not having a like replacement for him

[superfurryhibby]

Yeah, for all the flak he's had recently we were definitely weaker when Miller went off. Was having a good game. Was compounded by not having a like replacement for him

Agreed, he was solid enough, managed Middleton effectively and scored a towering header.

At the time I wondered why Gray didn't get Triantis to play RB and juggle the central midfield area instead. For all that we were a bit flat in the first part of the second half, Utd weren't threatening.

[Crab apple]

McKirdy? Surely no

When he came on at Dingwall there was no lack of effort from him but that was it. He is miles off being effective and is far too lighweight. If Gayle isn't fit I think we need to play Elie up front.

[RIP]

When he came on at Dingwall there was no lack of effort from him but that was it. He is miles off being effective and is far too lighweight. If Gayle isn't fit I think we need to play Elie up front.

The Elie of last season was desperate to play as a 9. It's why we signed him but various managers have been playing him wide left.

Will be the acid test of whether he can play with Boyle and play a team role in attack rather than shooting on sight.

[JohnM1875]

The Elie of last season was desperate to play as a 9. It's why we signed him but various managers have been playing him wide left.

Will be the acid test of whether he can play with Boyle and play a team role in attack rather than shooting on sight.

I know it was pre-season, but did Elie not score four in one game when he first signed on loan? I'm sure I can remember that.