Hibs Players You Liked Whose Career Was Hampered By Injury

[Dashing Bob S]

Can be someone was career was ended or even setback.

Older fans talk about John Brownlie, who came back strongly on paper after a leg break, more Scotland caps, big money move south etc, but was never quite the same.

I rated Kevin Thompson as the best of our golden generation when he first burst on the scene, but his legacy is probably behind Brown, Riordan, O’Connor etc due to the injuries he sustained.

Freddy Arpinon looked a player but his bad back issues wrecked his career.

[Smartie]

Tom Smith?

Understated wee guy, competently went about his business at LB and looked like he might be a fixture for a while before getting injured and never returning.

[A Hi-Bee]

Bobby Duncan, never as good as he was before that big bassa john Hughes broke his leg at Easter Road.

[overdrive]

Tom Smith?

Understated wee guy, competently went about his business at LB and looked like he might be a fixture for a while before getting injured and never returning.

IIRC that was him playing out of position too. Think he was RB but moved there to accommodate Derek Collins. Shame he had to retire as a result of that injury.

On the topic of Collins, was there not a falling out between him and McLeish related to injury? Think he said he was fine to play in a big game (semi final vs Aberdeen maybe) then quickly broke down.

[HibbyAndy]

Kevin McCann , Looked the real deal when he burst on to the scene , Hard tackler and i think he scored a screamer against the huns ? Goal against Gretna also ...Hampered by tendinitis and never played many games in the 5 or 6 years at hibs

[Since452]

Kyle Magennis. If it wasn't for injury I think he could have followed the John McGinn route. Really rated the lad.

[A Hi-Bee]

Almost forgot young Alec Harris, even if we did get Boyle for him he looked the real deal until his injury and then further mis-management by Butcher and his side kick Malpas.

[Mon Dieu4]

Kevin Harper, although he still went on to have a decent career he was a different player after his leg break imo

[Chorley Hibee]

Jonathan Baillie and Mark McGraw (Junior) spring to my mind.

[Northernhibee]

Christian Doidge. Would love another pre-Achilles injury Doidge in the team, thought he was excellent. Was never the same after that.

[BILLYHIBS]

Paul Wright

Big dirty Heartz bassa !

Looked the real deal for us sharp electric quick deadly

Eventually came back to haunt us and lifted the Cup

[DH1875]

Graham Love and Fabian Yantorno.

[DH1875]

Alex Harris is another one.

[Hibees1973]

Back in the 80s I really liked Gordon Durie, but he seemed to be injured a fair bit when at Hibs. Remember we played him in a Scottish Cup semi against Aberdeen at Dens Park and we got pumped 3-0. He was nowhere near fit, but think it was John Blackley at the time, had to play him.

In recent times Dylan McGeouch. Strangely there was a time when I preferred him to McGinn.

[wookie70]

I tend not to like players that are in and out the team through injury. Not their fault but one of the qualities I like in a player is actually being on teh pitch. Give me a Lewis at 6.5 or 7 out of 10 every week rather than a player who can be amazing but is in and out the side with injury or form and often plays well below the level expected. On the other side I really admire players who are out with bad injuries and come back and are just as effective post injury. One of the things I would most value when making signings is availability. No point having great players who hardly play

[DH1875]

Chris Killen.

[Ray_]

John Brownlie & Alex Cropley.

Still wonderful talents despite their injuries. Both would have been mainstays in the Scotland team, without them. Kenny Dalglish's first cap was coming on to replace the injured Sojer.

[SHODAN]

Kevin McBride. Falkirk fans hated him but actually a solid holding midfielder.

[BILLYHIBS]

Back in the 80s I really liked Gordon Durie, but he seemed to be injured a fair bit when at Hibs. Remember we played him in a Scottish Cup semi against Aberdeen at Dens Park and we got pumped 3-0. He was nowhere near fit, but think it was John Blackley at the time, had to play him.

In recent times Dylan McGeouch. Strangely there was a time when I preferred him to McGinn.

Juke Box with his power and pace became a target for the hatchet men and hammer throwers it was the only way they could stop him a joy to watch in full flow

https://i.ibb.co/Yqpw0t4/IMG-3262.png (https://ibb.co/M3MQBRy)

[KWJ]

Mark Dempsie looked an assured Centre Half. Think he had back issues.

[JJP]

Farid El Alagui comes to mind for me. Always liked him as a player but seemed to have a lot of injury issues when he was with us.

[Rumble de Thump]

Zemmama. Bojang was also very poor after his head caught fire.

[Big_Franck]

Almost forgot young Alec Harris, even if we did get Boyle for him he looked the real deal until his injury and then further mis-management by Butcher and his side kick Malpas.

Rather than mismanagement from Butcher, I think what derailed his progress was the broken ankle he got after a bad challenge by some Motherwell hammer thrower. He was out for a while and was never the same after that injury IMO. Looked timid and devoid of confidence on his return, when he was previously the total opposite.

[HibbyAndy]

Zemmama. Bojang was also very poor after his head caught fire.

I always thought this was a wind up , Did he really set his hair on fire ?:greengrin

[Hibees1973]

Juke Box with his power and pace became a target for the hatchet men and hammer throwers it was the only way they could stop him a joy to watch in full flow

https://i.ibb.co/Yqpw0t4/IMG-3262.png (https://ibb.co/M3MQBRy)

Great pic Billy, reckon this will be the from the League Cup Final against Aberdeen in 1985. Looks like the old stand at Hampden.

What a unit he was and only 19.

The side he played in saw us emerge a bit from the dark days of the very early 80s.

[Hibiza]

Too many to mention unfortunately.

[IberianHibernian]

Zambernardi and Arpinon .

[BILLYHIBS]

Farid El Alagui comes to mind for me. Always liked him as a player but seemed to have a lot of injury issues when he was with us.

Was my first thought felt like he really wanted to be here

He really enjoyed his goal against Hearts

[Jdawg]

Johnathan Baillie looked very promising when he came into the team.

[lapsedhibee]

John Brownlie & Alex Cropley.

Still wonderful talents despite their injuries. Both would have been mainstays in the Scotland team, without them. Kenny Dalglish's first cap was coming on to replace the injured Sojer.

Not sure Brownlie could ever have been a mainstay for Scotland, while Greig and then McGrain were available.

[CropleyWasGod]

Not sure Brownlie could ever have been a mainstay for Scotland, while Greig and then McGrain were available.

Not sure about Cropley either.

That's a measure of how blessed we were with players then. That's even before the (actual or perceived?) bias towards OF players, which is maybe your point.

[DIXIHIBS]

Not sure Brownlie could ever have been a mainstay for Scotland, while Greig and then McGrain were available.

Brownlie was arguably a better player than Mcgrain but OF players will always get priority. Was Greig not a left back...

[CropleyWasGod]

Brownlie was arguably a better player than Mcgrain but OF players will always get priority. Was Greig not a left back...

Greig was RB.

But IIRC McGrain played LB for Scotland, particularly when Jardine was RB.

[BILLYHIBS]

Not sure Brownlie could ever have been a mainstay for Scotland, while Greig and then McGrain were available.

Before his injury Brownlie was widely touted as the best right back in Europe and looked it anaw certainly looked better than Sandy Jardine who was his closest rival IIRC for the right back berth but yes was never really the same post injury

Always thought of Greig as a #4 midfield ?

If another poster reckons Brownlie was better than McGrain shows you how good the young John Brownlie was marauding up the wing was awesome

[ancient hibee]

Greig was RB.

But IIRC McGrain played LB for Scotland, particularly when Jardine was RB.

The classic case of playing the best player out of position because you’re not willing to make a difficult choice.

[ancient hibee]

Before his injury Brownlie was widely touted as the best right back in Europe and looked it anaw certainly looked better than Sandy Jardine who was his closest rival IIRC for the right back berth but yes was never really the same post injury

Always thought of Greig as a #4 midfield ?
Greig played different positions for Scotland. Obviously the captain of Rangers had to be fitted in. First saw him playing for Eric Gardiner’s Crossroads. He was a wee star at inside forward.

[BILLYHIBS]

Greig played different positions for Scotland. Obviously the captain of Rangers had to be fitted in. First saw him playing for Eric Gardiner’s Crossroads. He was a wee star at inside forward.

Think he was right back #2 when he scored that stoater versus Italy at Hampden

[007]

Youan

https://i.ibb.co/PZqgVyQR/images-7.jpg (https://imgbb.com/)

[Lago]

Youan

https://i.ibb.co/PZqgVyQR/images-7.jpg (https://imgbb.com/)
Brilliant 👍

[ancient hibee]

Think he was right back #2 when he scored that stoater versus Italy at Hampden
That’s right.

[may 21/05/2016]

Not sure Brownlie could ever have been a mainstay for Scotland, while Greig and then McGrain were available.Brownlie was better than both of them

[3pm]

Brownlie was better than both of them

My Dad says this.

[ancient hibee]

My Dad says this.
Your Dad is right.

[J-C]

McGeouch is one for me but I think if he was fit all the time we may never have signed him, cracking wee player.

[BILLYHIBS]

Brownlie was better than both of them:agree:

This

[Colr]

Barry Lavety

[McD]

My Dad says this.


My Dad as well, always says that Brownlie was an incredible player, superb going forward and his leg break was the main reason in Hibs not winning a league in those days

[Greenbeard]

Joe Harper. Played every game with a swollen belly.

[BS44]

Did Gordon Hunter get a bad injury, either a broken leg or ankle?

[Corstorphine Hibby]

Andy Aitken

[Ray_]

Brownlie was arguably a better player than Mcgrain but OF players will always get priority. Was Greig not a left back...

Before the leg break, Brownlie was Scotland's first choice right back. Docherty moved Jardine into midfield to accommodate what was then widely recognised as the best fullback in Britain. Danny McGrain played left back to Sandy Jardine, following Onion's injury. All were terrific players.

Greig regularly played left-back.

[MacGruber]

Brian Welsh. I doubt he'll get another shout just remember he was coming on to a game before injury. He sued for the treatment he got claiming it ended his career and won a payout

[Ray_]

Not sure Brownlie could ever have been a mainstay for Scotland, while Greig and then McGrain were available.

He made his debut at 19, in Moscow, 1971 and by 1972, the Scotland right-back spot was his. It was the injury that changed that.

[Ray_]

Not sure about Cropley either.

That's a measure of how blessed we were with players then. That's even before the (actual or perceived?) bias towards OF players, which is maybe your point.

When Alex Cropley, suddenly, became available to play for Scotland, due to the parentage rule coming in, he was immediately selected for the European championship win against Portugal, in 1972. John Brownlie was the right-back and Pat Stanton partnered Eddie Calhoun in the middle of the back four. By this game, Alex Cropley had been the "hottest property" in Scottish football for over a year, after he started by taking the league cup section games by storm, playing on the left wing, at the start of Eddie Turnbull's reign.

Cropley remained in the team for the final game against Belgium, where he was injured and replaced by Kenny Dalglish, who came on to make his debut.

It was tragic the injuries deprived Scotland of the dynamic midfield player, with the goal-scoring threat we missed in 1974, he would also have complimented the 1978 team.

[B.H.F.C]

Boozy. He was an unbelievable player and ended up winning a cup.

But without his injuries he’d have got a proper move. And we might have won a cup quicker, he missed the semi final of the Scottish in his first couple of years.

[Paul1642]

Almost forgot young Alec Harris, even if we did get Boyle for him he looked the real deal until his injury and then further mis-management by Butcher and his side kick Malpas.

I remember thinking he was the next big thing prior to his injury. His career has been so much less than most of us would have predicted.

[J-C]

Browlie was a thoroughbred RB, such a joy to watch, the leg break certainly changed him, IIRC he was spoken about as the best RB in Europe at one point.

[s2hart]

For me Billy Findley in the late 80s maybe early 90s, looked a decent youngster at the time, not sure if he came through our ranks or not I think he went to Kilmarnock after.

[Not In The Know]

Zemmama. Bojang was also very poor after his head caught fire.


it’s terrible, but this is hilarious

[Northernhibee]

I remember thinking he was the next big thing prior to his injury. His career has been so much less than most of us would have predicted.

My partner knows a friend of Alex - a certain thug of a manager didn’t help his career at all either.

[BILLYHIBS]

For me Billy Findley in the late 80s maybe early 90s, looked a decent youngster at the time, not sure if he came through our ranks or not I think he went to Kilmarnock after.

Signed from Killie as a youngster on a 5 year deal the first such deal at that time IIRC

[we are hibs]

El Alagui. I'm convinced if he hadn't got that injury at Alloa he would've hit at least 20 goals that season.

Sent from my SM-A405FN using Tapatalk

[BroxburnHibee]

Alex Harris is the obvious one. Exploded into the team but was never the same after the hatchet job on him. I'm convinced he was deliberately targeted that day.

[SHODAN]

Was my first thought felt like he really wanted to be here

He really enjoyed his goal against Hearts

The one he scored at Tynecastle was quite something.

[JimBHibees]

Alex Harris is the obvious one. Exploded into the team but was never the same after the hatchet job on him. I'm convinced he was deliberately targeted that day.

Was a despicable challenge. Shaun Hutchinson Motherwell from what i remember. In saying that i think it is difficult to argue imo his career path fundamentally changed after the injury

[Ray_]

My partner knows a friend of Alex - a certain thug of a manager didn’t help his career at all either.

Yes, ET hated him after that dreadful tackle. I only saw the tail end of his playing career and he was a right carthorse, who put it about.


Stuart Boam of Boro didn't do him any favours either. Broke Alex's leg twice, a year apart in corresponding fixtures. It's more or less what finished his time at Arsenal.

[superfurryhibby]

Not sure Brownlie could ever have been a mainstay for Scotland, while Greig and then McGrain were available.

He was first pick at right back before his injury. Not sure Greig was ever a right back? He was pretty much done as an international player before Brownlie emerged, maybe you're thinking of Sandy Jardine, who was a rival for the right back spot before McGrain came to prominence?

A few good shouts, Baillie at centre half, Dempsie too and Mark McGraw, who was never the same player after being crocked v the Hun in the semi final.

[A Hi-Bee]

Rather than mismanagement from Butcher, I think what derailed his progress was the broken ankle he got after a bad challenge by some Motherwell hammer thrower. He was out for a while and was never the same after that injury IMO. Looked timid and devoid of confidence on his return, when he was previously the total opposite.

Thats what I said was it no, he got a bad injury and was completely mis-managed by Butcher and his side kick Malpas, you stick to your view and I'll keep mine.

[A Hi-Bee]

Brownlie was better than both of them

Correct, he really was different class, remember watching him score at Hampden against the hun in a semi final, great goal seen from up high on the old terrace if memory serves me right. wonderful player.
:top marks

[Bostonhibby]

Correct, he really was different class, remember watching him score at Hampden against the hun in a semi final, great goal seen from up high on the old terrace if memory serves me right. wonderful player.
:top marksJohn Brownlie was the best right back in Scotland at his peak with the tornadoes and the best I've seen at Hibs.

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk

[Ray_]

John Brownlie was the best right back in Scotland at his peak with the tornadoes and the best I've seen at Hibs.

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk

He was only 20 when he was injured against East Fife. What a peak it would have been.

At the same time, Alex Cropley was 21.

[Bostonhibby]

He was only 20 when he was injured against East Fife. What a peak it would have been.

At the same time, Alex Cropley was 21.[emoji106]Definitely should have known that, shows me two things. We took a lot for granted back then, and if you're good enough you're old enough

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk

[He's here!]

Not so much injury as a debilitating medical issue, but it was a great shame that Scott Allan wasn't able to continue at the level he previously produced.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Not so much injury as a debilitating medical issue, but it was a great shame that Scott Allan wasn't able to continue at the level he previously produced.

:agree:

Scott Allan is everything I would pay to see in a footballer. Just a guy who made you love the game.

[beensaidbefore]

Iirc, Paul Lovering was a good wee player and got a pretty bad injury and was never the same after that.

['mon the beers]

Not so much injury as a debilitating medical issue, but it was a great shame that Scott Allan wasn't able to continue at the level he previously produced.

He was the name that came to mind for me. A great talent but couldn’t get back to the levels he played at before, which was sad to see.

[eastmainsmsh]

Farid el Alagui

[TrinityHFC]

Paul Wright wasn’t the same for us after Neil Berry assaulted him.

[TrinityHFC]

Alex Harris is the obvious one. Exploded into the team but was never the same after the hatchet job on him. I'm convinced he was deliberately targeted that day.

Mmm. He just turned out to be over hyped and not very good.

[BILLYHIBS]

Mmm. He just turned out to be over hyped and not very good.

Got a horrendous injury and was rushed back too soon and was mismanaged by our idiot of a Manager scored a sublime goal versus Falkirk

Totally agree on Paul Wright was on fire for us and got my vote Berry should have been taken to Court for assault

https://i.ibb.co/CpjjnRDJ/IMG-4657.png (https://ibb.co/XfnnzcMy)
private image hosting (https://imgbb.com/)