They all went in. All that matters. Very good goalscorer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bangkok Hibby
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They all went in. All that matters. Very good goalscorer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bangkok Hibby
Ryan Giggs does not share your thoughts tho that he is well above average. Otherwise he'd surely have had a call up by now?Quote:
Originally Posted by MWHIBBIES
Jack Ross plays him every week, so he doesn't think he's average.Quote:
Originally Posted by loanheadhibby
Not playing for Wales has no impact whatsoever on his ability at this level. Nisbet has zero Scotland caps, average as well? How about Scott Allan?
You must have been watching different games to me when we played dundee utd and st mirren away then.Quote:
Originally Posted by B.H.F.C
I'll give you it against Aberdeen but our midfield was far from 'perfectly balanced' in either of those two other games. We had nobody playing that deep lying play maker role that newell does so well - taking the ball from the centre backs, distributing from deep, controlling the tempo, setting up attacks with line breaking progressive passes. As a result most of our build up play came from the centre backs either hoofing it to doidge or getting it wide to the wing backs and hoping they would be in space. Both those games were dreadful to watch and definitely not what I want to see from a Hibernian midfield. Having Newell in there would have made a big difference to the entertainment on display and the team performance in both games imo.
Gogic is useful to have but how many top teams in world football play with a pure ball winner as the deepest midfielder every week? very few. Football has moved on from the 2000s.
The Dundee Utd game was on a tatie field, St Mirren was horrific conditions and Aberdeen was on a tatie field against our main rivals.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fergus52
I disagree with your assessment of how we got our chances in those games as well. Irvine played Boyle in with the best pass I’ve seen from a Hibs midfielder for his goal at Utd for a start.
I agree most top teams have a deep lying playmaker. But we’re not a top team. We’ve found a way that gets the best from most of our players in the last few games. Attackers scoring, not conceding at the other end and the midfield contributing to both. I think that’s a good balance.
I agree with this completely, If anything we could do with a decent back up that is capable of fulfilling Gogic's role when he's injured, overplayed or just out of form. This will be particularly true if we get third this year and end up with a lot of European games. You want at least two players for every position ideally and cover for Gogic and Doidge would be the most important IMHOQuote:
Originally Posted by Smartie
I was talking more about our build up play in our own half, Irvine has played some great through balls in the final third but I've not seen him do it deeper in midfield to help us play through the opposition press and break through the lines while keeping the ball on the deck in the same way that Newell does or McGeough used to.Quote:
Originally Posted by B.H.F.C
Also think that's a massive exaggeration, was no doubt a fantastic ball but "best pass you've seen from a hibs midfielder"? I'd highly doubt that, for a period of time in 2017/18 Allan was producing moments like that two or three times in a game.
Like you say we've been getting the results recently so I can't really complain but I think we play our best football when Gogic isn't starting due to how limited he is technically, can only really pass the way his facing and takes him an age to turn when he's facing our own goal with the ball. When we were playing 4-4-2 earlier in the season and Hallberg started partnering Newell in midfield instead of Gogic our style of play was much better to watch, with Newell controlling the game from deep and Hallberg makine late runs into the opposition box. Think Newell and Irvine could have a similar sort of partnership together.
We don't need to have two midfielders who's only job is to tackle in the squad. Definitely need at least one for certain games or to bring on when we're defending a lead but I'd be annoyed if we were wasting a wage on having two midfielders as technically limited as Gogic.Quote:
Originally Posted by worcesterhibby
We don't need that sort of player every game. We beat Motherwell 3-0 and completely controlled the midfield with Wright, Hallberg, Newell and Murphy. Who was playing the Gogic role that day?
Similiarly when we beat Aberdeen 3-0 last season we had a diamond of Hallberg, Boyle, Newell and Allan - not a ball winner in sight but again we were dominant against a big physical team because technically our players were streets ahead.
Absolutely loved big Marv, but in 2017/18 after he stopped starting games around January we started playing much better football than in the first half of the season and winning more games, with McGeough playing deeper in midfield than he previously had been.
I actually meant to say it was the best pass I’ve seen from a Hibs midfielder this year (not ever) re Irvine’s pass against Utd.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fergus52
Where I’m coming from is that I don’t think Newell being in the team would have made us better in those particular games. If you look at the corresponding games earlier in the season. Poor and subbed against Aberdeen, poor and subbed up at Utd. Good away to St Mirren on a nice sunny day when we scored an early goal, totally different game and conditions to what we faced a couple of weeks ago.
It’s fine having this idealistic way of playing but in January and February on a pitch in Scotland, it’s probably not going to happen that often. I think the midfield in the last few games have allowed us to do both sides of the game well which I think has been an issue previously, particularly against Aberdeen.
I think Doidge is probably suffering from being in the Scottish league system, he would have a better chance getting a game for Wales if he was still at Forest Green or in League 1 down south. OTJ got 7 Welsh caps but they were when he was with Swansea, he was awful but played in the right league.Quote:
Originally Posted by loanheadhibby
Quote:
Originally Posted by worcesterhibby
Stephen McGinn, no?
That's very true, recent conditions have been terrible and having Gogic in those scrappy games has been a big help to the team.Quote:
Originally Posted by B.H.F.C
Once the wind has died down and the pitches are better I'd be starting Newell over him every week though :greengrin
Yet to see anything from S Mcginn that suggests he’s good enough for us even as a back up.Quote:
Originally Posted by jacomo
Waste of a wage imo. Wouldn’t have a problem with him being part of the coaching team
Very strange signing. Said at the time it made no sense. No problem with the guy but not good enough for a top 3 side in this league.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuart93
Football is all about opinions but if you think Doidge is a quality player I'm sorry I just don't see it. I accept he is having a lean time as far as goal scoring is concerned but his first touch is embarrassing and when clean through on goal his finishing is dreadful. We're all getting a bit carried away after three excellent wins. Lets see how the big centre finishes the season and hopefully he'll make me eat my words.Quote:
Originally Posted by MWHIBBIES
Scored 19 goals last season after a slow start. Personally get the impression he is carrying an injury this season as he hasn't been at his best but has certainly shown enough in his time at the club for anyone to set what he brings even if not scoring as many as we would wish him to,Quote:
Originally Posted by loanheadhibby
I think he was used more out of necessity at the time more than anything else. I think he was signed to do more of a background role but kept him registered as a player as a fill in. Be lucky to see him on the bench ordinarily.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuart93
Quote:
Originally Posted by loanheadhibby
I get what some say about his work and how he allows others to play but his return of 6 goals in 32 is just not good enough, 5 in 26 league games and 1 in 5 league cup games is not a great return for a striker, needs to be better than 1 in 5, Nisbet is 1 in 2.5 at the moment.
We are 3rd. So he must be good enough. We are still scoring goals.Quote:
Originally Posted by J-C
Not good enough for what? Hes about to be good enough to qualify Hibs for european group stages.Quote:
Originally Posted by J-C
I'm not getting carried away. I've considered him a quality player since Hecky was sacked really.Quote:
Originally Posted by loanheadhibby
So, Newells contract?
He's just part of the squad, we will have various types of players in the squad, with various levels of quality. They are all part of a squad that have us doing very well, and every window the squad changes hopefully for the better.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuart93
There will always be some who we all think is not good enough, but we've needed them at one stage or another over the course of the season.
We will finish where we finish because of the strength of that squad, good and bad.
Big Doidge will be making defenders life a misery in Europe next season and good on him. Deserves it.
Quite a few were calling Daz a waste of a wage up until 2-3 weeks ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by blackpoolhibs
The likes of SDG could still play a big part before the season is out and Stephen McGinn has yet to let us down when called upon.
Obviously there's always room for improvement in any squad, but I personally think we have a good mix at the moment, albeit probably lacking depth in terms of forwards.
People had definitely written McGregor off and he’s shown how premature that was.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peevemor
I do wonder if SDG could do the same. He’s had very little opportunity thus far, but hasn’t really given Ross any food for thought on his rare appearances.
Newell should think carefully. If there is an offer, it may not last forever. Ross may fancy using that money to fund the signing of Irvine and that would be a fair swap for me.
Ideally Newell gets back to playing and ups his game, alongside more talented colleagues.
Our midfield looks pretty tasty with Scott Allan returning.
Hibernian FC are the pinnacle of Newells career and always will be. This is a guy who could not get a game for Rotherham. Happy if he stays, not over fussed if he goes.Quote:
Originally Posted by The 90+2
So if Doidge one on one with keeper, you’re confident he will score? Why was he not a quality player when Heckungbottom was here? He played most weeks.Quote:
Originally Posted by MWHIBBIES
There’s lots of ways to score goals. I’m as confident with him one on one as most strikers really.Quote:
Originally Posted by loanheadhibby
Griffiths and Riordan probably much better one on one but wouldn’t fancy either of them with their head.
His record is up there with anyone, including the start he had last year when he went on to score 19 goals after it. And yes, he was still a good player when he wasn’t scoring as many, just as he is now.
I really don’t get the desire to knock Doidge. We very rarely get it right with the bigger striker - we very much have and some folk want rid. Mental.
I am one who thought McGregor done. I’m glad I was wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by superfurryhibby
I’d be surprised if Gray could come in and do similar. He’s had that many injuries and not played regularly for so long that it’s hard to see him getting up and down the park. Obviously McGregor doesn’t have to do that which helps him.
Criticism is merited for Doidge this year. He’s not been good. He’s not been as brutal as a few selected posters would have you believe, but he’s not been good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy74
You need to go back a year to see him score with any regularity really. If he’d scored more goals this season he’d get less criticism. I think it’s possible to recognise that whilst seeing that some other attributes have been useful at times.