Originally Posted by
truehibernian
I think that's where we are at as Hibees SH and hardly surprising after three seasons of utter mediocrity and very very poor recruitment. I am anxious, but anxious because I'm a little in the dark as to what style of play PF really favours.
There has been a really distinct lack of pace and width in the side for a few years. I'm a fan of the 'tanner ba' players and I really wanted to see us linked with good wide player (Hayes aside). We never seem to stretch sides and always play through the middle, quite slow build up play, very narrow - that kind of football annoys me. It's negative. Yes, folk will say 'oh but Spain/Barca play that way' - they have the beauty and benefit of having every single outfield player (and keeper) having the basic ability of football retention and keeping the ball moving. Hibernian players struggle, and I mean struggle, to pass a football back to the thrower from a shy !
I was always brought up on the very base principle of having a strong spine - solid commanding keeper, two commanding centre halves, playmaker in the middle, and solid front man. You build around that with pace and youth IMHO. I know that sounds basic, but it's what all good teams are built on.
Here we are before a season starts and we are without a keeper ! (Brown having not signed as yet) - I still remain unconvinced about Hanlon. We have no 'off your seat' midfielder - and we have no good, solid, link up/hold up striker. We have no genuine pace in the midfield/front area, albeit I honestly cannot believe he is sending young Danny Handling out on loan - both he and Ross Caldwell must shake their heads if they see the likes of Roy O'Donovan get ahead of them !
If we are in for Michilak I'd go for it. International experience, played for Leeds and did reasonably well, big and solid. I'd love, as I said last season, a Jason Koumas type player, someone who drives teams forward and has a bit of creativity - and I'd like a Jon Daly type up top to compliment Doyler and Ross Caldwell. I'd love Boothy to be given a crack at left midfield too.
I'd also (and I know I'll get stick for it) like to get Soares back - I think when he is on his game, he's a quality player. But that's the thing - getting him 'on his game'. Soares for me was always involved in good build up play which led to goals. Even giving him a floating role in the attacking midfield area with someone like Shiels playing in the same midfield - 4-3-3 offensive football (if we are not signing wingers) - seeing Claros, Lewis and Ozzy together in the same midfield again means only one thing.......side to side, slow, negative midfield play. None of them really want to commit and drive forward when they get the ball. The opposition get an eternity to regroup and get back into banks of four. We never occupy centre halves or full backs of opposition teams.
Get the back four solid, which I think he is doing in getting Clancy and McPake, have a good holding player in front (Claros for me), some creativity behind the front pair (Shiels for example or Soares), some bite and drive which can interchange with them (Cairney) and a leader (midfield) who can orchestrate in the opposition half and keep the pressure on and force the side forward.
Most important signing this summer though is a good, solid, commanding goalkeeper. Someone who when he shouts, you get the hell out of dodge - someone who pushes the team out it's own 6 yard box. Someone who the defenders absolutely trust. Second most important is a midfield general, someone who again drives the team forward and doesn't allow it to go into it's shell or get the crowd influencing their play if we are behind. Dare I say a Lennon or Keane.
And it's toffee bob bons for me tonight SH.......no doubt a dentist trip on Monday too :greengrin
