Now that we've hit the split and are sitting comfortably in third place at the moment, what have been your season highs/lows and memorable moments so far?
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Now that we've hit the split and are sitting comfortably in third place at the moment, what have been your season highs/lows and memorable moments so far?
Objectively this has been a great season, provided we do go on and get 3rd. The main issue is that other than a couple hammerings of bottom-third clubs, there haven't been many stand-out performances.
Highs: The 2-0 against Aberdeen
Lows: The semi finals
Third is/would be great, if we get the good the Europa spot in particular then as far as Hibs could do, we've had a good league campaign.
However it's been a bit of a bland season due to things outside of Hibs control. There's only been 2 games I've been excited to watch, we should have won both but we lost both. So that's the lows sorted.
I'm not sure I've seen anything that I'd put down as a high. The win over Aberdeen probably but I'd struggle to tell you if I watched it or not.
Not been too many highs for me. Tend to go along with the "we're the best of a bad bunch" thought, as talked about by many.
Really happy though with third place as it brings us European football and money in the kitty for Jack Ross.
I have faith that Ron is serious about best of the rest, so maybe we'll see a few good signings and third place might just become the norm for a while.
As has been said the 2 semi defeats and for me Christian Doidge has been disappointing
Only seen us finish third maybe 3 or 4 times in my lifetime and I'm rapidly approaching 40. If we were to get to the semi of the Scottish cup then you could say 3rd and two semis was one of our best ever seasons (in my lifetime). The St Johnstone semi was hard to take but we were guilty of not taking our chances when we were way on top.
All things considered, if we can finish 3rd it will have been a successful season and I say that more for the progression of the club. If we are competing in group stage European Football then that is big for the club and it helps the club grow for the future and brings a feel good factor back.Quote:
Originally Posted by matty_f
We are looking at a number of incoming players I think to address the goalkeeper moving on and the ageing back four. Would also be good to keep hold of Jackson Irvine and we have found our left back of the future.
Don’t know about others, but I find memories of attending live matches can remain vivid years later, but I find it harder to recall matches after watching them at home.
This season has kinda blurred together, apart from the season lows which were undoubtedly those two semi final defeats.
The rest has been generally unspectacular although the league table doesn’t lie. Highlights include the early season form of Nisbet and Squirrel’s crucial flurry of goals more recently.
Also, Daz striding back into the team after months, playing well and looking like the Leith Adonis.
Highlights - Josh Doig's progression, turning down two seven figure offers for key players, thumping Livi, thumping Aberdeen. February/March and creating a gap between us and Aberdeen. Good recruitment to get excited about.
Lowlights - cup semi finals, Livi and Ross County back to back.
A B+ season in my book.
I think we’d all feel more engrossed with the current season had any of us actually been there. Looking forward to next year and potential European trips but this season has been a total dead rubber for me personally and I have felt next to no engagement with not actually being there. I also think that a lot of the sides performances have been over scrutinised due to the manner in we’ve had to watch the games.
Well done to the management and the players on what will be a superb achievement and I’m grateful for what it’ll bring us next season, just a shame that as good as it’s been it’ll not be looked back on as a classic by any means.
This is a really excellent post :aok:Quote:
Originally Posted by .Sean.
I agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by .Sean.
A hard ground-out victory, especially away from home, is a pleasure to witness when you’re there, or even watching with mates in the pub.
Watching at home on your Tod that entertainment bar is a wee bit higher and that’s why we fall a bit short.
I’m not going to pretend that I’ve particularly enjoyed this season but neither am I going to dismiss the achievement of a 3rd place finish if that is achieved.
Coming out of the Covid nightmare with a series of European games to watch at a full Easter Road would be wonderful and tbh the ends justify the means.
Measured purely on the usual targets of league position and cup performance, it has been an excellent season which could only have been bettered by us winning the League Cup.
Factor in the lack of fans at matches, home results, results against the top teams, quality of football and the missed opportunity to win the LC (no OF) and it "feels" mildly disappointing.
Think there is a fair bit of truth in this.Quote:
Originally Posted by .Sean.
I often watch old games, highlights etc on YouTube. I don’t think I’ll ever be looking back at the 2020/21 season, it just all feels a bit crap with not being there.
The semi finals are the obvious low points. I didn’t think we’d finish third in January so Ross gets some credit back from me for going on to do that (we will finish third now for me). Regardless of Aberdeen being hopeless over the last couple of months we still needed to take advantage and we have.
I don’t think the football has been brilliant but next step, for me, is to cut out these absolutely horrific performances we’ve chucked in too many times. Losing games happens but the manner of some of our losses has been terrible.
It does still have a feeling of missed opportunity, despite the good league position.
I've been largely bored with this season and it's not really to do with the team. I hate watching football on the TV, being there is what it's all about. Assuming we don't win the Scottish Cup it will be instantly forgettable for me, 3rd place or not.
There's no denying that 3rd place would be an excellent season though and it looks increasingly likely. There have been individual performances and spells in which we have performed poorly, I don't think anyone can argue that. However we have been more consistent and accumulated more points than our rivals. The 2 semi final results and performances have skewed how a lot of people are viewing the season, understandably so.
The highlight for me will be when we finally clinch 3rd place officially. The potential, and quite likely, financial implications of that are huge. We could be in a position to recover from the covid crisis at a far faster rate than anyone else in the league.
The 2 lowlights I've already covered.
I think our league performance has been very good and you can't really argue with the position we're in. I can't look past the semi finals we've been in though, those have been a huge downer on the season for me, not just the results but the performances as well. Still one cup to make up for it though.
Just get 3rd wrapped up quickly and win the Scottish Cup are my thoughts
I was hoping for fourth place as a realistic target. Well in contention for third is a bonus in my book. After the hiccup of the winter transfer and the disappointments of our cup progress, I think the squad is gelling on and off the park and the Newell extension and strong possibility of signing up Irvine on a good contract is very satisfying. Meanwhile, in the background, the travails of our Georgie friends has been an additional and ‘pleasing’ diversion.
Given it's not exactly been very engaging as a fan and we probably could have played significantly better in about 75 percent of games, I'll take the more corporate clinical view.
If we get third, then we come out the most difficult financial period we'll ever have in as good a shape as we possibly could. Don't care how that happens, even if QOS knock us out the cup, but regarding the bigger picture it would be very much job done.
Think that's worth overlooking the crap results and being grateful for.
Highs so far have been our brilliant away form, Martin Boyle coming back to his scintillating best following his mammoth and quite unexpected contract extension, Josh Doig pushing through to make himself a 1st team regular and continuing good work in the transfer windows with special mention for the recruitment of Jackson Irvine who has been very influential.
Lows have included the two disastrous semi-finals (although one of them was arguably from LAST season), big Doidge's extended dry spell and the mini-slump around new year.
All in all though it's been a successful season so far courtesy of our league form. Jack has done a very good job in the recruitment part of his role, steadily improving the squad window on window such that we are currently in the position we deserve to be based on the talent in our squad and nothing else. Some have criticised his tactics - saying we are playing dour football - but I see him as a massive improvement on his predecessor in that respect. There is room for improvement certainly as he has sometimes been outwitted tactically, but overall the results speak for themselves and most of the time his selections and changes have made sense. Football management is a multi-facetted role and so far I would give Jack a B+ which could easily push on to an A with a strong finish.
Seen Doig mentioned in a few posts and I’m looking forward to seeing him play when we’re back in the ground.
He’s obviously doing well but there are things you don’t see watching on TV. Watching so far I’d say he’s been steady more than anything but you can tell he can play. Playing in front of a full stadium will bring different pressure for him.
High - probably the Aberdeen game and the emergence of Josh Doig. There’s not been many other ‘highs’ really.
Low - both semi finals but probably even more so the St Johnstone one. After losing the Hearts semi it was an absolute sickener. The home games against RC and Livi back to back are up there as well.
If we finish third, which I believe we will, then its a season that in the grand scheme of things I would suggest is a success. Had we won the league cup it would go down as the best in decades.
I'm bored of it now, very much ready for it to be done with tbh.
Finishing 3rd is a highlight as it happens so rarely but it’s been a boring as Hell year for the reasons already mentioned.
Doig breaking through is a huge positive but the undoubted highlight of the season so far for me was the Brora result.
One of the things that strikes me about people saying that they're not as engaged with this season because of not being able to watch in person is that as someone who more often than not has to put up with Hibs TV highlights of a game (I work most weekends in my line of work) I'm just as engaged - if not more engaged than normal. I'm usually looking to make it to anywhere between six to ten games a season if I'm lucky so this hasn't been too different.
I really do think that if ER was packed to the rafters just now then we'd be absolutely buzzing right now and the semi finals would be a distant memory.
It was a relief to come away with a 3-1 win given how good a side they are.Quote:
Originally Posted by WhileTheChief..
You just need to look at their Scottish Cup record to appreciate how big a result that was :aok:Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibernian Verse
Delighted we're sitting 3rd and hopefully get European games again at ER, unhappy about the style of football Ross has us playing to get there.
The Scottish cup was last season's so shouldn't really count that . The LC semi was a sore 1 but we've been excellent in the league . Couple of dips in form but managed to get out of them pretty quick . Racked up a few win streaks and look good for 3rd , somewhere we don't finish very often .
Some folk saying it's a meh season need to go and watch city or man u
Curious about why you are unhappy about the football.Quote:
Originally Posted by J-C
- 3rd best points tally
- 3rd best goal difference
- 3rd best goals scored
- Joint 3rd least goals conceded
It's not been pretty at times, granted, but generally the style of football has us scoring goals & not conceding too many.
Delighted we are in 3rd and may clinch that. That was never in my thoughts at the start of the season. 4th at a push but 3rd is a top class achievement by the club. Im turning to the idea that our football isn't as bad as many of us think, and thats down to watching it on TV rather than at the game. It was mentioned on Quick Bangers that in our last game there were plenty times where you would be up off your seat but sitting at home it doesnt realty feel like that. Its like we need constant entertainment when watching at home. But the reality is there are very few games ive watched at home that have had that level of entertainment. So its been a brutal season for watching football but i've been overall pretty impressed with what we have achieved. Real live football is a massive loss.
For me, Hibs are 3rd in the table primarily because our away form has been excellent. Generally, we have defended well and taken the chances we have created. The downside is that an effective counter attacking team is not always the same things as an entertaining team! But it would be churlish in my view to complain when we are sitting 3rd given we haven't finished there since 2005.Quote:
Originally Posted by matty_f
The highlights have been the few games when we have played open attacking football and got a result. So Aberdeen (second time) and Rangers (first time) at home and Motherwell, Hamilton and Livingstone (first time) away are my stand out games.
The lowlights inevitably are the semi finals and home defeats by bottom six teams.
Third is clearly a great achievement but I can’t help but think would might have been had we held out for the three points in the home games against Celtic and Dundee United. Also had we not suffered that Christmas slump.
We might not have claimed second place at the end of the season but we would certainly be within touching distance of Celtic going in to the split.
Anyway, ifs and buts and what could have beens....
I’m in a pessimistic mood today.
If we got four points from those two games then the gap is still nine points.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lendo
Seven to nine points would still be a chasm to Celtic at this stage in the season. I don't think second or close to was ever really on the cards, but dreaming isn't an unhealthy thing. The fact that second isn't mathematically impossible at the time of the split is a real achievment IMO.
A big positive we can take from the season so far, is the progress Josh Doig has made, he's nailed down the left back slot, and there was even talk of Arsenal trying to sign him at one point for left back cover, all the more pleasing because he came from our rivals youth academy, apparently they have spent good money on the youth set up and produced no-one of note, Hickey came from Celtic. The progress Josh has made is something I feel we can all get excited about because he looks like a good modern day left back for me.
Just can’t get fully involved in football behind closed doors, it’s not even because I’m not there in person. Finishing 3rd will be a great achievement regardless of my thoughts on the calibre of the teams below us, but I don’t feel entertained watching us.
Highs were Brora 2, Hearts 1. Lows our two semi defeats. I’m hoping my Hibs high is still to come.
Hertz really are mutants. I've watched loads of laddies since they were young including Josh and for some reason they get rid at 16/17 years old, its weird. They are to impatient in my opinion and the abuse Andy Irving has had since the weekend is horrible. Horrible club, horrible fans. Fxxx them.Quote:
Originally Posted by 147lothian
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibernian Verse
Not been pretty as you say, play is generally slow and laborious with too many sideways passes before a lump up the park to either Doidge or Nisbet, We sit far too deep allowing teams onto us and I still don't think he knows his strongest team yet and that's after a full season. I just don't enjoy watching us this season, that simple.
The lows are easy. Both semis were dreadful results particularly the Hearts one when you see how terrible they are. Another low is the football in general but that probably has as much to do with no fans and thus no atmosphere and excitement as it has with style of play.
There have been a few highs Getting to Hampden twice, Aberdeen and Livi games and the emergence of Doig and Nisbet have all been above par. The likelihood of 3rd place and hopefully that leading to an extended run in Europe means the season will ultimately be one of our most successful in decades even if it is probably the least memorable.
Ron also looking like he is improving the club and the loss of LD not really having any obvious negative effect is also worthy of mention albeit not really a high.
You know I can't think of a single game that stands out for me, I'd have to check back on our results :confused: but I'm more than happy with where we sit in the league.Quote:
Originally Posted by matty_f
So that said, my highlight has to be the Rangers game,
the Brora Rangers game that is :greengrin
Absolutely no fault of Jack Ross or the players but it's been almost entirely lows.
I am simply not half as interested in Hibs unless fans are there.
I won't go as far as to say the semi final defeats did us a favour by sparing us the hollow feeling of winning trophies behind closed doors, however I would have had very. mixed feelings about it all.
There cannot be a repeat of this next season simply put.
A good season on paper, but very meh and instantly forgettable. Part of that is not being there and partly the extremes of our performances either being very good or very bad, with little in between.
Hibs 3rd, with a serious shot at European football until December and folks highlight is Brora beating hearts.
Game is actually gone. Unreal.
Excellent league season, best since 2005. And that's without last seasons best player in Allan. Football nowhere near as bad as being said. Been great to watch in a good few games.
I agree about the people quoting Brora beating hearts, blows my mind that people would list that as a highlight.Quote:
Originally Posted by MWHIBBIES
It’s been a decent league season but we’ve benefited big time by how poor it’s been imo. Overall the football we’ve played has been boring and turgid stuff in the majority of games but I’m happy enough to accept that if it means us consolidating 3rd place, would definitely like to see an improvement in the way we play next season.
Like others have said it’s felt very difficult to feel attached to hibs this season having to watch it through the tele instead of being there. Been a tad depressing.
Both semi final losses the obvious standouts as negatives, not sure what one was worse to be honest. As well as the poor results against Aberdeen earlier in the season and the poor runs we’ve had at times, Ross county livi at home spring to mind. As does the recent losses to Motherwell at home and St J away.
If we finish 3rd and 1-3 win the Scottish cup it could lead to a big transformation for us especially if we’d some how be able to navigate our way past what would be tough opponents in a Europa league play off match. Even to make the group stages of the conference league would be a big deal. Getting ahead of myself but hopefully wrap up 3rd pretty soon.
Not that I think we will but if we ****ed up 3rd place from the position we’re in now I’d probably like to see another manager in charge next season.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MWHIBBIES
We’ve been decent to watch at times, true. At other times awful.
Being in third is great but it’s as much to do with Aberdeen’s collapse as us. At times it feels like yogi’s season when we finished 4th but our form was off from February.
A strong run in would change that and give us all confidence for next season. If we finish 3rd regardless it’s a great result.
There’s potential in this team for sure but it’s not a really good Hibs side yet imo.
Don’t take everything quite so seriously, it’s just a wee bit of harmless fun having a dig at Hearts :na na:Quote:
Originally Posted by MWHIBBIES
I’ve not particularly enjoyed watching us this season and like other posters can’t remember a game I thought was a standout out. Matty’s op asked what our thoughts were on the season so far - I gave my answer. Ask me at the end of the season and we’ve finished third, my answer will probably be different.
Our smug, “Big team” rivals had one of, if not the worst result in Scottish Cup history, if folk want to get precious ‘cos its been my highlight of the season so far, go for it.
League we are where I expect us to be as the sheep have been shocking.
Cups a bitter disappointment. Real opportunity to win something.
At the beginning of the season I expected us to challenge Aberdeen for 3rd and we have done that to great success, even though we lost to them twice. The semi final defeats were tough to take, the Hearts one more so after their relegation and how poor they actually are. The fashion in which we lost to St Johnstone was also disappointing, especially after Rangers, Celtic and Aberdeen being knocked, I’m not sure when the last time that actually happened prior to the semi finals of a major cup competition up here, so you could say it was a missed opportunity.
The football most of the time hasn’t been fantastic to watch imo but we have scored the 3rd most goals in the league so we must be doing something right, perhaps fans back in the stadium will add a bit more excitement to the game.
Recruitment I feel has been above average. Barnes & Macey have both offered decent enough cover to Marciano. Cadden, Murphy and Irvine look like good signings. Nisbet as the stand out being one of the league’s top goalscorer’s and already attracting interest for profit. McGinn brought in as emergency backup who did what was required in the games he’s played. Slightly disappointed with Wright & Magennis, but I think we will see a better version of Magennis next season. Gogic has been hit or miss throughout the season for me.
I am happy to admit that there were times throughout the season where I didn’t have much faith in Jack Ross, especially with his track record of failing to win in the ‘bigger’ games that he manages i.e Finals & Semi Finals but once we finalise 3rd and fingers crossed are playing in the group stages of Europe next season, I will be delighted for him in achieving that.
Here’s hoping we can finish this season off with securing 3rd by getting as many wins as possible in the split and hopefully Jack Ross can break his cup curse and bring us home a trophy. 7/10 season for me.
It's good to think big sometimes :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuart93
I wouldnt expect you to get football banter.Quote:
Originally Posted by MWHIBBIES
I agree with the rest of your post.
Says it all if peoples highlight of the season is Brora Rangers beating Hearts 😂 😂 😂
Very good season all things considered especially with league positions. Getting to semi finals are also an achievement despite the obvious disappointments. Like the players we have brought in many of which will only get better. Very unusual season without fans however predominantly have done well and 3rd would be a very positive position to be in.
No doubt if fan's were their we would be a lot more excited about this season, for me a highlight was not just beating Aberdeen at home but the comprehensive manner we did it in, this win firmly establish us in third place, no matter what else happens eslewhere finishing third or even at the worst fourth has to have been a very good season dispite the circumstances.
Considering our poor performances before Christmas, I am delighted with our current league position. It shows you can get away with a few horror shows as long as the overall season isn't totally one. If we can start to convert the chances we make, then we should be fine for 3rd. My concern is what if we don't. I don't think our midfield has been chipping in enough with goals for a while, it's all about Doidge, Nisbet and Boyle but shouldn't be. We should be alright though.Quote:
Originally Posted by JimBHibees
General perception of the season for me is that, while we are third, we are far from the finished article, and it says a lot that Aberdeen have has some wretched form and sacked their manager whilst in fourth. I certainly think that if we get 3rd this year, it's not been comparable to our 2017-18 season. That said, you can only beat what's in front of you.
Positives:
The way we have come back from a couple of very poor runs of form. Usually when Hibs hit a patch of poor form we never recover and it usually ends of with the replacement of the manager. JR has twice turned round poor results and runs that could have led to his demise.
Also, our transfer activity. The signing of Irvine and loaning of Mallan demonstrates that JR is aware of our lack of energy in midfield and is trying to address that.
Defence - despite some rocky patches our defence has generally been good and JR has got the defenders defending once again. McGregor definitely helped rejuvenate us on that side.
He's also got a badly out of form Boyle playing well again (even as a striker - which I didn't think would work).
Concerns:
Midfield - I still don't think the balance is quite right. Newell and Gogic offer different skills but both are a bit one-paced. Would like to see one with Irvine and another dynamic player (not sure if Magennis can fit the bill).
Battling qualities - while we've fought back well from poor runs, very rarely have we managed this in games and the games we've won, we've tended to win comfortably. Would like us to show capability of figting back from 1 and 2 goals down - which I don't think we have in us at the moment and, again, I think we might need a leader in midfield to do this for us.
Conclusion - good progress from last season but let's not get carried away by the lofty position and let's build in some fight which we will need to lift silverware and fend off the challenges from Aberdeen and Hearts next season (despite how bad both presently are). I'd still like us to go for Campbell at Motherwell (or a player of that ilk).
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
Oh whitty football banterQuote:
Originally Posted by blackpoolhibs
No idea what our former full back has to do with your lack of humour?Quote:
Originally Posted by MWHIBBIES
This season has been good so far, but it just got a whole lot better!
:top marks:top marks:agree::agree:Quote:
Originally Posted by MWHIBBIES
We are going to win the cup.
A cracking team who are only going to get better. Will be great giving them proper backing next season all being well.
I've been critical at times this season and perhaps overly so. I think a lot of my negativity has come from the calibre of games we've lost (losing two semi finals is always a kick in the stones). Taking away our Old Firm losses our record in the league is very good and if we just bounced back a little better at times from losses instead of throwing games back to back like we have we could be in a much healthier position.
Has the football been great? No. I think at times we can be a bit turgid to watch if i'm honest, it certainly doesn't help that it's on TV all the time instead of getting to see it in person. But overall I think the club have adapted extremely well to the covid pandemic and the change in circumstances the league is being played in.