What are your hopes versus expectations for next season?

While we are still to find out exactly what the squad will look like next season, how has the season just finished shaped your hopes and expectations for next season?

I'd like to see us have a really strong season in the cups - we had the worst luck with the draws last season but given we'll be joining the league cup in the later stages we should be looking to reach Hampden in that one and that should be the minimum aim for the Scottish Cup as well.

It'll be the ten years anniversary of winning it - which seems impossible - so wouldn't it be perfect for SDG to do it again as manager?

I have a feeling we will find ourselves in the group stages of European football after all the frustration of Aberdeen taking the automatic slot, and this will impact our league form and we'll struggle domestically until the turn of the year when we'll have full focus on the league and push for a European place in the league.

Expect a top 4 finish, hope for top 3. I know it’s only one place of a difference but history shows getting to third is tough.

Last season probably means I have little expectation around the cups. It just showed how dependent you are on a favourable draw.

What I do expect us to do is have a positive transfer window. For once, I actually have confidence we will do well on that front.

Hope for 3rd again.

Expect 4th-6th. It's very difficult to finish 3rd in back to back years which is proven by how few teams have done it in recent years. Somebody has to be the exception though.

Also hope for at least one decent cup run and actually expect that as well this season. We'll be seeded for the LC which should mean a very good chance of at least a QF.

Think a large part of it centres around keeping rocky and Triantis, which I'm starting to doubt. I think both would be extremely hard to replace and leave huge gaps if gone. Even Junior would be a big miss. However, I think he's probably more replaceable as we have done well recently with the senior (past it players).

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Originally Posted by B.H.F.C

Expect a top 4 finish, hope for top 3. I know it’s only one place of a difference but history shows getting to third is tough.

Last season probably means I have little expectation around the cups. It just showed how dependent you are on a favourable draw.

What I do expect us to do is have a positive transfer window. For once, I actually have confidence we will do well on that front.

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How long have you been following Hibs?

I hope we will win the Scottish Cup, on the 10th anniversary of SDG lifting it as captain. That would be mega.

I also hope we somehow go on a run of games in Europe.

I expect us to finish top six and go deep in one or both cups, the same as any normal season.

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Originally Posted by EGL2000

Think a large part of it centres around keeping rocky and Triantis, which I'm starting to doubt. I think both would be extremely hard to replace and leave huge gaps if gone. Even Junior would be a big miss. However, I think he's probably more replaceable as we have done well recently with the senior (past it players).

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I think the big weakness with a back three is either left or right centre back getting sucked out to the wing to cover for the wing backs. In this situation it is very helpful for the defensive midfielder to drop in and help out.

Triantis - who developed as a cb - is perfect for this job, and I think replacing him might be trickier.

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Originally Posted by jacomo

How long have you been following Hibs?

I hope we will win the Scottish Cup, on the 10th anniversary of SDG lifting it as captain. That would be mega.

I also hope we somehow go on a run of games in Europe.

I expect us to finish top six and go deep in one or both cups, the same as any normal season.

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30 odd years but I don’t see the relevance in what has went before. I feel we have a much stronger starting point, as we stand today, than we have in a lot of those 30 odd years.

Minimum targets for hibs every year should be:

Finish in a European place

Beat hearts

A win or two against the uglies would be Braw

Get to the semis in either / both cup comps and take it from there

I think a lot will depend on our recruitment . I’ve basically given up hope that Triantis and Rocky will be back ( hope I’m wrong) which would be a massive blow and gives the recruitment team a big job in trying to replace players of that quality .

Hopes are 3rd , making group stage and a cup win ( aim high ) . Expectations I think we will struggle slightly in the league with European football though still think we could finish 3rd and at the worst 4th or 5th . Expectations for the cup competitions can’t really say as you always need a bit of luck in the draws which we didn’t get last season even though we shot ourselves in the foot a bit by not getting seeded . Who’s knows maybe this is the year we lift another cup 🤞

Hopes - 3rd in league, win a cup, group stages in Europe.

Expectations - 4/5th in league, semis for both cups, out one round before the groups.

I hope we produce a side that is good to watch and that we win at least as many games as we lose and draw put together.

When was the last time we did that, if we ever have?

I expect we'll struggle at the weekends while we're in Europe.

Barring all the other obvious hopes, that's about it.

Hope to win a cup. We've won one in the 90s, the 00s and the 10s. We're due one and there would be something quite magical about doing it with SDG, 10 years after the last one and in our 150th anniversary season too. Either cup, I honestly don't care.

Still hoping we'll surprise everyone and have the last laugh by qualifying for European group stage. If either, or both, of those two things were to happen then honestly 6th in the league would do just fine.

Expectations? I dunno. Hibs have sort of trained me throughout my 40+ years to not expect the good times to last too long. We'll see

the treble

Silverware.

Third is great, europe is great but silverware is the real deal.



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Hope for a cup.

Expect top 5

Think Celtic, rangers, Aberdeen and hearts will and spend a fortune. As much as JTA are getting quite a bit of stick, Bloom’s other clubs show they know what they’re doing.

I think we have a really good squad, but I still think we need to add more quality and we have a couple of tricky players to replace already.

Think Dundee United will really struggle

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Originally Posted by nicho87

minimum targets for hibs every year should be:

Finish in a european place

leather hearts home and away. Rip out their collective hearts and destroy their souls.

A win or two against the uglies would be braw

get to the semis in either / both cup comps and take it from there

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ftfy.

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Originally Posted by Just_Jimmy

Silverware.

Third is great, europe is great but silverware is the real deal.



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I presume you are joking. Domestic trophies are trinkets. If we want the club to grow then you've got it the wrong way round.

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Originally Posted by Wilson

I presume you are joking. Domestic trophies are trinkets. If we want the club to grow then you've got it the wrong way round.

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Winning the Scottish gets you the highest European placing out with the top 2 though. How could do that be a trinket? It's literally the best season we can realistically have.

Id rather win the Scottish every year than finish 3rd.

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Originally Posted by Wilson

I presume you are joking. Domestic trophies are trinkets. If we want the club to grow then you've got it the wrong way round.

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Give me a cup win over third every day of the week

To maintain this seasons. form and performances , finish 3rd or fourth and make the final of one of the cup completions , remaining unbeaten at home all season would be a nice bonus,

I think the top 6 will be made up of Celtic, Rangers, us, the puddle drinkers, the sheep and AN other.

Would love us to make the group stages of Europe however gut feeling tells me it will all end at the CL play off round.
The flip side to this I guess would be concentrating on the league and a decent run in the league cup.
Without Europe I can see us finishing 3rd/4th - group stage football I would still expect us to finish top 6 but would be a massive ask to repeat 3rd place.

Top 5. Anything less is a failure. Luck in the cup draws to go on a run or two. Couple of big wins at home.
I hope for third and European Group football.

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Originally Posted by Unseen work

Give me a cup win over third every day of the week

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Correct.

Top six absolute minimum.

4th or 5th acceptable, 3rd would be great.

Hampden appearance in one of the cups important, final even better, win brilliant

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Originally Posted by Wilson

I presume you are joking. Domestic trophies are trinkets. If we want the club to grow then you've got it the wrong way round.

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You saying when we won a trinket in 2016 the club didnt grow/benefit financially? What the point of growing the club if not to win trinkets...

Hope to qualify for European groups, Conference league (Europa wishful thinking) and finish top 6. Go unbeaten against Hearts and reach a cup final (draw dependant). 3rd place with Euro groups probably too much but you never know.

Expect we will fall short of getting to Euro groups but will give us a better league campaign and can finish top 4. Expect to win some and lose some of the derbies. Still expect at least semi final stage in one of the cups, all depends on the draw. Regardless, if we can have another good season and consolidate the feel good factor around the club it will help us push on

For me it's about keeping the core of this squad together for a few years, along with David Gray, whilst exploiting the expertise of the Black Knights and adding some gems to the squad.

A period of consistently good football, challenging for Europe every year and regular visits to Hampden.

Hope - win the Scottish Cup and finish third cutting the gap behind Rangers. A run in Europe.
Expectation - top 5 and a semi final at Hampden.

Simply to have a team i look forward to watching.

A continuation of the latter part of the season just ended will do nicely thank you.

Top 5 finish.

2x Hampden trips.

A good European experience, either by coming up against a big club like we did with Villa where we can enjoy the experience without the pressure or by getting a decent draw and getting into the group stages.

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Originally Posted by Hibbyradge

I hope we produce a side that is good to watch and that we win at least as many games as we lose and draw put together.

When was the last time we did that, if we ever have?

I expect we'll struggle at the weekends while we're in Europe.

Barring all the other obvious hopes, that's about it.

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Previous analysis showed that an average of 7 points every 4 games is usually good enough for 3rd.

Same again but hope we get off to a flyer hopefully get a few games in Europe and cups

I would also add I hope we continue our excellent form in derbies. Let's get them sweating about the thought of us building a sustained period of dominance in the city.

Some hearts fans were nearly having a nervous breakdown when we put together a 9 game unbeaten run between 2014 and 2018, and then responded to their flukey win in the Scottish Cup with the natural order derby. More of that please hibs

Hope - 3rd and a LC win or 4th and a SC win, Derby dominance, European group stages.

Expectation -4th and two trips to Hampden, slight edge in the Derbys, drop out of Europe before the groups.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I'm expecting 3rd again. Missing out on European group stages should see a decent gap over Aberdeen and we've just signed one of, if not their best player.

I hope for a cup win.

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Originally Posted by Hibbyradge

I hope we produce a side that is good to watch and that we win at least as many games as we lose and draw put together.

When was the last time we did that, if we ever have?

I expect we'll struggle at the weekends while we're in Europe.

Barring all the other obvious hopes, that's about it.

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We obviosuly achieved it in the Championship but in the top flight.............

We have never done it this century. Even the seasons we finished 3rd have seen us fail to do it:

(W/D/L)

00/01 - 18/12/8
04/05 - 18/7/13
17/18 (4th but our record top flights points total - 18/13/7)
20/21 - 18/19/11
24/25 - 15/13/10

It seems 18 wins a season is our ceiling:greengrin

It's pretty rare across the board tbh, this century there has been:

23/24 - Hearts - 20/8/10
18/19 - Aberdeen - 20/7/11 (and they actually finished 4th, Killie were 3rd with 19/10/9)
17/18 - Aberdeen (2nd) - 22/7/9, Rangers (3rd) - 21/7/10
16/17 - Aberdeen (2nd) - 24/4/10
15/16 - Aberdeen (2nd) - 22/5/11
14/15 - Aberdeen (2nd) - 23/6/9
13/14 - Motherwell (2nd) - 22/4/12 Aberdeen (3rd) - 20/8/10
05/06 - Hearts (2nd) - 22/8/8 Rangers (3rd) - 21/10/7

The spell 13-18 is a total anomaly because of Rangers (and to a lesser extent Hibs and Hearts) being out the league for a long spell during that time. Generally the team that finishes 3rd wins between 15 and 19 games and you need 20 to reach that tipping point.

3rd and some silverware.

I'm expecting us to be top 5 to some degree. I'd be disappointed if we found ourselves chasing top 6 or worrying about our top 6 status come the last game before the split. Third is the overall objective but Europe is the minimum again would see me happy providing we're competitive throughout.

Cups are a wildcard, the draw has to be kind to us but I'd like to get to Hampden again.

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Originally Posted by Wilson

I presume you are joking. Domestic trophies are trinkets. If we want the club to grow then you've got it the wrong way round.

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Not at all. I assume you're being sarcastic?

A trophy is the pinnacle of sporting success. Otherwise, whats the point?

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Originally Posted by Centre Hawf

I'm expecting us to be top 5 to some degree. I'd be disappointed if we found ourselves chasing top 6 or worrying about our top 6 status come the last game before the split. Third is the overall objective but Europe is the minimum again would see me happy providing we're competitive throughout.

Cups are a wildcard, the draw has to be kind to us but I'd like to get to Hampden again.

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Couldn't be any worse than it was last season! If these things even out, by the law of averages, we're due a decent run surely

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Originally Posted by DIXIHIBS

You saying when we won a trinket in 2016 the club didnt grow/benefit financially? What the point of growing the club if not to win trinkets...

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It's small time. Clubs that were nothing abroad are now feared names on the European draw thread. And why? Because of the regular runs they get in Europe, and the exposure and money that brings.

Winning a league cup gets silverware. Improves the stats. But does nothing for us really. We care. We noise up hearts fans. They care. Nobody outside Scotland cares and the financial rewards, compared to sustained runs in Europe, are chicken feed.

Europe is the bigger picture. The finance any run would get us is game changing. That anyone would see any priority in domestic cups is laughable.

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Originally Posted by Wilson

It's small time. Clubs that were nothing abroad are now feared names on the European draw thread. And why? Because of the regular runs they get in Europe, and the exposure and money that brings.

Winning a league cup gets silverware. Improves the stats. But does nothing for us really. We care. We noise up hearts fans. They care. Nobody outside Scotland cares and the financial rewards, compared to sustained runs in Europe, are chicken feed.

Europe is the bigger picture. The finance any run would get us is game changing. That anyone would see any priority in domestic cups is laughable.

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Winning trophies is small time ... unbelievable

Can we not aim for both?

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Originally Posted by Just_Jimmy

Not at all. I assume you're being sarcastic?

A trophy is the pinnacle of sporting success. Otherwise, whats the point?

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The pinnacle of domestic matters. It shows we beat out Raith Rovers and Livingston and the like to one of the ****kicker league's tin cups.

They don't matter as much as you think and they don't separate us from the chaff in this league.

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Originally Posted by Pagan Hibernia

Winning trophies is small time ... unbelievable

Can we not aim for both?

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No. Prioritise being in Europe and getting back in to Europe. If we get near a final whilst resting players then maybe.

Hopes - group stage/cup win/3rd

1/3 would be amazing, 2/3 would be dreamland

Expect - out in the qualifiers/at least one decent run if we avoid last year's sod's-law-draws/top 6.

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Originally Posted by Wilson

No. Prioritise being in Europe and getting back in to Europe. If we get near a final whilst resting players then maybe.

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Oh stop it.

My unrealistic hope is we win the lot and get into group stages and beyond in europe. My actual hope is we win both cups, finish 3rd in the league and get into the group stages in Europe. 😁My realistic hope is that we do well enough to make going along to easter road a fun & enjoyable experience and clapping rather than booing prevails. My expectation is that the team and management will give their all and hopefully the fanbase as well, we definitely get top 6 and don’t get knocked out cup by a minnow and learn from last seasons mistakes. Ggtth.

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Originally Posted by Wilson

The pinnacle of domestic matters. It shows we beat out Raith Rovers and Livingston and the like to one of the ****kicker league's tin cups.

They don't matter as much as you think and they don't separate us from the chaff in this league.

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They matter to me, and every real football fan no matter what club they support.

Is if a hibs fan is stating trophies don't matter...

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Hopes - 3rd and cup win, Conf League Group Stage
Expect - 4th/5th and good cup runs (s/f)

Ultimately I think we will see a drop off from this season. Renewed investment in Rangers and Hearts and European funding for Celtic and Aberdeen takes them further away from us in terms of financial clout.

If we can qualify for Europe again and get to a final then I think that would be considered a successful season.

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Originally Posted by Wilson

It's small time. Clubs that were nothing abroad are now feared names on the European draw thread. And why? Because of the regular runs they get in Europe, and the exposure and money that brings.

Winning a league cup gets silverware. Improves the stats. But does nothing for us really. We care. We noise up hearts fans. They care. Nobody outside Scotland cares and the financial rewards, compared to sustained runs in Europe, are chicken feed.

Europe is the bigger picture. The finance any run would get us is game changing. That anyone would see any priority in domestic cups is laughable.

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I suspect there's a bit more to a club being feared names than sustained runs in Europe. These clubs will have bigger revenues from domestic football coverage, investment from wealthy owners etc.

As for winning a trophy doing nothing etc. You have obviously never attended a Hibs final where we won? The 2016 one will always be the greatest day of my life, outside of family. That matters, a lot, for many Hibs fans. Fanbtasy sustained runs in Europe may bring financial reward, but I don't love Hibs because of the joy of a balance sheet.

The only thing laughable in these posts is your own nonsense, you're at the wind-up and just coming across as too desperate.

People are saying we can have both. You understand that it's not one or the other?

I don't expect us to finish 3rd. It's just rare for the 3rd best side to repeat that the next season.

As always the minimum we should be looking for is 5th. Anything less than that is a failure with the budget we work with compared to the other sides in the league.

Would be good to get the Hampden for a final, a win would be a bonus.

Cup wins over Euro places for me, every time.

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Originally Posted by Eyrie

Hopes - 3rd in league, win a cup, group stages in Europe.

Expectations - 4/5th in league, semis for both cups, out one round before the groups.

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Yep, this.

Every season is very much a stand alone event.

How we performed in the last season has little or no real bearing on how next season will go.

Except that having had such a great run of results in the second half of said season then expectations are now raised.

Difficult to see how we can realistically improve on 3rd. Best of the rest is as good as we can do and will be difficult next season. But achievable. Not being bottom of the league in November would be helpful.

Avoiding Celtic in the cups would be nice. Getting to at least one final would be brilliant and we can obviously dream of winning a cup.

What's really good is that the promised major revamp of the playing squad we have been expecting this summer is less major than seemed required this time last year.

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My hope is a Cup win, it always will be at the start of any season.

I expect us to qualify for Europe again next season. It has to be the minimum going forward of we’re to properly kick on.

Hopes are for continuing to play enjoyable football and more wins v our key opponents. Third place would be excellent and a cup win most joyous. A decent showing in Europe would be welcomed by all.

Expectations are high for me, we have the Gordon's committed to the club and excellent leadership in Gray and Mackay. Hopefully the BK's show intent and back the club. I think this team has a solid foundation and with the right backing, we can build on last year.

I just want that we're not a one season wonder. It would be great if we could continue at the same level we achieved last season and solidify our position as Scotland's 3rd best team.

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

I just want that we're not a one season wonder. It would be great if we could continue at the same level we achieved last season and solidify our position as Scotland's 3rd best team.

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This is massive as it's very rare that the team who finishes 3rd maintains their level the following season.

Hopes:
Cup win.
100% record in the derby.

Expectations:
Top 6 finish, without a Cup win sadly.

Imagine Celtic will be back to their treble winning ways, and can’t see us repeating a 3rd place finish to be honest.

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Originally Posted by Since452

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I'm expecting 3rd again. Missing out on European group stages should see a decent gap over Aberdeen and we've just signed one of, if not their best player.

I hope for a cup win.

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This was my takeaway from the SC final.

Was absolutely gutted, but now knowing we'll be playing one game a week, I'd really fancy us to go on and finish 3rd now especially if we strengthen our squad.

Hearts will obviously fancy themselves for that spot, but if they lose Shankland and don't replace him I can see them struggling again.

Initially, an improvement on the current squad.

The jeopardy is the complacency we showed especially up at Pittodrie and in the cup game at Celtic Park we definitely had a chance to do an Aberdeen.

We can’t rest on our laurels.

I think fifth and a cup final given the start of the season will be hampered by at least two Euro ties but if we build on a decent squad then who knows.

The trick with Hibs is to expect very little.

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Originally Posted by Thatdayinmay16

This was my takeaway from the SC final.

Was absolutely gutted, but now knowing we'll be playing one game a week, I'd really fancy us to go on and finish 3rd now especially if we strengthen our squad.

Hearts will obviously fancy themselves for that spot, but if they lose Shankland and don't replace him I can see them struggling again.

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Would the Shankland of last season be that hard to replace? What was it something like 8 goals last season?

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Originally Posted by Donegal Hibby

Would the Shankland of last season be that hard to replace? What was it something like 8 goals last season?

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I'd be more worried if they signed someone like Simon Murray, who has banged in 45 goals in the past two seasons for struggling teams

European qualifiction again please, playing regularly in Europe will grow the club quicker than the odd cup win every 10 years or so.

Both would be nice though.:greengrin

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Originally Posted by Donegal Hibby

Would the Shankland of last season be that hard to replace? What was it something like 8 goals last season?

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Shankland played up top scores goals at this level, I'd rather he moved on.

He struggled last season because him and Critchley had a Monty/Vente situation where he was being played in a way that totally blunted him as a goalscorer. When he was chucked back up top for the closing few games he started scoring again.

I'd be stunned if McInnes didn't want to keep him and build round him with a big target man alongside.

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Originally Posted by Pagan Hibernia

I'd be more worried if they signed someone like Simon Murray, who has banged in 45 goals in the past two seasons for struggling teams

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So would I tbh . I just think there is a lot of questions you could asked about Shankland after last season in he lacks pace , fitness and his attitude hasn’t appeared to be great either . Wither he stays or goes he will be on a big wages , signing on fee which personally I think is to much a risk to take with him.

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Originally Posted by B.H.F.C

30 odd years but I don’t see the relevance in what has went before. I feel we have a much stronger starting point, as we stand today, than we have in a lot of those 30 odd years.

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I’d have thought the relevance was obvious. Anyone who’s followed Hibs for the past 30 years (as have I) should not expect a top 4 finish.

We can certainly be hopeful for one though.

Hoping for 3rd (obviously) but depending on what happens in Europe, I wouldn't be surprised if 4th or 5th.

Get to the semi's of both cups and be competitive in Europe.

Hoping we win all the europa league qualifiers , storm the group and make the knockout stage , win both cups and the league . Expect us to get papped out of Europe, draw celtic away in both cups and get pipped to the league by Jonestown analytics

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Originally Posted by Donegal Hibby

Would the Shankland of last season be that hard to replace? What was it something like 8 goals last season?

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If he plays as an out and out number 9 unfortunately he'll score goals.

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Originally Posted by jacomo

I’d have thought the relevance was obvious. Anyone who’s followed Hibs for the past 30 years (as have I) should not expect a top 4 finish.

We can certainly be hopeful for one though.

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Based on what I have saw in the last 6 months, I do expect it though. I think we are in a strong position to build and have people in place who will help us achieve it. It doesn’t mean it’ll happen but I don’t think it’s a terribly unrealistic expectation going in to next season.

I hope we get to the Europa or Conference League stage with games up until Christmas. I expect we will not get to this stage, might win one tie but not the two we need. Was a hammer blow when Aberdeen won the cup.

I hope we improve as a team next season, finish 3rd and win a cup. I expect Aberdeen and The Yam will be better next season and will make achieving this more difficult.

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Originally Posted by Hibees1973

I hope we get to the Europa or Conference League stage with games up until Christmas. I expect we will not get to this stage, might win one tie but not the two we need. Was a hammer blow when Aberdeen won the cup.

I hope we improve as a team next season, finish 3rd and win a cup. I expect Aberdeen and The Yam will be better next season and will make achieving this more difficult.

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Hearts probably will, unfortunately.

Aberdeen I'm not too sure. Fluking a cup win after hanging on grimly for 120 minutes against an out of sorts celtic doesn't paper over the appalling form, performances and results of the previous 6 months. I've seen nothing so far to suggest theyll be much better, and they'll likely suffer the consequences of playing regularly in Europe. I think it will be after next season when they'll feel the benefits of those millions in European money.

Hearts will not be as bad, Aberdeen will get a boost from the Cup win, so anything better than consolidation of a top 4/5 place will be huge success for SDG and Hibs.

Cannot wait to see how SDG get on. If he manages somehow to get us to 3rd again, or win us a cup, he'll be destined for greatnes - hopefully not along the M8, but darn sarth.

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Originally Posted by blackpoolhibs

European qualifiction again please, playing regularly in Europe will grow the club quicker than the odd cup win every 10 years or so.

Both would be nice though.:greengrin

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What do you mean by grow the club?

Appreciate that may sound a bit arsey, but is a genuine question.

For me, nothing tops a Cup win - and this is the best and quickest way to grow the club. Add to our rather paltry honours list, and the fanbase will go up and up.

I just don’t see the same utopia via playing European games as many others, particularly nowadays when, if we’re honest - the Conference league is full of guff.

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Originally Posted by SickBoy32

What do you mean by grow the club?

Appreciate that may sound a bit arsey, but is a genuine question.

For me, nothing tops a Cup win - and this is the best and quickest way to grow the club. Add to our rather paltry honours list, and the fanbase will go up and up.

I just don’t see the same utopia via playing European games as many others, particularly nowadays when, if we’re honest - the Conference league is full of guff.

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I think it's an interesting debate.

Qualifying for Europe back to back in 04/05 and 05/06 didn't really budge our attendance all that much and we have missed the boat to get a really easy pass to the big money stages for now. Winning the cup in 2016 saw our average jump to almost 16K in the Championship and it's remained consistent significantly up on the previous decade ever since. That's year on year income that has remained steady.

That's only one metric though and the financial rewards of going deep in Europe will massively outweigh a cup win every decade or 2. Of course, as Aberdeen have sadly proven, winning the Scottish Cup also presents the best opportunity of progressing in Europe.

I think most fans would celebrate a cup win more than a 3rd place finish (obviously actually winning the league in Scotland would blow any cup win out the water) but I reckon the club would probably plump for 5 3rd places in a row over 1 cup and 5 6th place finishes in the same timeframe.

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Originally Posted by Onion

Hearts will not be as bad, Aberdeen will get a boost from the Cup win, so anything better than consolidation of a top 4/5 place will be huge success for SDG and Hibs.

Cannot wait to see how SDG get on. If he manages somehow to get us to 3rd again, or win us a cup, he'll be destined for greatnes - hopefully not along the M8, but darn sarth.

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There are loads of assumptions that Hearts and Aberdeen will improve but I think we will as well. It’s the most trust I’ve had in the club to do things right in a long, long time.

For all we finished third, it was one of the lower points totals for finishing third in recent times so I think there is plenty of scope to improve, providing we don’t put ourselves in the position of needing to go on a record equalling run to get anywhere!

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Originally Posted by SickBoy32

What do you mean by grow the club?

Appreciate that may sound a bit arsey, but is a genuine question.

For me, nothing tops a Cup win - and this is the best and quickest way to grow the club. Add to our rather paltry honours list, and the fanbase will go up and up.

I just don’t see the same utopia via playing European games as many others, particularly nowadays when, if we’re honest - the Conference league is full of guff.

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Making the group stages of even the conference is pretty lucrative . If you could do it for 3 or 4 seasons that's 15 - 20 million .

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Originally Posted by Onion

Hearts will not be as bad, Aberdeen will get a boost from the Cup win, so anything better than consolidation of a top 4/5 place will be huge success for SDG and Hibs.

Cannot wait to see how SDG get on. If he manages somehow to get us to 3rd again, or win us a cup, he'll be destined for greatnes - hopefully not along the M8, but darn sarth.

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Hearts won't be as bad but not concerned by McInnes or them.

Aberdeen don't have a new manager so think we can expect more of the same from them to be honest. They had the good run then a terrible one then came back to a bit form for a bit but had lost 4 on the trot before the final. 3rd spot. Don't see them being dramatically better next season under Thelin.

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Originally Posted by Pretty Boy

I think it's an interesting debate.

Qualifying for Europe back to back in 04/05 and 05/06 didn't really budge our attendance all that much and we have missed the boat to get a really easy pass to the big money stages for now. Winning the cup in 2016 saw our average jump to almost 16K in the Championship and it's remained consistent significantly up on the previous decade ever since. That's year on year income that has remained steady.

That's only one metric though and the financial rewards of going deep in Europe will massively outweigh a cup win every decade or 2. Of course, as Aberdeen have sadly proven, winning the Scottish Cup also presents the best opportunity of progressing in Europe.

I think most fans would celebrate a cup win more than a 3rd place finish (obviously actually winning the league in Scotland would blow any cup win out the water) but I reckon the club would probably plump for 5 3rd places in a row over 1 cup and 5 6th place finishes in the same timeframe.

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Originally Posted by makaveli1875

Making the group stages of even the conference is pretty lucrative . If you could do it for 3 or 4 seasons that's 15 - 20 million .

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This, we'd all like a cup win, but i think if we qualified for Europe and made the league stages a few times, winning a cup could become a little easier with the funds that would bring.

And attracting players should become easier with more money and more European exposure.

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Originally Posted by Onion

Hearts will not be as bad, Aberdeen will get a boost from the Cup win, so anything better than consolidation of a top 4/5 place will be huge success for SDG and Hibs.

Cannot wait to see how SDG get on. If he manages somehow to get us to 3rd again, or win us a cup, he'll be destined for greatnes - hopefully not along the M8, but darn sarth.

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I think Hearts improving is almost a certainty. By how much is the question. I’m not overly worried by any of their signings so far, and I’m hoping that Shankland leaves. Last season he was poor, but if he can replicate his form of 23/24 he could be the difference between competing for 3rd or finishing serval places lower.

I think Aberdeen will be considerably worse. Jimmy Thelin was probably on thin ice prior to the cup final. One game, where they didn’t even play well, has probably bought him a lot of time, but it doesn’t change the fact that they have been **** since December, showing no sign of improvement. They have the group stage money to invest, but also with the extra fixtures which tend to drag Scottish teams down.

I think Dundee United will be weaker too. St Mirren will be similar to this year. No none from the rest has giving me reason to think they will compete.

It’s well worth remembering that we overturned a ridiculous point deficit to catch the teams above us last season. I’m very confident that we won’t hit a run of poor form like it this season, nor will any out of competition hit a run as good as Aberdeens early season. From the 3-3 Aberdeen game onwards, we averaged 2 points a game, which if maintained over the course of the season would land us on 76 points, enough to compete for the title let alone 3rd place. I’m not suggesting for a minute that we can keep that up, but if we don’t lose many from our staring team, we have a very good chance at hitting the ground running then securing 3rd.

Probably a 3 horse race at worst and i think we’re the best placed to take it.

I just hope that I can get to ER more frequently next season. Work commitments and looking after family members with health issues meant last season was the first for 30 years that I didn’t get to watch Hibs in person…. Terrible timing, I’ve watched some real dross in the past !

Hopes - either a cup, 3rd or group stage football. any of those three is a good season.

Expectations - depends on the transfer window, but to be honest, pretty low. We're likely to be changing the spine of our team (new keeper, rocky going, triantis and myko leaving). We're going to be playing at least two four weeks of Thursday, Sunday football and that always seems to impact teams. In addition, our last five games, we took five points. Fair enough, that was all vs top 6, but it still isn't ideal.

Ultimately, I expect somewhere between 5-8th.

On the bright side, we are certain to lose less league cup games than last season, so that's fantastic.

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Originally Posted by matty_f

While we are still to find out exactly what the squad will look like next season, how has the season just finished shaped your hopes and expectations for next season?

I'd like to see us have a really strong season in the cups - we had the worst luck with the draws last season but given we'll be joining the league cup in the later stages we should be looking to reach Hampden in that one and that should be the minimum aim for the Scottish Cup as well.

It'll be the ten years anniversary of winning it - which seems impossible - so wouldn't it be perfect for SDG to do it again as manager?

I have a feeling we will find ourselves in the group stages of European football after all the frustration of Aberdeen taking the automatic slot, and this will impact our league form and we'll struggle domestically until the turn of the year when we'll have full focus on the league and push for a European place in the league.

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To start by saying, getting in front of the rangers is too much to ask. For any team outwith thae two, 3rd is like winning the league-level achievement for a normal nation. For us to achieve that two seasons on the trot would be phenomenal. But i think its possible. We have learnt how to win with this group. Gray knows how to get the most from them tactically. Our manky neighbours and the sheep have shown theyve been decent in patches and seem to be retaining their best players at this point so we have two other rivals for third. Thats how i see the league.

I agree with Matty that a cup run would be fantastic after the nonsense of two away games at Celtic park this past season. For those of us not able to attend league games every week a cheeky cup season ticket would be nice…

I want Easter Rd to be a fortress where all the other sides fear to come to.
I think we will strengthen the side from last season.

Not sure about my expectation for next season but my hopes would be to repeat our 3rd spot, collect a cup and get into the group stages in Europe. Just how good would that be? One of those hopes would be great.
I'd imagine European group stage football would put pressure on the squad and our league cup hopes would pay the price.
Hibs in Europe excites me, ive still got to make a Hibs European away day. Maybe this year.
3rd in the SPL is well within our capabilities i think we'll start the season in a better place than both hearts and aberdeen. Not buying they are better than us.

'Mon the Hibs

My hopes are exactly the same as they were at the start of the season. Qualify for Europe, get us to Hampden and get the upper hand in the derbies.

Depends how we do in Europe and if we can keep the team together. Some of the best business we could this window is keeping our best players.

I see it being a pretty level playing field again this year though.

My hopes are another decent season finishing in the top 4 with a good cup run, could do with a kinder draw this time but it's set for our ten year anniversary for another cup win.

I hope we are 3rd, but mucher closer to 2nd than last season. A group stage entry into the Conference league. A cup win, obviously the Scottish Cup given the prestige attached would be preferred. I go into every season with high hopes and then reassess in November.

My expectations are probably a bit different.

My hope for next season is for Gray to continue to rise as a manager. I think as a player he was someone who maybe never hit his heights down south and lost his way a bit. He achieved a lot with us as a player. Yes he scored that famous goal, but after that final he lead by example. His goal vs brondby, securing promotion, the strong finish season 17/18 and 3rd with Ross. He was unlucky with injuries and opted to retire early.

Being selfless, I hope as a manager he out grows us in the future and eventually follows a similar path like the one Tony Mowbray has went on. :flag:

We finished third after wasting almost half a season.

Absolutely no reason we can’t do so again, finishing much closer to Rangers.

There’s unlikely to be many changes to our squad so it’s really just a matter of keeping doing what we’ve been doing.

It’s up to hearts or Aberdeen to try and close the gap on us this year.

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Originally Posted by Wilson

I presume you are joking. Domestic trophies are trinkets. If we want the club to grow then you've got it the wrong way round.

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The Scottish Cup win did more to grow attendance than any top 4 finish.

You sound like Spurs binning their most successful manager for a generation.

To coin a phrase, the game has gone.

Rumour has it Hibs v Dons first home game of season.

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Originally Posted by Phil MaGlass

Rumour has it Hibs v Dons first home game of season.

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I'd take that. No doubt the smug shower in red will be crowing about their group stage euro place from the away end. Perfect opportunity to shut them up.

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Originally Posted by Phil MaGlass

Rumour has it Hibs v Dons first home game of season.

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We played them twice at ER before the split season just gone so I thought that would be due to be reversed next season.

If Rocky and Triantis were to sign and also with the forgotten man Joe Newell hopefully back well before Christmas I would expect another 3rd place finish minimum.

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Originally Posted by 147lothian

If Rocky and Triantis were to sign and also with the forgotten man Joe Newell hopefully back well before Christmas I would expect another 3rd place finish minimum.

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Minimum?

Got to go for third place again and good run in cups

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Originally Posted by 147lothian

If Rocky and Triantis were to sign and also with the forgotten man Joe Newell hopefully back well before Christmas I would expect another 3rd place finish minimum.

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:faf::faf:

Hopefully we can bag 3rd again, but it will be tough.

Looking back through recent seasons, the last team to finish 3rd in consecutive seasons was actually the Huns through 16-17 and 17-18, with the Sheep finishing twice those seasons.

So, it goes without saying that to finish 3rd back to back won't be easy - but I've got faith in Gray to give us a good chance of doing that.

I think my realistic expectations would be to finish in a European place again, and a Hampden visit or two.