Full Backs

**macca70** · 22-10-2017 01:12 AM

How long are we going to go with full backs that offer absolutely nothing going forward?

I know attacking full backs don’t just grow on trees but we’ve been lacking since Murphy left!!

Love Stevenson to bits but he offers nothing going forward; no pace and hopeless at crossing.

Gray tries to get forward but has no pace and never going to go past a man.

All the the best teams have pacey attacking full backs. If we can sort that out, we will have some team.

**Thegreenside** · 22-10-2017 01:52 AM

defenders should concentrate on defending before anything else. The boys seem to do that okay

**ajf** · 22-10-2017 04:08 AM

Originally Posted by Thegreenside

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defenders should concentrate on defending before anything else. The boys seem to do that okay

Not according to our defensive record they don't .

***J-C*** · 22-10-2017 06:49 AM

Stevenson had Roberts in his back pocket all game, Gray was disappointing, didn't look at all comfortable. Lustig unmarked twice, where was Barker? That was his man so the blame lies with him. It's not all about defenders, the midfield have to do their bit too.

***hibee_girl*** · 22-10-2017 08:12 AM

Said this in another thread yesterday but Stevenson wasn’t meant to be bombing up and down the wings yesterday, that was Barker’s job.

And you clearly don’t watch Stevenson enough as he has plenty pace.

**B.H.F.C** · 22-10-2017 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by J-C

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Stevenson had Roberts in his back pocket all game, Gray was disappointing, didn't look at all comfortable. Lustig unmarked twice, where was Barker? That was his man so the blame lies with him. It's not all about defenders, the midfield have to do their bit too.

Barker was nowhere to be seen for the first. David Gray lost Lustig for the second thoug, he was picking him up from the corner.

***Danderhall Hibs*** · 22-10-2017 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by macca70

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How long are we going to go with full backs that offer absolutely nothing going forward?

I know attacking full backs don’t just grow on trees but we’ve been lacking since Murphy left!!

Love Stevenson to bits but he offers nothing going forward; no pace and hopeless at crossing.

Gray tries to get forward but has no pace and never going to go past a man.

All the the best teams have pacey attacking full backs. If we can sort that out, we will have some team.

Whittaker made a big impact on this front when he came on - cross for Slivka and then the ball for Shaw’s goal.

**macca70** · 22-10-2017 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by Danderhall Hibs

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Whittaker made a big impact on this front when he came on - cross for Slivka and then the ball for Shaw’s goal.

Yeah, and that highlights the importance of a full back that offers something going forward, at being able to cross a ball which Stevenson is lacking.

Folk saying full backs should be there to defend is extremely short sighted. They have to get down the sides when we are in possession too, that’s the difference from being an average team to being very good.

We have the foundations for being very good, our midfield is so strong with McGinn, McGeoch and Bartley, if only we could find pacey over lapping full backs that could offer something going forward,

***Danderhall Hibs*** · 22-10-2017 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by macca70

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Yeah, and that highlights the importance of a full back that offers something going forward, at being able to cross a ball which Stevenson is lacking.

Folk saying full backs should be there to defend is extremely short sighted. They have to get down the sides when we are in possession too, that’s the difference from being an average team to being very good.

We have the foundations for being very good, our midfield is so strong with McGinn, McGeoch and Bartley, if only we could find pacey over lapping full backs that could offer something going forward,

completely

**Roxyhibee** · 22-10-2017 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by Danderhall Hibs

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completely

Spot on. Full backs like Lewis are fine if all they've got to do is hold their position. Neat and tidy is about as good as he gets. Love the guy but he's limited. Surely people can see this..?! (Cue the "2 cup winners medals means he's a great footballer" brigade..)

But a good full back can overlap with confidence and more importantly - cross a ball. It's a major part of the modern game and we really lack that on a consistent basis. Look at what Whittaker brought to us in the second half yesterday - pretty transformational. He is so confident going forward and genuinely wants the ball. Unfortunately, he lacks consistency when defending.!

Where's the next David Murphy...?

**hibbydog** · 22-10-2017 09:57 AM

Criticism of Lewis Stevenson is tantamount to high treason and punishable by hanging

**indiejak1413** · 22-10-2017 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by Roxyhibee

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Spot on. Full backs like Lewis are fine if all they've got to do is hold their position. Neat and tidy is about as good as he gets. Love the guy but he's limited. Surely people can see this..?! (Cue the "2 cup winners medals means he's a great footballer" brigade..)

But a good full back can overlap with confidence and more importantly - cross a ball. It's a major part of the modern game and we really lack that on a consistent basis. Look at what Whittaker brought to us in the second half yesterday - pretty transformational. He is so confident going forward and genuinely wants the ball. Unfortunately, he lacks consistency when defending.!

Where's the next David Murphy...?

On loan at Alloa!

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

***greenlex*** · 22-10-2017 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by indiejak1413

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On loan at Alloa!

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Yup

**blaikie** · 22-10-2017 10:41 AM

There's a fine line between a steady defensive full back and the pacy player with bags of tricks and pace, give me Lewis Stevenson any day of the week over Taviner or a Callum Booth type player.

Stevenson has limitations but he is a model pro who has been here long enough to know what's expected from him, he was up against an English premiership winger yesterday, he won't face them every week up here!

***bigwheel*** · 22-10-2017 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by macca70

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Yeah, and that highlights the importance of a full back that offers something going forward, at being able to cross a ball which Stevenson is lacking.

Folk saying full backs should be there to defend is extremely short sighted. They have to get down the sides when we are in possession too, that’s the difference from being an average team to being very good.

We have the foundations for being very good, our midfield is so strong with McGinn, McGeoch and Bartley, if only we could find pacey over lapping full backs that could offer something going forward,

everyone would love to have a full back who can defend, has pace and great going forward - But you are describing people like Kyle Walker - they are like gold dust and very expensive. So we have to compromise ..as another poster says , I'd much rather have a Grey or a Stevenson compared to a Both or a Tavernier.

Hibs will always be trying to improve the squad..but it is almost impossible to find a fullback who has all these attributes at our level - Andy Robertson has all that going forward, not the best defensively and he has just gone for over £10M...

**Stantons Angel** · 22-10-2017 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by macca70

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Yeah, and that highlights the importance of a full back that offers something going forward, at being able to cross a ball which Stevenson is lacking.

Folk saying full backs should be there to defend is extremely short sighted. They have to get down the sides when we are in possession too, that’s the difference from being an average team to being very good.

We have the foundations for being very good, our midfield is so strong with McGinn, McGeoch and Bartley, if only we could find pacey over lapping full backs that could offer something going forward,

ever thought that our full backs are carrying out orders from their manager in respect of where their strongest need is. That Roberts hardly got past Lewis all day long THAT may have been Lewis's instruction from the manager? In the formation Lennon put out Lewis had a pacy winger in front of him yesterday to take the ball forward and take the pressure off the defence.

I can recall plenty times Lewis has put over beautiful crosses into the box for the forwards to get too.

It always seems that problems, when we have not played well, lie at Stevenson's feet.

In my opinion the sooner we get McGregor back the better!

**macca70** · 22-10-2017 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Stantons Angel

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ever thought that our full backs are carrying out orders from their manager in respect of where their strongest need is. That Roberts hardly got past Lewis all day long THAT may have been Lewis's instruction from the manager? In the formation Lennon put out Lewis had a pacy winger in front of him yesterday to take the ball forward and take the pressure off the defence.

I can recall plenty times Lewis has put over beautiful crosses into the box for the forwards to get too.

It always seems that problems, when we have not played well, lie at Stevenson's feet.

In my opinion the sooner we get McGregor back the better!

I’m not disputing he does a job defensively but he offers absolutely nothing going forward.

He definitely has not put over beautiful crosses plenty times, more often than not it is blocked by the defender or it goes straight out the park.

It’s nothing to do with Lennon telling him not to get forward, he’s just lacking pace and skill to put a cross in.

***hibee_girl*** · 22-10-2017 12:58 PM

Not sure where this Stevenson lacks pace comes from, he has bags of pace. If you watched him on a regular basis you’d know that.

**ancient hibee** · 22-10-2017 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by macca70

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I’m not disputing he does a job defensively but he offers absolutely nothing going forward.

He definitely has not put over beautiful crosses plenty times, more often than not it is blocked by the defender or it goes straight out the park.

It’s nothing to do with Lennon telling him not to get forward, he’s just lacking pace and skill to put a cross in.

I don’t think Lennon will be pleased with you giving away team talk secrets.

***Heisenberg*** · 22-10-2017 01:07 PM

Stevenson had the supposed superstar Patrick Roberts firmly in his pocket before he got hooked for Forrest. He did fine yesterday. Going forward has never been his biggest attribute but he’s a very good option at left back.

***Brightside*** · 22-10-2017 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by macca70

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How long are we going to go with full backs that offer absolutely nothing going forward?

I know attacking full backs don’t just grow on trees but we’ve been lacking since Murphy left!!

Love Stevenson to bits but he offers nothing going forward; no pace and hopeless at crossing.

Gray tries to get forward but has no pace and never going to go past a man.

All the the best teams have pacey attacking full backs. If we can sort that out, we will have some team.

The hopeless at crossing thing is statistically wrong btw.

**Fifehibby74** · 22-10-2017 02:24 PM

What about gray at right back , Whittaker right midfield and Boyle right wing? Pretty strong right hand side for me

***Danderhall Hibs*** · 22-10-2017 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by underscore

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The hopeless at crossing thing is statistically wrong btw.

Can you post the stats please mate?

**MWHIBBIES** · 22-10-2017 03:53 PM

If only Lewis played a vital part in us winning something, people might then realise he isn't the problem. He has been a part of 20% of the clubs major trophy wins yet he is preventing us from being a great side?

Don't talk such utter ****ing rubbish. He had a fine game yesterday, Roberts offered nothing for Celtic and was subbed off. He is the definition of a scapegoat and its honestly pathetic.

**macca70** · 22-10-2017 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by MWHIBBIES

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If only Lewis played a vital part in us winning something, people might then realise he isn't the problem. He has been a part of 20% of the clubs major trophy wins yet he is preventing us from being a great side?

Don't talk such utter ****ing rubbish. He had a fine game yesterday, Roberts offered nothing for Celtic and was subbed off. He is the definition of a scapegoat and its honestly pathetic.

Jeezo!!! Folk need to actually read posts. No one is claiming Stevenson was to blame or is a poor defender, quite the opposite. We are are discussing the fact that our full backs seem to offer nothing when we’re going forward.

The most effective full backs get down the sides and offer something when there team are going forward aswell as being decent defenders eg Calumn Patterson

**pacoluna** · 22-10-2017 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by MWHIBBIES

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If only Lewis played a vital part in us winning something, people might then realise he isn't the problem. He has been a part of 20% of the clubs major trophy wins yet he is preventing us from being a great side?

Don't talk such utter ****ing rubbish. He had a fine game yesterday, Roberts offered nothing for Celtic and was subbed off. He is the definition of a scapegoat and its honestly pathetic.

Your reaction to criticism of Stevenson is pathetic.

**MWHIBBIES** · 22-10-2017 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by macca70

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Jeezo!!! Folk need to actually read posts. No one is claiming Stevenson was to blame or is a poor defender, quite the opposite. We are are discussing the fact that our full backs seem to offer nothing when we’re going forward.

The most effective full backs get down the sides and offer something when there team are going forward aswell as being decent defenders eg Calumn Patterson

Calum Patterson only offers stuff going forward, he is a rotten defender who just hoofs the ball anytime its near him. He is just a big huddy who gets on the end of crosses. The most effective fullbacks will never play for Hibs, Lewis will do just fine. Nonsense to suggest he is holding us back, we literally reached the absolute peak with him in the side.

***Mibbes Aye*** · 22-10-2017 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by macca70

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How long are we going to go with full backs that offer absolutely nothing going forward?

I know attacking full backs don’t just grow on trees but we’ve been lacking since Murphy left!!

Love Stevenson to bits but he offers nothing going forward; no pace and hopeless at crossing.

Gray tries to get forward but has no pace and never going to go past a man.

All the the best teams have pacey attacking full backs. If we can sort that out, we will have some team.

Funnily enough Stevenson won MOTM playing in front of Murphy in the 2007 final.

Even funnier, I thought Murphy deserved MOTM that day........

To address your last point, pacy attacking full backs are a rare commodity. As mentioned previously, Robertson is playing for a top six English club. Tierney will almost certainly rise to a similar level. They are players we would have for a season or two, if we were lucky, and while they were raw.

Murphy had one of the finest touches I’ve ever seen in a Hibs shirt but the reality is he made little impact in top-flight English football. He was an absolute stand-out for us but he was still way off the level required to play in the top half of the EPL.

Stevenson can’t be accused of lacking pace, he’s maybe the fastest player I’ve seen for us. Still have fond memories of him running the length of the pitch against The Huns in the 4-0 game when we attacked, then running back at full pelt to shadow Nicky Clark. He looked about ready to drop after that but still was showing for the ball.

More importantly he doesn’t hide. There’s a reason so much of our play has gone down the left over the years and that’s because he is always positioning to make himself available.

**pacoluna** · 22-10-2017 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by MWHIBBIES

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Calum Patterson only offers stuff going forward, he is a rotten defender who just hoofs the ball anytime its near him. He is just a big huddy who gets on the end of crosses. The most effective fullbacks will never play for Hibs, Lewis will do just fine. Nonsense to suggest he is holding us back, we literally reached the absolute peak with him in the side.

Callum Patterson is an international player playing for a premiership chasing club.