Mental team selections and weird formations

[thebausburst]

The main thing that frustrates me with this poor run of form is IMO Lennon is not giving us the best chance for results with his instance on weird team selections and formations, Saturday being the most extreme example. The usual pattern is a return to a normal / stronger line up at half time usually by which time we are behind and chasing the game. We need to get back to a consistent line up which gives us a chance from kick off, not half time, we need to persevere with Kamberi and mclaren for example and I know there have been injuries to contend with but we desperately need some degree of consistency in team selection or tactics.

[MacGruber]

Agreed

[NAE NOOKIE]

It's true that for some time now its become a theme in a lot of our games that NL has to admit he got things wrong at the start of the game and has to change formation, personnel or both during it. As I've said before, a manager who can see what's wrong on the park and make changes during the game to address it is an asset to a club.

But when it happens so frequently you have to ask if he is doing enough research on his opponents before the game … its a failing which is harder to explain in a league where everybody plays each other more than twice in a season, the big problem for managers should be finding ways to set up their own team in order to surprise their opponents, not working out how their opponent is going to play and what their strengths and weaknesses are.

As for the team selections … I think he has managed to baffle most of us at one time or another this season, but Saturday was the day where he baffled everybody, including it would seem his players

[Time For Heroes]

I thought this was a Levein thread....

[BILLYHIBS]

Always seems to overthink it versus the Hearts where just our normal team and formation would have a better chance

[matty_f]

I think part of the problem is he doesn't have (or hasn't had) a good idea of who to leave out when the centre halves are fit, so we're going with three at the back which clearly isn't working - this isn't helped with Gray being injured and Harry being (presumably) short of full match fitness.
Lennon looks like he's shoe-horning players in and trying to find a system to suit the players, but what he needs is to find a working system and if that means leaving good players out then that's what he needs to do.

Of course, we probably need to allow for the fact that a lot of players have been unavailable at various times, so some chopping and changing is inevitable, but I think everyone could see ahead of Saturday's game that the starting line up was going to struggle, and better options were available on the bench.

[GlesgaeHibby]

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I think part of the problem is he doesn't have (or hasn't had) a good idea of who to leave out when the centre halves are fit, so we're going with three at the back which clearly isn't working - this isn't helped with Gray being injured and Harry being (presumably) short of full match fitness.
Lennon looks like he's shoe-horning players in and trying to find a system to suit the players, but what he needs is to find a working system and if that means leaving good players out then that's what he needs to do.

Of course, we probably need to allow for the fact that a lot of players have been unavailable at various times, so some chopping and changing is inevitable, but I think everyone could see ahead of Saturday's game that the starting line up was going to struggle, and better options were available on the bench.

Our best run of form came having Ambrose and Porteous paired at the back in a flat back 4, with Mililgan in DM. Back to that please for Wednesday.

[BILLYHIBS]

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I think part of the problem is he doesn't have (or hasn't had) a good idea of who to leave out when the centre halves are fit, so we're going with three at the back which clearly isn't working - this isn't helped with Gray being injured and Harry being (presumably) short of full match fitness.
Lennon looks like he's shoe-horning players in and trying to find a system to suit the players, but what he needs is to find a working system and if that means leaving good players out then that's what he needs to do.

Of course, we probably need to allow for the fact that a lot of players have been unavailable at various times, so some chopping and changing is inevitable, but I think everyone could see ahead of Saturday's game that the starting line up was going to struggle, and better options were available on the bench.

Every HIBS fan throughout the land at 2.30 pm on Saturday was going WTF! You just knew it wasn’t going to end well

[Smartie]

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Our best run of form came having Ambrose and Porteous paired at the back in a flat back 4, with Mililgan in DM. Back to that please for Wednesday.

9 or 10 of the positions should realistically pick themselves, and I don't think it is rocket science.

The problem is how we deal with the other position or 2, and how we cover for injuries without disrupting the entire team.

Who plays CM for the reserves? Do we have anyone with any mobility and all-round game?

As it stands

Bogdan

Gray (or Mavrias if unfit)
Ambrose
Porteous
Stevenson

Milligan

Boyle
Energetic AN Other (failing that Slivka)
Horgan

Mallan

Kamberi

I'd be very tempted to keep Nelom at LB and use Lewis Stevenson for his energy in the middle of the park.

That just isn't a bad team at all, I am convinced.

[My_Wife_Camille]

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Our best run of form came having Ambrose and Porteous paired at the back in a flat back 4, with Mililgan in DM. Back to that please for Wednesday.

Our best run of form came against the three worst teams in the league, which imo was more of a factor

[J-C]

The problem is we did well with a back 3 last season but the midfield made that possible. We haven't recruited well enough so a back 3 doesn't work now, Lennon sees this but still continues with it, thats what is bizarre. Also his trying to play players out of position.

[Smartie]

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The problem is we did well with a back 3 last season but the midfield made that possible. We haven't recruited well enough so a back 3 doesn't work now, Lennon sees this but still continues with it, thats what is bizarre. Also his trying to play players out of position.

The problem is that our midfield is so pish it has made just about every combination of defenders and attackers unworkable as well.

It's not just 3 at the back that doesn't work.

[Not In The Know]

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our best run of form came having ambrose and porteous paired at the back in a flat back 4, with mililgan in dm. Back to that please for wednesday.

this!!!

[Onion]

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The problem is that our midfield is so pish it has made just about every combination of defenders and attackers unworkable as well.

It's not just 3 at the back that doesn't work.

Agreed. Our midfielders are so bad, no combination is effective at protecting our back 4 or supporting our front men. We can blame Mallan, Horgan, Milligan, Hyndeman, et al but Lennon brought them all in so blame lies with NL.

[Lago]

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Every HIBS fan throughout the land at 2.30 pm on Saturday was going WTF! You just knew it wasn’t going to end well

Real understatement there 😂

[GreenProfessor]

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9 or 10 of the positions should realistically pick themselves, and I don't think it is rocket science.

The problem is how we deal with the other position or 2, and how we cover for injuries without disrupting the entire team.

Who plays CM for the reserves? Do we have anyone with any mobility and all-round game?

As it stands

Bogdan

Gray (or Mavrias if unfit)
Ambrose
Porteous
Stevenson

Milligan

Boyle
Energetic AN Other (failing that Slivka)
Horgan

Mallan

Kamberi

I'd be very tempted to keep Nelom at LB and use Lewis Stevenson for his energy in the middle of the park.

That just isn't a bad team at all, I am convinced.

This should be the team.

[calumhibee1]

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The problem is that our midfield is so pish it has made just about every combination of defenders and attackers unworkable as well.

It's not just 3 at the back that doesn't work.

We’ve not necessarily got loads of bad midfielders. We’ve just got a very bad balance of midfielders with nearly all the players only capable of offering either something going forward or something defensively but nobody that comes close to being able to do a bit of both. That’s fine for the odd specialist player like Scott Allan or Bartley who are very good at the one aspect at the game but not for near enough every midfielder you have. The only one I’d exempt from this is Slivka. He can do a bit of both, just not to a high enough standard IMO.

[SingaporeHibs]

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This should be the team.

Not far off but Flo can’t play up front on his own. McLaren & Flo need a run of games together no matter what else we do.

[Smartie]

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Not far off but Flo can’t play up front on his own. McLaren & Flo need a run of games together no matter what else we do.

But we don't have the midfield to play 3 at the back, and we don't have the midfield to play only 2 in the centre of midfield.

Any suggestions?

Flo up front on his own, Mallan just off him and Boyle and Horgan out wide pushing up to support him is imo the best we can do.

McLaren and Flo have been hopeless up front together without last season's midfield creating for them. I like McLaren but it's been a very long time since he last looked like a player for us and I think there are a few in the queue ahead of him.

[Here’s Lucy!]

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Our best run of form came against the three worst teams in the league, which imo was more of a factor

Agree with that.

[SingaporeHibs]

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But we don't have the midfield to play 3 at the back, and we don't have the midfield to play only 2 in the centre of midfield.

Any suggestions?

Flo up front on his own, Mallan just off him and Boyle and Horgan out wide pushing up to support him is imo the best we can do.

McLaren and Flo have been hopeless up front together without last season's midfield creating for them. I like McLaren but it's been a very long time since he last looked like a player for us and I think there are a few in the queue ahead of him.

I would just go 4-4-2. Like you I would have a back 4 but ditch the holding midfielder. Midfield with Boyle & Horgan wide with Slivka and another in the middle (could be a few options). Then have the front 2.

[Smartie]

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I would just go 4-4-2. Like you I would have a back 4 but ditch the holding midfielder. Midfield with Boyle & Horgan wide with Slivka and another in the middle (could be a few options). Then have the front 2.

It's a decent shout, with logic behind it, but I think we'd be murdered in the middle of midfield.

St Mirren have a McGinn in there and probably an extra body, and I just can't see any 2 of ours being able to compete.

This actually the crux of our problem imo - no strikers who are comfortable up front on their own, no midfielders who can cope with just 2, and no combination of midfielders that allow us to be comfortable playing 3 at the back.

All of the players we have are good, there is just something missing.

[JDHibs]

Bogdan

Gray (If Fit)
Ambrose
Hanlon
Stevenson

Bartley
Milligan

Horgan
Mallan
Boyle

Kamberi

MacLaren has been a waste and doesnt offer alot when we are struggling. Mallan doesnt have the energy to play a box to box role, hes more effective higher up the park. Let Horgan and Boyle Run at the defence. Would be more solid with Bartley and Milligan in there, Bartley for his usual, milligan for a calmness and someone who can play, our midfield this season doesnt suit a 3 at the back, the defence have been a bombscare for weeks. Fits everyone in who can pull us out this dip we are in. The front 4 can all score goals and set up chances, and thats probably our best defence/defensive midfield pairing.

[MWHIBBIES]

Mallan really won't work behind the striker imo. Simply because he can shoot from outside the box doesn't mean he can play there. He can't take players on, he isn't good enough at dribbling or quick enough. He'd be more effective in a 3 with Slivka or Hyndman infront of a defensive player.