Mallan gives the interview I've been wanting to hear from a Hibs player since October

[HibeeHibernian4]

At the moment it's just words, but I'm hoping it's backed up with a performance to match tonight.

"We know we should be giving the fans more; they deserve more," Mallan said.
"We know the past few games haven't been up to the high standards we expect at Hibs.
"Tomorrow is the best opportunity to rectify what we have done recently. Everyone is itching to go out and show what we can do."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46441386

[Salisbury Hibby]

I'll believe it when he puts in a challenge for a ball. Too often he's just been ran past. Sorry, but it's just words - but if they are backed up by actions I'll be very happy.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

[SirDavidsNapper]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

I'll believe it when he puts in a challenge for a ball. Too often he's just been ran past. Sorry, but it's just words - but if they are backed up by actions I'll be very happy.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

I agree. Heard the same words from countless Hibs players over the years when we've been on bad runs. It's what you'd expect but i don't care. I'd rather a 4-0 win to put my mind at rest.

[judas]

Not interested in cheap paper talk. Waste of column space or air time.

Get it sorted out there on the park and save your slavering.

[Viva_Palmeiras]

Damned if they do, damned if they don’t.

[Elephant Stone]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Not interested in cheap paper talk. Waste of column space or air time.

Get it sorted out there on the park and save your slavering.

And yet here you are, on the paper talk thread at the crack of dawn.

[BILLYHIBS]

Time for talking is over need a win tonight simple as

[MWHIBBIES]

I don't think the contracts about media commitments etc only apply if we're winning and the precious ones on here allow interviews.

Good words by him, taking responsibility.

[Salisbury Hibby]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

I don't think the contracts about media commitments etc only apply if we're winning and the precious ones on here allow interviews.

Good words by him, taking responsibility.

What's the deal with this "precious ones" patter?

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

[MWHIBBIES]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

What's the deal with this "precious ones" patter?

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

It's ridiculous to moan about a player giving a pre match press conference.

[Elephant Stone]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

I don't think the contracts about media commitments etc only apply if we're winning and the precious ones on here allow interviews.

Good words by him, taking responsibility.

Lennon doesn't do a press conference = "coward"
Mallan does press conference = "aye right do the talking on the pitch"

Love this forum just now

[Salisbury Hibby]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

It's ridiculous to moan about a player giving a pre match press conference.

I don't think I moaned. Whether they're winning or losing press talk is just talk. What is important is performances and results on the park. Nothing precious about that.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

[The Spaceman]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Lennon doesn't do a press conference = "coward"
Mallan does press conference = "aye right do the talking on the pitch"

Love this forum just now

😂😂😂😂

[RossScott1991]

Normally take pre match interviews with a pinch of salt, usually recycled things they say. However Mallan evening news interview about the players have got together themselves to have a meeting about what they can do to help manager. I found that encouraging , shows that they care and are fully aware how bad they and the management team are performing at the moment.

[Northernhibee]

He reminds me of Liam Craig. Talented number 10 style player who started by scoring lots of goals but then for some apparent reason gets played deeper and they lose their effectiveness and people end up on their back.

Expecting Mallan to be a big tackling midfielder is like being angry because your cat won’t bark and fetch your slippers.

[One Day Soon]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Lennon doesn't do a press conference = "coward"
Mallan does press conference = "aye right do the talking on the pitch"

Love this forum just now

[Brightside]

u21 Scotland player. Scores goals for fun outside the box (something we have complained about for years). Great corner kick delivery.

But hes not good enough for Hibs.

[The Modfather]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

He reminds me of Liam Craig. Talented number 10 style player who started by scoring lots of goals but then for some apparent reason gets played deeper and they lose their effectiveness and people end up on their back.

Expecting Mallan to be a big tackling midfielder is like being angry because your cat won’t bark and fetch your slippers.

Who has said they want Mallan to be “a big tackling midfield”? Being small and technical doesn’t make you immune to tackling and tracking runners as well as doing the technical side of the game.

[Not In The Know]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

u21 Scotland player. Scores goals for fun outside the box (something we have complained about for years). Great corner kick delivery.

But hes not good enough for Hibs.

Well said.

There are some serious heid the ba's on here at the moment. Or the undercover jambos that have been biding there time patiently since 21 May 2016 have now finally got some ammo.

[calumhibee1]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

u21 Scotland player. Scores goals for fun outside the box (something we have complained about for years). Great corner kick delivery.

But hes not good enough for Hibs.

Of course nobody is debating whether he's good enough based on they attributes. It's all the parts of his game that he lacks that are making people question whether his goals from outside the box and corner delivery are worth having him in the team for at the expense of a player who can do the things Mallan isn't as good at.

I'd have him in my team btw but I can see why people get frustrated at his all round game.

[Smartie]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Of course nobody is debating whether he's good enough based on they attributes. It's all the parts of his game that he lacks that are making people question whether his goals from outside the box and corner delivery are worth having him in the team for at the expense of a player who can do the things Mallan isn't as good at.

I'd have him in my team btw but I can see why people get frustrated at his all round game.

We've got too many specialists, and need some more all-rounders to complement the specialists.

All of our midfielders have brilliant attributes but pretty serious flaws.

Mallan is no different.

[we are hibs]

No one was expecting him to go about smashing people like Bartley or mcginn but he looks like a lost wee laddie in the middle of the park at times.

[Brightside]

The main problem is that too many people think every midfielder should be like SJM. There arent many of him around. Dylan was never a great tackler and also wasnt great at tracking players that got passed him. Milligan is our holding player but after 2 poor games he is now passed it, and everyone wants Bartley back in....this is Bartley who runs like he is towing a caravan. Our problem for the last few games hasn't been the players as such, its the way they have been deployed. There is no consistency in formation and personnel. Until we get that we wont improve.

Mallan is an excellent footballer.

[Onion]

Blah blah, and repeat. Heard this kind of stuff hundreds of times before - most often from the players who are the biggest culprits.

A little less talk, a little more action please.

[BILLYHIBS]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Of course nobody is debating whether he's good enough based on they attributes. It's all the parts of his game that he lacks that are making people question whether his goals from outside the box and corner delivery are worth having him in the team for at the expense of a player who can do the things Mallan isn't as good at.

I'd have him in my team btw but I can see why people get frustrated at his all round game.

I hope to god Stevie Mallan has an outstanding game for HIBS tonight not only will he need his undoubted passing and dead ball skills he will need to add chasing back,closing down,harrying,tacklling,cajoling,encouraging,commi tment ,tenacity,heading,challenging,getting in the face,always choosing the correct option and running nonstop for ninety minutes to wide shoulders and a thick skin.
Most importantly focus,heart and the right attitude
He is an outstanding talent and I am convinced that with the right coaching he can develop into an outstanding player but he needs to add all these things and more to his game tonight as it is a must win game for us tonight no excuses.

[My_Wife_Camille]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

u21 Scotland player. Scores goals for fun outside the box (something we have complained about for years). Great corner kick delivery.

But hes not good enough for Hibs.

Singling our his best attribute attribute to suggest that he’s good enough is just as flimsy an argument as singling out his worst attribute and concluding that he’s not good enough though.

I’ve not been overly taken by him so far tbh and the fact that he splits opinion to the extent he does despite the number of goals he’s scored is a big indicator for me of how good (or not so good) his overall performances have been. However his ability to take a set piece makes him undroppable at the moment and while it’s obviously far too early to write him off, there’s nothing wrong with being critical of his performances so far.

FWIW I’d happily sacrifice every one of his goals for Dylan McGeouch if I could. He’s probably just about as likely to score on a Saturday as I am and it will probably take him an entire career to score as many goals as Mallan has in half a season but he’s living proof that you don’t need to score goals to be an outstanding midfield player.

By the way, Islam Feruz was also a Scotland Under 21 player so if we’re using that as a barometer of success then we’re already on a slippery slope

[calumhibee1]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

By the way, Islam Feruz was also a Scotland Under 21 player so if we’re using that as a barometer of success then we’re already on a slippery slope

The international thing is as pointless an arguement as you’ll ever find. We care about how they do for Hibs and will base our opinions of players on that, not how they do for Scotland u21s, Lithuania, Australia or whoever else.

It’s not really any different to using impressive/unimpressive spells at different clubs as an arguement as to their worth to Hibs. Swanson was great at St Johnstone, doesn’t matter in regard to his time at Hibs where he wasn’t good enough. James Collins was decent before and after Hibs, again, has no relevance to his time at Hibs where he wasn’t good enough. Efe Ambrose was held up as a joke figure at Celtic to an extent, irrelevant to his time at Hibs because he’s been excellent for us.

That’s not specific to your point btw Underscore, it seems to get trotted out all the time to suggest we had a good transfer window.

[LeithMike]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Mallan is an excellent footballer.

There is no doubt that Mallan has excellent technical ability and has the potential to be a very good footballer. I actually don't think the big issue is with his tracking back, etc. To me the biggest issue is when Hibs have the ball. I'd like to see Mallan demanding the ball, running into space to receive the ball and making the play. I just don't see that at the moment and I think he has gone into his shell. Against Dundee he rarely seemed to get out of the centre circle. It just shows you that energy and drive like John McGinn possesses are extremely rare qualities.

Ultimately, I think Lennon sees Mallan as the successor to McGeogh and I think that is where he will end up playing as he doesn't have the drive or pace to play further up. I don't think he's ready for that yet though (no reason why he can't learn as he has the right attributes) and I'd be inclined to go with a middle three of Milligan (holding) Bartley and Horgan for now as we need to be competitive. Say what you like about Bartley - he may be slow but he can certainly play with energy and drive Hibs up the park (the League Cup Final against Ross County springs to mind.)

[flash]

People do realise the club have a contractual obligation to put peoplr forward to talk to the press? I take it they also realise Mallan didn't make those comments off the cuff rather as a response to something he was asked?
This forum can be beyond moronic at times.

[B.H.F.C]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Singling our his best attribute attribute to suggest that he’s good enough is just as flimsy an argument as singling out his worst attribute and concluding that he’s not good enough though.

I’ve not been overly taken by him so far tbh and the fact that he splits opinion to the extent he does despite the number of goals he’s scored is a big indicator for me of how good (or not so good) his overall performances have been. However his ability to take a set piece makes him undroppable at the moment and while it’s obviously far too early to write him off, there’s nothing wrong with being critical of his performances so far.

FWIW I’d happily sacrifice every one of his goals for Dylan McGeouch if I could. He’s probably just about as likely to score on a Saturday as I am and it will probably take him an entire career to score as many goals as Mallan has in half a season but he’s living proof that you don’t need to score goals to be an outstanding midfield player.

By the way, Islam Feruz was also a Scotland Under 21 player so if we’re using that as a barometer of success then we’re already on a slippery slope

I’d swap Mallan for McGeough if McGeough still had Allan and McGinn to pass the ball to.

Mallan needs a McGeough to pass him the ball IMO.