Is it just me?

[HibeeHibernian4]

Don't think is something limited to Heckingbottom or Hibs (or indeed Scottish football).

A big part of the reason that I've stopped watching almost all other football nowadays is the boring, low-risk and pedestrian style of play that's crept in. The couple of EPL games I had the misfortune of watching this season saw Liverpool and Man City camped on the 18 yard line of a club like Burnley/Southampton, who just had their backs to the walls for 90 minutes and (ultimately) couldn't keep them out. A goal or two would win it.

The truth is, when a team sets up not to lose and stick nine or ten men behind the ball, it's quite difficult to break them down. It's why I've felt some of our best performances in recent years have been us hitting teams on the counter attack, especially utilising the pace of Boyle/Barker/Horgan.

Anyway, I think the OP is well within their rights to bring this point up. It was a very slow and dull affair in the first half against Alloa, which changed on the (well taken) Doidge goal. I don't see why other posters are getting quite so defensive/angry about it. It's a valid criticism and one that I hope Heckingbottom can seek to address ASAP.

[Greenbeard]

Wee teams on the defensive often make for frustrating viewing. I'll wait and see how we fare with our tactics and playing style against the big teams - like Hamilton, St Mirren, Ross County.
Oh and er Arbroath. Banana skin territory this evening.
Now where's my half empty glass gone?

[MWHIBBIES]

It went with McGeouch, he was the one who kept it moving.

[Pedantic_Hibee]

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IMO the paragraph about defending half is accurate and we are a bit too slow to feed the midfield, a reason I doubt we’ll see mcgregor much when porteous is fit.

The second paragraph again in my opinion is a nonsense. If there’s 6 defenders and your 25 yards from goal with them all between you then what chance do you have of running through them? So play it wide to stretch them we also now have an Ariel threat that with good delivery will score goals. Boyle and Horgan are also a lot of the time very direct when on the ball especially Boyle and the likes of Scott Allan will look to play a killer pass when possible.

We can’t have an Ariel threat if you think we will be benching Daz.

[Keith_M]

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You know, you don’t have to pay your money to go watch it?

If the players continue to play this way, then people will actually stop paying their money to watch it. The consequences of that would be vastly reduced attendances and no money to compete for a European place.


And to answer the OP; No, it isn't just you. All we can do just now is to keep our fingers crossed that this is not how Heckingbottom wants his team to play and will sort it out by the time the league season starts in earnest.

He had a very good start to his tenure at Hibs (in terms of results) including beating Hearts at Tynecastle for the first time in years. We just weren't good enough to beat the top four sides.

[blackpoolhibs]

We desperately need better defenders who are more comfortable on the ball, now i know thats not going to happen.

So we need porteous back soon, and need to move the ball quicker along the back so we are working the opposition more, as we have become easy to defend against and not just under PH.

We have some very good players further up the park, Boyle, Mallan and Allan can both create and score more than most, but we do have to get the bloody ball to them quicker and in places where they can do their stuff, but we dont do this quickly enough for me.

[Hibernian32]

There has been a few times where we've just cried our for Efe to make a run and then play a simple forward pass. I think it's happening more often because we dont have a ball playing CB atm.

I for one feel once the ball is played out wide the only option should be get forward as quick as possible, beat your man or play a give and go. It all comes down to who receives the ball out wide to often they just play it straight back to the CB or switch it over the other flank.

[Hibbyradge]

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We can’t have an Ariel threat if you think we will be benching Daz.

Omo God. Not the puns again!

[Keith_M]

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We can’t have an Ariel threat if you think we will be benching Daz.

Time for an Ajax style of football.

[Wakeyhibee]

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Time for an Ajax style of football.

Or a Marco Vim Basten style of player

[Barman Stanton]

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There has been a few times where we've just cried our for Efe to make a run and then play a simple forward pass. I think it's happening more often because we dont have a ball playing CB atm.

I for one feel once the ball is played out wide the only option should be get forward as quick as possible, beat your man or play a give and go. It all comes down to who receives the ball out wide to often they just play it straight back to the CB or switch it over the other flank.

And yet there are experts on here who wouldnt want Efe back!

[One Day Soon]

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If the players continue to play this way, then people will actually stop paying their money to watch it. The consequences of that would be vastly reduced attendances and no money to compete for a European place.


And to answer the OP; No, it isn't just you. All we can do just now is to keep our fingers crossed that this is not how Heckingbottom wants his team to play and will sort it out by the time the league season starts in earnest.

He had a very good start to his tenure at Hibs (in terms of results) including beating Hearts at Tynecastle for the first time in years. We just weren't good enough to beat the top four sides.

The jury is definitely still out on PH because his record in the relatively short time he had last season was mixed, so this season is a far fairer test. With the level of player turnover and his public comments on the business done he hasn't left himself much hiding space should results be poor. I think a number of posters were anxious to laud him last season simply because he wasn't Lennon and that was patently daft - more reflective of their own views on Lennon than anything else - but now is where we really find out what style of play he is going to deliver, whether he can do it consistently against the clubs we should be competing with and whether he has an eye for and can motivate players.

I'm expecting top six this season and not much more. Any manager needs a number of windows to get the squad where they want it to be and if there's progress visible on the field in terms of playing style I'll live with that.

[Hibbyradge]

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Or a Marco Vim Basten style of player

Did you Surf the internet for that one?

[Hibbyradge]

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The jury is definitely still out on PH because his record in the relatively short time he had last season was mixed, so this season is a far fairer test. With the level of player turnover and his public comments on the business done he hasn't left himself much hiding space should results be poor. I think a number of posters were anxious to laud him last season simply because he wasn't Lennon and that was patently daft - more reflective of their own views on Lennon than anything else - but now is where we really find out what style of play he is going to deliver, whether he can do it consistently against the clubs we should be competing with and whether he has an eye for and can motivate players.

I'm expecting top six this season and not much more. Any manager needs a number of windows to get the squad where they want it to be and if there's progress visible on the field in terms of playing style I'll live with that.

I'm hopeful of a decent season rather than confident.

That's partly based on his mixed record to date, but also because of comments made by a friend of mine in York.

He's a Leeds United supporter and when I told him that we had appointed the Heck, he said "Good luck with that!"

When pressed he said that his Leeds team didn't seem to have any shape or balance, and that the style of football was exceedingly dull.

I'll make my own mind up as the season progresses, but I have concerns.

A convincing win and performance tonight would go some way to dispelling my, and others', anxieties.

[SideBurns]

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We desperately need better defenders who are more comfortable on the ball, now i know thats not going to happen.

So we need porteous back soon, and need to move the ball quicker along the back so we are working the opposition more, as we have become easy to defend against and not just under PH.

We have some very good players further up the park, Boyle, Mallan and Allan can both create and score more than most, but we do have to get the bloody ball to them quicker and in places where they can do their stuff, but we dont do this quickly enough for me.

While I agree with you that we could do with Porteous back, we've played a lot of great fitba in the last few seasons with Gray, Stevenson, Hanlon & McGregor in defence. Daz is probably the least comfortable with the ball at his feet out of those four, but we managed to build from the back in seasons gone by before Porteous arrived on the scene (the same goes for Ambrose).

I just think we had better midfielders previously (obviously Allan is now back, which will help).

[ArmadaleHibs]

You can please some of the fans all the time, you can please all of the fans some of the time, but you can’t please all of the fans all of the time

GGTTH

[DTS]

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We can’t have an Ariel threat if you think we will be benching Daz.

You don’t think our 6ft plus striker hasn’t been brought in to be a threat from crosses from wide players playing in a 4-3-3 ?

[Stuart93]

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You don’t think our 6ft plus striker hasn’t been brought in to be a threat from crosses from wide players playing in a 4-3-3 ?

Whoosh

[DTS]

From what the managers said and the pre season/ league cup games. I think we will definitely see 4-3-3 with wingers high and wide it’s what we’ve started with every game bar Alloa at home where we tried 4-4-2 first half failed and changed back to 4-3-3.

I think the idea will be to get the ball into the midfield quickly(albeit not been good enough at this to date) to Allan/mallan get it wide hopefully get Boyle and Horgan directly against a full back and either take them or get a ball in the box for doidge to attack. I also noticed at the weekend the winger without the ball and CM’s especially Allan and Murray were always in or around the box when it was wider

[MWHIBBIES]

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While I agree with you that we could do with Porteous back, we've played a lot of great fitba in the last few seasons with Gray, Stevenson, Hanlon & McGregor in defence. Daz is probably the least comfortable with the ball at his feet out of those four, but we managed to build from the back in seasons gone by before Porteous arrived on the scene (the same goes for Ambrose).

I just think we had better midfielders previously (obviously Allan is now back, which will help).

This is it. Its not the defenders faults, is midfielders unable to take it and move it forward properly.

[Iggy Pope]

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You don’t think our 6ft plus striker hasn’t been brought in to be a threat from crosses from wide players playing in a 4-3-3 ?

Is this another pun? I don’t get it.

[Tug Wilson]

I think that the OP has a fair point about the team just knocking the ball around in front of the opposition defence with no real penetration or cutting edge.

However, we had this issue long before Heckingbottom. Stubbs' Championship spend many a game knocking the ball from side to side yet achieving very little.

Many of the opposition were happy to sit in and soak this up. And Stirling Albion and Alloa have been the same.

Even Premier League sides will play this way against us especially when we are the home team.

The challenge for Hibs management and players will be to break them down.

[cmcd]

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Does that only go one way or am I allowed to comment ‘ffs’ as it’s a forum for discussion?

****ing sick of the doom and gloom from moaning faced *******s, desperate for the slightest reason to have a pop at the manager. It’s pathetic. Just my opinion mind, so I’m sure you’ll be able to get over it.

Couldnt agree more

[mjhibby]

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If the players continue to play this way, then people will actually stop paying their money to watch it. The consequences of that would be vastly reduced attendances and no money to compete for a European place.


And to answer the OP; No, it isn't just you. All we can do just now is to keep our fingers crossed that this is not how Heckingbottom wants his team to play and will sort it out by the time the league season starts in earnest.

He had a very good start to his tenure at Hibs (in terms of results) including beating Hearts at Tynecastle for the first time in years. We just weren't good enough to beat the top four sides.

My take on things too. It had been getting gradually worse and the coaches constantly talk of stopping the opposition. I suppose you can only work with the players you have but Ian McCall and jack Ross howed you can win with football that's good to watch. As for not beating top four sides. Hecky inherited a team on a very poor run and did a very good job. Not having boyle available was a big blow and once he and Horgan are up to speed beside Allan I think you'll see us passing quicker. We are basically still in preseason fitness wise so I'm not as concerned as others. We are one striker away from competing for Europe. Imho of course.

[Brightside]

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From what the managers said and the pre season/ league cup games. I think we will definitely see 4-3-3 with wingers high and wide it’s what we’ve started with every game bar Alloa at home where we tried 4-4-2 first half failed and changed back to 4-3-3.

I think the idea will be to get the ball into the midfield quickly(albeit not been good enough at this to date) to Allan/mallan get it wide hopefully get Boyle and Horgan directly against a full back and either take them or get a ball in the box for doidge to attack. I also noticed at the weekend the winger without the ball and CM’s especially Allan and Murray were always in or around the box when it was wider

If our wide players would cross the ball with more purpose, or get to the byline and cut back we would be winning these games as a canter. There is no issue with systems....just rusty players.

[Stonewall]

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Does that only go one way or am I allowed to comment ‘ffs’ as it’s a forum for discussion?

****ing sick of the doom and gloom from moaning faced *******s, desperate for the slightest reason to have a pop at the manager. It’s pathetic. Just my opinion mind, so I’m sure you’ll be able to get over it.

Thank you for this. My thoughts exactly.

[Eyrie]

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Sure we all want to watch exciting play but here is a question - are we happy watching slightly less exciting but more methodical play if it means we win more matches? Let’s face it, watching Aberdeen come to ER has been pretty dull but they continue to outperform us. Are we willing to exchange some style for more points and finishing higher in the league?

My answer to that depends on whether I'm at the game or not.

Away matches and home games that I miss, I want the three points.

Games I'm at, I want to enjoy our football.

[RIP]

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****ing sick of the doom and gloom from moaning faced *******s, desperate for the slightest reason to have a pop at the manager. It’s pathetic.

Frazer. Serious question in peace.

Have you actually read the question on tactics and the many erudite responses from Hibs.Net regulars? How many of them would you say are ‘doom and gloom moaning faced ***** desperate to take a pop at the Manager’?

For me, the posts appear both thoughtful and balanced with a few cheerful and cheeky interjections to lighten the mood. 😀👍

[loanheadhibby]

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A thread that will grow arms and legs imo.

But, no positives within said thread.

Why, oh why, does this keep occurring?

Eh? Because it's a forum for giving opinions?

[SquashedFrogg]

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Eh? Because it's a forum for giving opinions?

Yeh..... but some opinions are unfounded and often quite embarrassing.

Donald Trump has opinions.