Team v Hearts in Semi Final

[Unseen work]

With Hearts getting a very good result against an albeit poor Dundee side, how do you think/want us to line up in the Semi Final?


For me Hearts looked good and had a really good balance to their squad. New additions of Halliday, Kingsley, Ginnely, Roberts and Gordon all look good aswell as having Haring back fit.


I’d imagine against us they’ll play something similar to;


..........................Gordon................


Smith.........Halkett.....Popescu....Kingsley....


...................Haring......Halliday/Irving...


Ginnelly...........Walker/Naismith........Roberts


............................Boyce......




For me it’s a huge call for Jack Ross, does he stick with the 442/352 we’ve been playing this season or will he want more of a hold on the game on a bigger pitch and play 451/433/4231 or however you interpret it.


A 352 for me is a good formation however it leaves only Doig or Wright who could play that position which would more than likely result in Jamie Murphy missing out - for me he needs to start so we need to find a way of fitting him in the team. 352 however does allow us to have Doidge, Nisbet, Boyle, Allan/Mallan/Magennis in the team along with Newell and Gogic if all fit. The back 3 picks itself.


A 442 again has been very good for us this season and manages to accommodate Murphy, Boyle, Doidge and Nisbet. The only downside would be the size of the pitch and the fear hearts may dominate us in there. On the flip side with our attackers it could cause them a lot of problems as I don’t think they’re too clever defensively.


Or we try a 451/433/4231 which is something we’ve not played this season and would mean picking one out of Doidge and Nisbet up top. It would however mean we can have Gogic, Newell and Magennis competing in the midfield plus Boyle, Murphy and Nisbet/Doidge up top.


How do we see us setting up? Personally I think Ross will stay true to himself and have faith in the team and go for:


.....................Marciano..............


McGinn....Porteous....Hanlon......Doig/Stevenson....


Boyle.........Gogic.......Newell/Magennis....Murphy....


................Doidge.....Nisbet.......


Thoughts?

[JimBHibees]

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With Hearts getting a very good result against an albeit poor Dundee side, how do you think/want us to line up in the Semi Final?


For me Hearts looked good and had a really good balance to their squad. New additions of Halliday, Kingsley, Ginnely, Roberts and Gordon all look good aswell as having Haring back fit.


I’d imagine against us they’ll play something similar to;


..........................Gordon................


Smith.........Halkett.....Popescu....Kingsley....


...................Haring......Halliday/Irving...


Ginnelly...........Walker/Naismith........Roberts


............................Boyce......




For me it’s a huge call for Jack Ross, does he stick with the 442/352 we’ve been playing this season or will he want more of a hold on the game on a bigger pitch and play 451/433/4231 or however you interpret it.


A 352 for me is a good formation however it leaves only Doig or Wright who could play that position which would more than likely result in Jamie Murphy missing out - for me he needs to start so we need to find a way of fitting him in the team. 352 however does allow us to have Doidge, Nisbet, Boyle, Allan/Mallan/Magennis in the team along with Newell and Gogic if all fit. The back 3 picks itself.


A 442 again has been very good for us this season and manages to accommodate Murphy, Boyle, Doidge and Nisbet. The only downside would be the size of the pitch and the fear hearts may dominate us in there. On the flip side with our attackers it could cause them a lot of problems as I don’t think they’re too clever defensively.


Or we try a 451/433/4231 which is something we’ve not played this season and would mean picking one out of Doidge and Nisbet up top. It would however mean we can have Gogic, Newell and Magennis competing in the midfield plus Boyle, Murphy and Nisbet/Doidge up top.


How do we see us setting up? Personally I think Ross will stay true to himself and have faith in the team and go for:


.....................Marciano..............


McGinn....Porteous....Hanlon......Doig/Stevenson....


Boyle.........Gogic.......Newell/Magennis....Murphy....


................Doidge.....Nisbet.......


Thoughts?

Very important that both Newell and Murphy are fit imo. Need to play 2 strikers however have the flexibility to change formation and make us more competitive in the middle of the pitch.

[Pedantic_Hibee]

We’ll scud them.

[chrisski33]

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We’ll scud them.

Heard that before and didnt end well! We should but doesnt mean we will

[hibee316]

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We’ll scud them.

I really don't think we will.

[B.H.F.C]

If everyone is available we just go 442 and attack them IMO.

It’s worked well against the poorer sides in our league. Hearts will be a threat but there will be chances going the other way so I hope we just set out to attack them. Dundee scored two and should have scored more last night despite being honking.

Murphy being fit is really, really important.

[hibby rae]

The Hampden pitch js the same length as Easter Road and only one metre wider either side. And considerably bigger than the Tynecastle pitch.

So in theory this should benefit us more.

I'd say 4-4-2 might be a way to go. Worked very well against Rangers.

I'd avoid 4-3-3 as it hasn't worked as well for us this season.

[Keith_M]

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...For me it’s a huge call for Jack Ross, does he stick with the 442/352 we’ve been playing this season or will he want more of a hold on the game on a bigger pitch

...

Thoughts?

The Hampden and Easter Road pitches are the same size.

[where'stheslope]

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The Hampden and Easter Road pitches are the same size.

The thing I noticed last night was they attacked fast on both flanks, and their shooting from around the box has been improved!
Don't think their defense is the best, but on the wide spaces at Hampden they could cause us problems at the back, so midfield will have to backtrack a lot.
The first goal will be essential for us, so we can dictate play and try and add to the lead on the break, as they will try and push us right back.
Not going to be as easy as some people think!!!

[calumhibee1]

It looks like Neilson has gone back to the same shape as last time they were in championships. Get wingers very wide and get strikers who are mobile to attack crosses/make runs. Think he has a way of playing in the championship which works.

As folk have said we SHOULD win but I think we’ve all seen enough over the years to suggest it won’t be that simple. Our quality of player is better than their’s and going forward we have players that can hurt any team in Scotland. If we match their desire then we should be fine.

[hibby rae]

As long as the players are up for it and don't think it'll be a walkover. Treat it like it'll be the hardest game this season and we should win.

As long as everyone puts a shift in, Doidge and Gogic can do the dirty work, which will be key, and Nisbit could very well have a very good day.

[HendoDelivered]

Marciano

McGinn
Porto
Hanlon

Boyle
MaGennis
Goga
Newell
Murphy

Doidge
Nisbet

[The Wireless]

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Marciano

McGinn
Porto
Hanlon

Boyle
MaGennis
Goga
Newell
Murphy

Doidge
Nisbet

Just not sure a 3-5-2 is the way to go at Hampden as Hearts would focus on their wide players and full backs getting the better of Murphy & Boyle by doubling up in defence and creating a 2v1 going forward.

[1875Sean]

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Marciano

McGinn
Porto
Hanlon

Boyle
MaGennis
Goga
Newell
Murphy

Doidge
Nisbet

This is the team I would go for, very attaching but need to play on the front foot

[Billy Whizz]

How many subs are you allowed in the Scottish Cup, 3 or 5

[Scooter]

Pretty sure we play Killie next

[Frazerbob]

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Pretty sure we play Killie next

We not allowed to discuss the semi?

[Pagan Hibernia]

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Pretty sure we play Killie next

and?

[Sir David Gray]

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How many subs are you allowed in the Scottish Cup, 3 or 5

5.

[The 90+2]

Rocky

McGinn
Porto
Hanlon
Stevenson

Murphy
Gogic
Newell
Wright

Doidge or Boyle
Nizzy

[lord bunberry]

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Rocky

McGinn
Porto
Hanlon
Stevenson

Murphy
Gogic
Newell
Wright

Doidge or Boyle
Nizzy

Wright should be nowhere near the starting 11 for this game. Take out Wright for Boyle and that’s the team I’d go for. Wright is better coming off the bench at the moment.

[The 90+2]

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Wright should be nowhere near the starting 11 for this game. Take out Wright for Boyle and that’s the team I’d go for. Wright is better coming off the bench at the moment.

Probably mate. 👍

[lord bunberry]

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Probably mate. 👍

I’ve got a feeling he’ll try and get Magennis in there.

[The 90+2]

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I’ve got a feeling he’ll try and get Magennis in there.

Yeah me too. I’m not sure how it works with the shape we play though. We need to hit them wide. Dropping Newell if Murphy is fit would be a massive call, brave too.

[EI255]

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Wright should be nowhere near the starting 11 for this game. Take out Wright for Boyle and that’s the team I’d go for. Wright is better coming off the bench at the moment.

Boyle is now due a goal or two. Been a while since he hit a few.

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[Frazerbob]

Murphy was a big miss today. He’ll be very important in the semi.

[Steve20]

If we can’t take our chances and score a goal against a rank Ross County team, we better buck our ideas up before a semi final. Because that was absolute garbage today.. 0-0 is not acceptable.

[Keith_M]

Yesterday's game at Tynecastle plus our game today just highlights that the semi-final could easily go either way.

We need to up our game, especially when it comes to converting chances.

[Frazerbob]

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If we can’t take our chances and score a goal against a rank Ross County team, we better buck our ideas up before a semi final. Because that was absolute garbage today.. 0-0 is not acceptable.

🤦🏻

[MWHIBBIES]

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If we can’t take our chances and score a goal against a rank Ross County team, we better buck our ideas up before a semi final. Because that was absolute garbage today.. 0-0 is not acceptable.

and yet, it happened, so you have zero choice but to accept it.