This is probably covering stuff discussed in other threads but it's arguably worth a specific discussion.
When I was in my late teens I played at a decent level, for a team that was arguably the best side in Scotland outwith the league set up, won everything at our level and regularly completed with league sides in the Scottish Cup. One thing that was notable was the standard set by the most experienced players. Guys who had been round the block and often played at a much higher level. Training was intense because these guys hated sloppiness, they hated losing the 4 on 4 games, they hated conceding when it was defenders v attackers. If there was a bounce game midweek to give players minutes then these guys played like it was a cup final. They despised losing and expected others to be the same. In the same way losing can become a habit, winning became a habit. If they felt you were slacking then they let you know about it. I'd be lying if I said I always liked them but I respected them. That respect was borne out of the fact it wasn't all mouth either, when games weren't going our way or it was a day to grind it out you would see these guys take the game by the scruff of the neck and get the job done. I was young so didn't play many games but it was a brilliant culture to be part of and the camaraderie and team spirit was second to none.
In the professional game you read about a guy like Roy Keane doing the same job at Man Utd. In Scotland Scott Brown was that driving force at Celtic for years. Neither were the best player in the team but they were the ones who took the lead in setting the standard on the park.
When you watch Hibs this season does anyone see that from anyone in our squad? There was nothing yesterday that suggested anyone was demanding better in the 2nd half. Someone should have been ready to swing punches at Youan and Levitt at HT yesterday. Heads were down and it was going through the motions. Not a lack of caring or effort but just a timid capitulation with no one brave enough to step up with their head above the parapet. Obviously there are a lot of new faces and maybe a couple of them are that type. I'm hopeful it could be Amos, lots of games at a high level and a good age.
Yesterday was just as listless as it gets. There was almost nothing to cling to and you couldn't even say at least X, Y or Z was letting them know about it.
Results 1 to 30 of 37
Thread: Driving Standards
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04-02-2024 10:29 AM #1
Driving Standards
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04-02-2024 10:34 AM #2
Theres nobody in the squad who can do that and take a game by the scruff of the neck. I noticed before we kicked off after the penalty that not one of them was trying to gee the team up, the majority had their shoulders slouched, some hands on hips. I decided I wanted to go home at that point. When the 3rd went in I left. If the players dont give a flying one, why should I!?
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04-02-2024 10:39 AM #3
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This has come up before. We have lacked leaders for a while and it doesn’t mean someone who screams and shouts but someone who leads by example.
McGinn was one of those players, David Gray, Ian Murray. There will be a few more but those jump out. I think it’s a symptom of the modern day now tho too. Players are so self absorbed it appears and very few put their bodies in where it hurts. Apologies after defeats are just embarrassing for everyone and actually just patronising to fans.
People give folk like Roy Keane a hard time for being out of touch or even a dinosaur but there is something to be said for having people who are never happy with what they have achieved and always striving for better. I don’t think we have anyone with that mindset.
More generally the standard of those on the roads has deteriorated over the past decade or so. Many people now very inconsiderate to other road users.
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04-02-2024 10:55 AM #4
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There was a point in the second half were St Mirren were attacking and Gogic was qvery high up the pitch (it may even have been a corner). St Mirren lost possession and Gogic sprinted back as fast as he could into his CB position.
Bare in mind his team was 3 up and coasting at that point. We have no one who shows that can of desire
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04-02-2024 11:04 AM #5This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
I'm not convinced you can coach something like that. You either have it or you don't. Obviously their unbeaten run was rocking by that point, I think it came to an end at Tynecastle a week or 2 later so people might argue that's a bad example. I'd argue it's desire like that that gets you to 40 something games unbeaten in the first place.
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04-02-2024 11:05 AM #6
Agree that's one of the things that is lacking. Not sure you see that kind of leadership from any of our experienced players.
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04-02-2024 11:08 AM #7This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
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04-02-2024 11:11 AM #8This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
The one player who was annoyed by it all and was trying to get up and get on with the game was the goalscorer himself. Josh Campbell, who for all his faults is a type who would run through brick walls for us.
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04-02-2024 11:13 AM #9
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One glimmer of hope from yesterday was Moriah-Welsh. He seemed to be the only Hibs player shouting at his teammates to up their standards.
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04-02-2024 11:14 AM #10
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04-02-2024 11:15 AM #11
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04-02-2024 11:17 AM #12This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
A few of us have argued this for a long time. We have no one like Daz, Marvin or SDG in the squad now. Yeah we lost games with them in the side but you knew when the going got tough they wouldn’t back down. Joe Newell by all accounts is a lovely guy, good pro but there is absolutely no way he’s captain material imo.
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04-02-2024 11:21 AM #13This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
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04-02-2024 11:28 AM #14
In terms of character, bravery, yes we need more of that.
What PB is describing in his op sounds like it crossed into fear based on a bullying culture, which a twenty first century player by all accounts doesn’t really respond to. A lot of that fear came from pre-bosman times when a player wasnt in control of his contractual position, and so his earning potential. Now they will just demand a transfer if they feel pushed around.
Rampant and visible positivity based on hard work and dedication to being better every day is what all the sports science stuff is all about nowadays. But i dont think much of THAT is at ER either.
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04-02-2024 11:34 AM #15This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
If anyone was taking things too far or taking liberties they would have been told as much. There was no ranting, swearing, intimidation or the like because there didn't need to be. People knew what was expected when they walked in the door and if they didn't they soon learned, largely through learning by example.
If anything it was quite the opposite. An environment where people wanted everyone to be the best they could be. A bullying culture rarely has positive results. We were the best at what we did for years and that continues at the same club today.PM Awards General Poster of The Year 2015, 2016, 2017. Probably robbed in other years
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04-02-2024 11:37 AM #16This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
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04-02-2024 11:50 AM #17This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
**** does it matter' was often my thought initially. But then when you see that same guy standing up for his team mates on the park, having a quiet word when guys are toiling and spending a bit of time with you to make you better you realise that's why he is good at what he does. It's not some has been just taking a loan of young lads. For me in work, football or more generally respecting someone has always been more important than liking them, even if they don't have to be mutually exclusive, and I tend not to respect bullies.
When it comes to Youan and Levitt yesterday obviously physical violence is hyperbole but I would argue they were fair game for a team mate or 2 to be forcefully asking them if they really thought that was acceptable. I suppose the issue is they just happened to be the worst of a bad bunch, no one was really in a position to take on that role because no one could be satisfied with their own performance. That's undeniably were we miss a type like McGinn who led by example in games, relished the big games and was happy to ask questions of his team mates when they needed asking as well. It takes all sorts of course and an arm round the shoulder can sometimes be the case but right now at Hibs I think we are at the tough love and home truths stage.
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04-02-2024 11:51 AM #18This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
Soldiered on till last ten minutes and left then
But am still traumatised and won’t be travelling back through from Paisley again any time soon
At least my st Mirren mates were happy
But there media are going overboard saying they were brilliant
No Brilliance was needed , it was dug***** defending and a complete lack of willingness to fight for first second and even third balls ffs
Following on from Forfar game that was the last straw for me
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04-02-2024 12:04 PM #19This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
You could imagine that Eddie Turnbull or even Yogi would have a different way of letting you know if they weren’t happy with you.
Either way - you could argue that this is about making the point that standards must me met, that can be done in a softer, more modern way or it can be done in a harsher, more old-fashioned way. What can’t happen is for sloppiness to pass with a shrug and a “**** it” which appears to be the entirely unacceptable Hibernian way right now.
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04-02-2024 12:05 PM #20
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This is exactly why signing a couple of 20 year old centre halves was extremely risky and unlikely to change our fortunes.
We didn’t need to sign 7 players in this window, things are just going to get messy and there will be loads of chopping and changing. We needed to sign 2-3 proper first pick players who would come in and do a job, even if it was short term. Didn’t need to be brilliant players. Particularly on the defensive side we needed the type that would come in and organise us and drag others along a bit. We’re much more interested in having a different type of player who is deemed to be technically good or whatever. We just lack what you need in this league.
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04-02-2024 12:05 PM #21
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I think Prettyboy has similar thoughts to me. What the last three managers seemed to lack is that hatred of losing and at times I wasn't even sure they were that bothered what the result was. I'm not a Lennon fan but he really didn't like getting beat and as long as that doesn't end up with a manager pointing public fingers at individuals I can see that as a good thing. Hating getting beat is very different to not enjoying it. Our squad definitely don't enjoy it but the heads go down rather than the veins bulging and they look for ways to become less involved rather than leading from the front and getting others to follow. A managers most important job is making sure individuals perform to their ability and they combine those individuals into a team that is greater than the sum of its parts. Monty is failing miserably in both of those important areas and I think PBs OP is a big part of it. I don't think it hurts when we lose and I don't think we are working hard enough on the pitch and presumable in training. I don't think youngsters are afraid of hard work or will not enjoy old school leadership I simply think there is very little of it in our squad.
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04-02-2024 01:00 PM #22This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
Joe looked gutted in his post match and you could see it affected him but who’s bashing heads together to say that’s simply not on out there.
We’ve a cluster **** off a window, on paper looks great but all we’ve got is guys who haven’t been playing football. They probs won’t give a flying **** if things get tough. It’s a 12 team league and there’s not much margin for error!
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04-02-2024 01:25 PM #23
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04-02-2024 01:36 PM #24
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The best/luckiest thing to happen to Hibs in recent years was when Stubbs came to us, there was only 7 or 8 first team players left in the squad. Yes a lot of crap left but with them left the losing attitude.
A new squad in Championship then got that winning feeling.
Now I by no means want to go down but the vast majority of this squad have a high losing record over the last 4 seasons and personally would be getting shot of as many as possible. I include club legends in that, coaches, kit men and just being fresh
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04-02-2024 01:51 PM #25This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
Those said senior players followed everyone else into trudging back into position shoulders slumped heads down. The team then visibly went into its shell for the next 20 minutes.That’s an example of the leadership void in this squad IMO.
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04-02-2024 01:55 PM #26This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
As captain and a senior pro he should be leading by example and ensuring the players know what’s bloody expected of them instead of going through the motions.
Newell, Levitt, Jair and Youan need dropped but my fear is the manager persists with them.
I remember Hanlon getting all sorts of criticism for being a poor/weak leader and if that’s the case Newell deserves the same.
If truth be told I’m glad he’s gutted and he should be embarrassed by recent performances. He doesn’t do enough.
Whilst I’m not advocating bollocking folk on the pitch he just needs to step up as captain and get them told!
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04-02-2024 02:23 PM #27
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As for the players, it's just a basic lack of desire to do the dirty work, to earn the right to play football, which is about as basic a requirement as you'll find in football anywhere in the world. If we go up to ICT and play anything like yesterday then we'll be out the cup. Big Dunc will have them well up for this, they'll smell blood.Last edited by VoltaireHibs; 04-02-2024 at 02:26 PM.
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04-02-2024 02:54 PM #28
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This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show QuoteLast edited by B.H.F.C; 04-02-2024 at 03:06 PM.
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04-02-2024 03:02 PM #29This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
We shouldn’t be there it’s simple as that Joe. Haven’t even done the basics for weeks and weeks yet you think we will be there again. What are you going to do so it doesn’t.
Totally and utterly unacceptable for the captain to say that for me and shows the negative mentality. Go out, work hard or harder than you opponents and show you actually care.
Words are cheap.
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04-02-2024 03:02 PM #30
When success on the park is secondary to a player trading strategy its difficult to achieve consistent high standards.
Nothing will change and we'll continue along as we are..hovering around top and bottom 6. I don't see where the demands for higher standards than that comes, from anywhere in the hierarchy of the club.
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