Shaun Maloney - Style of play

[JimBHibees]

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https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/articl...aining-session

Some pictures from the first training session.

Pretty sure there were photos yesterday also. These ones are excellent good to see Dan McKay back playing.

[Mutu]

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Footballs an entertainment business, not just a results one.

Chances are if you entertain, you’ll get results. If you only care about the results and not how you get there then it won’t take long for that to unravel and when it does the manager won’t have any credit in the bank.

TBH I’m a bit bored of the current narrative that Hibs supporters are wildly unrealistic in our expectations and only instant success will do. If people are seeing progress on the park, they see a team with passion they can relate to that are trying to play the right way we will be a lot more understanding and patient.

Look at the reaction to our second half on Sunday compared to the first. People are generally happy with how we competed in the second half and the effort the players put in and the team came off to a standing ovation. First half I’ve only seen people complaining about how it’s not what they want to see from a Hibs team. We drew the first half, lost the second.

It’s performances and effort that engages the support, not cold hard statistics or league tables IMO,

This is spot on, especially that last sentence. I can't think of many memorable moments from our 3rd place finish with Ross but I can think of loads under Lennon. And that's not me clamouring for Lennon to come back to Hibs again but it tells you something about what makes folk want to go to a game and invest time and money into a team.

More to football that just winning.

[Lancs Harp]

I've heard big changes already, Shauns obviously learnt a thing or two from his time in Belgium. Ketchup is banned and chips are now called fries and have to be eaten with mayo. Waffles on the menu for breakfast. De Bruyne and Lukaku will look f*****g great in that iconic green and white sleeved shirt.

[hibsbollah]

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I just can't see how the Maloney's stated style of play will work and that is one of the reasons. The next would be that refs allow so much contact in Scotland that it is easy to lose possession from a foul that isn't given. Lastly, I think he will lose so many games trying to get the system to work that he would be forced to abandon it or face the consequences. I also find the system pretty dull if I'm honest.

I hope Maloney sticks to his promise of attacking football with points but also realises where he is playing and what the players are capable of and how quickly they will adapt to change. I like that he has a philosophy but I hope he is a realist and realises it could be a long journey, perhaps fuelled by the academy, to get to where he wants to be. We also need to realise if he gets half way there he won't be at Hibs and we need to get back to the LD plan of having whatever style of play is chosen and get it woven through every level of the club and identify future managers that can fit in to that style or an adaptation of it. For me a plan isn't a single manager but it can start with one.

It’s a good point you raise and you can add the crap pitches up here to the challenges he’s going to face.

[Hibees1973]

Fine words, but players trump tactics and after watching Hibs for the last couple of months we have nowhere near enough players to implement a passing style of play.

We have hardly any fast skilful players able to take the football in tight areas and build constructively. Maloney will have to be some kind of miracle worker to transform the players we currently have then recruit footballing players on the cheap.

The first transfer window is vital for Maloney to get off to a good start and get us moving up the table.

My feeling is his comments are incredibly naive and lack understanding of what the game is like up here. Only my opinion but we will see if Maloney is a miracle worker.

[Brightside]

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This is spot on, especially that last sentence. I can't think of many memorable moments from our 3rd place finish with Ross but I can think of loads under Lennon. And that's not me clamouring for Lennon to come back to Hibs again but it tells you something about what makes folk want to go to a game and invest time and money into a team.

More to football that just winning.

I loved lots of the football under Jack Ross. The boring narrative is not a team I’m aware of.

[wookie70]

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It’s a good point you raise and you can add the crap pitches up here to the challenges he’s going to face.

Yes, I read back and saw that. Totally agree it is another difficulty with that system. Slow astro pitches will be horrendous for playing that game.

All I want is a style of play that involves trying to score goals and moving the ball quickly while caring enough to try and stop the opposition playing their way to our box without challenge. If we end up playing it around the box waiting for the perfect opportunity then I will be bored rigid. Hopefully, Maloney's wealth of experiences in Scotland and out with with give him a rounded knowledge. I admire him if he has the drive to bring a very specific style to Hibs but he needs to be aware of all the bumps on the road and realise he may need a few detours and pit stops along the way

[B.H.F.C]

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It’s a good point you raise and you can add the crap pitches up here to the challenges he’s going to face.

From what I’ve read about him and his philosophy or whatever, it’s going to be as much about how the players get about the pitch as much as what happens with the ball.

If I think about what we’ve been like we’re just so slow and static. We pass the ball plenty so that’s not an issue but I think (hope) we’re going to see us looking to pass it quicker and further up the park.

[B.H.F.C]

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Fine words, but players trump tactics and after watching Hibs for the last couple of months we have nowhere near enough players to implement a passing style of play.

We have hardly any fast skilful players able to take the football in tight areas and build constructively. Maloney will have to be some kind of miracle worker to transform the players we currently have then recruit footballing players on the cheap.

The first transfer window is vital for Maloney to get off to a good start and get us moving up the table.

My feeling is his comments are incredibly naive and lack understanding of what the game is like up here. Only my opinion but we will see if Maloney is a miracle worker.

He played and won plenty up here. I think he’ll have a pretty decent understanding of what the game is like in this league.

[Since452]

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Footballs an entertainment business, not just a results one.

Chances are if you entertain, you’ll get results. If you only care about the results and not how you get there then it won’t take long for that to unravel and when it does the manager won’t have any credit in the bank.

TBH I’m a bit bored of the current narrative that Hibs supporters are wildly unrealistic in our expectations and only instant success will do. If people are seeing progress on the park, they see a team with passion they can relate to that are trying to play the right way we will be a lot more understanding and patient.

Look at the reaction to our second half on Sunday compared to the first. People are generally happy with how we competed in the second half and the effort the players put in and the team came off to a standing ovation. First half I’ve only seen people complaining about how it’s not what they want to see from a Hibs team. We drew the first half, lost the second.

It’s performances and effort that engages the support, not cold hard statistics or league tables IMO,

Its hard to finish 3rd and get to the latter stages of cups without performances and effort.

[Dmas]

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Yes, I read back and saw that. Totally agree it is another difficulty with that system. Slow astro pitches will be horrendous for playing that game.

All I want is a style of play that involves trying to score goals and moving the ball quickly while caring enough to try and stop the opposition playing their way to our box without challenge. If we end up playing it around the box waiting for the perfect opportunity then I will be bored rigid. Hopefully, Maloney's wealth of experiences in Scotland and out with with give him a rounded knowledge. I admire him if he has the drive to bring a very specific style to Hibs but he needs to be aware of all the bumps on the road and realise he may need a few detours and pit stops along the way

He said yesterday his style was going to be ‘hopefully a style that wins us football matches’ I don’t think he’s nailed on a certain approach that the players must fit in, yeah he’ll have a plan and a idea of what he wants in his mind but I think he knows it might not be possible immediately

[Iggy Pope]

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He played and won plenty up here. I think he’ll have a pretty decent understanding of what the game is like in this league.

And more Scotland caps than I’d have guessed at him having until I read it this week.

[ancient hibee]

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Fine words, but players trump tactics and after watching Hibs for the last couple of months we have nowhere near enough players to implement a passing style of play.

We have hardly any fast skilful players able to take the football in tight areas and build constructively. Maloney will have to be some kind of miracle worker to transform the players we currently have then recruit footballing players on the cheap.

The first transfer window is vital for Maloney to get off to a good start and get us moving up the table.

My feeling is his comments are incredibly naive and lack understanding of what the game is like up here. Only my opinion but we will see if Maloney is a miracle worker.

What comments has he made that are are incredibly naive?

[Stevie Reid]

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Footballs an entertainment business, not just a results one.

Chances are if you entertain, you’ll get results. If you only care about the results and not how you get there then it won’t take long for that to unravel and when it does the manager won’t have any credit in the bank.

TBH I’m a bit bored of the current narrative that Hibs supporters are wildly unrealistic in our expectations and only instant success will do. If people are seeing progress on the park, they see a team with passion they can relate to that are trying to play the right way we will be a lot more understanding and patient.

Look at the reaction to our second half on Sunday compared to the first. People are generally happy with how we competed in the second half and the effort the players put in and the team came off to a standing ovation. First half I’ve only seen people complaining about how it’s not what they want to see from a Hibs team. We drew the first half, lost the second.

It’s performances and effort that engages the support, not cold hard statistics or league tables IMO,

Definitely something in this. I think back to Mowbray’s first two home games after Williamson’s time - someone who was, pertinently, a Hibs manager who was viewed as dull and safe, and whose time was effectively up after losing a cup final that we were strong favourites for.

TM’s first two home league games were a 1-0 defeat to Killie - where we battered them for the majority of the game, only to lose to a deflected free kick late on - and a 4-4 draw against Dundee. In the latter we were blowing them away, and only an incorrect offside call denied us a 5-1 lead, before a late collapse cost us points.

Whilst we only took one point out of six from those two very winnable home games - and we undoubtedly saw the worst of what Mowbray’s sides would have to offer in them - my recollection was the vast majority of fans being overwhelmingly positive about how that team played and what it was trying to do. It had a clear identity and was exciting to watch.

A big factor here is that Maloney doesn’t have a full preseason to work with the squad like Mowbray did - and that the January window is much more difficult to do business in than the summer one. However, there is a winter break approaching (hopefully sooner than planned), and an opportunity to sign players next month.

I don’t think many fans could have envisaged such a dramatic change in style as the one that we saw from Williamson to Mowbray - and it’s obviously far from guaranteed that SM will be able to get us playing how we wants us to.

However, it didn’t require a huge change in personnel for Mowbray to do what he wanted - a couple of really smart bits of transfer business in Boozy, Shiels and Murphy were certainly key. Hopefully we’ll see as discernible a change in style now as we did back then (and I say that as someone who did not believe that Ross was a negative manager by nature).

[Tyler Durden]

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Fine words, but players trump tactics and after watching Hibs for the last couple of months we have nowhere near enough players to implement a passing style of play.

We have hardly any fast skilful players able to take the football in tight areas and build constructively. Maloney will have to be some kind of miracle worker to transform the players we currently have then recruit footballing players on the cheap.

The first transfer window is vital for Maloney to get off to a good start and get us moving up the table.

My feeling is his comments are incredibly naive and lack understanding of what the game is like up here. Only my opinion but we will see if Maloney is a miracle worker.

Which players can’t play a passing style?

Most of them have done so successfully in the past. Others like Porteous are clearly well capable.

Of the current squad I can only think of someone like Gogic who is an immediate issue. Maybe Josh Campbell isn’t the most technically gifted. And Doidge but his role would be different anyway.

We’ve got lots of good players who can pass well under the right coach and system.

[JimBHibees]

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Fine words, but players trump tactics and after watching Hibs for the last couple of months we have nowhere near enough players to implement a passing style of play.

We have hardly any fast skilful players able to take the football in tight areas and build constructively. Maloney will have to be some kind of miracle worker to transform the players we currently have then recruit footballing players on the cheap.

The first transfer window is vital for Maloney to get off to a good start and get us moving up the table.

My feeling is his comments are incredibly naive and lack understanding of what the game is like up here. Only my opinion but we will see if Maloney is a miracle worker.

We have a reasonable squad now however could do with 3 or 4 though we are already bringing in Tait and Mueller who are both athletic and skilful. You do realise Shaun Maloney played a large part of his career in Scotland so definitely is more than aware of what the games is like including playing against hammer throwers like Hearts.

[hibsbollah]

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Which players can’t play a passing style?

Most of them have done so successfully in the past. Others like Porteous are clearly well capable.

Of the current squad I can only think of someone like Gogic who is an immediate issue. Maybe Josh Campbell isn’t the most technically gifted. And Doidge but his role would be different anyway.

We’ve got lots of good players who can pass well under the right coach and system.

Boozy, Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson, Mikey Stewart. That midfield was the best we’ve had in the modern era, should have been challenging the old firm. That’s the quality you want when you’re developing an expansive passing game.

[Tyler Durden]

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Boozy, Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson, Mikey Stewart. That midfield was the best we’ve had in the modern era, should have been challenging the old firm. That’s the quality you want when you’re developing an expansive passing game.

Loved that team. Not hugely relevant to the post I made or replied to.

We’ve got a squad now that could easily play a passing game. Raith Rovers play some excellent passing football at the moment, great to watch. They don’t have players anywhere near our quality.

I’d love it if we could find another Boozy - one of my all time favourites - but Joe Newell is a top player in this league now outside of the OF. With a few good additions we can kick on. Thankfully Hearts don’t have a midfield with the likes of Hartley, Skacel and Brellier either.

[hibsbollah]

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Not hugely relevant to the post I made or replied to.

That’s a weirdly biscuit ersed comment. I was merely expanding on the discussion about quality passing and the importance of having quality personnel. Not every post is an attempted takedown you know

[Tyler Durden]

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That’s a weirdly biscuit ersed comment. I was merely expanding on the discussion about quality passing and the importance of having quality personnel. Not every post is an attempted takedown you know

Haha you’re right….. I should have asked whether you think our squad is good enough now? I initially read it as dismissing the current players but that wasn’t actually in your post at all.

Of course we’d love to have the quality of a Brown or a Boozy.

[hibsbollah]

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Haha you’re right….. I should have asked whether you think our squad is good enough now? I initially read it as dismissing the current players but that wasn’t actually in your post at all.

Of course we’d love to have the quality of a Brown or a Boozy.

All cool.

I’m a fan of Newell. JDH started really well, was our best player for a few games but has undoubtedly gone off the boil, there are reasons for that I’m sure but I’m not convinced hes going to be one for the future. Campbell, good signs but to early to tell. Scott Allan is the key to our creativity but health as we all know is the concern. Gogic has been scapegoated after a great season last year and can be a squad player or an impact sub when we want to play like that. Cadden, fine. Acceptable, some days better than others. Could be a wide player in a 3-4-3?

There’s a big McGinn and McGeough sized hole over the midfield and you don’t replace those players easily but it’s been way too long. I’d like to see two statement signings in the summer, I’ve no problem keeping a few of the players above, especially Newell, but it’s not fit for purpose at the moment IMO. No ones running past players, taking chances or playing a reliably killer final ball.

[wookie70]

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We have a reasonable squad now however could do with 3 or 4 though we are already bringing in Tait and Mueller who are both athletic and skilful. You do realise Shaun Maloney played a large part of his career in Scotland so definitely is more than aware of what the games is like including playing against hammer throwers like Hearts.

He only played three years in the first team. I would have guessed more. He did so in a poor Celtic team but one that was still miles ahead of the other teams in the league bar one. I'm not sure playing with 60k behind you, a referee giving you everything and having the ball 60 or 70 percent of most games all 10 years ago will give him the full story. Saying that he will still have a good idea and will soon get up to speed.

[Pagan Hibernia]

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Boozy, Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson, Mikey Stewart. That midfield was the best we’ve had in the modern era, should have been challenging the old firm. That’s the quality you want when you’re developing an expansive passing game.

better than McGinn, McGeouch and Allan?

[S4uzee]

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Definitely something in this. I think back to Mowbray’s first two home games after Williamson’s time - someone who was, pertinently, a Hibs manager who was viewed as dull and safe, and whose time was effectively up after losing a cup final that we were strong favourites for.

TM’s first two home league games were a 1-0 defeat to Killie - where we battered them for the majority of the game, only to lose to a deflected free kick late on - and a 4-4 draw against Dundee. In the latter we were blowing them away, and only an incorrect offside call denied us a 5-1 lead, before a late collapse cost us points.

Whilst we only took one point out of six from those two very winnable home games - and we undoubtedly saw the worst of what Mowbray’s sides would have to offer in them - my recollection was the vast majority of fans being overwhelmingly positive about how that team played and what it was trying to do. It had a clear identity and was exciting to watch.

A big factor here is that Maloney doesn’t have a full preseason to work with the squad like Mowbray did - and that the January window is much more difficult to do business in than the summer one. However, there is a winter break approaching (hopefully sooner than planned), and an opportunity to sign players next month.

I don’t think many fans could have envisaged such a dramatic change in style as the one that we saw from Williamson to Mowbray - and it’s obviously far from guaranteed that SM will be able to get us playing how we wants us to.

However, it didn’t require a huge change in personnel for Mowbray to do what he wanted - a couple of really smart bits of transfer business in Boozy, Shiels and Murphy were certainly key. Hopefully we’ll see as discernible a change in style now as we did back then (and I say that as someone who did not believe that Ross was a negative manager by nature).

Great post. I remember leaving that Kilmarnock game disappointed at the result but amazed at the difference in performance

[Tommy75]

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Any chance of next weekends lottery tickets?

I'll PM you them.

[cam75]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fjLZ1_3nLcE
Worth a watch if not already up 👍

[Pedantic_Hibee]

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better than McGinn, McGeouch and Allan?

Agreed. Best midfield I’ve seen in my time following Hibs.

[Crunchie]

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Patience is not a big feature of our fans.

Hopefully they give him time to implement. As he says it will take time.


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Time is something our fans don't do, if he doesn't get it right after a few games there'll be fans on his back. I've given up hope of us ever having a manager in charge for more than 2-3 years.

[Crunchie]

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better than McGinn, McGeouch and Allan?

On their day the best midfield trio in my lifetime that's for sure.

[Stonewall]

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I loved lots of the football under Jack Ross. The boring narrative is not a team I’m aware of.

I agree but there were people on here criticising his style of football and ability to win big games before he even started. Then it was just a steady drip of poison to reinforce the arguement.

Fact is without spectators there were precious few good games on the tely last season from any club.

Now Maloney’s being questioned and his team’s not even kicked a ball yet.

it’s absolute madness.