An 1875 HSC summary:-

We can confirm four Hibernian Supporters directors met with club CEO Ben Kensell on Friday afternoon to discuss a range of topics raised by our members in recent weeks.

During the meeting we discussed a number of club matters, including board’s recent statement, the apparent disconnect between supporters and the club and the ongoing relationship with Bill Foley and Black Knight Football.

We also passed on many of the concerns shared with us in recent weeks by our members, and we thank everyone once again for taking the time to get in touch with us.

As significant shareholders, we are committed to doing all we can to support the fortunes of the club on and off the pitch. Many of our members believe there is currently a gap between the support base and the decision makers at the club, and we have reaffirmed our commitment to bridge that gap in any way we can.

Ben has agreed to look at ways in which shareholders, supporters’ groups, fans and other recognised bodies associated with Hibernian FC can work more closely together in order to drive the club forward in a positive way – and we have outlined our commitment and readiness to support with this.

While naturally there are a number of matters which cannot be discussed due to confidentiality, we remain positive that improved ongoing dialogue between supporters and the club can create a more cohesive feeling around Hibernian FC in the short, medium and long-term.

We have agreed to meet with Ben – and other members of the board – more regularly in the coming weeks in order to kickstart a new period of dialogue.

As ever, members are invited to share any views or concerns they have with us by email on info@hiberniansupporters.co.uk.

Thank you for your ongoing support.


Conclusion:- Ben Kensell still has a lot to prove in my humble opinion esp after that recent totally unimpressive short formal statement to all Hibs fans. all on his watch btw!! There are still too many non-Hibs fans within the footie ops structure of HFC. It was actually refreshing in recent times to listen to the likes of Marvin Bartley having a "real go" at Elie Youann with the kind of passion that we need from Hibs people within the club. And Youann firmly "put in his place" btw. A case of "one swallow disnae make a summer"!!! Most Hibs fans have sussed out this guy for long enough to realise he has let the club down more often than not, and that recent "couldnae care less" incident at Dens Park when he was practising "keepy-uppy", while David Gray issuing orders to the players soon after the Obita red card, just confirmed how most fans rated him. Bartley's stinging criticism clearly worked as he'd been "found out", in no uncertain terms, and rightly called out that it wisnae good enough. The big question is, "How long will that impact last on Youann"??? A case of wait n see!!

Charlton Athletic home, Nathan Jones you've been gone to long

Some amazing ties for the lesser clubs

In the third round, Albion will play Bournemouth away.

Tuesday 3 December 2024
Bradford City 1-1 Barrow
Cheltenham 0-2 Port Vale
Colchester 0-2 Swindon
Grimsby 1-2 Accrington
MK Dons 1-1 Chesterfield
Salford City 0-2 Harrogate
Tranmere 1-1 Morecambe
Walsall 2-1 Notts County
Wimbledon 1-0 Newport

Wednesday 4 December 2024
Bromley 1-3 Gillingham
Fleetwood 2-1 Doncaster

League Table After Match day 17

Devon - 312
Maclad - 307
Dancing - 305
SaltergateBorn - 299
Spireitematt - 293
Amelia - 279
Lord Snoots - 258
St Charles - 250

2 points for correct result
4 points for correct score
2 points for each correct scorer
Correct joker doubles your score   (correct score on a joker would give you 8 points)
Wrong joker result gives you minus 2
Correct Badger gives you 2 points

The prize for winning the league is one rep point.

Cup games: In the event of a draw, it's half the points if you've predicted a draw when it gets to 90 mins and the full points if it's still a draw after extra time. Half the points will be awarded for correctly predicting the winner of the match if it goes to penalties. However, if you do predict a draw and it's a match that won't be going to a replay, you can get a possible extra point by stating which of the two teams you think will eventually win.

Random score generator: I will be using the random score generator again for those who miss predicting, so we shouldn't get some people too far behind that after missing a couple of weeks they lose all interest, because I know it's not easy getting on here every week.
To be fair to everybody, this is going to be like, say if three people in one week miss their predictions, the first one in the table will be given all 0-0, the second one down the line will get 1-0 and the third will get 0-1 and so on, like if there's four missing the 4th will get 1-1, then 5th 2-1, 6th 1-2. and if there are so many missing, might as well pack in.
And if you miss two weeks on the trot, I'll stop until you come back on again. Not doing it for half a season like I did t'other year.  


At the end of the season, the winner of group 2 and the bottom of group 1 will swap places in what is commonly known as "promotion" and "relegation". It's something that most football fans will be familiar with, unless you're a fan of Liverpool or Arsenal or one of those other fashionable clubs.

The second placed player in group 2 will then have a play off with the player who finishes second from the bottom in group 1 to decide whether they will be going up, down or staying where they are.

We're going to have two seasons in one though, just to try and make it a bit more interesting and not so long drawn out. The first season will end on the Boxing Day fixtures, with the play offs being on the dates of the Twixtmas fixtures and the NYD fixtures.

The second season will start the following week, which is usually the FA Cup 3rd round, finishing on the last game of the League One season. Then another period of relegation/promotion play off games, taking in such fixtures as the EFL play offs, FA Cup Final, UEFA finals and such like.

Each group will have it's own set of fixtures. Both groups will have the Town games, with scorers to predict as before. Then it will be a split of League One fixtures and bonus matches, hopefully around ten, eleven or twelve games per Matchday.

The random badger is restricted to three goal scorers in any of the fixtures in your group.

Here's how that will appear at the end of the fixture list. All you have to do is fill in the blanks.......


*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

Any of those will score two points if correct. No minus points for getting it wrong.

Postponed matches will only count if the match is re-played before the next Matchday is under way. Abandoned matches will be awarded half the points for the score at the time of abandonment, so 1 point if you have the correct result, 2 points if you have the correct score.

Substitute or scorer in one of the Town games:- These will be only be allowed if you change them before the match involved has kicked off.

Prediction League Archive: https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=12830



Division One table after Matchday 17:

1. themaclad = 325 pts
   
2. jjamez = 306 pts
   
3. St Charles Owl = 305 pts
   
4. Baggiebob(BBB) = 294 pts
   
5. Lord Snooty = 270 pts
   
6. SHEP_HTAFC = 260 pts
   

Saturday 7th December:
Mansfield v Town
Town scorers:
Mansfield scorers:

Wigan Athletic v Leyton Orient (12:30)
Bristol Rovers v Bolton Wanderers
Cambridge United v Shrewsbury Town
Crawley Town v Stevenage
Stockport County v Exeter City
Wycombe Wanderers v Reading

Tuesday 10th December:
EFL Trophy rd 2:
Bolton v Town (19:45)
Town scorers:
Bolton scorers:

Rotherham United v Tranmere Rovers (19:00)

Bonus matches:
Saturday:
Championship:
Sheffield Wednesday v Preston North End (12:30)

Sunday:
West Bromwich Albion v Sheffield United (15:00)

Premier League:
Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea (16:30)

*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

1. neonfoxinthebox = 337 pts
   
2. theo_luddite = 331 pts
   
3. Devongone = 291 pts
   
4. ritchiebaby = 276 pts
   
5. Amelia Chaffinch = 249 pts
   
6. WakeyTerrier = 239 pts
   

Saturday 7th December:
Mansfield v Town
Town scorers:
Mansfield scorers:

Lincoln City v Charlton Athletic (12:30)
Barnsley v Birmingham City
Blackpool v Rotherham United
Bristol Rovers v Bolton Wanderers
Burton Albion v Wrexham

Monday 9th December:
Northampton Town v Peterborough United (20:00)

Tuesday 10th December:
EFL Trophy rd 2:
Bolton v Town (19:45)
Town scorers:
Bolton scorers:

Chesterfield v Wigan Athletic (19:00)
Doncaster Rovers v Port Vale (19:00)

Bonus matches:
Saturday:
Premier League:
Everton v Liverpool (12:30)

Scottish Premiership:
Celtic v Hibernian

*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

As we are so decidedly moderate at the moment, packed to the gunwhales with geriatrics I just wondered if there any rumours flying around that we are interested in Tom Cursons?

Who?

Well he is playing down the road at Ilkeston. He's scoring plenty of goals and looking like an EFL-class act every week. Apparently a number of EFL clubs are after him, I just vaguely wondered if we might be one of them? He's a student at Nottingham Trent.

If we can't even beat Gary Caldwell isn't it time to wake ourselves up and start to look like a Paul Cook side more than once every six weeks? And perhaps consider bringing back Bailey Hobson and Kane Drummond too to freshen things up?

Not a universally popular decision with Covv fans

Frank Lampard has been appointed head coach of Championship club Coventry City on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

The former Chelsea and England midfielder, 46, takes over with the club 17th in the Championship table, two points above the relegation places.

He succeeds the long-serving Mark Robins, who was sacked after seven and a half years in charge earlier this month.

He becomes the first new appointment made by Sky Blues owner Doug King since he completed his takeover in January 2023.

The Coventry job will be Lampard's fifth in management, following spells at Derby County, Everton and two stints with Chelsea.

He has worked largely in the media since his last role, as interim manager at Stamford Bridge, ended in May 2023.

Lampard's first match in charge of the Sky Blues will be at home to Cardiff City on Saturday, when Joe Edwards and Chris Jones will be part of his backroom team, along with Rhys Carr, who returns to his role as coach after taking interim charge for three games.

But first-team coach George Boateng, the former Sky Blues midfielder brought in as part of City's summer coaching shake-up, has now left the club.

“I am delighted that Frank Lampard has agreed to join our club as head coach," said Coventry owner King. "Frank cut his teeth in the Championship and knows what is needed in this league to be successful.

“His experiences thereafter at Chelsea and Everton will ensure he brings to our talented squad clear understanding of exactly what is needed to succeed at the very top level that we as a club are striving to reach.”

Lampard is the son of former West Ham United legend, and twice-capped England left-back, Frank Lampard Senior. He is also nephew of another Hammers great, and former boss, Harry Redknapp.

After making his Football League debut in October 1995 on loan at Swansea City, Lampard played his first senior game for West Ham as a 17-year-old - against Coventry - at Upton Park in January 1996.

His career took off spectacularly when he left East London for Chelsea for £11m in July 2001.

Lampard made 649 of his 904 career appearances for Chelsea, winning 11 major trophies in 13 years at Stamford Bridge and scoring 211 goals - the most in the club's history.

After Chelsea, he then had a season at Manchester City, under Manuel Pellegrini, and one campaign in America with MLS side New York City.

Lampard's time in the dugout
Following his official retirement as a player in February 2017, Lampard began his managerial career in the Championship with Derby County in the summer of 2018.

He almost guided the Rams to promotion in his first season, only to lose 2-1 to Aston Villa in the play-off final at Wembley in May 2019 - but it was enough to attract his former club Chelsea.

Just 38 days later, he returned to Chelsea as manager on a three-year contract.

He did so, giving consistent senior opportunities to the likes of Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Reece James and Fikayo Tomori as they finished fourth in his first season in charge.

But the closest he came to winning a trophy was losing to Arsenal in the 2020 FA Cup final - and, despite a 52% win ratio, he was sacked in January 2021 and replaced by Thomas Tuchel.

Lampard returned to the Premier League a year later when he was appointed by Everton and managed to secure their top-flight status at the end of the 2021-22 season.

But his spell on Merseyside lasted just under 12 months, when he was sacked in January 2023.

He then returned to Chelsea again as interim boss two months later for the final few weeks of the 2022-23 season after the departure of Graham Potter, but lost eight of his 11 games in charge and won only once.

Analysis - Can Lampard conjure up some magic?
BBC CWR sports editor Rob Gurney:

Frank Lampard is Doug King’s choice. Now he has to deliver a return to football’s top table for the first time in a quarter of a century.

His profile is just what the owner wants - bringing the name of Coventry City Football Club into the psyche of people outside the game.

And the Lampard contacts book brings with it an expectation that he’ll be able to conjure up something hitherto missing from this group of players to take that extra step that Mark Robins couldn’t.

Until January though he has to get a tune out of an underachieving, underperforming squad and work out his priorities for that next transfer window.

Getting Derby to the Championship play-off final was an achievement. But, just like his Sky Blues predecessor, Lampard couldn’t quite revisit the promised land.

Not a universally popular appointment with Sky Blues fans but going forward together, rather than divided, has to be the right approach now.

THE MATCH

SUNDAY 1ST DECEMBER KO 3PM

v

LAST MATCH



We got back to winning ways with a win at Hull. We created chances again but were let down by finishing again, while Beadle made a couple of good saves at the other end. Then a miracle happened, we were actually awarded a penalty for the first time in 558 day. Thankfully Windass stepped up and fired it into the corner. Onto the 2nd half and Hull had a chance to level but Beadle saved again. We then made the game safe, Palmer got down the left, crossed deep to the far post, Musaba steered it back and Smith finished well.

DEJPHON CHANSIRI, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB    

THE MATCH



Next up and a short trip south to Derby. Derby have mad an Ok start to the season, currently in 15th place. and will probably have enough to stay away from a relegation fight. They are managed by Paul Warne, who has been in charge since September 2022 and got them promoted on the last day of last season. There leading scorer is Yates, who has 4 goals and 2 assists so far this season.

DEJPHON CHANSIRI, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB    

ALL TIME H2H

OWLS 46
DERBY 53
DRAWS 42

CURRENT FORM

OWLS W D L W L L                                                            

DERBY L D D W D L                                 

EFL STOOGES

DOES IT MATTER THERE ALL CORRUPT  

John Busby
Mark Russell and Robert Hyde
Fourth Official: Anthony Backhouse

THE TEAM

Beadle
Palmer Bernard Iorfa Johnson
Bannan Charles
Windass Ugbo Gassama
Smith

SCORE & SCORER (HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST)

1-2 Smith

WEDNESDAYS FIRT GOAL TIME

26

ATTENDANCE

N/A

BML LEAGUE

SCO 10
Imre 10
Washington 9
Wereham 7
Maddix 7

BMPL

Southey 10
Owlkev 8
Stateside 6
Pei 4

OTHER GAMES OF MILD INTEREST

Chelsea v Villa
Man Utd v Everton
Tottenham v Fulham
Liverpool v Man City
Hearts v Aberdeen

HHHHA

THE MUPPETT LEAGUE




KATE BECKINSALE TRIBUTE PIC