[1Wattie]

0762.
Over the years we have gathered a few decent squads together that have been well capable of challenging for top honours but our board have consistenly sold them off just as that challenge materialises usually to be replaced by numerous short term loan signings.
You well know my views on this so I won`t labour the point other than say it has cost Hibs close to £25M in lost gate receipts since Rod decimated our team in 2008. That kind of money would have enabled us to bring in, and keep,some reasonable players.
Griffiths springs to mind quickly - imagine if he had been playing up front during our last half dozen games, we may have scored from more than one of the eight chances we created on Sunday.
You`re very accurate when you mention "false dawns" and perhaps us long suffering fans have become so used to it that we are "punch drunk" and don`t feel the pain any more.
If we lose tomorrow our season is finished six weeks early.

[ritchiebaby]

If we lose tomorrow our season is finished six weeks early.

I don't usually disagree with you 1Wattie, but I'll take issue with you on the above point. That's a defeatist attitude and I for one am not taking that on board. If we play to our capabilities as individuals and as a team, there's no reason why we can't get through tomorrow night's tie. If that happens, we play Dundee United in the semi-final and we've already beaten them this season. In this case, history is on our side.

If we do happen to lose against ICT, then we've still a lot to play for in the Championship. We've a great incentive to finish second, but if not, we'll still be involved in the play-offs. Now history is against us as far as they're concerned, but let's get stuck in and make some history by winning through. No defeatism from me. We're good enough, so let's show them.

GGTTH

[0762]

I said in a previous thread that if I was a Hibs player I'd be 'kicking down walls' to get at ICT on Wed night after that gut-wrenching final defeat because I'm a rotten loser and I wish we had lotsa rotten losers in our side who'd hit into ICT like dervishes - a high energy assault, a massive positive reaction after that final defeat! But how do I transfer that attitude on to the current group of players? Many of them don't even support Hibs. Indeed re Hibs past boardroom misdemeanours 1Wattie, did you not notice the happy owner of Ross County, Roy McGregor, is also an enthusiastic fan and he's another one who got a bit of success. Hibs owner, STF, is so different from these guys. Indeed Hibs reaction to this latest final loss struck me as a matter of fact response compared with the 'hurt' of thousands of peeved Hibs fans. That's one of the reasons why a significant fans' ownership of our club appeals greatly to me and many other Hibs fans who share that long-term vision of a new, positive direction for Hibs FC. I'd luv to see the Murray family investing in this vision as well and that would be the 'icing on the cake' for me as I believe STF will not be our chief custodian for much longer for health reasons.

[hibeejim21]

Thought the manager seemed a bit angry with some of the criticism last night. A really good response from the players.

Now to sort the league form out going into the closing run of games.