[0762]

So Hibs must "dust themselves down" and try to win a quarter-final in which the majority of Hibs fans give them no chance and I am one of the sceptics. As far as I'm aware, Paul Heckingbottom has not been sacked. Therefore we have "nae chance"!! Now lets get down to how Hibs could actually win this game. IMO we need to "shut the back door" and focus on not losing silly, avoidable goals. IMO stick to the current defence but we need an "anchor man", an organiser/leader, in front of our back line - we actually require a Milligan type player to mop up and dictate forward counter-attacks on a shit artificial surface. We also need to identify who can play on this restrictive surface - a lotta homework to do before arriving at Rugby Park with an effective plan to win a cup-tie and make some money from a semi-final appearance - I am not bothered, one way or the other, re winning this cup because it is ultimately a distraction from an impending relegation crisis if we "dinnae get the finger oot" and field accountable players in an accountable Hibs 1st team. I'd bring back Rocky in goal. I'd also field a back three and choose the best defenders who can perform on this pitch to attack the opposition. I'd move Porteous into that midfield "anchor role" because I can't think of anybody else who is suitable for that role. I WOULD NOT FIELD VELA UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES - NOWT AGAINST THE LAD BUT IMO HE IS NOT FIT TO WEAR A HIBS JERSEY!! We have players for the mid area but lets play them in their best positions - lets experiment with that mid formation but also demand a physical commitment from certain players - lets play a tough, competitive match bordering on dirty and nasty as we have been soft and uninspired for too long esp when the "going is tough" - I would demand this commitment in the dressing on behalf of the Hibs fans who have been totally let down this season! I'd consider bringing back young Fraser Murray as part of that experiment. I'd play two up front (not Hecky's usual useless one lone striker!!!) and try to play for goals as GOALS WIN GAMES AND THIS IS A GAME THAT WE WANNA TRY TO WIN!! My preferred strikers? Well it must be Kamberi again but play him alongside Shaw and I'd tell the lad that he is finally in a "last chance saloon position" to win a position in the team - relax, play well and try to score goals because he has not been doing enough of that and must perform better. Players to choose who must "feed" the front two? Horgan is a 1st pick and Middleton(?) poss did enough on Sunday to be given a slot on Hibs right wing. However, the reality is that Heckingbottom is still in charge and he won't change anything or impress Hibs fans with a "fighting" Hibs line up - totally incapable, much the same as the Hibs board at the moment! Lastly I wish we had a proper captain - an "old chestnut" for me to raise!! I have nothing against Paul Hanlon, the current skipper! Paul is a good lad but my captain will always be an "in your face" fully committed player! Somebody like Scott Broon - ohhhh I forgot that Scott was once a Hibs player and was groomed to eventually be a long-term Hibs captain, a potentially great one, but even though he chose to leave, Hibs did what they do well and took the £3M that Celtic offered. I'd actually be tempted to give the captaincy to Porteous who is one Hibs player who looks like he wants to win any game "at all cost"!! I like that attitude!

GGTTH

[ritchiebaby]

In my opinion, there is one player we definitely miss for his attitude and commitment to the cause - Marvin Bartley. Sorely missed by the current Hibs side, especially in derbies and cup ties. Mark Milligan filled the gap fairly successfully last season but that was never going to last, especially with the change in management.

I must admit that I hadn't thought about Porteous for that role, but he does have a physical presence that is sadly lacking in other players.

GGTTH

[0762]

Ryan Porteous actually got recent "rave reviews" after the Scotland U21s Euro Championship win v the group favourites, Croatia, when he marshalled the Scot defence to hold out under intense pressure from the Croat forwards. My biggest concern is that Celtic/Lenny could move on signing him because Lenny always rated the lad very highly indeed during his time at ER! We can't keep selling players of a decent standard without suffering the impact eventually and IMO that is what is happening at the moment as well as the effect of picking up good loan players who then leave and don't return to ER. Therefore the fans don't know what they are gonna be presented with at the start of a new season and can only depend on a competent manager and an effective scouting policy.
Re the reference to Derby matches, big Marv is a "good shout" re a fully committed player who never failed to impress v Hertz but we conceded and stupidly "moved him on" instead of "keeping him sweet" and "on board". Another past player who I predicted to be a "big miss" (when he left Hibs), a match winner, in Hertz matches was Jason Cummings and I don't think we have ever really replaced Jason who I regard as the "hammer of Hertz" alongside the likes of Leigh Griffiths who also had the correct temperament and ability to score goals against them "for fun" - no problem whatsoever!! The difference is plain to see v a fairly average to poor Hertz team that is managed by Potter!! As the saying goes: the "dregs (Hertz) eventually rise to the surface" as Hibs gradual erosion of a once very good team becomes self-evident. I just call it the evolution of a footie club when that footie club disnae have the finances to properly remedy any imbalance and won't borrow millions n millions of quid to "gain a huge advantage" while being massively "in the red"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rangers football club anybody? Borrow money unchallenged by the footie authority and as if there is an endless pot of gold!!?

[1Wattie]

Was that win,even although it was on penalties, the turning of the corner or an "Indian Summer" time will tell but the next few games are going to give us the answer.
GGTTH

[0762]

Nahhh Wattie! ET was "tasty" and decent to watch but the previous 90 mins were uninspiring! I did appreciate Hibs "putting the boot in" all the same because I would've demanded it tonight and ditch the "soft touch" tag! One radio summary epitomised this game for me - "Hibs won ugly"!! I love it!! Celtic drawn v Hibs in the semi-final - nae chance!! The same as Hertz who have drawn Rangers - their chances are zilch IMO as they were as lucky as us!! Still, some welcome revenue to be made for Hibs!!

[1Wattie]

0762,
I would take an "ugly" win any day because it is bound to increase confidence in the team. I have said previously that we have some decent players so a wee boost in confidence might give them the belief in themselves that has been sorely missed so far this season.
Like you I don't give us too much hope against Celtic in the semi but the performance is important, if we get a reasonable result i.e a 2-1 defeat I'm sure we'll all be happy.
Onwards and upwards towards a top 6 finish must be the aim now.

[0762]

I think the result v the Hoops at the weekend will give us a good indication of how the semi-final will "pan out". It looks like Heckingbottom "went Italian" tonight and it just worked out after a few lucky escapes TBH. Also no goals lost - that is a big positive but up front our strikers are still not doing it!! Shaw couldnae even score from the pen spot tonight - nae belief or confidence and he possibly needs a "gentle touch" to help him or "a foot up the erse" to waken up and fight for a place up front which is definitely "up for grabs"!

[hibeejim21]

Chuffed to get through, but that was enough to make your eyes bleed. Still no shape and clueless looking, kilmarnock have regressed hugely since Clarke left and are possibly even worse than us. That said they missed some amount of chances.

We are absolutely murder to watch but at least a wee bit of fight was shown.

[0762]

So does that positive result get Heckingbottom out of jail?? IMO no way eh!! The situation is the same in the fact that he has provided dull, boring Hibs teams from the start of the season onwards!! There is no panache in Hibs performances but, as you say, they showed some battling qualities. However, it is not enough for me! I can't figure why he played Doidge last night apart from poss giving Kamberi a rest. Doidge is the butt of a standing joke from lots n lots of Hibs fans who don't rate him and wondered why he was ever signed up. As said in another thread, I don't rate Vela at all but what I think Hecky did was insist on a physical game from the lad and he did what he was told but lucky to stay on the pitch. At least he contributed!