What now?

ritchiebaby · 02-05-2015, 23:15

There's 18 days to go until our next game, so what would you organise for the Hibs players?

I'd be inclined to take them away for a week's break with an afternoon's light training every day. Back to Easter Road/East Mains for normal training patterns coupled with at least two competitive matches to get back to match fitness. The problem might be getting suitable, available opponents, but it's too long without a game to have Hibs at their best for the play-off games on 20 and 23 May.

Fredstersafool · 03-05-2015, 02:52

Maybe you'd been better finishing third then??

**HerefordBull** · 03-05-2015, 10:41

(03-05-2015, 02:52)Fredstersafool Wrote: Maybe you'd been better finishing third then??

Thats what many said Fred, as it would mean we would be match sharp going into the second round of ties.

Having said that you don't run the risk of more injuries and tiredness. Stubbs needs to prepare them and lift them before the ties and I agree with Ritchie about some training games beforehand but against who? Huh

GGTTH

SUNSHINE ON LEITH · 03-05-2015, 10:42

I agree Ritchie the players deserve a wee trip away to the sun with a few bounce games thrown play some golf have the time away to discuss their plans and prepare mentally for the run in and get totally focused on the job they have got to finish.

Alan Stubbs deserves all the plaudits along with Leann Dempster for getting HFC into this position for what they had to work with when they arrived at Easter Rd so he also deserves some down time to relax with his back room staff so they can set the plans and formations we will in the playoffs.

So that's my thoughts mate anyone else got some thoughts

GGTTH

Fredstersafool · 03-05-2015, 10:52

Don't forget possie suspensions too lads,nah better getting second you lot will be ready no doubt about that

1Wattie · 03-05-2015, 22:55

My big fear is that some of the players who got us into the playoffs will not be here next season because their contracts/loan deals will have run down and our board, as usual, will wait until the last minute before taking any action to secure a full squad for next season. The players who are going will already know but what if we are depending on some of them for the matches ahead. Will they risk a career threatening injury for a team that wants rid of them? - would you?.
I have a great fear that the efforts of Stubbs and his players will be for nothing and we will struggle because of a lack of foresight.

hfcbounce · 04-05-2015, 09:40

There's always that doubt wattie about loan players I got a feeling big Stubbs has installed a great belief into his players and they want to play for him. Then there's RP to worry about but again I have great faith in Leann Dempster she has backed Stubbs from day one to get the players in that he wanted. So hopefully it will work out in not losing players like Fyvie but I think McGeouch will go back to Celtic let's hope we make the SPL that will surely help keep players time will tell though as you rightly point out
GGTTH

1Wattie · 04-05-2015, 23:06

hfc
The point I was trying to make is that we have no excuse for leaving so many players hanging on to see where they might/or might not be playing their football next season. Alan Stubbs has had plenty of time to work out the players he wants to keep for next season and their contracts should have been settled long before now.
We know and have been saying all season that Rod still has huge influence at Easter Road and is still pulling the strings, we`ll find out when the players being released is announced just exactly how hard he is pulling them.

ritchiebaby · 04-05-2015, 23:30

I know where you're coming from, wattie, and I've always agreed with your views on this, BUT there is a complication this year in that no-one knows which league we will be playing in come the start of the new season. It will probably be a different pool of players and will definitely be a different wage structure, depending on which league we are in.

1Wattie · 05-05-2015, 17:28

Ritchie,
Although we might not know which league we will be playing in next season Alan Stubbs has probably identified some players he thinks are capable of taking a step up into the Premiership and these players will be lost to us if we don`t get them signed up. If we are unfortunate and fail in the playoffs we could have the foundations laid for a team good enough to win the Championship next season.
Taking it that we wait, as you suggest, we will have nothing and therefore Stubbs will have to start all over again.
I think we have 4 or 5 players that can progress no matter which league we are in but they will all be worried about their future so may not perform to their best.
My view is that the board/Rod are quite happy to be in the Championship because they know that it involves paying lower wages (even although they charge us Premiership prices) and the club can survive on home crowds of 9,000.
I really don`t expect us to get promotion through the playoffs and because of the inactivity surrounding resigning players we could be in for a long stay in the Championship.