A good accurate summary of events by newhavenhibby. A well deserved win by Saint Johnstone and their astute young manager, Calum Davidson, with some top class defending and a solid shape about the team. They knew their game plan and they stuck to it! Well done!
As for Hibs? Well I commented about three weeks ago that I didn't want Hibs to play Saint Johnstone in the semi-final or final. The main reason for that wish is because JACK ROSS CANNOT FIGURE OUT THIS MANAGER OR HIS TEAM TACTICS!!!
As NH previously commented - single-dimensional footie in a game that needed much more than this uninspiring stuff!! Doidgy hardly won a high ball all afternoon!! Therefore one has to surely "change it" and opt for a more direct (and fast-moving game plan) "on the deck". He should've considered that change about 15 mins before HT or right after HT. Then, surprise surprise, he tried to change it in the second half by bringing on Murphy for Newell. Murphy was never the answer to solving their probs - still hitting hi balls into the centre of their defence to be "gobbled up"!!!???? Newell briefly showed how it can be done in the 1st half by "doing a John McGinn" and driving forward from a deep mid position - their defenders backtracked, the gap opened up in front of their pen box but he didn't have the skill or class to finish hard and low beyond Clarke! Meanwhile Boyly played out his usual Hampden "anonymity part" for most of this match - that is three times in different Hampden matches and on such a huge pitch!!! I'd also luv to find out if Ross actually highlighted the threat of Rooney on "cross balls" with Doig exposed by that great cross from David Wotherspoon for the only goal of the match. IMO Doig should've at least jumped to head the ball or even better - block Rooney's approach run!! Or defensive cover provided to back him up!! Note they were "doubling up" and "tripling up" on Boyly's threatening position!! Any fool could see, on previous analysis of the Saints' successful League Cup campaign, that Rooney was the MOTM in the semi-final v Hibs and the match winner in the final v Livy plus his threat was obvious in their Scot Cup semi-final v Saint Mirren. Re the issue of Hibs not registering a goal against them, what on earth was Irvine thinking about after getting the "break of the ball" in their pen box in the 1st half - you hit a near post shot from that position and you score, 1-0 Hibs and a huge lift for the team! He didn't do it - a huge moment in the match and the glum expression on his face said it all!! Like NH, huge praise deserved for big Macey re that double save from Middleton's pk and keeping Hibs in the game but why no "spark" or lift after that to seriously push for that elusive equalising goal?????? I put the blame on Ross and his uninspiring tactics and I believe we would've won this final if we'd swapped managers well before ever meeting up at Hampden. I'll be very surprised if Davidson is still managing the Perth club by midsummer!
Lastly, where do Hibs go from here?? I'll be setting up a new thread re "Who leaves and who comes in" during the close season. On that theme I'd suggest that Hibs only way forward is to improve this team and make it stronger - it is imperative that Hibs realise their frailties and do that!! Leigh Griffiths to "return to the fold" shortly and I'd also like to see Hibs quickly make a move for Jason Kerr who is similarly a Hibs fan and comes from a Hibee family. I'd luv to take McCart as well btw !! But realistically I'd like to see a move for Morton's CB, Fjortoft, an experienced defender who has really impressed me this season - that would be a really cute piece of transfer biz! Consider M'well's out of contract mid player Campbell? Lotsa other transfer biz to follow but IMO that is for starters!! WE MUST NOT "REST ON OUR LAURELS" - TIME TO STRENGTHEN UP AND IMPROVE THE WHOLE MAKEUP OF THIS HIBS TEAM!!
GGTTH
As for Hibs? Well I commented about three weeks ago that I didn't want Hibs to play Saint Johnstone in the semi-final or final. The main reason for that wish is because JACK ROSS CANNOT FIGURE OUT THIS MANAGER OR HIS TEAM TACTICS!!!
As NH previously commented - single-dimensional footie in a game that needed much more than this uninspiring stuff!! Doidgy hardly won a high ball all afternoon!! Therefore one has to surely "change it" and opt for a more direct (and fast-moving game plan) "on the deck". He should've considered that change about 15 mins before HT or right after HT. Then, surprise surprise, he tried to change it in the second half by bringing on Murphy for Newell. Murphy was never the answer to solving their probs - still hitting hi balls into the centre of their defence to be "gobbled up"!!!???? Newell briefly showed how it can be done in the 1st half by "doing a John McGinn" and driving forward from a deep mid position - their defenders backtracked, the gap opened up in front of their pen box but he didn't have the skill or class to finish hard and low beyond Clarke! Meanwhile Boyly played out his usual Hampden "anonymity part" for most of this match - that is three times in different Hampden matches and on such a huge pitch!!! I'd also luv to find out if Ross actually highlighted the threat of Rooney on "cross balls" with Doig exposed by that great cross from David Wotherspoon for the only goal of the match. IMO Doig should've at least jumped to head the ball or even better - block Rooney's approach run!! Or defensive cover provided to back him up!! Note they were "doubling up" and "tripling up" on Boyly's threatening position!! Any fool could see, on previous analysis of the Saints' successful League Cup campaign, that Rooney was the MOTM in the semi-final v Hibs and the match winner in the final v Livy plus his threat was obvious in their Scot Cup semi-final v Saint Mirren. Re the issue of Hibs not registering a goal against them, what on earth was Irvine thinking about after getting the "break of the ball" in their pen box in the 1st half - you hit a near post shot from that position and you score, 1-0 Hibs and a huge lift for the team! He didn't do it - a huge moment in the match and the glum expression on his face said it all!! Like NH, huge praise deserved for big Macey re that double save from Middleton's pk and keeping Hibs in the game but why no "spark" or lift after that to seriously push for that elusive equalising goal?????? I put the blame on Ross and his uninspiring tactics and I believe we would've won this final if we'd swapped managers well before ever meeting up at Hampden. I'll be very surprised if Davidson is still managing the Perth club by midsummer!Lastly, where do Hibs go from here?? I'll be setting up a new thread re "Who leaves and who comes in" during the close season. On that theme I'd suggest that Hibs only way forward is to improve this team and make it stronger - it is imperative that Hibs realise their frailties and do that!! Leigh Griffiths to "return to the fold" shortly and I'd also like to see Hibs quickly make a move for Jason Kerr who is similarly a Hibs fan and comes from a Hibee family. I'd luv to take McCart as well btw !! But realistically I'd like to see a move for Morton's CB, Fjortoft, an experienced defender who has really impressed me this season - that would be a really cute piece of transfer biz! Consider M'well's out of contract mid player Campbell? Lotsa other transfer biz to follow but IMO that is for starters!! WE MUST NOT "REST ON OUR LAURELS" - TIME TO STRENGTHEN UP AND IMPROVE THE WHOLE MAKEUP OF THIS HIBS TEAM!!
GGTTH