[0762]

Note we have the same nucleus of a Hibs team as played well over a year ago when we were debating the same problems. Hibs have transferred in about 12 players since the close season and do you notice that it appears Johnson has dismissed a lot of them in favour of certain Hibs players from last season who he'd still rather use - most of these new young recruits are not his chosen players!! I'm picking up a story re Johnson requesting to sign up a number of experienced older players in order to try and balance up/strengthen the 1st team - told its a "no goer" and I'm assuming Ron Gordon is at the heart of that decision and favouring a system that restricts Hibs operations as a Scot Prem footie club. Hibs are in "deep shit" if that anecdote is accurate and it endorses the concerns expressed by many Hibs fans re Ron Gordon and the way he is expecting things to operate at ER Stadium. Re this game today, the result is absolutely no surprise with the same script unfolding - a team without a recognised CF concedes another 1st goal, an early one at that, and then proceeds to dominate possession while scorning every scoring opp coming their way - Doidge: a header past the post, Cadden: past the post, and then past the post again, Youan: a "snip" over the bar, then an amazing miss past the far post should've scored, HOW DID HE MISS IT????? It's a common theme and remember we haven't won a home game either!! In the interim, I think Johnson needs to adjust Hibs formation and strategy to suit a Hibs team that he must accept will not score many goals this season. Hibs had about 68% possession today and effectively picked off on the break with the Buddies' manager professing that was his strategy and aware of Hibs defensive frailties. If Johnson is not given any more proper leverage during this transfer window, I fear we will tumble into the relegation zone - totally self-inflicted due to an inept system of signing up suitable players with an obsession to sign younger players up to a certain age limit. Just look at eg Livingston and the way they have offloaded certain players and yet still managed to set up a normally difficult team to play against. Hibs are clearly a bigger club and not conducting their internal affairs very well at all and the fans powerless to do anything about it!! Note all away tickets were sold out for today's game - IMO these fans totally "sold a pup" by the club with the usual bullshit pre-match coverage re Hibs chances etc etc!! Also Bushiri injured, out for weeks apparently!!