[0762]

Well this 1st Embro Derby of the season is one of the oddest in the fact that both teams are "mince" and the managers are under intense pressure to "save their jobs" because they have not done enough to justify remaining at either Embro footie club. It is relegation form, pure n simple.
It is a home game for Hibs but that means nothing unless Hecky finally sets up his team to 1. Shut the back door firmly with his most trusted defence 2. Score the requisite goals with an appropriate blend of forwards and a balanced midfield formation to "make it happen". They will have a huge Hibs support backing them on Sunday. So there is no excuse for not being motivated to win a game v a team that is bottom of the Scottish Premiership and in crisis with lotsa unhappy fans wanting Levein ousted asap. IMO the ball is in Hecky's court and I'm curious to see what starting line up is chosen and also what tactics he employs this time. My prediction re this game is a boring draw but I hope I'm wrong and Hibs "jump out the traps" to play good, expansive footie but not "holding my breath" with Heckingbottom in charge.

GGTTH

[ritchiebaby]

You obviously have the same nervousness about this game that I have. I fully expect this to be a total bore, probably decided by somebody making a mistake.

[0762]

How many "boring 0-0 draws" have we witnessed down the years Ritchie eh!!? Games in which the ball was nicknamed "hot potato" lol!

[1Wattie]

Whether the game is boring or not it's vital that we take all 3 points, a loss would be disastrous for Hibs and would/ should lead to the manager losing his job. If he cannot motivate the team playing at home in front of 18,000 of mostly our own fcans against our fiercest rivals he will never take us any further forward.

[hibeejim21]

I'm expecting hertz to win, our manager is completely clueless and doesn't know how to set up and motivate a team. Potter has been over this particular course many, many times.

Its only a matter of time before we send hecky on a one way trip back to Yorkshire.

[0762]

I totally agree as alluded in my OP. One factor that may just save Hecky's "bacon" is that they have been hit by a huge injury crisis, prob worse than Aberdeen's current one. Therefore absolutely no excuses from this manager if Hibs concede to defeat tomorrow!!

[0762]

FT 1-2 and I must say absolutely no surprise to me in a game that Hibs should've at least earned a draw v a very poor Hertz team that had been rightly positioned at the bottom of the Scot Premiership. But, in reality, this was an awful match, briefly "brightened up" by Stevie Mallan's 25 yds "strike" early in the 2nd half, involving two very poor teams and even if Hibs had won or drawn this game, there is no way that Heckingbottom's crisis position should suddenly have changed!! He is a rank rotten manager! I must say that it was amusing to hear that Hibs' chant "Levein must stay", contrary to some of the derisory chants (against Levein!) from Hertz fans because that result may well have landed the Hertz fans with this "dinosaur" for a wee bit longer than many of them anticipated. Re Paul Heckingbottom's situation? Well if you reflect back to one of my previous threads, he has failed my "test" to provide some positivity in the previous four matches leading up to today's match v Hertz. He has no ability to set up and inspire a Hibs team to gain a result "on the front foot" and has consistently shown the same failing week after week after week. Just compare this man's tenure against Lenny's time at ER Stadium - no comparison whatsoever and what an enjoyable period that actually was for Hibs fans compared with now when we are in danger of being relegated - no doubt about it!! Today Hibs had a 1-0 lead early in the second half and again failed to consolidate that lead - deja vu in games before this one. This manager has instilled a huge element of caution in a Hibs team that "stands back" to see what happens after leading a game and, when they concede that inevitable 1st goal , boyyyyyy do they look fragile. IMO there are also massive question marks re Heckingbottom's choice of player eg Vela is not good enough to wear a Hibs jersey - he can't last out a full game in a midfield formation that is not properly "balanced" and is not dynamic enough anyway!
What interests me now is how do Hibs react to losing such a game in this way and being "leapfrogged" by a team that has been rightly entrenched at the bottom of the Scot Premiership due to their months and months of abysmal form and results!!!?? Sorry to all the Hibs pragmatists who wanna "hold out in hope" and keep this "dud" of a manager who IMO is "taking the piss" - HE MUST BE SACKED - IT IS IMPERATIVE TO DO THIS AND TRY TO SAVE A FOOTIE SEASON THAT HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY CRAP!! Heckingbottom is not capable of initiating the positive recovery that I reckon can still be attained under proper stewardship!! He has to go but I reckon Hibs/Dempster are not gonna do what is actually required - MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS FOR THE GOOD OF THE CLUB!! I don't care about an upcoming Betfred Cup quarter-final v Killie!! I'd offload Heckingbottom tomorrow morning - no point "hanging on"!! He, and certain officials of Hibs FC, have failed us!! Exciting season ahead?????? That was Hibs pre-season sales pitch and it is bullshit so far!!

[hibeejim21]

I've had enough of this joker now. We are going to end up in a relegation scrap if he stays manager.

Levein bested him after we scored - as soon as hellberg blew that chance I knew we were in bother because this side is so fragile it's unbelievable. Levein is a shite manager but he at least made the right changes to get his team back into the game, whereas we could all see what was coming and hecky stood there with his arms folded while they took the game away from us.

For me he's a weak manager of the Calderwood ilk. he sets his teams up too negatively with a poor shape. Zero passion or motivational skills from the touchline either.

If Leanne wanted a passive guy to tow the line she certainly got one, but she is making a rod for her own back here.

[0762]

Same critical comments and platitudes that have been uttered for well over a month and I think we will be relegated if Hibs don't act on this crisis - tough decisions have to be actioned sometimes and that's a fact!

[hibeejim21]

Even after we scored we didn't look like getting the 3 points, you could tell the players were frustrated.

Despite the fact that hecky's signings have been absolutely rotten I still think a manager that knows what he is doing would get better performances from them.