[0762]

So we approach the ultimate match in Hibs season and how significant a game this one could be for the Cabbage n Ribs if they can somehow 'break the mould' against a Rangers side that will rightly be deemed the favourites to win their 1st Scottish Cup. However, looking at the 'positives', I'll move into 1wattie's corner now and say we've been undeservedly beaten out of the play-offs but our players now have a full week to do the training, mix in some general relaxation and try to chill out before playing against a side that we recently defeated at ER fairly comfortably, albeit they were not playing for anything any more as they'd won the Championship. Also they are not playing at Ibronx and a huge Hibs support will descend on Hampden Park in hope that Hibs do indeed 'break the mould', like Ross County did recently in winning their 1st domestic trophy, as did ICT last season albeit IMO luckily. I'll take all the luck going next Saturday afternoon!! I think we deserve all that luck after years and years of strife and lets hope the ref decisions, that have not gone our way recently, go our way 'big time' in this cup final!! Please be impartial Mr referee McLean and competent if you can manage to do it within your capabilities!!!!!!!  The last 'positive' I may add is that this Hibs team is actually playing reasonably well and I've previously opined that I think Stubbs is a smidgeon off having a top side. That view has not changed and our main concern again is that certain strikers have not been doing their jobs properly and that failure, and the manager's inability to deal with it, has rankled with me for months! I pray that McGeouch only has a minor knock as I feel he is hugely important to a Hibs midfield that can play against a Rangers team with Ball suspended from it as well as their lesser player, Forrester. There is a Hibs team line up that can definitely overcome Rangers and this team is certainly 'battle-hardened' after the events of the past few weeks. Lets hope Stubbsy chooses wisely and fields that winning side!
GOOD LUCK HIBS - PLEASE 'SHOW UP' AND PLAY TO WIN THIS MATCH!!

GGTTH

[HerefordBull]

I think they will be hurting after last week so will want to prove a point . Whether we are able to overcome a good, strong Gers side we will only find out next Saturday. At the end of the day its just 90 minutes of football and with a bit of luck they could just do it.

Feel he will need to play Bartley to add some bite in midfield as the others are fairly lightweight. I hope also that Dylan is OK and just came off on Friday to avoid further punishment on that cr*p pitch. We certainly perform better with him playing.

Stubbs will have a tough choice as to who plays in goal. After his fantastic performance in the semi final, Logan has not covered himself in glory. I know he kept a couple of clean sheets but in both those games we were so much on top he had nothing to do. In the play off games when the pressure is on he has not covered himself in glory. The first tie at Easter Road against Falkirk was a very poor game for him.....yes the mistake for the goal was bad but it happens to all keepers, but more importantly he didn't have that confidence around his box and his distribution was woeful.

I hope he plays 3 5 2 with Keatings and Stokes up front and then he would be able to drop Stevenson and have Gunnarson cover the left side. This would allow Bartley into midfield to clear up in front of the back 3.

Anyway tickets sorted and we will be there to cheer Hibs on hopefully to victory but if not we will still be back and have another go next year. Jambos are more pre occupied with the SC and our record and many Hibs fans wanted promotion over the SC so next weekend is a good day out win or lose.

Unfortunately without the Cup runs we would have been more of a threat to promotion but all the games to get to Hampden twice is bound to have had a negative effect but we are where we are so lets enjoy it.  

'mon Hibs

GGTTH

[0762]

As the saying goes, 'You've got be in it to win it' and I'll also be there with friends and family members hoping for that rare victory but it's an outing that everyone will be looking forward to and with no great expectation of success TBF! Sadly Hibs FC has done a lotta damage down the years to any optimism we ever had! But we'll still be there to proffer our support and display it, together with the massed ranks of other hibees, as enthusiastically as ever in front of a world audience. How I'd luv to play for Hibs in this kinda match!! It's what footie is all about and a dream come true for good hibees like Darren Mac and Paul Hanlon! If Stokes does play, I hope he 'gets the finger oot' when it comes to goal-scoring as he's another one who 'let the side down' in the play-off semi-final - cannae head a baw and cannae take a decent one on one scoring opp! However, I suspect he will be 'busting a gut' against a team who he'll be hugely motivated to beat for obvious reasons. Lastly, I wonder who the Glesca mafia/media are gonna target in the final days leading up to the final! Some bizarre conjured up story re Stubbsy or Stokesy to 'stir it up'? I say get on with the job in hand and forget the 'cheap chat' (keep that stuff down to a bare minimum!). FACTA NON VERBA

[HerefordBull]

Aye 0762, you can bet increased speculation and unsettling media stories about Stubbs and his future over the next week plus increased speculation on Cummings going to sevco

[0762]

Yep exeterhibby! Like you, I'm a veteran hibee and seen it all before! The Scotty Allan fiasco anybody??? I'd luv to do the team talk before this match and, by gum, it would be a SAF style team talk. I'd be 'kicking through walls' to win this match! But of course I'm a staunch hibee!

[Paigntonhibby]

Unfortunately cannae be there next week due tae work commitments but after the disasters o' my last 4 trips tae hampden i'd rather no' be there and win it than be there and get gubbed. I think we're obviously gonnae be the underdogs but if the team that we were in the 1st half o' the season turns up then were mair than capable o' lifting the cup, but as, like yersels, a Hibby of long standing i live more in hope than expectation. GGTTH

[0762]

I have a hibee neighbour who resides to the rear of my back garden and he is 82 years young, has had two new hips fitted, followed the Hibs as a young lad, now a disabled ST holder at ER and never seen his favourite footie club lift the Holy Grail! It would be a great moment for him (and lotsa other hibees!) if it finally happened! He 's got four match tickets and will somehow get to the final - he'll prob be issued with a disabled parking space o/s the stadium with a bit of luck!

[0762]

One point I meant to mention as well was a criticism of our captain, David Gray. He's had a decent season but I've not been impressed by his defending in the recent away matches at Stark's Park and at the Falkirk Stadium - important games that mattered to us! That stunning crucial second goal by Falkirk's Leahy was IMO an embarrassment for Gray with a clearing header that was short of any real thought or coolness whatsoever!! He was dealing with a cross ball with no threat to his position (nobody near him) and he didn't opt for just nodding the baw out to Hibs right wing and just follow it out and pick it up. My exact words before Leahy even hit that ball was, 'WTF are you doing son' and then 'bang'! IMO Darren Mac should be our captain but that's for another day, well after this upcoming cup final!

[Fredstersafool]

I got a text yesterday saying Cummings will sign for them after the final so it's started

[hibeejim21]

They are signing krancjar,ings,Cummings and Barton in the summer.

That should guarantee second.