Bzzt

Biggest Win of the Season

Wednesdays game in Aberdeen was what I consider to be the most important win of this whole entire season.  Never has 3 points meant so much.

The team travelled to Pitroddie in desperate need of a win.  With only 3 games to go and only 3 points ahead of Dunfermline a win was vital.

Before the game there was mixed team news with McPake dropping out with a groin injury but O’Connor coming in to the team.  Sean O’Hanlon came in and played superbly even getting himself an important goal.

The team though as a whole stepped up and really showed the metal that Fenlon has instilled into them that when it matters it can be used.  We just got that bit of luck and took chances to win the game, that was the only difference in this match to the previous ones we had lost.

With Dunfermline drawing 0-0 it now means the gap has grown to 5 points with 2 games to play.  1 point from any of our last 2 fixtures will be enough but a win on Monday would relegate Dunfermline as well as embarrass Jim Jeffries. Double whammy if there ever was one.

Sorting out our SPL future on Monday would mean the game in Inverness is pointless and our key players can be rested. Thats the ideal situation so hopefully Fenlon gets his first win at Easter Road while relegating Dunfermline.

Chances Missed

You would have thought with a Scottish Cup Final coming up Easter Road would be buzzing with excitement.  Actually you would be very wrong.

For all that cup has been a welcome distraction from a poor season, we are still having that poor season and now find ourselves only 3 points above Dunfermline.

Results at the weekend did not go our way at all and now we find ourselves travelling up to Aberdeen tonight in desperate need of 3 points as we just don’t know what Dunfermline are capable of doing.

A loss for Hibs and a win for Dunfermline would, to put it mildly, be a disaster.

The thought of playing in the First Division with the number of fans and facilities Hibs has does not bear thinking about.

The performances the team have not been putting in have not been bad at all. The team has played some nice stuff but in our last few games partly bad luck and also missed chances have conspired against us.  For example against St Mirren at the weekend, if Doyle buries his chance from 6 yards out we go onto win that game. But we don’t.

That is where the quality from the likes of Griffths and O’Connor shows. They don’t need 2 chances, they need one and they stick it away. And that is why these 2 players will be massive in our next few games.

So forget about Hampden and forget about the cup final the most important thing for Hibernian this season is to remain in the SPL and any fan who thinks the cup is bigger is deluded. 

Hopefully tonight we can take our chances and get points on the board before our ‘unofficial’ cup final at Easter Road on Monday against Dunfermline.

Lets step up to the plate Hibs.

Scottish Cup Final 2012 In Numbers

Here is a quick look at the Scottish Cup Final in numbers.

1 - The number of teams that will leave Hampden as winners after the final

2 - The number of goals Hearts beat Hibs by the last time the two teams met

3 - The number of wins Hearts have had over Hibs this season

4 - The number of goals Hearts scored against Hibs the last time they met at Hampden

5 - The minimum number of games required for an SPL team to win the cup in 1 season

6 - The number of years since Hearts last won the Scottish Cup

7 - The record winning margin in a derby, Hibs beat Hearts 7-0

8 - The number of goals Hibs have scored so far in this years cup to reach the final

9 - The number of Scottish Cup Finals Hibernian have played in without winning

10 - The number of derbies Hibs have gone without a win

11 - The number of players on each team who could make history

12 - Hibs longest unbeaten steak against Hearts

13 - The number of Yellow Cards Ian Black has been shown in all competitions 

14 - The number of goals Skacel has scored this season (Club Top Scorer)

15 - The number of goals Garry O’Connor has scored this season (Club Top Scorer)

19 - The date in May which the Scottish Cup Final will be contested

21 - The number of players who have left Hibs since the summer

57 - The number of shots Leigh Griffths has had this season

63 - The number of Yellow Cards Hearts have been shown this season

110 - The number of years since Hibernian last won the Scottish Cup

20,000 - The number of tickets Hibernian and Hearts fans will receive each for Hampden Park

1 million+ - The number of people in 50 years time who were actually there that day

Scottish Cup Final Here We Come

Well I can’t believe it.  Hibernian have managed to get to the Scottish Cup Final.

After a terrible season, this could make it the most memorable in the clubs history.

Arriving at Hampden Park at 12pm the stadium was filling up nicely with both clubs taking around 14,000 each which was very impressive.

The game started brightly but before either team was allowed to settle Hibs were 1-0 up.

Hibs full back Pa Kujabi swung in a delightful ball to the near post which Garry O’Connor guided beautifully past the Dons keeper, Jason Brown.

After a balanced first half with both clubs jostling to take control the players went in with Hibs still 1-0 ahead.

Aberdeen came out at the beginning of the second half and had the best of the pressure without testing Stack once.  In fact it wasn’t until 59 minutes with Aberdeen’s first real shot on target they scored. A loose header from Matt Doherty allowed Fallon to control the ball on his chest and hit a ‘Crouch-esq’ shot into the top corner.  Nothing Stack could do about it and Aberdeen pulled the game back to 1-1.

As in standard Hibs fashion under Fenlon the players didn’t let the fact the other team had scored get them down.  In fact they upped their game and started creating much more with Griffths hitting the post and Osborne having a few shots blocked.  The game looked set to be heading for a draw until rock at the back and Man of the Match James McPake won a header just inside the Aberdeen half.  The header went to O’Connor who played a lovely ball over to Griffths who with his weaker foot slotted the ball across the keeper and into the bottom corner.  With only 6 minutes remaining, Hibs had a 2-1 lead.

5 minutes of added time was indicated and you could feel the excitement in the Hibernian end.  All Hibernian supporters to a man were standing, singing their hearts out to spur the players on.  After what felt more like 50 minutes than 5 minutes the full time whistle blew and we had done it.

All the Hibernian players came over to the Hibs fans to celebrate and you could see what it meant to the likes of Leigh Griffths and Garry O’Connor.  These guys live and breathe Hibs so they know what the final means.  Even players like McPake, who was outstanding, was pumped up and clapped the fans enthuastically.

90 minutes from becoming legends.

Deserving Apology

Following an article based purely on rumour and lies, the Daily Mail have today come out and apologised to Hibernian and everyone involved in the ‘story.’

I do find it ridiculous how a paper of that size is able to write such trashy stories. Im surprised they do not issue more apologies to be honest.

Although how the main story can lead the back pages and then this statement probably be tucked away in the middle somewhere be fair, I’m not sure.

(Source: hibernianfc.co.uk)

Derby Day Reflection: 18th March 2012

Result: Heart of Midlothian 2 - 0 Hibernian

Well Derby Day in the capital came and went. The players in the starting team for Hibs may have been different but the end result was the same. A Hearts win.

Going into the game there was nothing to separate the teams. Hearts are on a terrible run and Hibs are fighting relegation at the foot of the table. In fact, in this calendar year it could be argued that Hibs have been the better team. Except when it comes to the Derby.

I don’t know why but every time a derby comes around it doesn’t matter what happens off the pitch, previous derby performances or recent from, Hearts always turn up and Hibs never help themselves.  That is the most infuriating aspect of all. Being beat is fair enough but not turning up for the first half is not acceptable. In fact the first 45 was very ‘un-Fenlon’ and much more ‘Calderwood-esq.’

Hearts settled first in the game and knocked the ball around Hibs with ease. There was no composure from any of the Hibs players and it almost at times looked like we had forgotten how to pass to other green jerseys. There was a fear and lack of confidence from the Hibs players which was in stark contrast to the players in maroon.

At half time, Hibs went in 1 nil down. It was far and away the worst 45 we had played in weeks and terrible that we chose the Edinburgh Derby to do it in. The second half though was such a turn around. Hibs came out firing and really caught Hearts out. The biggots in the Hearts end had nothing to sing about and Hibs pressed and worked harder. Having not mustered a shot on goal in the first 45 there was more chances in the second. The best of them falling to O’Donovan who with a flick header couldn’t sneak it past McDonald in goal.

For all our valiant efforts in the second half we just couldn’t score. Too many players just didn’t perform. Although the second half was an improvement it still wasn’t good enough. Players like Stevenson, who have been Hibs best player this season, didn’t perform and I don’t know why. The midfield was over run and the strikers got no service, not a great combination.

How can we stop the rot? Well they say confidence breads confidence. Hearts are now 10 undefeated in derby games. Hibs have had 3 managers since we last won and it looks like its going to be a challenge to stop this pattern. The team we have now is temporary and is good enough to avoid relegation but come the summer we need to sign big characters and players that know what these games are all about. The fans are always up for it so why are the players not?

One thing is clear though. Hearts go into this game believing they can win. Hibs go in hoping and there is a massive difference. This needs to change as Hearts are not so much better than us that we should fear them in any way. 

If Hearts are still around come the next derby I hope things will be different. Attitude was what won us the game against Ayr and we need to show more of it against them.

The longer the run without a win though, the sweeter it will be when it comes around.

A Cruel Result

If you had said to me that we would score 3 goals at Motherwell I would have been so chuffed as not many teams this season have scored never mind got 3.

If you had then said we could concede 4 goals I would not have been surprised. 

The quantity of goals we are conceding is unbelievable but the standard is even worse. The vast majority are self-inflicting which makes these defeats even harder to take. If you are outplayed by a better team fair enough but if you continually shoot yourself in the foot it makes every game so much harder than it should be.

The attitude from the players early was on great and Griffths was top drawer. He had a superb game and Hibs rightly went in 1-0 up at half time. Chants of “1 nil and the lights are on” rang around the ground as the players emerged for the second half. 

I don’t know what Fenlon said at half time but it didn’t have any time to make an impact. Within 90 seconds, Hibs conceded a penalty and the game was 1-1. Again, a stupid mistake cost us a goal. 

In what was to be an exciting second half with a total of 6 goals, Motherwell scored again before Hibs pulled it back to 2-2. The spirit from the players was definitely there as at no point did heads drop or players not want to the ball, we just leaked goals for fun.

After about 70 minutes, the substitution board went up and Sparkys number was displayed to come off, loud boos from the away end showed unhappiness at our best player being brought off. At a time when fans are unhappy, this didn’t help matters.

After Motherwell scored a penalty to make it 4-2, Hibs anonymous man for 90 minutes, Ivan Sproule popped up with a goal somehow to bring us back within 1. Despite a late onslaught from Hibs we couldn’t get that magic 4th goal.

The players are trying to do the right thing. Going forward and at set pieces we look so much more organised. We just have players making individual mistakes and if we could cut them out we would easily pick up points.

We are not a bad team, just a team playing badly.

With a bit of luck and no mistakes, 3 points this weekend against Kilmarnock is a must.

Back to Fir Park….

Tomorrow night Hibernian travel to Motherwell for the second time this season to replay the postponed fixture from December. The original game was cancelled at half time due to a floodlight fire so lets hope everything is working correctly this time.

The game that night was Fenlons first in charge and was actually one of our best performances of the season. The players looked fired up and we took the lead so was a shame the game was cancelled.

This time round though, Motherwell are the form team who are chasing Rangers for second in the league. The last time we played them, Motherwell were winning away from home but not picking up many points at home. Unfortunately they have rectified that and are fresh off the back of a 4-0 victory against Hearts at Fir Park. This game won’t be easy for sure but as long as the Celtic game doesn’t have any effect on the players confidence we should be looking for a result.

I assume O’Connor and Griffths will start up front but other than that the rest of the team shouldn’t change to much from the weekend. Soares may have recovered from his hamstring injury but Fenlon has plenty options in midfield.

Its going to be a very difficult game with Youtube sensation Henrik Ojamaa on form and Jamie Murphy getting amongst the goals. The defence needs to be tight and if we can do that going forward we will create plenty opportunities.

Prediction: 2-1 Hibernian

Onwards and Upwards

The game on Sunday was definitely one to forget.

Days in Edinburgh when Celtic are in town are always horrible but to see your team get beat by that margin was not fun at all. In fact towards the end it was unbearable.

Let me start by saying 4 out of the 5 goals could easily have been prevented. Obviously looking at it from a Hibs point of view but I think it could be argued the players could have done something better to prevent each goal. 

Saying that, Celtic are far and away the best team in Scotland right now and I don’t see how anybody can catch them. They are quick, big and in key positions very skilful. Also with nearest rivals Rangers on their knees, it could be a while before they are caught.

The ‘atmosphere’ before the game with the plastic paddies in town was obviously filled with much glee about their ugly sister Rangers. Took just over 3 minutes though before a belting rendition of ‘Oh A Up the Ra’ was sung. (don’t get me started on Old Firm singing) This carried on for the whole afternoon with IRA songs being interspersed around songs about jelly and ice cream.

Looking back at the game now with a more measured view its hard to find any real positives other than we won’t face a team like that this season again. Sparky and Doyle worked hard and Claros is coming onto a game more and more now. Osbourne had a nightmare yesterday but has been an outstanding player recently so can’t be to hard on him. Just another example of a game where the players did not do themselves justice on the day.

The problems with Hibs and goalkeepers still hangs there. The mistakes might not be as high profile but its easy to spot instances of ‘could do better.’

The game against Motherwell this week is very important although Dunfermline are playing Celtic at Celtic Park.

Lets hope their goal difference takes a bit of a bashing.

Rangers Supporters Myth

One popular story that everyone is believing is that without Rangers away fans, the SPL would pretty much crumble and die. This could not be further from the truth.

This season for example Hibernian will play Rangers ONCE at Easter Road.

The attendance for the game earlier in the season: 11,380

For the Aberdeen game at the weekend just there, the attendance was: 10,100

That means there was only 1,300 extra people at the game with one half of the Old Firm which also incurred much much higher running costs.

Police costs for example are almost double for an Category A fixture against Rangers than they are for when playing other SPL teams. Also the stewarding around the pitch needs increased, again higher costs. For Hibs to really find games against Rangers profitable compared to the Aberdeen game, thousands of more fans need to come through the gate.

What does make the game profitable is that the TV cameras want to show these games so we do receive TV money but as the Old Firm get the majority (around 60%) more money is made from people coming to the game than Sky/ESPN pay.

Add in the horrible songs they sing. Trouble they cause. Attitudes they hold, the less Rangers fans in any ground in my opinion can only be a good thing.

Rangers away fans are not the be all and end off of Scottish football. Competition is what gets fans through the door. The chance for any of 6 teams to finish 2nd? Now that would be exciting.

A Point Wasn’t Enough

Score: 0-0

Well for the first time in ages I left Easter Road thinking we should have won that game having controlled it and was disappointed with only the point.

The progress we have made in the recent weeks though is startling.

Amazing what a team can play like when it doesn’t think its going to concede goals every time the opposition attacks.

The team looked organised, passed the ball around and through Aberdeen and created chances. We had the majority of the possession and for the last 20 minutes had Aberdeen camped inside their own half with all 11 men behind the ball.

Matt Doherty and Sean O’Hanlon at centre half looked really solid with Francomb coming in at right back. I think Doherty and McPake could be a very solid defensive partnership.

Amid the high paced game, there was something that I had not seen at Easter Road for months if not years. A player in the middle of the park who was willing to put his foot on the ball. Jorge Claros made his debut and although the first half kind of went by him as it will take a bit of time of bed in he looks a very decent player. He always looked like he had a bit more time on the ball than other players so once he gets going I think we will have a superb player on our hands.

Not only was there a confidence on the pitch but also one in the stand. The fans really got behind the team because we have faith in what the players are doing. The lazy, slow days of Calderwood seemed to have gone and Fenlon has the team playing high tempo, working hard and passing and moving!

MOTM: For me it was Lewis Stevenson. The forgotten man at ER but under Fenlon has giving 100% every game and one of the names high up on the team sheet in my opinion.

Exciting days ahead for Hibs and its Celtic at ER this weekend.

GGTTH

Hibernian Mid-Week Preview

This weekend will be the second time this season Hibs host Aberdeen at Easter Road. 

The last game which was 0-0 was probably one of the worst games I have ever seen. Some 0-0s can be exciting and I have been at a few but in this game literally nothing happened. I felt sorry for the 2 American tourist sitting behind me, they were trying to get involved with their serious yet humorous “Go Greens” rally calls but there was literally nothing to cheer about.

So this weekend I am hoping not for a repeat of the performance or the result. Usually a draw against Aberdeen, who are well organised and have improved greatly since the start of the season would be okay but now being joint with Dunfermline at the foot of the table this game is a must win.

The biggest problem for us this weekend is the suspensions to 2 of our players, McPake and Hanlon, our centre halfs who played last weekend! Just when our defence starts to look solid we have 2 missing for a crucial game. This will cause problems for Fenlon who will have to bring in the likes of Stephens or O’Hanlon. I think the most likely thing he will do is move Doherty to centre back and bring in Norwich-loanee George Francomb at full back meaning only 1 centre half coming in.

There may also be a starting place for ‘The Pitbull’ Jorge Claros. The Hondurian who Hibernain snatched from Rangers could make his debut in midfield and from what I have heard about him he would bring so much to the table. Of all Fenlons January signings he is the one I’m most looking forward to seeing.

Sparky is still out so there will be no change in the attack which will cause Aberdeen problems.

A positive Hibernian support behind the team should mean a victory and I’m going for 2-1 to the Hibs.

GGTTH

Instant Impact

New Players. Instant Impact.

Standing in Behind the Goals on Saturday, pint in hand the Hibernian team at 2:20 was announced to the many supporters in the bar. Fenlon was giving a start to none other than 5 of his January singings with a total of 7 in the match day squad. I was already excited for this game because for all that the Scottish Cup has not been good to us it always means a different atmosphere and was a welcome break from the league but the introduction of new players added to the occasion.

Players such as our full backs Kujabi and Doherty I had never heard of never mind seen play before but they had to be better than what we had so this was instantly a positive.

The team was lead out by new captain James McPake and not only did he wear the armband he played like a leader and a commanding centre half. I had almost forgot what it was like to have one of these, not since Rob Jones have Hibs had a defender with a desire to win every ball.

The back four was completed with Kujabi at left back, Hanlon at centre half and Doherty at right back. Kujabi, or the Ghanaian Roberto Carlos tucked James Deyton into his back pocket for the whole game. A few set pieces early on were a bit of a mixed bag but he really came onto a game and looks like he will settle in nicely. One memorable moment was when he took the ball all the way down the left wing, with a 1-2 on the way before playing a lovely ball to Doyle. The East Stand responded with a chant of ‘OOH Kujabi’ or the Zemmama Song as its known. High praise indeed. Doherty really looks like an experienced player on young shoulders. Composed, skilful and not afraid to attack the ball. In the last minutes, Kilmarnock were putting on the pressure and he really responded well with a fantastic last ditch block.

The main bonus from this game was that Hibs kept a clean sheet. The 1-0 victory was massive and the defence really have to take so much credit for that. Doyle scored the only goal of the game after 15 minutes and although never really troubled by Kilmarnock there was big headers made by the centre halfs and good challenges from the full backs. 

Going forward we really did miss the creativity of Griffths and stuggled to hold the ball up at times but having a defence that didn’t concede really took the pressure off the attacking players.

Through to the next round of the cup and the hugs the players gave each other at the end really shows we are all in this together. The players for the first time showed a desire to not concede. It was a ‘Thou shall not pass’ attitude from all 11 players that won us that game.

Dig. Determination. Focus. 3 things we need more of from now until the end of the season.