Tekel Towers » Hibs v Utd

Tek · 11/1/2023 2:49 pm

Big boost ahead of Saturday.

Jamie McGrath is back in training, and even better it would appear that Wigan have no clause in their loan deal to recall him.

So, unless someone tries to buy him in this window, he will be here for the remainder of the season.

douglas arab · 11/1/2023 6:19 pm

He brings a different dimension to the team. A bit of skill in the final third of the pitch and eye for a pass. We are desperate for someone to create more chances as we are not creating too many at the moment

Rick Dagless · 14/1/2023 6:11 pm

How many games are we going to throw away points by conceding late goals this season...

Billy_Hainey · 14/1/2023 6:28 pm

Woulda ta'en the Point before the gehm, but that was p1sh lossin that late goal.

Canna believe we drap twa points in injury time. Seemed awfy late to be makin stubbies.

Waitin to see what the fowk at the gehm hae to say about it. Still gled to be oot oe the bottom twa sh1tehole fir a cheenge.

Danzaa · 14/1/2023 6:38 pm

Before the game I would have taken a point, but watching the game, most inc me will agree Fox has cost us another 2 pts.
Both in terms of the way we played 2nd half and that the substitutions were too late.
Liam Smith should have done better at their equaliser.

SlatefordArab · 14/1/2023 7:40 pm

That's 4 points dropped v Hearts and Hibs since the restart - would only be 3 points off the top 6 if we held on in both games - so frustrating.

CCX2 2010 · 14/1/2023 9:58 pm

Thought we played very well for the first 55 mins and credit goes to the coaching staff, players and the manager. We were all over Hibs and should have went into break with more than just a 1 goal lead but it's hard to be too critical. Our movement off the ball and workrate to get it back was brilliant.

The second half was mostly a different side of things and when the weather took a turn for the worse we had to knuckle down for large parts which was to be expected.

The manager though, and although he's due credit for how we started and applied ourselves in the first half must watch a different game to the rest of us.

In the name of the wee fuckin man!

Absolutely mind boggling shit.

Criminal was the decision to take off Fletcher and stick on the young lad. We needed to replace Middleton who was blawin out his backside in order to get closer the big fella.

For some reason he decided to remove Sibbald and put on Pawlett, who in the right mind does shit like that🤷‍♂️. Crazy, I doubt there is anyone on this planet with 5 minutes to go would have thought that...... do you know what, Peter Pawlett.

We had an ex Scotland International with more experience than most people in the fuckin land standing there, put him on to shore up the midfield, put Niskanen on for Middleton to get us up the park or put young Rory out on the left.

It was really frustrating to leave there today with only a point, we have nobody to blame bar ourselves.

I'm not leaving on a negative though as per usual the fans again were magnificent another sell out Shed backed the boys to the hilt.

I also thought the McMann, Harkes,Smith, Djoum, Sibbald and Middleton all had brilliant games and in particular the two boys in the middle of the park (Djoum and Sibbald).

To remove Sibbald which was never in a million years the substitution to make so late in the game was absolutely pointless and a tad unfair on Pawlett. What chance does he have to be dropped into a game so late and asked to do something that he's never been known for.

A lot to take positives for though of that there's is no doubt although it's really hard to see it at the minute but the manager takes all of the blame for us not winning today, every last bit of it.

Last edited by CCX2 2010 (14/1/2023 10:01 pm)

Shakey Isles Arab · 14/1/2023 10:06 pm

Felt like a defeat.
Completely dominated and played some lovely football in stages and should have been 3.
Levitt sadly missed
Strange subbies - what we needed was somebody on for Djoum who was a complete waste of space.
Strange - Mulgrew sitting on bench, if he's on bench why no fit enough to start or at least bring on so as not to weep possesion the way Djoum did.
Which just goes to show for all our midfielders, other than Sibbald who got hooked we're still lacking a Butcher/Fuchs.
Get someone in for Watt quick.

Tek · 15/1/2023 2:09 am

Manager cost us once again with his inability to change our tactics and game plan when it is obvious to everyone watching that we are tiring and the game is turning the oppositions way. The wrong subs made too, when they eventually were. Why keep taking our focal point in Fletcher off? Why not bring on Niskanen and try and let him run at tired defenders?Why not bring on Mulgrew and try and shore things up at the back when we are noticeably tired?

That is 3 games in a row he has made his subs far, far too late.

And two games in a row we have only played for the first half then there is a noticeable drop-off in the 2nd half.

The team just start dropping deeper and deeper and inviting the opposition on to us. It's frustrating as fuck.

That game was there to be won today and we should have been going for the jugular and trying to get the killer 3rd goal in the 2nd half. Instead we just drop deeper and deeper and try and sit on the lead. It's a loser mentality. I won't hear any different on that, and teams tend to reflect their Manager.

Worrying to see no Levitt in squad today. Hope that doesn't mean he's away somewhere.

P.s. need the Watt situation sorted asap and a replacement signed pronto.

A 16 year old the only Striker on the bench again. Shambolic recruitment.

BMT · 15/1/2023 9:41 am

Like everybody else I'm disappointed we didn't get the 3 points but as others have said and I agree our substitutions / managers tactics cost us. Why can we only play for 1 half?
Hibs subbies were made to win the game where ours were to replace tired players. How come we can't get 90 mins from these players who were doing 3 training sessions a day during the World Cup break.
Atleast on a positive note since the restart we have proved we can compete with most teams in the league and with the right signings we can climb up the table.

RogerTheAlien · 15/1/2023 11:51 am

Like everyone’s said we can only play for one half then boom the concentration goes.

Late on against Hearts, Shankland in the middle of 3 of us manages to win a pen. Goal.
Smith dragged right out to Sakala and Edwards should come across quicker, goal.
Smith ragdolled against Nisbet yesterday. Goal.
Graham should’ve taken the foul against Aberdeen before their pen in November. goal.

Shows recruitment that we’ve shoehorned a centre back trio with 2 full backs and it won’t get us anywhere successful. Get rid of Edwards and smith this summer.

Stillliving · 15/1/2023 12:31 pm

It's always disappointing to lose a late goal but IMO there's far too much negativity on here.
Fox definitely has the team moving in the right direction, it's not that long ago we had 2pts from 9 matches and looked doomed.
He took over a team with a broken dressing room and on the back off a record home defeat. We are now back in the pack and looking organised and motivated.
People don't agree with his substitutes and now want to call him clueless .
A bit of perspective required.

Last edited by Stillliving (15/1/2023 12:32 pm)

CCX2 2010 · 15/1/2023 1:04 pm

United Arab Emarite wrote:
The expertise on here is incredible, soccer scientists abound.
It's the same on all the other media right enough.
Sure it's heartbreaking to lose two points on 90 + 2, feels worse than a loss really, but we need a sense of perspective.
Without Levitt, McGrath, Mulgrew & Watt and still outplaying Hibs at home.
Fox & Crawford take a lot of credit, the criticism they're getting is ridiculous.
We're pulling along in the right direction.

This is a football forum where you come on n give your opinion is it not?

I will tell you what is ridiculous, bringing off Steven Fletcher with 10 minutes to go and hanging on and putting on a 17 year old laddie.

Still raging from yesterday as no doubt anyone else that was there yesterday.

You certainly never needed to be an expert to see it coming.

Finn Seemann · 15/1/2023 1:07 pm

I’m generally very critical of people on here, but I think the last two posts are correct. I’d agree that subbies should have been made earlier and probably the wrong ones were made. However I think that is down to injuries and recruitment which with the Asghar model is not up to Fox. The Fox quandary was the best team were already on the park and they really had put a shift in. We just have a very limited bench and I think the likes of Mulgrew and Pawlett are clearly not fit enough-age catching up.

Fox however has them playing some really good stuff. First time 60 minutes were great. We did run out of steam and stopped the press. The criticism of Djoum above is way out of order. He was key in both goals and worked really well with Sibbald who was the best player on the park.

I’ve seen load of games at Easter Road from 80s onwards and that was up among best 5 performances. Granted Hibs aren’t very good and we lost 2 points to a boy who is a real talent. It was Nisber 2 United 2.

Hibees I spoke to afterwards thought we were comfortably the better team and that they were v lucky. 3 points would have been great, but if we could strengthen the squad this month, we should pull clear of the relegation spots.

I’m v worried about the no show from Levitt though. Fear we need the cash!

CCX2 2010 · 15/1/2023 1:14 pm

@finn

They said on sportscene last night that it's his hammy that is gone.

I agree about your point about Djoum, thought he was decent yesterday and got stuck in when required.

Tek · 15/1/2023 5:27 pm

CCX2 2010 wrote:
@finn

They said on sportscene last night that it's his hammy that is gone.

I agree about your point about Djoum, thought he was decent yesterday and got stuck in when required.

Who's done their hammy? Levitt?

CCX2 2010 · 15/1/2023 6:21 pm

Yes they said that Levitt was out with a hamstring injury last night.

lifesanocean · 15/1/2023 8:23 pm

CCX2 2010 wrote:
Yes they said that Levitt was out with a hamstring injury last night.

Probably a result of Fox leaving him on for about 15 minutes at the end of The Rangers game rather than put Meekison on who he he clearly doesn't rate and only appears to be on the bench to make up the numbers and so the club can say there is x amount of academy graduates in the squad.

Tek · 16/1/2023 12:50 am

CCX2 2010 wrote:
Yes they said that Levitt was out with a hamstring injury last night.

Bugger!

At least McGrath is back in training, but hopefully Dylan isn't out too long.

lifesanocean · 16/1/2023 7:18 am

https://twitter.com/DufcStats/status/1614703104703827968?t=iSTQgMUBMoBpiz0nOq1wQw&s=19

Shakey Isles Arab · 16/1/2023 9:34 am

lifesanocean wrote:
https://twitter.com/DufcStats/status/1614703104703827968?t=iSTQgMUBMoBpiz0nOq1wQw&s=19

Scary table this one.
Fergie was quouted along the lines of players are paid for 90, they work for 90.
Basic.

CA as usual, great post and as usual reflects fundamental stuff.
I'd have had Mulgrew on late in the game.

Seems like many of guys sitting getting splinters are only going to get a run for injuries.
Hence 2 points dropped.

If Fox

Finn Seemann · 16/1/2023 11:09 am

Canadian Arab wrote:
Finn Seemann wrote:
I’m generally very critical of people on here, but I think the last two posts are correct. I’d agree that subbies should have been made earlier and probably the wrong ones were made. However I think that is down to injuries and recruitment which with the Asghar model is not up to Fox. The Fox quandary was the best team were already on the park and they really had put a shift in. We just have a very limited bench and I think the likes of Mulgrew and Pawlett are clearly not fit enough-age catching up.

Fox however has them playing some really good stuff. First time 60 minutes were great. We did run out of steam and stopped the press. The criticism of Djoum above is way out of order. He was key in both goals and worked really well with Sibbald who was the best player on the park.

I’ve seen load of games at Easter Road from 80s onwards and that was up among best 5 performances. Granted Hibs aren’t very good and we lost 2 points to a boy who is a real talent. It was Nisber 2 United 2.

Hibees I spoke to afterwards thought we were comfortably the better team and that they were v lucky. 3 points would have been great, but if we could strengthen the squad this month, we should pull clear of the relegation spots.

I’m v worried about the no show from Levitt though. Fear we need the cash!
Have to agree with this. Fox's best team was on the park and it seems he doesn't want to change it. What he seems to be struggling to accept is that 2 or 3 fresh players for the last 20-25 minutes will make us stronger than leaving on 3 lads who are part of his best starting XI but who are also knackered.

I don't believe our lads are deliberately sitting back to try and protect a lead - I think the high intensity pressing game we play for the first hour (which is highly effective) leaves many of our lads - particularly in midfield and up top - running on empty. I'd be interested to see the stats on distance covered by our players after an hour. Most players cover around 10 km over 90 mins but I wouldn't be surprised if our midfield are at between 8 and 9 after 60 minutes. That's not sustainable, which is clear to everyone watching, and I think that's why we start to sit deeper. Yesterday I'd have had Meekison for Sibbald, McGrath for Djoum and Niskanen for Middleton after 65 mins and have all 3 running their arses off to close opponents down quickly and force them square or backwards. Take away their time on the ball in the middle third of the park and they won't be supplying quality balls to their forwards.

Yip agreed. Those are the subbies I'd have made too. He's asking an awful lot of Fletcher to run around like the rest of them at his age and he was totally empty and had to go off which meant the ball then had no chance of sticking in the Hibs end and just making our predicament worse. I get that he thinks Meekison and Niskanen are not the quality we'd ideally like, but the Finnish boy will run all week and needs to be used in situations like Saturday where everyone else is out on their feet. Meekison is an odd one. He was the obvious swap for Sibbald or Djoum or even Harkes, but clearly Fox just doesn't fancy him. To put a clearly non match fit McGrath and the wrong type of player in Pawlett who also can't be match fit on (by the way what position was Pawlett supposed to be playing) tells you all about what he thinks of Meekison. Jeez, give the guy a chance rather than play players who clearly need more time to get up to speed.

On the Fox front, I am happy that he can get a team on the park that can boss the likes of Hibs away from home. That is impressive. However, he needs to learn to be better at seeing games out and using his bench more effectively, but that can come. At least we are in games past half time now and have the chance to see put the 3 points. I can't believe I am saying this in January whilst still in a relegation fight, but, assuming we are still in the top league come May, can we please stick with the manager and give him a summer to work on his squad?

PS Asghar out....

douglas arab · 16/1/2023 5:18 pm

Finn Seemann wrote:
I’m generally very critical of people on here, but I think the last two posts are correct. I’d agree that subbies should have been made earlier and probably the wrong ones were made. However I think that is down to injuries and recruitment which with the Asghar model is not up to Fox. The Fox quandary was the best team were already on the park and they really had put a shift in. We just have a very limited bench and I think the likes of Mulgrew and Pawlett are clearly not fit enough-age catching up.

Fox however has them playing some really good stuff. First time 60 minutes were great. We did run out of steam and stopped the press. The criticism of Djoum above is way out of order. He was key in both goals and worked really well with Sibbald who was the best player on the park.

I’ve seen load of games at Easter Road from 80s onwards and that was up among best 5 performances. Granted Hibs aren’t very good and we lost 2 points to a boy who is a real talent. It was Nisber 2 United 2.

Hibees I spoke to afterwards thought we were comfortably the better team and that they were v lucky. 3 points would have been great, but if we could strengthen the squad this month, we should pull clear of the relegation spots.

I’m v worried about the no show from Levitt though. Fear we need the cash!

But Mulgrew played 90 v County, three weeks ago

Last edited by douglas arab (16/1/2023 5:20 pm)

Finn Seemann · 16/1/2023 6:30 pm

douglas arab wrote:
Finn Seemann wrote:
I’m generally very critical of people on here, but I think the last two posts are correct. I’d agree that subbies should have been made earlier and probably the wrong ones were made. However I think that is down to injuries and recruitment which with the Asghar model is not up to Fox. The Fox quandary was the best team were already on the park and they really had put a shift in. We just have a very limited bench and I think the likes of Mulgrew and Pawlett are clearly not fit enough-age catching up.

Fox however has them playing some really good stuff. First time 60 minutes were great. We did run out of steam and stopped the press. The criticism of Djoum above is way out of order. He was key in both goals and worked really well with Sibbald who was the best player on the park.

I’ve seen load of games at Easter Road from 80s onwards and that was up among best 5 performances. Granted Hibs aren’t very good and we lost 2 points to a boy who is a real talent. It was Nisber 2 United 2.

Hibees I spoke to afterwards thought we were comfortably the better team and that they were v lucky. 3 points would have been great, but if we could strengthen the squad this month, we should pull clear of the relegation spots.

I’m v worried about the no show from Levitt though. Fear we need the cash!
But Mulgrew played 90 v County, three weeks ago

Can't be any other reason he is not playing