A manager we can belieeeeeeve in...

Another good in-depth interview with John Collins in Yesterday’s Scotland on Sunday I see. Good to read him tackling the contentious issues head on and putting fat oafs like Simon Brown in their place without having to resort to diplomatic euphemism. Pity it came on the back of such a monstrously gash performance on the park…

Still, JC’s sincerity and commitment shine out, as well as his obvious intelligence. No doubt the more intellectually challenged Yams will still go on about Six-Pack and Tommy Craig the Puppetmaster, but articles like this remove any substance from claims that Collins is not his own man, or that he is just an arrogant narcissus. He ain’t. He’s just an honest, dedicated professional trying to do a tough job with materials of sometimes questionable quality.

the hibLOG

Troubled Times: Straiton

A past perspective written shortly after the prospect of ‘Straiton II’ was announced. Worthwile considering when we measure the reaction to Hibs losing a game to St. Mirren 0-1 last Saturday?

"I felt the same emotions as many other THAT Monday
morning recently when news filtered through about a possible prospective move
from the Hibernian heartland of Easter Road. Feelings of confusion, incredulity,
anger and disappointment were paramount primarily.Fear not here, as I do not
proffer another angle as to whether our football team should indeed be
Straiton-bound or not. Many have comprehensively and expertly covered this
subject, through informative and well-conceived articles reproduced on the
Hibs.net front page and further by excellent debating skills displayed within
the recently particularly well-used medium of the message board. It would be a
difficult task to imagine anything new to present to the table currently.

I offer a word of reassurance to this end, as I am
perfectly sure many of are feeling the effects of a certain Straiton
‘burn-out’!My own initial opinions of the move, admittedly with a very little
information to hand, like most of us, had been woven around fears of deceit. I,
like others have at times taken the opportunity to make my, (in my case negative
towards a move), opinions known, so If I may, I’d enjoy laying that thought down
straight away and moving on toward my main point.

Over some considerable period of, at first, passively
noting contributions to the original Erin site and Hibs.net and progressively to
being a regular, hopefully constructive contributor through postings on the
message board, it has been my pleasure always to talk to fellow Hibernian
supporters. I should also give mention to other club’s supporters who offer
width and depth to the conversation. Without their presence we could potentially
experience a more sterile environment.It is against this backdrop that I would
like to express some very real concerns and fears for the brotherhood that we
call supporting Hibernian Football Club.

There has been mention by some of a feeling of ‘supporter
against supporter’ in recent times over this huge issue that confronts us all.
Indeed I recognise the signs in myself – thoughts of impatience and
dismissiveness at others opinions which do not correspond with my own. I started
to feel some anger at some fellow fans, fans who I have enjoyed the ‘company’ of
on Hibs.net and have had copious amounts of respect for previously, for their
wisdom, intelligence, debating skills and not least, a love of our club,
Hibernian.Now, I don’t like this, I don’t like it all. In fact I thought about
this so much it moved me to come along here for the first time, and share my
thoughts with those of you who would be kind enough to listen.

After an initial period of understandably fierce debating
there is movement afoot. We have watched as Hibernian people are starting to
inevitably collect and organise themselves to make themselves heard. I sense
huge black clouds gathering and the chill wind of harsh words that will surely
blow around us all very soon. This has to be, and perhaps is the way it should
be?I’ll get to the point, and thank you for your patience thus far. I’d like to
offer a little plea if I may? It would make me very happy if I could observe my
fellow supporters, whichever ‘side’ of the debate you may stand on, behaving
with decorum and dignity. Let’s leave the insults at home and attempt to
understand fellow fan’s various points of view, be what they may. It might be
fair to say that a majority of supporters have already achieved this desirable
state. I salute those of you.

We are all under great provocation at times to act
otherwise, (note my self-confessed emotions earlier), the measure of us will be
to witness our actions in this (yet another) time of adversity.We have an
excellent forum for debate on the Hib.net message board, and indeed over on our
friends at the Hibees Bounce site, another superb portal for Hibbies worldwide.
Let’s utilise these facilities to their full, with honest, reasoned and
respectful debate as talking must always be the foremost way forward. Yes of
course there will be anger and derision occasionally. That we can be sure
of, I am equally sure that we can concentrate on the avoidance of unnecessary
instances of this though, happily.

The current storm brewing rumbles ominously, when those
hard times pass we will see Hibernian Football Club delivered into fresh new
pastures and a new era or alternatively steadfastly resolute in our beloved home
of Easter Road – The Holy Ground. A safe and respectful passage I bid you
all."

Stuart Frew

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning

Hibernian 0 St. Mirren 1

An unsatisfactory result by most standards for the Hibs today then and a double disappointment after finally last week relinquishing a superb unbeaten league run this season. Well all good things come to an end and how, let down as we might feel, can say they’ve never been taken to extremes of expectancy by Hibs only to have their dream dashed? For those of us who have been following this club for any time at all it has been a default condition over the years, we’re Hibbies and we expect and quite often accept this as part of the ride whilst following the Green Jerseys.

I get annoyed when Hibs capitulate from these fine positions they get into, I feel as desperately disappointed as anyone else. That said a certain maturity in dealing with it comes about after much experience of another bad day at the office. To be fair I’m not able to be at Easter road often enough to actually watch and feel the ebb and flow of the game. It’s quite easy to be more balanced about such situations overlooking them at a distance - quite another to watch a poor and seemingly unnecessary and inexplicable performance unfold. Having added that caveat I am almost more disappointed with some supporters rants during and immediately after the game than the team’s deficiencies…almost.

Today I found myself listening to the Internet radio coverage and flicking through the Hibs messageboards whilst the game was going on, picking up on snippets added by stay at home and distant Hibbies. Some of the comments I read make me wonder if some of these people actually support this team at all? It’s each to their own of course and I take the point that people pay their money and deserve their say just like anyone else, but some of it is just totally ridiculous and in particular very fickle. After the twelfth minute today when St. Mirren went ahead due to an apparent defensive mix-up between centre back Jones and Makalamby in goal one fan opined that this was ‘unnacceptable’. Take that apart for a second and what oes it actually mean? Does it mean that it’s unacceptable for any team to score a goal against Hibs? Manager John Collins has expressed at various times that it is important to realise and understand that there will be setbacks - during games and in the team’s general progress but that point does not appear to have been ‘acceptable to some’.

Further chagrin tonight then as I read that Clayton Donaldson is ‘pure and utter keek’ whilst his strike partner Curier is a ‘carthorse’. Luckily I was able to see these guys take the pitch for Hibs quite recently and whilst always saying that it is impossible to judge a player on one performance the evidence I saw with my own eyes would be contrary to those extreme views given. Of course Jones should ‘go - and take Makalamby with him’. Next game, a different day and different performance their praises will be getting sung no doubt… What’s the answer here? I’m not sure. I do believe generally that Hibs should open the purse strings a little, within reason. I’m not however suggesting a wholesale hiking up of the wage structure that would see the bulk of the type of the quality in the team getting a big overhaul. We need a lot more patience yet, the board still have to convince me on the extreme prudence though, but that’s another debate. Speaking of patience I really think I might resort to my old routine of waiting to hear what supporters have to say on the day after - or better still Monday - rather than on a Saturday evening.

Any football supporters, not just Hibs, are liable to get a little angry when their team underperforms and disappoints come match day. It’s a passionate game and it just wouldn’t be the same without that. It’s not a notion that fans should ’sit down and shut up’ but I have to ask this one final question. Does our club have some of the moaniest, critical and negative individuals of any team you’ve witnessed? I’ll leave you to decide.

Stuart Frew

Sans Singe says Sean

I’ve not yet seen even highlights of yesterday’s game, although I did manage to listen to most of it courtesy of BBC Radio Scotland.

To say there are a few talking points is a huge understatement, but I’d rather not dwell on those if you don’t mind. For one thing, its past now and there’s nothing we can do. For another thing, we’ll be the beneficiary of those talking points from other games (Killie anyone?) and whilst it’s true to say they probably won’t even themselves out, they do swing both ways.

One thing I do believe though though is that yesterday’s defeat is a real monkey off our back. It was the kind of pressure I’m not sure some of our young and inexperienced players needed.
What I also believe is that now that we are sans singe, lets knuckle down hard and continue the good work by showing the old and infirm that we can sustain a top of the league challenge.

Today we are third in the SPL, one solitary point behind both Celtic and Rangers, with one game left to finish the first quarter. There is a pretty bloody good chance that come next Sunday evening with that Q1 closed, we will be in no worse a standing in the league, possibly in an even better one.

Will we have achieved those lofty heights with an unfair advantage over our rivals? Have we spent our way to the top? Have we been injury free so far this season? Have we had a good run of home fixtures? Have we kept our best players whilst others have not?

No, the truth is despite the press speaking of disharmony and strife. Despite the loss of our most experienced and influential players through injurys and religeous festivals. Despite playing two of the big(ot) three away from home. Despite spending less than nowt on new players. Despite losing almost all of last seasons top players.

Despite EVERYTHING we, no not we, John Collins and his staff have confounded EVERYONE. Fans and critics and neutrals alike. Johnny Collins and the Hibernians have mounted a serious challenge to all our SPL rivals. We have done so playing with what we have. Making do when we have to. Grinding a result when we have to. Playing teams off the park when they let us, and yes, taking defeat on the chin when it comes our way.

This morning and tomorrow mornings papers and messageboards wil undoubtedly contain the phrase “bubble burst” somewhere in their columns, but I’ll tell you here and now why that is bullshit. Plainly and simply, the Hibs bubble hasn’t burst because as yet there is no Hibs bubble. There is just a bunch of laddies trying their level best and working hard.

Glory glory to the Hibees!

Sean Allan

Ooh! Zemmama

Now I’ve heard all the “ma mates mate” or “a pal of a pal” or a “bloke in my dads work” stories before, but this one’s different. Cos its come from me!

A pal was out with a musim pal of his when they spotted wee Zemmama sitting chatting to a suited and booted chap.

Being a wee bit devious and because his muslim pal speaks arabic, they decided to walk past to try and eaves drop.

Of course, they couldn’t listen in for the sake of beeing bleedin’ bloddy obvious eaves droppers, but they did hear chat of “definitely more money next season.”

That tells you nothing, absolutely nothing but nevertheless its got you thinking. More money at Hibs? more money not at Hibs? More money from his generous parents?

Ha, thats what you get for listening to a half arsed eaves drop. Dinnae get annoyed now, if we were the Retard we would have had the wee guy sold tae Celtic by now!

Sean Allan

The Sickness of Modern Football

As evidenced by the incident during the Celtic-Milan clash last night.

On the one hand the pitch invader was a complete idiot and Celtic will undoubtedly be punished for his actions but look at the reaction of Dida, his stretchering off with an ice pack on his face is just shameful. I’d like to see him heavily punished as this kind of behaviour just makes a mockery out of the beautiful game.

Interested in other’s thoughts on this one. For me the Celtic fan looked like he was going to put his arms around Dida then thought better of it and ran on. Certainly there appeared minimal contact.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2MVDIYC13cg

Stuart Frew

A Hibs Comparison

Collins: a potential Clough?

I noticed an interesting comparison online recently and it set me casting my mind back some years. In the light of some superb results of late and in particular yesterday’s vanquishing of the hun, a Hibby was prompted to relate the present-day abilities of the Hibs team and management in comparison to the Nottingham Forest side that conquered Europe with two European Cup wins and several domestic trophies. Some of the similarities drawn were of smallish squads, tight discipline in the players and similar budgets. Having had the pleasure of watching that great Forest team week in, week out, I’d like to offer the following comparison.
Indeed Forest’s was a smallish squad but some of the players who came in to fill the breach were tremendously effective. I’m referring to players like John O’Hare, Ian Bowyer and an extremely young Chris Woods and Gary Mills (16 years old in the latter case).

A good comparison about the discipline I believe. Clough simply would not allow his players to cheat or berate officials. If they did they would not get any backing from him but rather one of his infamous verbal blasts! It seems John Collins shares this attitude.

The passing is an interesting one. One of my abiding memories of that great team was their method of trying to walk the ball into the net at times. I hear similar complaints from the odd Hibby about this as I did then about Forest Although Forest have always been very much a ‘football’ side like Hibs purport to be some of the fans still didn’t get it - until that run of 42 games unbeaten and various silverware started assembling! Forest would literally pass, pass, pass the ball around the edge of the box practically forever until a good shooting opportunity arose. They were extremely patient in that way as Clough ruled that it was an extremely bad habit to shoot when someone else was in a superior position.

One way in which I’d suggest this Hibs team is actually superior is in physical fitness. Forest were fortunate enough to have a player or two like Archie Gemmill and Martin O’Neill with great engines. The training however was laughable by todays standards. Any morning one could walk down to the Trent enbankment by the river and watch those great stars just fiddling around playing fives amongst the dog walkers! Clough would stand there with his own dog, flat cap on, bawling the odd comment.

John Robertson flattered to deceive - until Cloughie came along to rescue him from the chip pan!
As regards the spending of money, yes most definitely Forest did and it did get them into financial problems for several years afterwards. Of course Trevor Francis was the first £1m player. What Clough did was buy a spine for his team in Shilton, Burns and Gemmill. The majority of the rest were young guys like O’Neill and John Robertson who had done little before Clough came along. Just as important were some of the bargain buys like Peter Withe (£40,000) and the misfits and ‘has beens’ like John O’Hare and Frank Clarke (free transfer).

I do see some similarities between Hibs and Forest, and not for the first time. Certainly I think we have a manager with equal self-belief I’m happy to say. Look out Europe!

Rangers v Hibernian

Having imposed a ban on myself going to Ibrox (nasty, plod related incident) I settled for listening to yesterday’s game on the wireless. That is, till the phone rang and a familiar voice telt me the game was on in a rather pleasant Leith eatery the Allans frequent on a regular basis.
With fifteen minutes of the first half remaining, I managed to squeeze firstborn and I into a wee spot near the telly, surrounded by I dunno 50-80 boistrous Hibees, with pizza slices passing overhead, carbonaras being sucked down disney style, and draught Peroni beer flowing like wine. It felt good.

The first half finished with hibs not looking troubled at all. To be fair, we didn’t really trouble Rangers in that last 15 either.

Johnny Collins made a change for part two, and from the off Hibs looked livlier. Philipe Morais really does look like a footballer, the type we all think Beuzy should be.

Throughout the half Hibs had nice wee spells of possession, but looked more dangerous on the break. The impasse though was broken on the hour mark.

A Morais corner was headed home by fans favourite David Murphy, probably the last hibs player the opposition would mark at a corner. From that moment on the game was NEVER in doubt.

Rangers had a couple of chances, but relied on the hopeless long ball most of the time. Hibs on the other hand settled into a passing controlling game Ajax ‘72 would be proud of. It felt like 10 minutes, but 2.5 would be more accurate, when Rangers, at home, never got a sniff of the ball. It was beautiful stuff from the Hibernians, and it’s very obvious John Collins philosophy is getting through to the players.

Normally, with 10 to go and one nil up against the old firm, we start the whistles. Not this time, not today. The 3 minutes overtime was not nearly enough. If another goal was coming it was from the men in green. Sadly though, the game eventualy did end, with Hibernian jubilant and top of the league.

Jubilant and top of the league.

The scenes in leiths finest eatery were fantastic, every bit as good as my experiences in Italy the night they won the World Cup. Chorus of “top of the league” “we are unbeatable” “Johnny Collins….” “Copland Road” it was superb, ecstatic, a moment to savour.

Jubilant and top of the league, lang may JC’s lum reek.

Sean Allan

This is How it Feels...From a Distance

A familiar old Mass Hibsteria phrase and one that is very apt at this time. I’ve spent the afternoon following The Hibees progress at Ibrox against a Rangers team who scored an excellent 3-0 victory in Europe during the past week. I use methods like Radio Scotland on the net and/or the Sporting Life text coverage along with the Hibs messageboards - anything in fact that keeps me in contact with Hibs’ fortunes down here in Nottingham.

I have to say that yet again tonight, this is one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in forty-odd years of following the Hibs man and boy. What’s more I keep getting that feeling - it’s becoming more regular. We all know the feeling when the Hibs are hanging on for a win in a big game like this, it can be heart-stopping and gut-wrenching at the same time. The adrenaline flows and one kicks every ball for the team , whether we’re in the seats watching the game or stuck in front of the Internet or a radio. These are the moments when you know how much your team means to you. In my case I have no problem in admitting that’s a very great deal.

Ironically it seems as though our team were not even ‘hanging on’. From reports for those of us who weren’t there it appears that our football was showing through and that there were spells - one in particular, of an incredible passing sequence keeping Rangers away from the ball for a long period of time. Everything about this club feels good at the moment. The good news is spread in so many different ways. Typically, early reports give out that Ross Chisholm was given the man-of-the-match award and that seems to say so much about our team right now. Young players step into the breach continually and show great maturity for those so young and inexperienced. Wherever we look there’s positivity.

It’s not so long ago that a visit to Ibrox or Parhead was looked upon with some gloom and trepidation. That feeling seems to have withered and died and there is a new confidence about Hibernian from both the players and the fans. Finally those mental shackles seem to have been shed. Conversely it apparent that neither of the Old Firm feel necessarily that comfortable about facing Hibs - nor should they. Tonight as I write, Hibernian sit proudly atop the SPL, unbeaten after ten games and growing in stature and confidence under our young manager, John Collins. Perhaps, just perhaps he is embedding some of the undoubted self-confidence he had as a player himself. I’m happy to say that those young players could barely have a better role model at the helm.

This is how it feels then. I think about Hibs an awful lot, probably more than is healthy for me! I think of them and the great people I know through supporting this team at odd and various times. When I’m driving somewhere, when I’m walking home after a pint or two at night, when I’m in the company of others and particularly when I pontificate about why I feel so eternally tied to this club, when I’m alone. The sense of belonging to this thing connects me with my family history and means so very much to me in so many different ways. I find myself this evening looking forward to the next occasion I can visit Easter Road to watch the men in green shirts with white sleeves weave those pretty patterns and entertain us, those of who love this club. I am a very proud fan this Saturday evening.

Erin Go Bragh

Stuart Frew