Hibs: The Prodigal is Back!

Hibernian yesterday completed the signing of former striker, Derek Riordan from Celtic after a torrent of rumour regarding a possible deal. Fans' nerves were stretched to breaking point waiting for the Messiah-like return of the former golden boy of Easter Road until an announcement during the evening. Although the talk of a return seemed well-substantiated, it was far from a formality with Hibs having to comply with Celtic's wishes regarding a sizable sell-on fee.

Hibs' pre and early season form has been poor and erratic and Derek's return will give a great boost a to a beleaguered club board and concerned and angry supporters alike. It's just the fillip required at Easter Road and one can almost feel the tides of goodwill and optimism flowing from club's faithful fans today

Riordan is back!

The rarest commodities in football are surely true goalscorers- those that have the happy knack of being in the right place when it matters and able to despatch the ball into the back of the net in a variety of methods. Derek Riordan is just such a player. Not for him the most robust aspects of the game as a very slimly built forward player it must be stated. His tackling won't trouble too many apart from nuisance value but his talents are far more valuable in and around the opposition penalty area where he excels like few others. A study of Riordan's goals is an examination of how to score in a myriad of ways. Twenty-five yarders, tap-ins, mazy dribble and finishes, all taken with a cool clinical precision. Hibs are very fortunate indeed to have the player, who is also a life-long fan of the club back in the fold. It is perhaps a regret to the player and at the same time incredible, that the Glasgow club seemed unable or unwilling to unleash his considerable talents too often. That is for them to reflect upon. In the meantime the whole of Leith (and those of us further adrift) with a love of the old club will be celebrating and have a new spring  in our step today.

DEREK RIORDAN IS BACK!

Stuart Frew

Another Bad Day at the Office for Hibernian

Hibernian 0-1 Motherwell

More misery for the Hibees

Worrying times continue for the Hibees after another defeat, this time to a late John Sutton goal fromMotherwell at Easter Road. It's yet another blow for this toothless team in green and white that is long past beginning to concern me. Following on from an embarrasssing 3-4 defeat at the hands of Greenock Morton - a team two divisions below Hibs, last Tuesday evening.

The hopeful diversion of a possible return of former Hibs star Derek Riordan has perhaps contributed to some of us with the Easter Road club at heart taking our eye off the ball as matters are truly dire at the club presently. It will take more than a fit and scoring Riordan to turn things around for our currently ailing team sadly.

There are reports that towards the end of the game today there were shouts of 'Petrie out' directed towards the CEO who is taking a fair amount of the flack from sections of the support for a lack of re-investment in the team after taking in approximately £11m of late in player sales. It's a stance I have a lot of time for as we watch a denuded team attempt to replace a galaxy of great young talent with generally very ordinary journeymen football players.

Others will point to healthy movements forward for the club as a whole. Certainly the East Mains Training Centre in particular and the prospective completion of the rebuilding of Easter Road with a brand-spanking new East Stand measure some of the progress the club has made over the past few seasons. Unfortunately Chairman Petrie seems to have forgotten that Hibernian FC is actually a football club. The training centre is a marvellous move for the future whilst the new stand's immediate worth must be in some doubt. Hibs don't have a team on the pitch worthy of filling the new spectator area sad to say.

My personal opinion for what it's worth is that there has been a lack of balance in the way that the clubs financial affairs have been managed for some time now. There is little balance between expenditure on team matters and other areas of the football club. Hibs fans have been let down badly in seeing an extremely talented young team dismantled and being replaced with players of inferior quality and pedigree. It's easy to see why so many are angry and I count myself as one of that number.

An emotional Mixu Paatelainen

It's always a blame game nowadays as people seek to find a scapegoat for most every general situation. This is no different at Easter Road. Whilst a proportion of the Hibs faithful blame Chairman Petrie for his tight-wallet fiscal approach, others go further in seeing him as a puppet of Hibs owner Sir Tom Farmer. Others still pour scorn on individual players, the goalkeepers in particular. There is also a sizable body of supporters that blame the woes of the club on manager Mixu Paatelainen. I'm not yet certain of Mixu's capabilities and I'll lay my cards on the table in saying that he would not have been my first choice for Hibs boss when the vacancy last occurred. It does seem unfair however to lay all of the blame at the former player's door in spite of some of his well-documented weaknesses tactically and with team selections. Mixu, like most Hib managers has to operate with an arm tied firmly behind his back. It was the same for John Collins and Tony Mowbray in recent times. Collins in particular in spite of having a reportedly larger amount of money to spend on team matters than some others also presided over the selling off of a great young set of players from underneath him without adequately priced replacements being installed.

Finally regarding today's game, it was telling to note that a crowd of around 11,000-odd turned up. This is certainly down by a good piece when compared to last season's figures. I find this one of the most worrying factors about the game today. Is our 'upward spiral' finally grinding to a halt in the face of lack of ambition? I'm sorry to admit that I believe it is. Who knows, a run of a few decent performances and results will see me and others feeling differently but I have no confidence that this will happen without a re-think from the individuals charged with the running of Hibernian Football club.

Stuart Frew

Derek Riordan

There - I've quoted the name. The one that's tripping off practically every Hibs supporters lips at the current time. Presently Derek remains sitting out his contract at Celtic, shorn of match fitness by manage

r Strachan who appears to have taken personal exception to the young goal scorer and who has consistently refused to play him for the Glasgow club during his own at Parkhead.

At the time of writing - and this situation is a dynamic one that could change at any moment, the transfer window in Scottish Football is due to close on Monday and the usual rumour-mill is wound up to full speed. The Hibs online communities are beside themselves to discuss the possibly of a Messiah-like return to Hibs of the slimly built hit-man. Literally scores of forum threads have been dedicated to the subject rendering the persuing of those messageboads almost unreadable at times.

As those with an interest know, Derek left Easter Road around two years ago amidst a bad atmosphere and one of recriminations around the manner of his departure. He was seen by many to have sold the club short financially at that time and one of the many rumours surrounding his exit was that CEO Rod Petrie had played hardball with the youngster and in turn the player had responded accordingly. Of course this is just one of the theories and perhaps we will never know the truth.

The cry at that time was one of 'Judas' from a vociferous section of the Easter Road faithful. We've become used to seeing seeing the word 'loyalty' become a redundant one in modern football - from players, managers and supporters but the scale of abuse was as great as I had personally ever witnessed from my fellow Hibs fans. Disturbing in its intensity in one or two individuals.

Of course I hope that Hibernian are the club that finally parade his talents in a first team strip.. It's not the fact that Derek Riordan is a dyed-in-the-wool Hibby but much more to do with his ability. Those capabilities include being a most natural goal scorer. Derek has that innate ability to put the ball in the back of the net and as always, there are few in the game that can offer

Happier days. Hibs' then twenty-goal a season man celebrates yet another marker

that promise. In his Easter Road days he was sometimes reviled for his lack of work-rate and indifference to tackling and tracking back when Hibs weren't in possession of the ball. Whilst always applauding industry and a good work ethic in a professional, asking Derek to undertake that type of role was missing the point of his game slightly I always felt. There were occasions he didn't necessarily help himself in that respect but at the same time his opportunities were often denied due to being consistently substituted by manager Mowbray at that time. It's certainly a facet of his game that the player will have to pay attention to in order to resume his career progress however.

So the controversy regarding a return to Edinburgh continues to rage. Of late there have been thousands of words expounded by the Hibernian support and press alike regarding the situation and in spite of being a fan of the player I can't help but feel that in the event of his potential second coming he will have far too much too live up to in people's slightly unreasonable expectations. I hope that I am proved incorrect in the event. Knowing Derek Riordan it would be just like him to drive a swerving 25-yarder into the top of the net on his debut.ernian What happens if he isn't able to keep that type of magic up or game after game though. That is my worry as us Hibs fans have become increasingly short of patience and fractious with our players these days. In the meantime I'll be avoiding those 'stories' surrounding his return, his social life, his Range Rover and what he eats for breakfast.

Stuart Frew

The problem with Scottish refs

It seems that refereeing decisions in the SPL are becoming ever more bizarre over time. Everybody has their own explanation to explain the shoddy standard of refereeing in this country. Three of the most predominant are the refs are just useless, backhanders and that they are bigot brother fans in black shirts.

The sit down between selected managers, players and refs was supposed to help to clear the air. If it did work it only lasted until the next match kicked off. Yogi Hughes has suggested that referees go for a game of golf with managers in order to help break down the barriers that exist between them. I would not force my worst enemy to spend any length of time with a referee and I would not make anybody spend time in the company of Yogi no matter how much they had pissed me off. The US constitution describes that as cruel and inhumane treatment, even inmates in Guantanamo Bay don’t have to put up with that kind of torture.

How do you justify giving the bastard in the black the £800 a game that they are asking for? Is it the time to get professional referees? Should we borrow referees from another league?

The first thing they have to do is to look at the whole issue of sponsorship of the referees. We all laughed when they announced that Specsavers were taking over the sponsorship deal for refs. How many times had the resident wit of the east stand suggested a trip to Specsavers for a referee? An ideal sponsorship opportunity if ever there was one. I bet that Specsavers are embarrassed by it now though, having your name associated with one of the myopic groups of people ever to walk this earth. Well maybe it is time to move on. My suggestion is that the refs go cap in hand to a company that provides laser eye surgery. Specs have not worked so they might as well give Lasik a try. Anything that helps them see the damage that they are doing to the game as well as the reputation of Scottish football must be good.

Hibernian – Give us a Goal

Not ‘six of the best’ unfortunately as after six pre-season games Hibs have proved unable to hit the net in half a dozen attempts this summer so far. With capitulations (twice) in the Intertoto Cup against Sweden’s Elfsborg, a no-score draw with Raith Rovers and defeats versus the modest opposition of Cowdenbeath and now Clyde, the 6-0 drubbing from mighty Barcelona almost seems to appear quite reasonable.

Further home games against EPL outfits Middlesbrough and Wigan now pave the way to the first league fixture away to Kilmarnock. There has to be a fair chunk of trepidation felt by the Easter Road faithful about these encounters and about the coming season in earnest to follow.

Remember the days when pre-season friendlies were of little note? Tradition might be for a good few Scottish teams to try their hand against English competition and apart from the odd shallow bragging right nobody really cared too much. It’s different nowadays isn’t it? Fans travel long distances and spend a lot of money to see their team on trips that often raise funds for some clubs or provide a busman’s holiday for teams’ players. I’m really not sure about this. Every game is there to be won of course and paying fans have the right to see a performance fitting of their admission fee but there now seems a lot of negativity created by defeats in these games.

I’ve never been a fan that particularly takes pre-season results too seriously what is happening at Easter Road concerns me a lot. Six games and not a solitary goal should worry anyone as evidently the team is not firing and creating chances. It should be obvious to state what a bad sign this is as alternatiely we can sometimes forgive a side that creates plenty of opportunities to score but fails to take advantage. To not carve out an opening or two however poses greater and deeper problems. 

Mixu Paatelainen in angry mood

So what’s the big problem with Hibs? We all have our theories and many will share mine but this football team has been robbed of the nearly all its quality over the season or two. Many times this situation has been impossible to deny as young ambitious players wish to move on to pastures anew and huge wage increase and who can blame them. What is a greater problem is the way in which Hibernian have chosen to replace that young talent. Nearly always this means bargain basement buys, cheap ‘Bosmans’ and very ordinary journeymen players who represent the flotsam and jetsam on the fringes of international football way down to non-league. It’s no mystery why Hibs now find themselves in such an apparent mess. It was always fairly inevitable that this was going to happen.

Perhaps the long term way forward for Hibs is again in youth. This is being attended to via the new training centre at East Mains but chairman Rod Petrie really does need to address the issues of seeking and attracting better quality players in the short term. It’s rare that we get to know the real financial business of Hibs as mere supporters but it seems all too evident that the club simply don’t pay enough to draw better players to Easter Road. Petrie may think his financially prudent master plan is the way for Hibs to progress but personally I feel there is little balance in the way he runs affairs. This is still a football club, fans pay to be entertained and the same fans are now beginning to rebel against this tight fiscal policy that is strangling the team’s vitality. At times it feels as though the good work carried out over the past three seasons or so is being completely reversed. What a great shame it is to state that.

Finally I feel it’s a great pity to see another former Hibs hero in Mixu Paatelainen carrying the brunt of the blame in some eyes. I have to confess that whilst having the greatest respect for the Finn he wouldn’t have been my first choice for the Easter Road job. Nevertheless I feel that Mixu is being hung out to dry – just as previous manager John Collins was. The reasons that Collins appeared to have walked out of the club for could well be the same reasons that Mixu may soon leave for - namely a lack of support on team building issues from the Hibs board. Sad to say, Hibernian FC does not always learn from its mistakes.

Stuart Frew

Cropley - The Second Coming

I was pleased to note a familiar old name being bandied around in Hibs circles yesterday. The name Cropley will be familiar to many Hibs aficionados and also not a few older generation Aston Villa and Arsenal supporters as belonging to the brilliant talent of 1970s’ midfielder, Alex Cropley. Alex was one of my great Hibs heroes. In what was a wonderful and creative team shrewdly managed by Hibs boss, Eddie Turnbull in that era, midfielder Cropley shone, even amongst a great array of talent and flair.

Alex Cropley’s game was very much a multi-dimensional one. Not only could he play inch-perfect and flamboyant cross field passes and hold the ball with sublime skill, he could also ‘dig’ pretty well too. His tackling being at the sharp and aggressive end of the spectrum belying his size and neat, deft ball skills. Alex was quite left-footed but what a foot it was.

Alex was born in Aldershot, England being the son of a serviceman stationed in that part of the world. This fact provided his long-time nickname ‘Sodjer’ although he did come to represent Scotland internationally on two occasions. One might look back at the modest two caps and ask how many more times that would have been had he played for Celtic or Rangers instead of Hibs? Nevertheless Alex did have a good career before ending his playing days prematurely at just thirty-one. In 1974 after a successful period at Hibs he was transferred to Arsenal where he unfortunately failed to establish himself due to continual injury problems, unluckily suffering two leg-breaks. In 1976 he moved to Aston Villa where he made sixty-seven appearances before leaving in 1980. Alex continued playing for a short while with Newcastle, Toronto Blizzards and Portsmouth before finally drawing the curtain on his playing career. The mercurial former midfielder now earns a living as a taxi driver in Edinburgh.

It's 1974 and Alex Cropley signs for Arsenal under the eye of Bertie Mee

Now it seems the name of Cropley returns and I for one am excited at that prospect. Alex’ son, Jordan Cropley is also a midfield player who is currently on the verge of breaking through from Hibs’ junior ranks. Newspaper reports tell us that Cropley jnr. travelled to Sweden with the Hibs first team squad for the recent Inter-Toto tie. Perhaps the most shocked to hear of this prospect was Jordan himself and its good to hear of his obvious humility and that his feet are firmly on the ground.

Apparently Jordan Cropley is left-footed and passes the ball extremely well – just like his father did all those years ago. He feels himself to be not quite as aggressive in the tackle as his dad was however. It seems churlish to state that if Jordan develops into half the player his father was he will be a fine performer indeed. I hope that he is allowed to further his career without the millstone of comparisons with his famous father being made too often.

Stuart Frew

Signings

Wading my way through what is a recurrent theme at this time of year, that of angst caused by the lack of ‘signings’ at Hibs encourages me to consider a little of the way things used to be in professional football too many decades ago to admit to.

Of course nowadays the average supporter is well used to new faces in the squad, freshening up the team and creating interest around Hibs, and most other clubs for that matter. It should be remembered however that this state of affairs was not always so. Perhaps only two decades ago matters were quite different in an era that was not dominated by football agents, ‘Bosman’s and pre-contracts.

In those days we football fans were quite used to watching a very similar team evolve only very slowly over a period of seasons. We had our favourites, and just like now our villains, but we identified with those players almost like they were old friends that we renewed acquaintance with every other Saturday afternoon at 3pm. How easy it is to recall fan favourites such as Arthur Duncan pacing the left touchline every week for year after year or an Eric Schaedler, tough and fully committed to the cause week in, week out, having the entire East Terrace making every tackle with him?

Fan favourite: 'Shades'

The truth is that in those days, which now seem from such a greatly different era in football, the game was a far simpler one in many respects. It was seldom we as fans talked at length of board members and what their exact roles were for example – mainly because we weren’t particularly interested in what the ‘suits’ said or did generally speaking.

Every team had its resident hard man, skilled player, stalwart of a dozen seasons or more and character goalie. There was no real need to go fishing for your rival’s version of these players unless they were substantially and unarguably better than the men turning out in the one to eleven jerseys for your side. Of course most teams would push to sign that left back who was more accomplished than the one you already had, but the difference was the lack of fan clamour to do so by comparison to today.

Without wishing to be patronising, I often feel sorry for younger fans today. They seldom have the opportunity to build a relationship with their heroes on the pitch like we did. In past times we’d look for the team photograph in the close season and the biggest changes would be who had grown a moustache or their hair a couple of inches over their collar. The faces were always very much still there in the main, the Stanton’s and the Blackley’s peering out of the team line-up photograph, looking happy and optimistic for the new campaign.

Football will most probably never return to those days and this how it should be, forever changing, moving on and reflecting the society in which it operates. It’s difficult not to imagine that the current merry-go-round of cheap expendable and sometimes ordinary talent takes the average team absolutely nowhere in terms of tangible success however. Will the young fans of today be talking in legendary terms about there heroes just as we insist on doing from those days?

Stuart Frew