Tuesday 9 February 2016

Why you should be proud of Hibernian FC

It is a great time to follow football in Edinburgh at the moment. No matter which of the capital city's two tribes you support, there are many reasons to be cheerful. Hearts are in great condition, sitting third in the Scottish Premiership with a squad that mixes physicality with talent and determination. They have had a remarkable time of it, their romp to the Championship title last season caught everyone off guard, nobody saw that coming, Their fine form continued into this season and it really is no surprise to see them sitting as high in the league as they are.

As much as it sticks in my throat to acknowledge it, there is a lot to praise Hearts for, and it would be churlish to deny the huge change in the club since they teetered on the precipice of extinction at the end of Romanov's rein at Tynecastle.

Hibs too, can look at themselves in a hugely positive light. For a long time, Hibs have been seen as a soft touch, and that if there was a way to screw things up - no matter how promising the position - Hibs would find it. In fact, in some circles there was even the phrase 'they Hibsed that' coined to describe a situation where someone had drawn farce from the brink of glory.

Alan Stubbs remarked on BBC Scotland's Sportsound show on the Friday before Sunday's Scottish Cup derby that he had been shocked at the level at which this feeling of 'only Hibs' had ingrained itself at the club. To his immense credit, he appears to have eradicated that.

Sunday's derby saw Hibs go into half time facing a two goal deficit. There had been little to split the sides in the first half, save for two terrific goals from the home side. Hibernian had the ball in the net in the early stages, though Jason Cummings was adjudged to have been offside. TV replays showed the decision to be correct, but it was by the narrowest of margins (his feet were onside, his head offside - under the rules that put the striker offside).

The studio pundits discussed Hearts' first half control, and in the post-match interviews Hearts manager Robbie Nielson also talked about his side's dominance in the first forty five minutes. However, by the time the evening TV shows aired and the pundits had been given the opportunity to reflect on the first half, it was evident , and acknowledged, that neither side particularly held the upper hand during the first half. Indeed, Hearts scored with their only two shots of the half.

The second half was where Hibs could finally put the charge of being bottlers to rest. The team dominated possession, and kept Hearts at arm's length throughout the second period. As the game drew into the closing ten minutes, Hibs finally found a breakthrough.

A feature of Hearts' play this season has been their ability to break up play when their opponents have the ball. Minor infringements early in the opposition's attacks give Hearts the opportunity to regroup and organise and defend set pieces, something that they generally do very well. This is not a criticism, but an observation. It is a tactic that works well for Hearts, they stop their opponents playing and they break very effectively. Their deliveries from deep areas is very good - as evidenced by their second goal of the match, where Paterson delivered a terrific pass to Nicholson, who had made a good run from his midfield position into the box.

It was Hibs' counter to these tactics that brought about their route back into the game. A couple of fouls in the build up were dealt with by quick free kicks being taken by Hibs. This kept the momentum of the attack and stopped Hearts being able to regroup in the way that they'd have liked to. The ball found its way to Liam Henderson who clipped a lovely delivery onto the head of Jason Cummings, who looped a wonderful header over the static Alexander in the Hearts' goal.

From then, it appeared to be only the clock that could stop Hibs from finding a leveler. With fresh impetus, Hibernian probed at the Hearts defence looking for a weakness. They found it in injury time where Darren McGregor's desire to win the ball from a McGinn corner found the home side's defence wanting. Alexander pushed out McGregor's header, but Paul Hanlon had found space and he steered the ball home, sparking wild scenes in the Roseburn Stand as the Hibs support celebrated an unlikely draw.

It was no more than Hibs deserved, in fact, I'd argue that it was less than they deserved. The stats from the match put Hibs ahead in all measures, save for fouls (Hearts' 22 to Hibs' 9 an indication of Hearts' style of play).

It would be fair to say that it is usually Hearts who enjoy turnarounds like that in derbies. It would also be fair to say, now, that this Hibs side is far from 'usual'.

The manner in which the team celebrated together, and together with the fans, is a clear demonstration of the team spirit and bond at the club right now. You look at this side and see a team in it for each other. When there was a rammy in the Hearts' box following a complaint about a McGregor challenge, the Hibs players were not found wanting in their desire to get involved to dig out their team mates.

Hibs have finally discovered a way to perform in the big games, and not only that, they are able to continue it in the less glamorous ties as well. This had been a huge week for Hibs, a cup semi final against Premiership opponents St Johnstone, a tricky away tie to Morton, and then the derby at Tynecastle.

It would have been a feature of Hibs of old to have come a cropper in at least one of those matches in years gone by. This side won well in the semi-final, dug out a win at Morton, and ensured that they were not defeated in the Scottish Cup. A huge test for Stubbs' side, which they passed with flying colours.

Stubbs commented after the match that his side had shoved the bottlers label down people's throats, and he is right. Hibs fans can look at their team just now and know that the players taking to the field, those on the bench, and those in the stand, are giving everything for each other and for the club.

Stubbs has built a team that is improving all the time. He has complete confidence in them, and the players are living up to that. At half time, there were no groans from the Hibs support, there was no negativity and no 'not again'. There was hope and expectation that this side would find some way back into the game.

Hibs are still fighting on three fronts this season,  and while they could still conceivably end the season empty handed, there is nobody that could deny that if they do fall short that it wouldn't be for the want of trying.

I wouldn't bet against Hibs this season, though. They have a character and desire about them that has not been present at Easter Road since the League Cup winning side of 2007 - the 'golden generation' of Brown, Thomson, Whittaker, Sproule, Fletcher et al.

For the fans' part, we are seeing the people who were disenfranchised by the relegation and Rod Petrie's running of the club starting to return to the fold. People are believing that the club is changing - has changed. It is not just words from the board, but actions with tangible and visible results. We have a winning team, a winning mentality, and a winner in Alan Stubbs.

This is a great time to be a Hibee, regardless of what happens next in the Scottish Cup, we have a Cup Final to look forward to and a league race to be fought. More importantly, we have a talented squad of players giving everything for us, and it's to the Club's immense credit that we can - at last - lay claim to having a team to be proud of.

Glory Glory to the Hibees.

Friday 29 January 2016

The Business End of the Season

I write this on the eve of the League Cup semi-final between Hibs and St Johnstone, which will be played on 30th January at Tynecastle. The last tie between these teams at that venue, also in the same competition resulted in a 3-1 win for Hibernian, after extra time goals from David Murphy and Abdessalam Benjelloun had added to Steven Fletcher's early goal to secure victory for the Hibees.

Back then, Hibernian were holding their own in the Scottish Premier League. John Collins had picked up the reins from the departed Tony Mowbray, and having seen off Hearts at Easter Road in the previous round (with the most dominant 1-0 win you're ever likely to see), Hibs were looking good for a strong finish to the season.

St Johnstone were riding high in the old Scottish First Division. Their manager, Owen Coyle, was winning admirers for the good work that he was doing with what had been a struggling side. St Johnstone would challenge for the title that season, and also reached the Scottish Cup semi-final, where they were thwarted by a strong Celtic side.

Hibs went on to win the League Cup that year, a resounding 5-1 victory over Jim Jefferies' Kilmarnock at Hampden was as good as it got for the Hibees under Collins. The rest of the season was marred by the infamous player revolt, and Hibs - like St Johnstone - were also to lose out at the semi final stage of the Scottish Cup, despite being heavy favourites to beat Dunfermline.

Fast forward to today, and the roles have been reversed. Hibs are challenging for the title in the second tier, while St Johnstone sit comfortably in the top six of the top flight. The semi final promises to be a fascinating tie. The Perth side have tried to play down their chances, calling Hibs out as favourites despite the gulf in the sides' respective league positions. Hibs do, undoubtedly, enjoy greater resources than St Johnstone.  I would imagine the playing budget at Easter Road trumps that of St Johnstone, and it is arguable that more Hibernian players would get into the first team at St Johnstone than vice versa.

That said, the benefit of regularly competing against top flight opposition should not be underestimated. You only have to look at St Johnstone's convincing 1-3 win at Ibrox in this competition earlier in the season for evidence of that. Rangers, at that point, had triumphed convincingly over every opponent that had been put in front of them (save, I suppose, from a narrow 1-0 win against Hibs at Ibrox - the sides separated by a terrific strike from a contentious free kick harshly awarded to the Glasgow side).

Rangers dominated possession but could not overcome the tactical nous of St Johnstone, who exposed weaknesses in Rangers' play time and time again.

I suspect anyone looking at this game objectively would have St Johnstone as favourites on that basis. It is hard to conceive of a convincing argument where a top six side goes into a match against a second tier side as underdogs, despite the cliched talk from St Johnstone that the bigger support that Hibs will enjoy puts the pressure on Hibs.

It should be remembered that Hibs have enjoyed larger crowds than most Scottish sides for a considerable period, and despite relegation, the crowd numbers have largely held firm. A full house is more likely to unsettle St Johnstone in that respect.

For me, the game is too close to call. I know Hibs are capable of winning, but that's not to say that I think we will. Convincing wins against Aberdeen and Dundee United should give the players the confidence to approach this tie with a view to winning it. However, St Johnstone are a good side, with a manager who is tactically astute and prepares his players very well. I suspect the game will be a tight affair, and could go all the way to penalties.

Regardless of the outcome, Hibernian have another vital tie right on the back of this game. On Tuesday night, Morton will host Hibs in the re-arranged fixture from the earlier postponed game. With Rangers facing Falkirk this weekend, it is essential that Hibs take maximum points from this tie.

Morton, under the stewardship of former Hibs manager Jim Duffy, have equipped themselves well in their first season in the Championship. Hibs will need to be at their best to triumph, and there is no room for a post-semi final hangover. With Rangers enjoying a five point gap on Hibs (with the potential to stretch that to eight points, should they beat Falkirk), Alan Stubbs' side cannot afford to slip up.

It is a period that will tell us a lot about this Hibernian side. They have already answered a lot of questions this season. Their form has been terrific, and even when performances have slipped, Hibs have managed to dig out results. This has not been a trait associated with Hibs for some time, and so to see it ingrained in this team is hugely satisfying.

At one point, Hibs trailed Rangers by eleven points and it's testament to the side that they have cut that gap to the extent that they have. With Rangers still to visit Easter Road and Falkirk, the title is far from being out of Hibs' reach. There is no margin for error now though, Hibs could conceivably get away with the points dropped earlier in the season if they continue their current form, however with games fast running out, every point is a prisoner.

We are right at the business end of the season. What happens over the next few months will have a huge bearing on the health of the football club. Promotion is essential, Hibs have continued to operate as a top flight side despite relegation, but that can only be sustained for so long.

Stubbs, for his part, looks to have done a cracking job in giving the side the best possible chance of going up. His acquisition of Anthony Stokes sent out a resounding message that Hibs were not content to settle for second place. While Stokes grabbed the headlines, the introduction of Chris Dagnall could prove to be just as significant.

I got my first look at Dagnall on Saturday, during Hibs' comfortable 3-1 win over St Mirren. Dagnall did not give the defenders a moment's peace. For a wee guy, he gave the centre halves a torrid time, and it's the first time in a long time that I've seen a Hibs striker so physically dominant against their opponent (actually, that's not quite true - Farid El Alagui was exceptional in that regard.).

Dagnall's movement and constant harrying of the defenders created space for his team mates, the benefit of which was evident in John McGinn's fine goal in the first half. With Dominique Malonga departing to Italy's Seria B, Dagnall's contribution could be very telling in the run in.

Stubbs has also added Finnish goalkeeper Otso Virtanen (he's not Finnish, he's only 21...) and full back Niklas Gunnarrson  to Stokes and Dagnall. Crucially, top scorer Jason Cummings has remained at the club, and I believe a new, long term deal has been put on the table for the irrepressible hit man.

Hibs look in good shape for the run-in, take away the fact that we're still in the Championship and it's a very exciting time for Hibs fans. We are seeing a winning side playing good football. A young, talented manager bringing the best out of a young side - there are echoes of the side that took to the Tynecastle pitch to face St Johnstone back in 2007, and with a board and support fully behind the team, there is a genuine reason to be enthusiastic about the title run in.

And if that wasn't enough, there's always the prospect of a Scottish Cup derby to come, and as Danny Grainger pointed out in his ill-considered tweet , we all know what happened the last time Hibs met Hearts in the Scottish Cup...