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Squad turnover
I know that because of where Hibs are in the greater scheme of Scottish/British/European football that it is fairly typical for us to have a big turnover in personnel, but it has really accelerated in the past wee while. Since this time last year we have lost:
Derek Riordan
Gary Caldwell
Gary Smith
Paul Dalglish
Antonio Murray
Amadou Konte
Omar Konde
Kevin Thomson
Michael Stewart
We are about to lose:
Chris Killen
Simon Brown
Jonathon Baillie
Jay Shields
Kevin MacDonald
Scott Brown
Sam Morrow
The following don't appear to be part of JC's plans:
Zibi Malkowski
Stephen Glass
I may have missed one or two others. That is a total of 18 players.
In that time we have added about 7 or 8 signings and blooded about the same number of youngsters from within the ranks.
Two conclusions: JC was always going to find it tough to come into a dressing room with so many guys who were on the verge of the end of their deals- this may have been partly to blame for the ructions this past month.
Secondly, I think all this (possibly wrong!) maths means we can probably only expect about 2 or 3 more signings unless others leave and make room.
I think a lot of the kids coming into the team now will be asked to become regulars next season. I wouldn't be surprised if we have a less successful league season next year- a bit like Bobby Williamson's last- but I guess we'll just have to be patient, and if it takes a season of experimentation and learning the hard way to make us even stronger than we are now, I'll take it.
P
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