Devil's Advocate

[Seven Tattoos]

Is it just me, or has anyone else discerned the simple fact that in the SEVEN games since we scored FIVE against Killie we've conceded late equalisers or winners in the last TEN minutes or so on SIX occasions? Take a look at this litany of depressing scorelines and scoring times for the opposition:
- Sunday 1 April scum 0-1 (81 mins)
- Weds 4 April St Mirren 1-1 (90 mins)
- Sat 7 April Dunfermline 0-1 (84 mins)
- Sat 21 April Aberdeen 2-2 (80 mins)
- Tues 24 April Dunfermline 0-1 (88 mins)
- Sat 28 April huns 3-3 (78 mins).

Now, I am a massive fan of John Collins; prior to this season I had always described him as being the second most talented individual I'd ever seen in a Hibs top (behind Sauzee and before Latapy). And the trophy he's given us this season and the football we played that Mothering Sunday in March and the goals we scored and the fact we knocked the scum out along the way is something I'll cherish forever (more so than the Skol Cup run of 1991, even with its iconic, generation defining semi final victory over the huns). However, this is the worst run of late goals conceded since the error strewn Williamson season of 2002-03; I can recall arguing animatedly with zondervan that surely the root cause of so many late goals conceded to so many disparate teams could only be attributed to a comparative lack of fitness. I'm inclined to think the same this time.

Am I right? Or am I being unfair? Is it more likely that it's been a long, long season, stretching back to Sunday 2 July last year, and the boys just need a rest.

Or is it that the fitness regime is not what it should be?

What do the rest of you think?

[Smurf]

Been a long time since i've witnessed a professional footballer go down with cramp within 90 mins and we did at ER on saturday past..

[k.manson]

Originally Posted by Seven Tattoos
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-03; I can recall arguing animatedly with zondervan .

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[xhibs]

When jock Wallace was in charge of Rangers he had them running up and down sand dunes at Gullane. Tehy used to score loads of goals in the last 5-10 minutes (if my fading memory is correct?). I was younger then and put this down to them being a bunch of spawney blue nosed bastards. However, I'm a bit older and wiser now and it was obviously down to the fact that they were fitter (as well as being spawney blue nosed bastards). It doesn't matter how technically talented, or naurally gifted, you are; if the other team are fitter it will tell near the end.

The most glaring example I can think of was the Scottish rugby team, a few years ago they competed well for about 60.70 minutes then were totally minced, because the other teams were fitter.

Collins is right, they need to train harder and build up their stamina, to make sure thwey can compwte in the last 10 minutes

[Seven Tattoos]

iT'S DEfinitely true. For example, during that 2002-03 season we conceded six goals to hertz in three games that were all scored after the 86th minute. JC has to get their fitness right, and running up and down Gullane Sands sounds good to me. If pecuniary assets alone count for anything then the huns and the tims will always have, generally, a better class of player than us, however, if our fitness is superior then we can hopefully match them. And certainly beat the scum.

I, personally, attribute their far superior derby record over the past quarter century to two things:
1) they have been generally better motivated, i.e. they've wanted it more.
2) they have generally been fitter, i.e. they've been able to keep making runs and creating chances later in the game.

Like you, when I was a young Hibbie (circa 84-85) I used to attribute their late goals against us to sheer spawn. I'm certainly older (though 'wise' is not a word I would apply to a fanny like myself) and I now realise that the likes of DErek O'Connor's goal in injury time on Sat 25 Aug 84 was due to them having superior fitness than the then Hibs team managed by Pat Stanton.

If you look at that period (1983 - present) then player for player they have not been better than us, however (as Jack Taylor pointed out on another post), they've achieved more in terms of high placings in the league and European competition qualification. This can only be attributed, again, to their superior fitness and will-to-win.

There's no excuse for lacking those two qualities. If JC can ally those to the undoubted raw ability there is at ER then we'll all be very happy indeed.

[Stu]

Rangers always traditionally did a lot of their pre-season training on the dunes at Gullane. Former winger, Willie Johnstone used to run up and down them in pit boots! A quick player anyway, no wonder he was flying on a Saturday afternoon. One of the simple exercises that athletes use is to sprint hard up hills and jog slowly back down until getting the breath back. Sets of these simple repetitions can bring huge benefits. No gym can provide what the likes of sand hills can in my humble opinion.

Training on sand with its resistance properties gives benefits in building speed, endurance and strength, it's a no-lose. I've always wondered why hibs have never used this perfect, natural facility on their doorstep more over the years. I think Rangers got it right on that one.

[Dub]

Originally Posted by Stu
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Rangers always traditionally did a lot of their pre-season training on the dunes at Gullane. Former winger, Williey Johnstone used to run up and down them in pit boots! A quick player anyway, no wonder he was flying on a Saturday afternoon. One of the simple exercises that athletes use is to sprint hard up hills and jog slowly back down until getting the breath back. Sets of these simple repetitions can bring huge benefits. No gym can provide what the likes of sand hills can in my humble opinion.

Training on sand with its resistance properties gives benefits in building speed, endurance and strength, it's a no-lose. I've always wondered why hibs have never used this perfect, natural facility on their doorstep more over the years. I think Rangers got it right on that one.

I think if I tried that I would lose the contents of my stomach fairly rapidly
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Its all right for Sweary to say he agrees, hes fit as fuk (and no I didnt mean it that way before anyone gets the wrong idea - I like the guy but not that much) due to the fact he goes running a lot anyway. So if its ok with everyone I will sit on a deck chair and shout obscenities at you while you do the running up and down sand dunes gig. Nice cold lager anyone
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Apart from that, I agree, if the team are fitter then surely they will not only be able to make the runs Scott mentioned but will also be able to defend better near the end of the game.

[big tam]

Originally Posted by Seven Tattoos
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Is it just me, or has anyone else discerned the simple fact that in the SEVEN games since we scored FIVE against Killie we've conceded late equalisers or winners in the last TEN minutes or so on SIX occasions? Take a look at this litany of depressing scorelines and scoring times for the opposition:
- Sunday 1 April scum 0-1 (81 mins)
- Weds 4 April St Mirren 1-1 (90 mins)
- Sat 7 April Dunfermline 0-1 (84 mins)
- Sat 21 April Aberdeen 2-2 (80 mins)
- Tues 24 April Dunfermline 0-1 (88 mins)
- Sat 28 April huns 3-3 (78 mins).

Now, I am a massive fan of John Collins; prior to this season I had always described him as being the second most talented individual I'd ever seen in a Hibs top (behind Sauzee and before Latapy). And the trophy he's given us this season and the football we played that Mothering Sunday in March and the goals we scored and the fact we knocked the scum out along the way is something I'll cherish forever (more so than the Skol Cup run of 1991, even with its iconic, generation defining semi final victory over the huns). However, this is the worst run of late goals conceded since the error strewn Williamson season of 2002-03; I can recall arguing animatedly with zondervan that surely the root cause of so many late goals conceded to so many disparate teams could only be attributed to a comparative lack of fitness. I'm inclined to think the same this time.

Am I right? Or am I being unfair? Is it more likely that it's been a long, long season, stretching back to Sunday 2 July last year, and the boys just need a rest.

Or is it that the fitness regime is not what it should be?

What do the rest of you think?

i think it may be more to do with too many youngsters being played at the same time, and this lack of experience will cost us dear next season IMO.