Gatheussi joins Hibernian

[Hibs_Official]

Hibernian can this morning confirm that defender Thierry Gatheussi has joined the Club...

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[TranentHibee]

Change of heart eh!

[Kinkyaffro]

It was too good a challenge to turn down.

[Greenmachine]

Apparently a decent player, so this is good news. It's also good to see that he can play in either full-back position and central defence. We need versatile players at the back. Probably Whittakers replecement, so let's hope he can fit into the team without too many problems.

Welcome to Hibernian Thierry..

Still waiting on this much needed striker arriving though. We have to get someone in soon IMO..

[TranentHibee]

Originally Posted by Greenmachine

We need versatile players at the back.

Agreed, which is why I see this as a good signing. He looked good in the pre season games. Hope whitty doesn't leave though.

[TattooedHibee]

Thats some turnaround or a good stunt from JC getting Gatheussi in the door prompt.

Hopefully he gets a chance to show everyone on Wednesday and Saturday how good he is. Was solid at Brechin.

Two more to go Hibernian.

[oohoohmrpeevly]

another goalie and a striker should do it

[SkyeHibs]

Thierry sounds like a good signing. I hope the jungle drums are wrong about Whittaker leaving though. We need a squad of some depth with decent competition for places if we are to mount a sustained challenge for honours.

This is a good move but we need to see a couple of more signings yet, a striker and a ball winning midfielder would be the priorities for me.

[HutchieHibee]

Sounds good...

we were talking about the squad the other day and my friend pointed at a picture of the Cup winning team and said that when you look at it, we have only lost two players from the playing team

Ivan seems to have been directly replaced, so although Brown is a big loss there is more strength in depth all round

if we could add another attacking option if would enable us to go into the SPL season with a really optimistic feeling about Hibs

[TattooedHibee]

Originally Posted by oohoohmrpeevly

another goalie and a striker should do it

We won't be bringing in another keeper. Not with 5 on the books. Don't think we need another IMHO anyway. We actually need to release either Zbigniew or Ally.

[Greenmachine]

Originally Posted by LanarkHibs

Thierry sounds like a good signing. I hope the jungle drums are wrong about Whittaker leaving though. We need a squad of some depth with decent competition for places if we are to mount a sustained challenge for honours.

This is a good move but we need to see a couple of more signings yet, a striker and a ball winning midfielder would be the priorities for me.

Agreed.

The two most significant departures from the team from last season have been Chris Killen and Scott Brown. One was our top goalscorer, and the other was our best player. So far we have not replaced either of them and the new season is only two weeks away. Ivan Sproule and Michael Stewart have hopefully been replaced by better players, and we just have to hope that Makalamby is a much better and dependable goalkeeper than we have had in the last three years.

I am actually quite pleased with Collins signings so far, though having not seen any of them play in the flesh yet i'm not the best placed to assess them !, but going by other Hibs fans I know and trust, they seem quite good quality.

I still think we need three players. A big striker, a right sided attacking player, and a defensive midfielder. If JC can get three players in of good quality then we will have a strong squad for the season ahead. If not, we are going to be faced with the same problems we had last season.

[wee 162]

Originally Posted by TattooedHibee

We won't be bringing in another keeper. Not with 5 on the books. Don't think we need another IMHO anyway. We actually need to release either Zbigniew or Ally.

I don't think we will sign another keeper either, but I wish we did. Not because I have any doubts about our current keepers ability, but more about our fans ability to absolutely crush any confidence they have in it... Given that, someone experienced with the ability to just completely ignore the support would probably be quite handy...

A striker would still be useful, and someone who is a defensive midfielder would be ideal (although it appears as though Joneleit might be able to play there).

That would leave us with a squad of;
Keepers - Makalamby, McNeil, Grof, Malkowski
Defenders - Whittaker, Murphy, McCann, Gatheussi, Joneleit, Jones, Hogg, McCaffrey, McCormack (hopefully with not too much reliance on the last two other than to give them a wee taste)
Midfield - O'Brien, Stevenson, Kerr, Boozy, Zemamma, Lynch, Chisholm, Shiels, Ayre (with McCann, Whittaker, and by the looks of it Joneleit able to move up the park a bit and play in there as well)
Attack - Benji, Fletcher, Donaldson, Gray, Campbell

Add in another 2 in the areas where we might be a bit short, and imo this is the strongest squad we've had in years. There are no hugely glaring gaps in there such as starting last season with no appreciable cover for either full back, and a completely untried central defence. There are options all over the pitch for playing in different ways. Lots and lots of pace in the squad. A rake of hungry players out to prove themselves.

I also think we have a lot more balance in the squad now than last year as well. Last season we had a situation where we had Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson, Michael Stewart, and Beuzelin all trying to get a game in the centre of midfield, the system was changed to fit three of them into the centre and squeeze the best player of the three out to the right hand side to keep everyone happy. Don't think there will be any of the same trying to avoid bruising egos this season...

As it stands, imo the line up against Hearts will be;
Makalamby
McCann Jones Hogg Murphy
Kerr Beuzelin Stevenson
Zemamma Benji O'Brien

[wee 162]

Originally Posted by Greenmachine

Agreed.

The two most significant departures from the team from last season have been Chris Killen and Scott Brown. One was our top goalscorer, and the other was our best player. So far we have not replaced either of them and the new season is only two weeks away. Ivan Sproule and Michael Stewart have hopefully been replaced by better players, and we just have to hope that Makalamby is a much better and dependable goalkeeper than we have had in the last three years.

I am actually quite pleased with Collins signings so far, though having not seen any of them play in the flesh yet i'm not the best placed to assess them !, but going by other Hibs fans I know and trust, they seem quite good quality.

I still think we need three players. A big striker, a right sided attacking player, and a defensive midfielder. If JC can get three players in of good quality then we will have a strong squad for the season ahead. If not, we are going to be faced with the same problems we had last season.

A right sided attacking player? Shiels, and Zemamma are surely enough in there?

[Greenmachine]

Originally Posted by wee 162

A right sided attacking player? Shiels, and Zemamma are surely enough in there?

I think both can play well on the right, but I would prefer to see either playing in the middle just behind the strikers. Both players have the skill and creativity to open up defences from this area, and imo would cause most damage to other teams playing there. Dean Shiels said last season that he felt this was his best position. He would also be a real goal threat from there as well.

Having someone with tremendous pace on the left like O'Brien is going to be a huge asset for us. If we could get someone on the right with pace as well, it would be a mouth watering prospect. Collins was quoted a few weeks ago saying he was on the look out for a right sided player, so he may be thinking along the same lines, although I understand Donaldson is very right sided so he may end up filling in these spots. I'd rather we signed a proper defensive midfielder. In any event I agree with you about our squad being better balanced than for a few years, and having the right amount of pace and skill in it. I just think we lack physical strength in one or two areas and that proved our downfall often last season.

FWIW, if we end up with Zemmama or Shiels on the right we would still be quite dangerous going forward.

[garethni]

Hopefully this makes for exciting times, one thing for sure is the team is going to have a very different look to it and with some of the players being unknown quantities hopefully it will work in our favour.

FWIW i dont believe Whitty will be away, I dont believe the Huns will put up the minimum £2m it would take to prise him away and we've already robbed them of £2m

[wee 162]

Originally Posted by Greenmachine

I think both can play well on the right, but I would prefer to see either playing in the middle just behind the strikers. Both players have the skill and creativity to open up defences from this area, and imo would cause most damage to other teams playing there. Dean Shiels said last season that he felt this was his best position. He would also be a real goal threat from there as well.

Having someone with tremendous pace on the left like O'Brien is going to be a huge asset for us. If we could get someone on the right with pace as well, it would be a mouth watering prospect. Collins was quoted a few weeks ago saying he was on the look out for a right sided player, so he may be thinking along the same lines, although I understand Donaldson is very right sided so he may end up filling in these spots. I'd rather we signed a proper defensive midfielder. In any event I agree with you about our squad being better balanced than for a few years, and having the right amount of pace and skill in it. I just think we lack physical strength in one or two areas and that proved our downfall often last season.

FWIW, if we end up with Zemmama or Shiels on the right we would still be quite dangerous going forward.

On the defensive midfielder thing, I reckon that might be where JC sees Joneleit playing unless there is a defensive crisis. He's a fairly tidy user of the ball, looks to have a decent engine, and seems to read a game well. Played there at Stirling and though the opposition wasn't up to much he looked pretty comfy there.

[Hibs Resident]

Very good news.

[Doddie]

Originally Posted by wee 162

I don't think we will sign another keeper either, but I wish we did. Not because I have any doubts about our current keepers ability, but more about our fans ability to absolutely crush any confidence they have in it... Given that, someone experienced with the ability to just completely ignore the support would probably be quite handy...

A striker would still be useful, and someone who is a defensive midfielder would be ideal (although it appears as though Joneleit might be able to play there).

That would leave us with a squad of;
Keepers - Makalamby, McNeil, Grof, Malkowski
Defenders - Whittaker, Murphy, McCann, Gatheussi, Joneleit, Jones, Hogg, McCaffrey, McCormack (hopefully with not too much reliance on the last two other than to give them a wee taste)
Midfield - O'Brien, Stevenson, Kerr, Boozy, Zemamma, Lynch, Chisholm, Shiels, Ayre (with McCann, Whittaker, and by the looks of it Joneleit able to move up the park a bit and play in there as well)
Attack - Benji, Fletcher, Donaldson, Gray, Campbell

Add in another 2 in the areas where we might be a bit short, and imo this is the strongest squad we've had in years. There are no hugely glaring gaps in there such as starting last season with no appreciable cover for either full back, and a completely untried central defence. There are options all over the pitch for playing in different ways. Lots and lots of pace in the squad. A rake of hungry players out to prove themselves.

I also think we have a lot more balance in the squad now than last year as well. Last season we had a situation where we had Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson, Michael Stewart, and Beuzelin all trying to get a game in the centre of midfield, the system was changed to fit three of them into the centre and squeeze the best player of the three out to the right hand side to keep everyone happy. Don't think there will be any of the same trying to avoid bruising egos this season...

As it stands, imo the line up against Hearts will be;
Makalamby
McCann Jones Hogg Murphy
Kerr Beuzelin Stevenson
Zemamma Benji O'Brien

I'd agree with all of that, except perhaps your line-up for Tynie. I think we might be doing with a bit more muscle in the team for that game - Joneleit playing in front of the centre-backs as holding midfielder in place of Zouma?

But the rest is bang-on IMO.

[ghfc]

Originally Posted by wee 162

I don't think we will sign another keeper either, but I wish we did. Not because I have any doubts about our current keepers ability, but more about our fans ability to absolutely crush any confidence they have in it... Given that, someone experienced with the ability to just completely ignore the support would probably be quite handy...

A striker would still be useful, and someone who is a defensive midfielder would be ideal (although it appears as though Joneleit might be able to play there).

That would leave us with a squad of;
Keepers - Makalamby, McNeil, Grof, Malkowski
Defenders - Whittaker, Murphy, McCann, Gatheussi, Joneleit, Jones, Hogg, McCaffrey, McCormack (hopefully with not too much reliance on the last two other than to give them a wee taste)
Midfield - O'Brien, Stevenson, Kerr, Boozy, Zemamma, Lynch, Chisholm, Shiels, Ayre (with McCann, Whittaker, and by the looks of it Joneleit able to move up the park a bit and play in there as well)
Attack - Benji, Fletcher, Donaldson, Gray, Campbell

Add in another 2 in the areas where we might be a bit short, and imo this is the strongest squad we've had in years. There are no hugely glaring gaps in there such as starting last season with no appreciable cover for either full back, and a completely untried central defence. There are options all over the pitch for playing in different ways. Lots and lots of pace in the squad. A rake of hungry players out to prove themselves.

I also think we have a lot more balance in the squad now than last year as well. Last season we had a situation where we had Scott Brown, Kevin Thomson, Michael Stewart, and Beuzelin all trying to get a game in the centre of midfield, the system was changed to fit three of them into the centre and squeeze the best player of the three out to the right hand side to keep everyone happy. Don't think there will be any of the same trying to avoid bruising egos this season...

As it stands, imo the line up against Hearts will be;
Makalamby
McCann Jones Hogg Murphy
Kerr Beuzelin Stevenson
Zemamma Benji O'Brien

Good post.

I am concerned about three things.

1. A ball winning midfielder - although as said above, TJ may do a job there.

2. A powerful forward - IMO there is no-one capable of holding balls up or winning many headers etc at the min. Well covered topic - we need someone.

3. Any injury to Jones. If he takes a dull one i think we are in real trouble as the other centre backs don't have much presence.

Excited about the season though, bring it on.

[SlovSam]

It will be interesting to see the fee Hibs receive for Whittaker now that Gatheussi has arrived and when the sale will take place. but that's quite a good signing by Hibs on papers at least and one that is to be commended. especially if he is as versatile as his CV suggests.

'Scotland's Shame' obviously seem keen on Whittaker though isn't Hutton a right back and quite a decent one at that so possibly Whittaker will end up as a midfield player a postion I think he is long term most suited for. Though if he had any sense then he would see the English Championship as his natural goal rather than 'Scotland's Shame'.

No doubt after the Gatheussi deal being declared 'deid' last week and Murphy and Whittaker not going anywhere the week before and the TweedleDee and TweedleDumber saga last January, JC will be telling us this week that the 'moon is made of green cheese'

The amount of downright lies football managers and chief executives come out with really beggars belief and you wonder why they don't just tell the truth though I suppose supporters can't handle the truth.

[GalegoHibs]

Originally Posted by SlovSam

It will be interesting to see the fee Hibs receive for Whittaker now that Gatheussi has arrived and when the sale will take place. but that's quite a good signing by Hibs on papers at least and one that is to be commended. especially if he is as versatile as his CV suggests.

'Scotland's Shame' obviously seem keen on Whittaker though isn't Hutton a right back and quite a decent one at that so possibly Whittaker will end up as a midfield player a postion I think he is long term most suited for. Though if he had any sense then he would see the English Championship as his natural goal rather than 'Scotland's Shame'.

No doubt after the Gatheussi deal being declared 'deid' last week and Murphy and Whittaker not going anywhere the week before and the TweedleDee and TweedleDumber saga last January, JC will be telling us this week that the 'moon is made of green cheese'

The amount of downright lies football managers and chief executives come out with really beggars belief and you wonder why they don't just tell the truth though I suppose supporters can't handle the truth.

The fact that Hutton has just signed a 5-year deal makes it clear that they see him as a first-team player and they are not going to pay 1.5m+ for Whitty to be right-back cover. They may be interested in him as a midfielder but I think Rangers would be looking for a right-midfielder who can shoot, score goals and whip in a cross from the by-line. None of these are Whitty's strengths.
If he does go to Castle Greyskull, I wouldn't see him making a big impact there tbh. Who knows what, if anything, is happening to Whitty but when he does eventually go, a move to the English Chammpionship would make more sense. I'd be more than happy to see him stay with Hibs this season though.