Investment In The Team?

[Smurf]

With the widely expected sale of Steven Fletcher in a matter of days the highly enjoyable and cash productive Mogga era will have all but come and gone.

Just over four years ago with Boaby Williamson in charge I remember watching us play Dundee up at Dens in the snow. I couldn’t see where the hell we were going as a team and as a club and it had nothing to really do with the ball lost in the snow…

Only a few weeks previous to that, a mobilised support of Hibernian had yet again killed off the threat of relocation to Straiton. However, we were left in no doubt that with huge debts our future was far from secure. After the sheer incompetence of ownership, and board in running up debts of tens of millions, there was nothing much to look forward to. We were warned that we had to cut our cloth accordingly. We were further warned to Stand Up To Be Counted..

Thankfully, Boaby was recommended to the Plymouth board by the then departing Paul Sturrock and whilst Rod Petrie lost his plumber he ensured he was suitably compensated for a guy he actually wanted to punt but wouldn’t do so thanks to compensation issues… It was the first sign that our now Chairman was actually raising his game and justifying his six figure salary.

Furthermore, he appointed Tony Mowbray. A masterstroke. An enthusiastic coach who wanted to play the game the right way. The Hibernian way. Ball on the deck. They score three then we’ll score four. Using a combination of low cost Bosmans and existing under utilised youngsters from the previous regime of Williamson the football under Mowbray transpired to be as was promised. The support of Hibernian turned up in ever increasing numbers raving about the quality of football by our “young laddies” that was generating results. On Boxing Day we went up to Tannadice and watched us murder Dundee Utd. On the radio afterwards we listened to our new manager lambast the players unacceptable performance. This was something completely new to us. Expectations levels and SPL position were soaring.

In 2005 it continued. We secured 3rd spot. We were playing the two above us off the park in our one-on-one meetings. We then started to think “If we invested a bit in experience to go with these young laddies..” It never came. Rumours and speculation was reaching fever pitch on how long we could retain the quality of players we had at our disposal. We’d seen it all before. We’re a pretty realistic bunch (despite what’s said) and we know that bottom-line we’re a ‘Selling club’. What we really wanted to see was this huge potential deliver success in the way of silverware…

In 2006 it was looking good. I witnessed the best ever Hibernian performance in my lifetime with a hammering of the Huns at Ibrox followed by a hammering of Falkirk at their new ground whose name I’ll never remember.. New Brockville? I left the ground that day that finally after over 100 bloody years…

Sadly, we started the process of selling off the family silver. O’Connor the first to go. A lifetime changing opportunity that couldn’t be denied we were told. Really? One to 30,000 Hibs supporters was without difficulty. We went into the first ever meeting with our rivals outside Edinburgh cruelly weakened by such sales, injury and suspension.

At this time it was known that our Mogga was getting increasingly frustrated. Broken promises are what I’ve heard but regardless it was clear in media interviews he was giving he was not going to be hanging about. And so it happened a couple of months into his third season. Approached by WBA not long relegated from the Premiership it was a question of compensation that was all to be decided. Again. Rod Petrie earned his six figure growing salary by successfully insisting in clauses that would pay a dividend when Mogga guided them back up to the Premiership.

An appointed Hibernian legend in Johnny Collins ensured that the team built by Mogga delivered silverware. JC tinkered with the team in such a way that can never deny that it was his Hibernian side that won our first silverware in 16 years.

With further selling off the family silver that raised sums equivalent of a Lottery Rollover win and little reinvestment it wasn’t long before the Cup winning Hibs manager was frustrated. Unlike his predecessor he was a financially comfortable man so didn’t need media interviews to broadcast his CV and growing frustrations. He walked. In such a way that he could communicate the true state of affairs as Hibs manager. Blinkered many within us deny he’s right with his sums and believe Rod Petrie in their public disagreement on club “Reinvestment” on the park from the selling off of the family silver.

Ultimately that’s academic. What can’t be denied is that we’re no longer a club heavily in debt to the tune of millions counted in Tens of. We’re no longer a club with a bleak future. Our future is secure. There’s just no contrast with that of our neighbours. We can embrace it whilst they fear it.

However, ultimately we’re a football club. We’ll be judged by what our team does on the park. There is surely no denying that year-on-year we’ve weakened since 2005. It’s understandable due to the fantastic talent we’ve lost. Talent that we ultimately had no option but to lose. The offers to both us as a club and the players were too great to reject.

But against all of that we must always be looking to improve as a club and demonstrate ambition that a club - with over ten thousand season ticket holders - situated in our capital city deserves. We should be using all the resources available, and at our disposal, to put the best team possible on the park.

It’s on that point that I honestly see no evidence from our club that suggests this being the case.

Indeed, I honestly think that at the very top of our club there’s more focus on selling the next piece of family silver in the name of Steven Fletcher rather than backing Mixu in his attempts to bring players to the club.

Remember Mixu talking of securing his new arrivals in June? We all do.

Was Rod Petrie listening?

[GforGallo]

good post smurf, well written and its without resorting to hysterics as well
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the problem as i see it is petrie was prepared to pay big wages (IIRC sauzee was on circa 6-8000 a week) this is what caused us the problems that you allude to with straiton gate etc..

however the tens of millions of debt we were in have largely been paid back and an investment has been made in a training centre of which the aim was to improve the team by giving them a base to train at. We are also looking to increase the capacity so that we can earn more money to reinvest into the team.

i cant help but feel you may have unrealistic expectations, what exactly are you hoping for? we may have 10,000 season ticket holders but rangers and celtic have 5 and 6 times that respectively.

also i dont remember mixu talking about june signings but iv been out the country

[wee 162]

Originally Posted by Smurf
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Furthermore, he appointed Tony Mowbray.

The cheapest option.

[Hibees-Mad]

Originally Posted by wee 162
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The cheapest option.

Sad but true. Would be great to believe that RP heard what mogga had to say and thought 'thats the one for Hibernian' but I suspect other factors came into play - and Rod got lucky.

Still, I hope he's as lucky with Mixu.

[Purple & Green]

Originally Posted by Smurf
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There is surely no denying that year-on-year we’ve weakened since 2005. It’s understandable due to the fantastic talent we’ve lost. Talent that we ultimately had no option but to lose. The offers to both us as a club and the players were too great to reject.

Players leave, it makes opportunities for new players to come through that are even better. That's how Hibs work...some get released some get sold for big money.. but it creates new chances.

The turnover of players year on year is frightening compared to 20 years ago, such is the way of modern football.

Whatever, the academy and the development of young players is our key to success - not investing in 20 somethings who may or may not prove a hit.

[Hibees-Mad]

Originally Posted by Purple & Green
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Players leave, it makes opportunities for new players to come through that are even better. That's how Hibs work...some get released some get sold for big money.. but it creates new chances.

The turnover of players year on year is frightening compared to 20 years ago, such is the way of modern football.

Whatever, the academy and the development of young players is our key to success - not investing in 20 somethings who may or may not prove a hit.

Perfectly put!!!!!!


!!!!!!



!!


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!!

[Purple & Green]

I tend to agree with the notion of us having a wage ceiling of around 2k-3k but I think there's potential for us to splash out on one player to hold all our inexperienced/young players together. It would be a risky strategy as such a signing could be injured in one game but I look back on our teams of the past and think what a difference a sauzee figure could have made.

[wee 162]

Originally Posted by Purple & Green
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I tend to agree with the notion of us having a wage ceiling of around 2k-3k but I think there's potential for us to splash out on one player to hold all our inexperienced/young players together. It would be a risky strategy as such a signing could be injured in one game but I look back on our teams of the past and think what a difference a sauzee figure could have made.

Or a Latapy. Who was the last player Hibs had who made everyone around them look better than they were? None since those two imo.

[Hibees-Mad]

Originally Posted by wee 162
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Or a Latapy. Who was the last player Hibs had who made everyone around them look better than they were? None since those two imo.

And you could argue we were spoiled as we had them both at the same time. You always hear fellow hibees saying 'imagine Franck/Wee Russ/Pat in this team'

Imagine indeed.

[scaredyhibby]

Originally Posted by wee 162
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Or a Latapy. Who was the last player Hibs had who made everyone around them look better than they were? None since those two imo.

Brian Kerr
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[Purple & Green]

Originally Posted by wee 162
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Or a Latapy.

Absolutely.

Many people talk about a spine down a team, goalkeeper, central defender, central midfielder, striker but I have a suspicion that all you need to hold a team together is one high quality central midfielder.

Latapy or Sauzee fits the bill. It will be interesting how Falkirk cope when Latapy retires.

[wee 162]

Originally Posted by scaredyhibby
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Brian Kerr
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Okay. In a good way then
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[Hibees-Mad]

Originally Posted by Purple & Green
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Absolutely.

Many people talk about a spine down a team, goalkeeper, central defender, central midfielder, striker but I have a suspicion that all you need to hold a team together is one high quality central midfielder.

Latapy or Sauzee fits the bill. It will be interesting how Falkirk cope when Latapy retires.

They wont. I think thats why they signed McCann. They are hoping to capture the same magic, but those 2 are leagues apart. Russ was fucking awesome. I wish we had him now.

[Smurf]

Originally Posted by wee 162
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The cheapest option.

Without doubt dude.

I've no doubt that Johnny Collins and Mixu were not so difficult to deal with either...

IMHO Rod Petrie is interested in only one thing and that's maximising and protecting his 10%.

[wee 162]

Originally Posted by Hibees-Mad
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They wont. I think thats why they signed McCann. They are hoping to capture the same magic, but those 2 are leagues apart. Russ was fucking awesome. I wish we had him now.

Just superb.

I sometimes wondered why folk rate players tbh, and he's the only one that I've ever heard pretty much universal praise for. But to tell me how good he was it comes down to the fact that everyone had something different that they loved about him. And I pretty much agreed with them aw. My own personal one was his awareness of space, and how he would take every ball to him with a touch that would give him enough time and room to do what he wanted after he got it. He received a baw with the gratitude, care, and attention that a virgin receives his first blowjob with.

[Purple & Green]

Originally Posted by Smurf
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I've no doubt that Johnny Collins and Mixu were not so difficult to deal with either...

I don't know what you've heard, but I've heard that STF and RP found JC impossible to deal with due to his demands.

[wee 162]

Originally Posted by Purple & Green
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I don't know what you've heard, but I've heard that STF and RP found JC impossible to deal with due to his demands.

Which will teach the next fecker that tries to spend the money the fans bring on fripperies like making us better!

STs = £300odd quid.
Money for players = £100odd quid from each ST.
Being taken for arseholes = priceless... For some.

[Smurf]

Originally Posted by Purple & Green
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I don't know what you've heard, but I've heard that STF and RP found JC impossible to deal with due to his demands.

I'm talking of his salary. If you are also then i'm surprised he was appointed..

[wee 162]

When was the last time Farmer or Petrie were asked what plan they had for us winning the league? Shouldn't that be the aim?