Anticipation mounts

[SkyeHibs]

The long pre-season is almost at an end, as Hibs fans look forward to the league kick-off and Mowbray’s artisan’s launching their challenge for honours. Perhaps, this has been the most eagerly anticipated start to our new campaign since McLeish took us back to the Premier League. The excitement and optimism that marked our entry back into the top flight against Motherwell that day, may again be in evidence on Saturday.
Mowbray has talked the talk over the last few weeks, and although he has indicated we must not expect overnight success, at least we know we can look forward to being entertained by a team who will strive to play football the way many of believe is traditional to Hibs.

Hibernian fans have responded well to the positive signs being made by the manager, as can be witnessed by the ten per cent increase in season ticket sales. This is particularly noteworthy as Hibernian are the only SPL club who have seen an increase in sales. According to the BBC, most clubs have seen a ten per cent reduction in sales of season tickets.There are signs from the pre-season friendlies that Mowbray is already putting into effect his philosophy and seeing early signs of improvement, with Tony himself commentating:
“We are trying to put into practice what we are preaching on the training ground every day and when you get performances like the first half on Saturday against Leeds United, then it is pleasing because you can see them trying to do what you are asking of them.”

A number of players are flourishing under this regime and style of play, no more so perhaps than Colin Murdock who looks a different player than the one who had a difficult start last season.

The new signings have gone down well. Guillame Beuzelin gives us the guile many have been looking for in the Hibs midfield for some time. He indeed looks like a player who can play the killer ball on a consistent basis from midfield, something we have lacked on a regular basis since Latapy was at his peak.
Mowbray speaks of having unearthed a diamond, which may well prove to be the case.
With Brebner fit and up for the challenge, Glass being given the chance to shine, and the precocious talent that is Brown being allowed to develop further, there are more than a few gem stones in the Hibs midfield.

We can also look forward to the return in a few weeks of Ian Murray, whilst Thomson will be back in contention later in the season.

Hibernian have a tradition of having good keepers with the likes of Rough, Goram, Leighton and more recently Andersson having been well received by the faithful. It does look that we can have confidence in Brown joining this elite band.

At left-back, David Murphy looks to be a young man with potential, whose early career has been affected by injury. Let’s hope he is another who will flourish in the famous green jersey.

Whilst those three signings appear automatic first-team starters, there is also the promise of our young Northern Ireland strikers Morrow and Shiels. Having had good reports from their exploits in the milk cup, they further enhanced their standing with Hibs fans by playing key roles in the East of Scotland shield demolition of Hearts.

Not a bad way to get the natives on side!

As well as those “new boys” we can also look forward to Gary Caldwell being at Easter Road on a long-term contract. A player whose talents are well known and appreciated, but also one as a young man whose talents can only be enhanced.

McManus and O’Connor, whilst being experienced, are still young men who perhaps had lost their way over the last season or so. Let’s hope that they can repay the confidence that is being shown in them by Mowbray by realising their potential. In knocking back a bid from Aberdeen for O’Connor, Tony is making it clear he sees Gary as a key player for Hibs.

Riordan is one player who always entertained us last year, and scored some cracking goals. He too will flourish under the new regime as will young Whittaker.

There are many reasons to be optimistic for the new season, and I for one, cannot wait for Saturday and a first day’s three points from Jeffries Kilmarnock!


Glory, glory.