Mowbray the mentor

[SkyeHibs]

As exclusively revealed by the bounce on Friday evening, Tony Mowbray took the decision to play Derek Riordan against Celtic. I believe Tony took the right decision. The manager is playing a key role in educating Riordan and the rest of the team as to what is required on and off the park.

Mowbray is getting it right, and deserves the continued support of all of us.

We have all watched our young Hibernian team improve under the stewardship of Tony Mowbray. Yesterday’s performance at Celtic park is another example of a team that recognises that they can compete with any other in the SPL. As Tony said after the game, it is disappointing we have only harvested one point out of twelve from our encounters with the old firm this season. There is no doubt we have deserved more than this.

Improvement has taken place.

Who knows where Tony can take this team?

If we need inspiration, perhaps we should look to AZ Alkmaar, Rangers European conquerors this week.

AZ are hardly a household name throughout Europe, yet this team from a small town north of Amsterdam are setting a challenge domestically and in the UEFA cup.

Sitting second in the Dutch league, they are above such seasoned European campaigners as Ajax and Feyenoord.

Yet Alkmaar is a small town with a population of less than 100,000. AZ play in a stadium with a capacity of less than 10,000. They have also made their stadium a fortress, where they remain unbeaten in sixteen home European ties.

I am not suggesting we emulate Alkmaar. I am suggesting we should do better.

Mowbray has returned a self-belief to our team. Hibs do not appear to be intimidated by anyone. Tony appears to have the kind of leadership qualities that could make him a top manager.

We need leadership and vision off the park which matches Mowbray’s abilities to mould a team on the park.

There was an interview with Tony Mowbray in yesterday’s Herald which is worthy of reading to gain an insight into the man.

I make no apologies from quoting extensively from Graham Spier’s excellent interview:

“The Hibs manager is a truly remarkable character. To sit in his company and talk football for an hour is to come upon the game’s equivalent of a Pharisaic high priest.”

Much of the early part of the interview is taken up by the case “Riordan.”

“I’m trying to teach, to instruct, to say this is how you should lead your life.”

“I care about Derek Riordan. We want him to live his life properly. Derek knows the type of player I want at Hibs. I want them to lead their lives properly and to be dedicated to becoming the best they can.”

Derek can have no better mentor than Tony. The manager will bring out the best in Riordan and help him flourish as a player.

It is clear from Tony’s comments, and in conversations the manager has had with others that he sees Riordan staying at Easter Road. The player himself has stated he is happy at Easter Road.

He is after all a Hibs fan playing out his dream.

Yet there are repeated stories that Riordan could be sold. The message should go out loud and clear.

Back Derek, back Tony, and back the team. Riordan stays at Easter Road.

There is no reason as to why the player has to be sold.

Riordan is a young man whose talent is developing. He must be allowed to stay at Easter Road to continue his education.

If Derek improves as we know he can, then the day will come for Riordan to move on. That day is not yet near. We have a unique talent whose value will rise as his game develops.

Derek and Hibs must benefit from the player remaining at the Holy ground.

We have had a good season, one we the fans have enjoyed. As yourself whether we would today been in fourth place this season without Riordan’s goals?

I for one doubt it.

Derek has chipped in with some timely goals this season that have swung games our way.

As well as discussing the Riordan situation, Tony articulated his views on the game in Scotland in “The Herald” article:

“I don’t want to be disrespectful, but there is a small-mindedness about the Scottish game. When I used to come up from England to watch a Scottish match I saw too much of a muchness: It’s tough, it’s competitive, it’s up and at them, and it’s about shouting get stuck in from the touchline. Frankly I didn’t see a lot of thoughtful football up here.”

“I want to reach a stage where my team can impose our philosophy, our style of play, on our opponents. I want us to pass the ball. I want to create a team which is fluent and adaptable, a team that can change almost on a whim its formation on the pitch. It’s about education.”

“The challenge for any manager is to win a football match by actually playing football.”

These words are music to my ears. Many of us believe there is an important tradition at Hibs that football should be played the beautiful way.

The marriage between Tony and the faithful is one that works. He is dancing to our tune.

Mowbray is one of us in terms of what we want. The gaffer went onto talk about Barcelona at Celtic park:

“Barcelona’s appreciation of the game, their appreciation of things like the weight of a pass, is what it’s about. Obviously, I can’t do all that with Hibs, but I can try and pursue those finer things of football.”

Go to it Tony, we are all behind you.

We can look forward to better days at Easter Road.

We can aspire to play football and achieve success.

We can also look forward to seeing the special talents of Derek Riordan at Easter Road for some time to come.

The message should come out from Easter Road loud and clear.

Riordan is not for sale!