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Sorry for the delay, but here's my crack at just back with the benefit of a days reflection and watching the goals on BT Sport. I was right up the back, behind the goals so the view was rubbish. I could see what happened, but it was awfy far away.
The game: Well, no many teams score two against Celtic, and there were points in the game that we seemed able to trouble them. In all honesty, the game was gone after 21 minutes when we were 2-0 down - infuriating because firstly the injury to their defender took the sting out of their early attempts at steamrollering us and secondly they didn't have to work hard for their goals - we just didn't get tight enough and we just didn't defend well enough. Celtic are a good side, certainly of a better standard than us but as Livingston showed they are beatable, and as we well know Lennon has some shortcomings as a coach. I'm not sure if they played well on the day, or we just made them look good. meh.
The players:
Chris Maxwell - I'm pretty neutral on him, he didn't really keep the score down and he made a howler at the corner for Scott Browns first.
Tom James - my suspicion is that he was targetted as a weak link in the team. Looked extremely uncomfortable all afternoon and it seemed most of the chances came from his side. Cracking cross for Kamberi's goal, but he doesn't do enough of that
Paul Hanlon - He struggled to cope with the celtic forwards, as a pair Paul and and Adam look soft and vulnerable.
Adam Jackson - Only playing because Porteous was suspended. For a defender, he needs to work on his defending.
Lewis Stevenson - I thought Lewis did okay, and our left was more safe than our right
Josh Vela - painful to watch. he looks for all the world that he doesn't want to be here. He should have been hooked long before he was.
Melker Hallberg - I think he looks a real player, trying to get fitness in a poor system and side. Took his goal well. Surprised he wasn't hooked because he seemed to be running on empty towards the end.
Daryl Horgan - I thought Daryl done okay, buzzed about and worked hard.
Scott Allan - took a bit of a kicking from Scott Brown, clearly targeted as a player who could hurt them. He just didn't get going.
Stevie Mallan - he's a central midfielder. he's a quality player, but he has defensive shortcomings. Don't play him as a wide midfielder in a 4 2 3 1 system, he's not suited to it.
Christian Doidge - Chris Killen would be a great player in this system. Christian Doidge is no Chris Killen.
Subs
Kamberi for Vela 46 mins Flo is an enigma, but he brought something and scored a cracking goal. Kamberi playing wide to Doidge would be an improvement but it leaves us with precious few striking options from the bench unless we use Boyle there, which would be a waste.
Slivka for Horgan 68 mins I don't understand what PHB thought he was going to do having been missing since August. He did okay, but we didn't need player to do okay, we needed players to make an impact at 4-2 down. If he's half fit though, he's a much better option than Vela.
Boyle for Doidge 76 mins I thought it was too little too late, and I thought Hallberg would have been a better sacrifice rather than Doidge. Martin had little impact, but he's a welcome option returning and looks more effective than Middleton or Newell. Like Slivka, little game time since August.
PHB. I've read and digested the usual tirade towards him post game, but there were some positives. I think what is going to seal his fate is that he seems completely incapable of setting up a team to defend. I've absolutely no faith that Hibs will keep a clean sheet in November, and that effectively means our first goal is to get a draw at best. The subs were strange, and he trusts players like Vela on the big occasion while ditching Middleton altogether, and keeping Newell sidelined. Nobody, not even him, seems to know what our best side is to fit his chosen formation.
The ref and linesman - usual rubbish standard, didn't cost us the game. Shocker of a call at the second, hopefully the linesman finds another day job soon as he'll be insufferable waving his flag more often. Hope Hibs complain about him.
The fans - thanks to Kieran for sorting me and the bairns tickets, and good to see 1875 and the old faces at Stamperland. I thought the fans at the game gave the team decent backing, and fair number were there to the end. I'm Hibs until the end, me.
Leaders. Looking at the team, we have a shortage of captains and leaders.
Onwards and upwards GGTTH
The game: Well, no many teams score two against Celtic, and there were points in the game that we seemed able to trouble them. In all honesty, the game was gone after 21 minutes when we were 2-0 down - infuriating because firstly the injury to their defender took the sting out of their early attempts at steamrollering us and secondly they didn't have to work hard for their goals - we just didn't get tight enough and we just didn't defend well enough. Celtic are a good side, certainly of a better standard than us but as Livingston showed they are beatable, and as we well know Lennon has some shortcomings as a coach. I'm not sure if they played well on the day, or we just made them look good. meh.
The players:
Chris Maxwell - I'm pretty neutral on him, he didn't really keep the score down and he made a howler at the corner for Scott Browns first.
Tom James - my suspicion is that he was targetted as a weak link in the team. Looked extremely uncomfortable all afternoon and it seemed most of the chances came from his side. Cracking cross for Kamberi's goal, but he doesn't do enough of that
Paul Hanlon - He struggled to cope with the celtic forwards, as a pair Paul and and Adam look soft and vulnerable.
Adam Jackson - Only playing because Porteous was suspended. For a defender, he needs to work on his defending.
Lewis Stevenson - I thought Lewis did okay, and our left was more safe than our right
Josh Vela - painful to watch. he looks for all the world that he doesn't want to be here. He should have been hooked long before he was.
Melker Hallberg - I think he looks a real player, trying to get fitness in a poor system and side. Took his goal well. Surprised he wasn't hooked because he seemed to be running on empty towards the end.
Daryl Horgan - I thought Daryl done okay, buzzed about and worked hard.
Scott Allan - took a bit of a kicking from Scott Brown, clearly targeted as a player who could hurt them. He just didn't get going.
Stevie Mallan - he's a central midfielder. he's a quality player, but he has defensive shortcomings. Don't play him as a wide midfielder in a 4 2 3 1 system, he's not suited to it.
Christian Doidge - Chris Killen would be a great player in this system. Christian Doidge is no Chris Killen.
Subs
Kamberi for Vela 46 mins Flo is an enigma, but he brought something and scored a cracking goal. Kamberi playing wide to Doidge would be an improvement but it leaves us with precious few striking options from the bench unless we use Boyle there, which would be a waste.
Slivka for Horgan 68 mins I don't understand what PHB thought he was going to do having been missing since August. He did okay, but we didn't need player to do okay, we needed players to make an impact at 4-2 down. If he's half fit though, he's a much better option than Vela.
Boyle for Doidge 76 mins I thought it was too little too late, and I thought Hallberg would have been a better sacrifice rather than Doidge. Martin had little impact, but he's a welcome option returning and looks more effective than Middleton or Newell. Like Slivka, little game time since August.
PHB. I've read and digested the usual tirade towards him post game, but there were some positives. I think what is going to seal his fate is that he seems completely incapable of setting up a team to defend. I've absolutely no faith that Hibs will keep a clean sheet in November, and that effectively means our first goal is to get a draw at best. The subs were strange, and he trusts players like Vela on the big occasion while ditching Middleton altogether, and keeping Newell sidelined. Nobody, not even him, seems to know what our best side is to fit his chosen formation.
The ref and linesman - usual rubbish standard, didn't cost us the game. Shocker of a call at the second, hopefully the linesman finds another day job soon as he'll be insufferable waving his flag more often. Hope Hibs complain about him.
The fans - thanks to Kieran for sorting me and the bairns tickets, and good to see 1875 and the old faces at Stamperland. I thought the fans at the game gave the team decent backing, and fair number were there to the end. I'm Hibs until the end, me.
Leaders. Looking at the team, we have a shortage of captains and leaders.
Onwards and upwards GGTTH
