Me again!
A 3-0 Hibs win at Easter Road. What's not to like!?
It was a game of 2 halves. 2 different falkirk performances and what on paper looks an easy afternoon out.
Not been in the match thread, as I saw it, as I remember it!
I got in relatively early, saw the team and hoped for a 4231 with Iredale left back, Boyle wide right, Chaiwa attacking midfield and McGrath wide left.
What we got was our usual system with McGrath left wing back.
Falkirk didn't look like they wanted to be there in the first 45. They stood off, gave us the whole park to play with and we were able to do pretty much anything we wanted.
Despite it being a great half for us, I don't think we brought McGrath into the game at all.
We went ahead through a penalty, Boyle cut across his boy and it was a clear penalty.
Boyle smashes it straight down the middle. Keeper dives out the way unlike Schmeichel last week.
Good homework from Boyle imo. Knew Kasper would expect his usual. Knew theirs would move.
Kieron Bowie's foal.. 40ish minutes. What a finish. I was pretty much directly behind the ball and watched it curl all the way in. Shot it wide if the goal and it sounds in beautifully. Great finish. Great.
Hibs go in 2 nil up, as easy a first half as you'll see.
Agyemang came on at half time for Falkirk and meant business from the get go.
We looked worried when he came on, stopped doing anything positive and sat back and watched Rocky handle him.
I thought Rocky was done after one foot race. Held his ham string and made a big deal about looking injured. Was delighted to see him finish the game. But confused by his reactions.
Falkirk out the ball in the net, but was rules for offside and they dominated most of the action.
We weren't a good watch second half imo.
About 10 minutes from time we made a triple sub bringing in Campbell, Youan and Newell.
Almost straight away, Campbell gets a ball forward, beats his man, squares to Bowie. Goal.
Against the game, but absolutely finished them off. Perfect.
On to the players!
Sallinger, done exactly what was needed today. A recovery performance and made 2 or 3 real good saves. Earned his clean sheet. A point saving performance if we're honest.
Cadden, played well, we looked stronger right than left defensively and offensively. Could've scored early on. Nice cut back to him. But lashed it on his weak foot.
O"Hora, solid, stuck to task and I done think we was bettered at any point.
Rocky, solid in the second half when asked to deal with Agyemang. Solid.
Iredale, looked off in the second half for me. Couldn't find McGrath to save himself. Had a great move and shot in the first half though. Great feet and power.
McGrath, barely involved tbh. I can only really think of 1 defensive header and his incredible corners.
Mulligan, best player on the park per minute over 90 minutes. Absolutely everywhere. Made Bowie's goal, involved in something on every blade of grass. Fantastic player in the middle of the park.
Barlaser, looks better in these games. Had freedom of the park in the first half. Had nothing to do defensively and breezed it. Stood off in the second half.
Chaiwa, another fantastic engine, every time he got the ball it was about getting forward. Showed moments of absolute brilliance and was ready to pounce on any loose or slack ball in their half.
Boyle, I thought he was really good first half, caused all their problems and was clearly passing to other Hibs players.
Scored his penalty and his movement is dangerous every time. I get he's not been on full form, but he's still good enough to start.
Bowie, scored 2, but didn't do much else. Both good goals, showed something different for each. 1 was all class, all class. The other was instinctive goalscorer type stuff.
If he moved like Boyle he'd get the ball move when we break. Mulligan was looking for him time and time again and I think he made it hard to find him.
Subs
Youan, Campbell and Newell all came on 10 minutes from the end and Campbell created the third goal with powerful running and a good assist.
Still has a spot on this team.
Youan and Newell didn't really get on the ball.
Megwa got on 5 minutes later and touched the ball a handful of times, Making a couple passes.
Levitt came on moments later and touched the ball once, making a pass. He came on so Bowie could get a clap for his double.
The manager, Sir David Gray, stuck to his guns and went with a couple square pegs. Got through the game, but could've made changes earlier while we were clearly under pressure the whole second half.
I don't think he knew what to do and if it wasn't for Sallinger I really think we would've thrown that game away.
Falkirk, utterly hopeless first half, but a completely different proposition second half. Gave us more than enough trouble and at 2 nil down, they tried to get something from the game.
On a different day, they would've.
Hibs man of the match.
I thought about this for a while.
Bowie scores 2, but didn't really do much else of note over the 90.
Mulligan was the sponsors man of the match, and was mine because he really was everywhere. Especially first half. But even in the second half when things were hard. He's a fantastic player for Hibs and is the closest thing to McGinn I think we'll see for a while.
Sallinger, in the end, after lots of thought, gets my vote, because I think he had the biggest impact (goals scored aside) on us keeping the points. He absolutely kept his clean sheet on his own terms. Big performance after the Celtic game imo.
Final thoughts, are that despite G hopefully pocketing some good coin.
We still managed to make that look difficult. Theres room to get at us and McGrath filling in as left wing back isn't in.
Hate to sound a bit down on a good 3 points, but there's still something needing to change.
Whatcha think?
Hibees
A 3-0 Hibs win at Easter Road. What's not to like!?
It was a game of 2 halves. 2 different falkirk performances and what on paper looks an easy afternoon out.
Not been in the match thread, as I saw it, as I remember it!
I got in relatively early, saw the team and hoped for a 4231 with Iredale left back, Boyle wide right, Chaiwa attacking midfield and McGrath wide left.
What we got was our usual system with McGrath left wing back.
Sallinger
O'Hora Rocky Iredale
Cadden Mulligan Barlaser McGrath
Chaiwa
Boyle Bowie
We started really, really positively, I thought we could've been 1 up inside 10 minutes. O'Hora Rocky Iredale
Cadden Mulligan Barlaser McGrath
Chaiwa
Boyle Bowie
Falkirk didn't look like they wanted to be there in the first 45. They stood off, gave us the whole park to play with and we were able to do pretty much anything we wanted.
Despite it being a great half for us, I don't think we brought McGrath into the game at all.
We went ahead through a penalty, Boyle cut across his boy and it was a clear penalty.
Boyle smashes it straight down the middle. Keeper dives out the way unlike Schmeichel last week.
Good homework from Boyle imo. Knew Kasper would expect his usual. Knew theirs would move.
Kieron Bowie's foal.. 40ish minutes. What a finish. I was pretty much directly behind the ball and watched it curl all the way in. Shot it wide if the goal and it sounds in beautifully. Great finish. Great.
Hibs go in 2 nil up, as easy a first half as you'll see.
Agyemang came on at half time for Falkirk and meant business from the get go.
We looked worried when he came on, stopped doing anything positive and sat back and watched Rocky handle him.
I thought Rocky was done after one foot race. Held his ham string and made a big deal about looking injured. Was delighted to see him finish the game. But confused by his reactions.
Falkirk out the ball in the net, but was rules for offside and they dominated most of the action.
We weren't a good watch second half imo.
About 10 minutes from time we made a triple sub bringing in Campbell, Youan and Newell.
Almost straight away, Campbell gets a ball forward, beats his man, squares to Bowie. Goal.
Against the game, but absolutely finished them off. Perfect.
On to the players!
Sallinger, done exactly what was needed today. A recovery performance and made 2 or 3 real good saves. Earned his clean sheet. A point saving performance if we're honest.
Cadden, played well, we looked stronger right than left defensively and offensively. Could've scored early on. Nice cut back to him. But lashed it on his weak foot.
O"Hora, solid, stuck to task and I done think we was bettered at any point.
Rocky, solid in the second half when asked to deal with Agyemang. Solid.
Iredale, looked off in the second half for me. Couldn't find McGrath to save himself. Had a great move and shot in the first half though. Great feet and power.
McGrath, barely involved tbh. I can only really think of 1 defensive header and his incredible corners.
Mulligan, best player on the park per minute over 90 minutes. Absolutely everywhere. Made Bowie's goal, involved in something on every blade of grass. Fantastic player in the middle of the park.
Barlaser, looks better in these games. Had freedom of the park in the first half. Had nothing to do defensively and breezed it. Stood off in the second half.
Chaiwa, another fantastic engine, every time he got the ball it was about getting forward. Showed moments of absolute brilliance and was ready to pounce on any loose or slack ball in their half.
Boyle, I thought he was really good first half, caused all their problems and was clearly passing to other Hibs players.
Scored his penalty and his movement is dangerous every time. I get he's not been on full form, but he's still good enough to start.
Bowie, scored 2, but didn't do much else. Both good goals, showed something different for each. 1 was all class, all class. The other was instinctive goalscorer type stuff.
If he moved like Boyle he'd get the ball move when we break. Mulligan was looking for him time and time again and I think he made it hard to find him.
Subs
Youan, Campbell and Newell all came on 10 minutes from the end and Campbell created the third goal with powerful running and a good assist.
Still has a spot on this team.
Youan and Newell didn't really get on the ball.
Megwa got on 5 minutes later and touched the ball a handful of times, Making a couple passes.
Levitt came on moments later and touched the ball once, making a pass. He came on so Bowie could get a clap for his double.
The manager, Sir David Gray, stuck to his guns and went with a couple square pegs. Got through the game, but could've made changes earlier while we were clearly under pressure the whole second half.
I don't think he knew what to do and if it wasn't for Sallinger I really think we would've thrown that game away.
Falkirk, utterly hopeless first half, but a completely different proposition second half. Gave us more than enough trouble and at 2 nil down, they tried to get something from the game.
On a different day, they would've.
Hibs man of the match.
I thought about this for a while.
Bowie scores 2, but didn't really do much else of note over the 90.
Mulligan was the sponsors man of the match, and was mine because he really was everywhere. Especially first half. But even in the second half when things were hard. He's a fantastic player for Hibs and is the closest thing to McGinn I think we'll see for a while.
Sallinger, in the end, after lots of thought, gets my vote, because I think he had the biggest impact (goals scored aside) on us keeping the points. He absolutely kept his clean sheet on his own terms. Big performance after the Celtic game imo.
Final thoughts, are that despite G hopefully pocketing some good coin.
We still managed to make that look difficult. Theres room to get at us and McGrath filling in as left wing back isn't in.
Hate to sound a bit down on a good 3 points, but there's still something needing to change.
Whatcha think?
Hibees
