Smurf
Private Member
- Joined
- May 15, 2003
That game at Hampden Park was everything that's magnificent about our wonderful football club - Hibernian Football Club. Yesterday everything, and everyone, about Hibs clicked in one massive effort and contribution to get to the Scottish League Cup final against Scotland's Shame (copyright @SlovSam ) on Sunday 13th December at Hampden Park. To do so by knocking out the Gunts made it all the more sweet.
Let's be honest nobody really gave us much hope yesterday. All pundits and mainstream media predicted an easy win for the club that always shits it when it matters (how ironic) and even many of us within our own ranks (myself included) had serious doubts based on how this season has unfolded.
My day started having had no sleep (nerves and some flu type bug) and weirdly I left the house feeling kind of quietely confident. I went to Easter Road stadium into the supporters bar in the Famous Five Stand for 1030 and in my group we enjoyed square sausage rolls before the bar opened at 1100. A few pints of Guiness and the bus departed from the back of the Pat Stanton stand at 1250. The club advertised the buses leaving at 1230 but then in the Email confirmation said 1245. I thought that left little room for error but as others suggested maybe the club wanted to extrapolate as much bar money as possible.... Naturally there was a road accident on the M8 with long delays and we finally got parked up outside Hampden at 1455. No surprises in the team news on the bus with NCadden out for Boyle.
It's a bit of a walk to the South stand in the stadium from the car park (my Dad is 74 and a bit slow walking and thanks to this fuckin stupid ticket system of the app wasn't as if the younger ones in my group could run ahead) and it was weird seeing a couple of fans leave the stadium before we got in... we were told they'd scored and it was hard to believe it as outside Hampden we'd heard nothing. Then with 5 tickets on my app I had to scan the other 4 in from my phone. Honestly, it's a fuckin nonsense. Inside we get to our seats that others are sitting in (politely tell them so and they scream "Well where are our seats??!!" as if that's our problem. It's a bugbear of mine TBH folk incapable of sitting in their allocated seats. Finally sat down that lot had a great chance to go 2-0 up and I'm thinking the day is going fuckin horrendously wrong just as I feared....
But wait a minute the Hibs midfield led by the exceptional Joe Newell is dominating and dictating the play. The minutes are going by and we are almost permanently in their half. We looked confident on the ball. You could sense the increasing confidence within the support that something was about to happen. There was absolute and total positive encouragement from a hugely vocal Hibs support. The equaliser was richly deserved and it was a wonderful flick from Elding and Boyler finished it brilliantly off the post. VAR kept us waiting a little but the goal felt huge. Before the equaliser Elding had a fantastic opportunity to level from a lovely Mayor pass and not long after the equaliser Joe Newell who was pulling every string hit the crossbar with a shot outside the box.
That lot were absolutely rattled and we were well on top. Some of the passing patterns were delightful. In possession and out of possession we looked like a well coached and drilled outfit. The winning goal was absolutely delightful and Joe Newell did brilliantly to get in the shot with Joe McGrath on the rebound. Hibs 2-1 up so deserved. At that point that lot looked done. Had we gone in 3-1 at HT it would have been deserved. At HT I was convinced that not only would we win that we could win well.
The second half was a different game. They did a lot better but had no end product and defensively we were superb. I was a wee bit annoyed with us at the start of the second half though as we started sloppy by carelessly giving the ball away far too cheaply. We would have anticipated their reaction after half time so why assist them by surrendering possession so cheaply. Had we started the second half with more conviction in our possession I'm convinced we run out winners by more than one goal. Nonetheless though we looked dangerous throughout the second half and had many chances. For all their second half possession they didn't create many chances and the mentality and physical fitness from us was superb. I thought the manager made good substitutions at the right times though I was a wee bit surprised we didn't see the pace of Matondo introduced... It was weird but I never thought we were in any danger of losing an equaliser of going into extra time. For the first time in a long time this team of ours gave off a confidence. Not every player was at the absolute top of their game (but many Mulligan an example certainly showed much more) but every single one of them gave everything that they had. Bodies were thrown on the line. Let's not forget that there was HUGE pressure on us yesterday. If we'd lost that then the manager would have come right under the microscope from media (it started last week) and fans. The confidence of the players would have been shattered. The supporters despondent and angry.
It was funny as because it was so much focus on beating them i kind of just remembered at FT that this got us to a final! And it's a final we can win. Not just because all finalists have a chance but because the Huns are nothing to fear and if we use this fantastic win to kick on in the league then we can go into the final in a much better place than we did for the semi-final.
Players.
Sallinger
Not really a huge amount to do. Seeing their goal on my phone afterwards I feel I want my goalkeeper to come for they balls? Good save from Braga in the second half you'd expect him to make and from a shot from outside the box. His celebrating catching the ball the seconds before the FT whistle is iconic!
Passlack
Did great giving 110% as captain. I'm not convinced by him defensively and did well to not get booked until the second half. Looked dangerous coming forward.
Ivesic
Looked much more assured and commanding. Unlucky with second half header to not score.
Kerr
As one of us he will have enjoyed that. Another who Looked much more assured and commanding. Take confidence from it big fella and kick on.
Mayor
He's terrific. An unbelievable saving tackle in the second half. He was last off the park soaking it all up. We forget he's young. He'll get even better. The best signing in the summer for me.
Chaiwa
Much better than he has been of late. Threw himself into everything.
Newell
Wow. Just fuckin wow. After Anthony Stokes 2016 and Martin Boyle 2021 that's as good a performance as I've witnessed from any Hibs player at Hampden. He totally ran the show. Absolutely brilliant. Man of the match all day long. Wonderful.
Mulligan
Much much better from Josh. He looked much more like the player from last season. Kick on son.
Boyle
What can you say... A total legend. Fantastic performance. He was unplayable that first half. That lot go silent in the stands when he has the ball. We hear their fear.
McGrath
Showed great anticipation to score the winner. A clever player.
Elding
Great flick for the equaliser. Played well. He'll be disappointed to not have scored but your Hampden goals are saved for the Huns.
Subs
Klidge
He'll be disappointed to not have scored.
Wright
He's got talent and we've yet to see the best of him. Did well when on.
NCadden
Harsh to lose his place after St Mirren but he's loads to offer. Did well when on.
Hanley
Last 5 mins to see things out.
Marink Reedijk
What a game to get your first win. His tactics were superb. We looked like a very well coached team yesterday. He got big performances from the players. That was his win and his win alone. Well done. "I want music and I want beers". His job is to ensure we absolutely kick on from this and climb the league.
The support
Never listen to those that say we have the worst support. Yesterday 19,000 went to Hampden despite how awful our club bottom of the league has been. And they went to give incredible support, encouragement and noise for our club. Apparently that lot sold a wee bit more tickets than us and they've got terribly excited by that though it didn't transpire into noise - they were very quiet. I was excited by 19,000 happy Hibees in Hampden celebrating and an empty so called 'Rangers end' at FT. More of that on Sunday 13th December please against Scotland's Shame.
Referee
I was expecting worse.
I hope you enjoyed that win looking down with a lovely vino
Mark Strachan RIP.
Hibernian forever and fuck the Gorgie.
Glory Glory To The Hibees.
Let's be honest nobody really gave us much hope yesterday. All pundits and mainstream media predicted an easy win for the club that always shits it when it matters (how ironic) and even many of us within our own ranks (myself included) had serious doubts based on how this season has unfolded.
My day started having had no sleep (nerves and some flu type bug) and weirdly I left the house feeling kind of quietely confident. I went to Easter Road stadium into the supporters bar in the Famous Five Stand for 1030 and in my group we enjoyed square sausage rolls before the bar opened at 1100. A few pints of Guiness and the bus departed from the back of the Pat Stanton stand at 1250. The club advertised the buses leaving at 1230 but then in the Email confirmation said 1245. I thought that left little room for error but as others suggested maybe the club wanted to extrapolate as much bar money as possible.... Naturally there was a road accident on the M8 with long delays and we finally got parked up outside Hampden at 1455. No surprises in the team news on the bus with NCadden out for Boyle.
It's a bit of a walk to the South stand in the stadium from the car park (my Dad is 74 and a bit slow walking and thanks to this fuckin stupid ticket system of the app wasn't as if the younger ones in my group could run ahead) and it was weird seeing a couple of fans leave the stadium before we got in... we were told they'd scored and it was hard to believe it as outside Hampden we'd heard nothing. Then with 5 tickets on my app I had to scan the other 4 in from my phone. Honestly, it's a fuckin nonsense. Inside we get to our seats that others are sitting in (politely tell them so and they scream "Well where are our seats??!!" as if that's our problem. It's a bugbear of mine TBH folk incapable of sitting in their allocated seats. Finally sat down that lot had a great chance to go 2-0 up and I'm thinking the day is going fuckin horrendously wrong just as I feared....
But wait a minute the Hibs midfield led by the exceptional Joe Newell is dominating and dictating the play. The minutes are going by and we are almost permanently in their half. We looked confident on the ball. You could sense the increasing confidence within the support that something was about to happen. There was absolute and total positive encouragement from a hugely vocal Hibs support. The equaliser was richly deserved and it was a wonderful flick from Elding and Boyler finished it brilliantly off the post. VAR kept us waiting a little but the goal felt huge. Before the equaliser Elding had a fantastic opportunity to level from a lovely Mayor pass and not long after the equaliser Joe Newell who was pulling every string hit the crossbar with a shot outside the box.
That lot were absolutely rattled and we were well on top. Some of the passing patterns were delightful. In possession and out of possession we looked like a well coached and drilled outfit. The winning goal was absolutely delightful and Joe Newell did brilliantly to get in the shot with Joe McGrath on the rebound. Hibs 2-1 up so deserved. At that point that lot looked done. Had we gone in 3-1 at HT it would have been deserved. At HT I was convinced that not only would we win that we could win well.
The second half was a different game. They did a lot better but had no end product and defensively we were superb. I was a wee bit annoyed with us at the start of the second half though as we started sloppy by carelessly giving the ball away far too cheaply. We would have anticipated their reaction after half time so why assist them by surrendering possession so cheaply. Had we started the second half with more conviction in our possession I'm convinced we run out winners by more than one goal. Nonetheless though we looked dangerous throughout the second half and had many chances. For all their second half possession they didn't create many chances and the mentality and physical fitness from us was superb. I thought the manager made good substitutions at the right times though I was a wee bit surprised we didn't see the pace of Matondo introduced... It was weird but I never thought we were in any danger of losing an equaliser of going into extra time. For the first time in a long time this team of ours gave off a confidence. Not every player was at the absolute top of their game (but many Mulligan an example certainly showed much more) but every single one of them gave everything that they had. Bodies were thrown on the line. Let's not forget that there was HUGE pressure on us yesterday. If we'd lost that then the manager would have come right under the microscope from media (it started last week) and fans. The confidence of the players would have been shattered. The supporters despondent and angry.
It was funny as because it was so much focus on beating them i kind of just remembered at FT that this got us to a final! And it's a final we can win. Not just because all finalists have a chance but because the Huns are nothing to fear and if we use this fantastic win to kick on in the league then we can go into the final in a much better place than we did for the semi-final.
Players.
Sallinger
Not really a huge amount to do. Seeing their goal on my phone afterwards I feel I want my goalkeeper to come for they balls? Good save from Braga in the second half you'd expect him to make and from a shot from outside the box. His celebrating catching the ball the seconds before the FT whistle is iconic!
Passlack
Did great giving 110% as captain. I'm not convinced by him defensively and did well to not get booked until the second half. Looked dangerous coming forward.
Ivesic
Looked much more assured and commanding. Unlucky with second half header to not score.
Kerr
As one of us he will have enjoyed that. Another who Looked much more assured and commanding. Take confidence from it big fella and kick on.
Mayor
He's terrific. An unbelievable saving tackle in the second half. He was last off the park soaking it all up. We forget he's young. He'll get even better. The best signing in the summer for me.
Chaiwa
Much better than he has been of late. Threw himself into everything.
Newell
Wow. Just fuckin wow. After Anthony Stokes 2016 and Martin Boyle 2021 that's as good a performance as I've witnessed from any Hibs player at Hampden. He totally ran the show. Absolutely brilliant. Man of the match all day long. Wonderful.
Mulligan
Much much better from Josh. He looked much more like the player from last season. Kick on son.
Boyle
What can you say... A total legend. Fantastic performance. He was unplayable that first half. That lot go silent in the stands when he has the ball. We hear their fear.
McGrath
Showed great anticipation to score the winner. A clever player.
Elding
Great flick for the equaliser. Played well. He'll be disappointed to not have scored but your Hampden goals are saved for the Huns.
Subs
Klidge
He'll be disappointed to not have scored.
Wright
He's got talent and we've yet to see the best of him. Did well when on.
NCadden
Harsh to lose his place after St Mirren but he's loads to offer. Did well when on.
Hanley
Last 5 mins to see things out.
Marink Reedijk
What a game to get your first win. His tactics were superb. We looked like a very well coached team yesterday. He got big performances from the players. That was his win and his win alone. Well done. "I want music and I want beers". His job is to ensure we absolutely kick on from this and climb the league.
The support
Never listen to those that say we have the worst support. Yesterday 19,000 went to Hampden despite how awful our club bottom of the league has been. And they went to give incredible support, encouragement and noise for our club. Apparently that lot sold a wee bit more tickets than us and they've got terribly excited by that though it didn't transpire into noise - they were very quiet. I was excited by 19,000 happy Hibees in Hampden celebrating and an empty so called 'Rangers end' at FT. More of that on Sunday 13th December please against Scotland's Shame.
Referee
I was expecting worse.
I hope you enjoyed that win looking down with a lovely vino
Mark Strachan RIP. Hibernian forever and fuck the Gorgie.
Glory Glory To The Hibees.
