Match Preview KF Shkëndija v Hibs

[Purple & Green]

What a difference a week makes in football. Or even a day. Or even 90 minutes. Or even 7 minutes.

Whatever.

The doom and gloom around our start to the season has lifted after one of those season defining results that come along. Of course, no one is getting carried away, and the old adage you are only as good as your last game comes into play...which is what we will be talking about on Friday. A sizeable Hibs contingent is on it's way, and I'd expect it to be swelled with a few late bookers after the weekend.

But before then, we have the small matter of a trip to North Macedonia...Oh we've played in North Macedonia...it could be a song.

Our visitors upon a big of digging were formed in 1979, but after a period of abeyance reformed in 1992. They also don't get to play this game at their home stadium which holds just 4000 and instead it is moved the national stadium in Skopje 40 miles away. It's an impressive stadium named after a pop singer who died in a car crash at the age of 26. It does appear to have a running track around it though and it remains to be seen just what kind of crowd the game attracts.

The Hibs players having shaken off the pre season cobwebs go into the game on the back of an impressive away win at Ibrox. That should raise a few eyebrows.

My feeling is this kind of game will suit Hibs - the home team will have to set the tempo, and try to win the game. Well as they are 2-1 down I think they do. Maybe they have other ideas and intend just to sit in and let Hibs play. Whatever, I think we need to take our chances when we can, and let the opposition worry about how they will break us down.

So a team. Yesterday has definitely thrown up a lot of questions on what our perceived strongest team would be. I tend to veer from what I think SDG will do, to what I might do.

I hope we go 4-2-3-1 and this is the team I would go with:

Sallinger

Passlack O' Hora Kerr Obita
Mulligan Chaiwa
Campbell Elding Wright
Lowe

That was a really tough pick, and one where several players could consider themselves very unlucky. I also suspect this will be a 16 man performance if we are going to get to the elusive final qualifying round.

That's my thoughts, I'm more interested in hearing yours

Hibernian Forever

 

[Dub]

What a difference a week makes in football. Or even a day. Or even 90 minutes. Or even 7 minutes.

Whatever.

The doom and gloom around our start to the season has lifted after one of those season defining results that come along. Of course, no one is getting carried away, and the old adage you are only as good as your last game comes into play...which is what we will be talking about on Friday. A sizeable Hibs contingent is on it's way, and I'd expect it to be swelled with a few late bookers after the weekend.

But before then, we have the small matter of a trip to North Macedonia...Oh we've played in North Macedonia...it could be a song.

Our visitors upon a big of digging were formed in 1979, but after a period of abeyance reformed in 1992. They also don't get to play this game at their home stadium which holds just 4000 and instead it is moved the national stadium in Skopje 40 miles away. It's an impressive stadium named after a pop singer who died in a car crash at the age of 26. It does appear to have a running track around it though and it remains to be seen just what kind of crowd the game attracts.

The Hibs players having shaken off the pre season cobwebs go into the game on the back of an impressive away win at Ibrox. That should raise a few eyebrows.

My feeling is this kind of game will suit Hibs - the home team will have to set the tempo, and try to win the game. Well as they are 2-1 down I think they do. Maybe they have other ideas and intend just to sit in and let Hibs play. Whatever, I think we need to take our chances when we can, and let the opposition worry about how they will break us down.

So a team. Yesterday has definitely thrown up a lot of questions on what our perceived strongest team would be. I tend to veer from what I think SDG will do, to what I might do.

I hope we go 4-2-3-1 and this is the team I would go with:

Sallinger

Passlack O' Hora Kerr Obita
Mulligan Chaiwa
Campbell Elding Wright
Lowe

That was a really tough pick, and one where several players could consider themselves very unlucky. I also suspect this will be a 16 man performance if we are going to get to the elusive final qualifying round.

That's my thoughts, I'm more interested in hearing yours

Hibernian Forever

Can't argue with that team selection apart from swapping Lowe for Klidje.

That aside, the referee for the game is a bit card happy so hibs players need to be careful.

"Referee Bulat Saryev has shown 628 yellow cards and 20 red cards in 135 fixtures and gives an average of 4.65 yellow cards per game"

 

[emerald green]

@Longbangers lads mentioned in their podcast its to be very hot at kick off time.

We need to be smart with the running and make the ball do the work

 

[Zab]

What a difference a week makes in football. Or even a day. Or even 90 minutes. Or even 7 minutes.

Whatever.

The doom and gloom around our start to the season has lifted after one of those season defining results that come along. Of course, no one is getting carried away, and the old adage you are only as good as your last game comes into play...which is what we will be talking about on Friday. A sizeable Hibs contingent is on it's way, and I'd expect it to be swelled with a few late bookers after the weekend.

But before then, we have the small matter of a trip to North Macedonia...Oh we've played in North Macedonia...it could be a song.

Our visitors upon a big of digging were formed in 1979, but after a period of abeyance reformed in 1992. They also don't get to play this game at their home stadium which holds just 4000 and instead it is moved the national stadium in Skopje 40 miles away. It's an impressive stadium named after a pop singer who died in a car crash at the age of 26. It does appear to have a running track around it though and it remains to be seen just what kind of crowd the game attracts.

The Hibs players having shaken off the pre season cobwebs go into the game on the back of an impressive away win at Ibrox. That should raise a few eyebrows.

My feeling is this kind of game will suit Hibs - the home team will have to set the tempo, and try to win the game. Well as they are 2-1 down I think they do. Maybe they have other ideas and intend just to sit in and let Hibs play. Whatever, I think we need to take our chances when we can, and let the opposition worry about how they will break us down.

So a team. Yesterday has definitely thrown up a lot of questions on what our perceived strongest team would be. I tend to veer from what I think SDG will do, to what I might do.

I hope we go 4-2-3-1 and this is the team I would go with:

Sallinger

Passlack O' Hora Kerr Obita
Mulligan Chaiwa
Campbell Elding Wright
Lowe

That was a really tough pick, and one where several players could consider themselves very unlucky. I also suspect this will be a 16 man performance if we are going to get to the elusive final qualifying round.

That's my thoughts, I'm more interested in hearing yours

Hibernian Forever

I think we’ll need to be very organised, not chase the game / press too much given the heat, and take our chances when we get forward.

Agree with you on Lowe, I think he holds the ball up well and we’ll need that, if Boyle’s fit I’d be tempted to have him in the team as an out ball as he’s another who can hold the ball and still has that pace to get in behind. But think Elding and Campbell playing off Lowe could work well.

I’d keep Campbell in, but not on the right. Wright is pushing for a start but having his impact ability off the bench may be just as effective, same goes for McGrath.

Megwa played very well and Ibrox and is lucky to miss out, Klidje was decent but don’t think he done enough to keep Lowe / Boyle / Elding out the team, same goes for Suto. All three could be very important from the bench, as we’ll need to utilise the squad to cope with the expected heat.

Sallinger
Passlack O’Hora Kerr Obita
Mulligan Chaiwa Mayor
Elding Lowe Campbell

 

[Slippery kaboosh]

Klidje needs a run of games. I think there's a player there short of confidence

 

[Bangkokhibby]

Klidje needs a run of games. I think there's a player there short of confidence

I think his lack of confidence comes directly from NOT being a regular starter, and when he does get on the pitch he's so keen to impress he just doesn't look relaxed.
Unless things change he'll slip further down the pecking list.

 

[Greenmachine]

This is going to be a very different sort of game to last week's match at Easter Road.
They came for a draw last week and got everyone behind the ball, and Hibs as always, struggled to break down a team
who adopt that tactic.
Shkendija will be different tomorrow, they are losing and have to come at us to get back level.
IMO Hibs will have to score one and probably more to get through.
It's going to be really tough especially in oppressive heat.
If Hibs make it through tomorrow it will be a commendable achievement.

I'll be optimistic and say 2-2.