News  Articles  Reports  Statistics  SPL Table  Gallery  History  Archive  Links  Feedback
The Team Sheet

Friday 05.05.00

Motherwell away tomorrow in the battle for fourth place. McLeish will once again field the strongest team available and a lot will depend on who is fit.

Couple of points. The fact that Renwick, a player who appears to have no future at the club, got a starting place last week , says a lot about how ready McLeish believes some of the under-21's to be. Secondly, Dirk Lehmann seems to have hit a liitle run of form and has been earning plaudits in the last couple of games.

My guess for tomorrow is :

Friday 28.04.00

Looking at the league table (Hibs in sixth place on 38 points), you find fourth place is 4 points above us and ninth place is 4 points below us. We are going to finish somewhere in that range. I was suggesting a couple of weeks back that McLeish had a choice between putting out his strongest team or trying to blood youngsters in the remaining fixtures. I think the fact that there is still such a wide range of potential finishing places will ensure that we see the strongest team - we want to finish on a positive note and put this season down to a year of consolidation in the Premier League.

This is Latapy's last game of the season. Paul Lovering sits the next two games out through suspension. Missing last week were Collins, McIntosh, Sauzee and Paatelainen and a lot will depend on which of these players is fit.

If Collins is still out and with Lovering missing, we may see one youngster get a chance - Bottiglieri. If Sauzee is missing then Jack may well continue in midfield.

My guess is :

Friday 21.04.00

Trying to work out what McLeish might do is never easy. On top of that, he is always likely to change the formation for an appointment in Glasgow. And just to add one more level of complexity, the game is pretty meaningless and so allows the manager to make changes he might not otherwise have done.

I think we might see the back three and I am going for :

Friday 14.04.00

Tomorrow will require the Hibernian team to show some character. The cup defeat last Sunday has deflated the season and I would expect one of our smallest home gates of this campaign. On top of that, St. Johnstone are a stuffy team that we seem to have great difficulty in beating.

Alex McLeish has a choice between: playing his strongest team in the remaining fixtures to try and finish as high up the league as possible, or experimenting to see if any of the up and coming players can cut it in the first team.

I expect he will continue with the first choices for a couple more games, until it becomes clear that we are not going to finish third top or bottom. After that point, I think we will see some of the under-21's who have performed so well this year getting a chance to impress.

One player who will not feature tomorrow is Derek Collins, out with a hamstring injury. Michael Renwick had a decent run at right back at the beginning of the season but is well out of favour. He played several times as a centre back for the under-21's which suggests Hibs are not sure about his best position. Another player who seems to be well out of favour is Paul Lovering who presumably could come in with Tom Smith switching from left to right back. Yet another option would be to blood Bottiglieri who is highly regarded as a full back and who has been a first team sub once or twice this season.

Yogi and McIntosh both played against Aberdeen after lay-offs with injury and I would not be surprised if either of them was unfit for this match. Dennis will be the replacement should either of them not make it.

One player who can match Lovering for showing tremendous promise and then dropping completely out of the picture is Grant Brebner, who did not even make the bench for the Cup semi and has hardly been seen in first team action for the last six weeks or so. Surely the time is right for him to show what he can do but he may have to wait longer for a recall. I think he will be a sub tomorrow.

Up front, it is a long time since Kenny Miller scored (since the Celtic game to be precise) and Paatelainen was subbed last weekend. I think Lehmann still has a bit to prove but he may get a starting place tomorrow. Personally, I think there is a lot more to come from Paul Hartley and a run of games could help him.

My guess is :

Friday 07.04.00

The big day approaches - the Cup semi - and time to make a prediction.

Firstly the defence. Colgan, Collins and Smith are certainties. The major fitness doubt this week has been Martin McIntosh. He has looked excellent in the games he has played for Hibs so far and McLeish will be desperate to have him in the team. The first choice pairing appeared to be McIntosh and Hughes but with Yogi missing the last couple of games, Dennis has staked a claim. I thought big Shaun was excellent against Dundee United last week. I reckon, however, that if Hughes is fit he will play.

Sauzee and Latapy will be the first two names on the team sheet and I honestly can't see McLeish dropping McGinlay or Lovell who both had excellent games last week. So it looks like Brebner may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Up front, it will be Mixu and Miller - I am sure of that. One of Lehmann and Hartley will make the bench - tough decision on who to leave out..

Scottish Cup games only allow three subs instead of the normal five. I reckon we will have Dennis, Brebner and I am going for Hartley after his performance last week. And I am predicting a starting line-up of :

Friday 31.03.00

April Fool's day tomorrow but I would settle for no more hoaxes this season - all we want is some consistency. I think we can safely forget about third place - we have a hard end to the season, finishing the league campaign with four away games. Our hopes for this season are now centred firmly on April 9th at Hampden.

You feel McLeish has to make changes after two defeats to club's sitting below us in the table. Dundee United are not exactly flying high any more and are likely to come to Easter Road with a cautious approach. I think we will have a lot of the ball and it will come down to whether we can break them down.

So who could come into the team ? We are not exactly brimful with players in form. Hartley has been used very sparingly in the first team and for a player with his talent, he has never looked like establishing himself. He started last week and may get another chance. Brebner, after being an ever present, seems to have been way out of favour and did not start a game during March. McGinlay was dropped again last week. Latapy is on international duty. So, the midfield is very hard to predict.

Up front, it is a long time since Kenny Miller scored. His reputation now preceeds him and consequently the number of chances falling to him has diminished. What other options do we have up front. We signed Earl Jean until the end of the season, yet he has hardly been seen. We have now signed Kristjansson - will he get a chance in the first team ? I don't think so - it seems we may have signed these two simply to evaluate them further before deciding whether to offer either a longer term deal.

The final possibility is a signing today to beat the transfer deadline - possibly Georgi Nemsadze ?

Too many options for me to fathom. Stab in the dark then :

Friday 24.03.00

Disaster on Tuesday and somewhat symptomatic of our erratic form this year. Has the chance of third spot disappeared. Well, it will take a monumental effort now. Our away form has not been great this season and we have a lot of away games still to play.

Tomorrow we visit Kilmarnock who are too good a team to be in bottom spot. We will have to be at our best to take anything from this one. Will we see new signing Kristjansson in the forward line - I doubt it though he may get a spot on the bench.

I think McLeish will ask roughly the same players to show that the Dundee result was just bad luck. One man who will return however is influential playmaker, Franck Sauzee. I expect the team to be :

Tuesday 17.03.00

A bit late posting the selection for tonight's game - I haven't stopped grinning for long enough in the last couple of days to get round to it.

Let's hope we don't continue our pattern of Jeckyl and Hyde performances tonight. After we roasted Hearts at Tynecastle in December, we were simply awful in the next game against Kilmarnock. We have to take three points tonight, get ourselves up to third place and signal our intent. Points on the board in home games will be crucial as we now finish the season with three away games to allow redevelopment work to start at Easter Road.

There must be some tired limbs after Saturday's display and I would not be surprised if one or two of that team were missing tonight - certainly Sauzee is likely to sit this one out.

Quick word for Paatelainen - I am a big fan, I can't believe how many detractors he has in the Hibs support and it was great to see him pick up so many plaudits for Saturday's performance.

The team, barring injuries, is likely to be :

Friday 17.03.00

A sell out crowd tomorrow for the third derby of the season. After the pasting Hearts took at Tynecastle just before Christmas, they will not require much motivating for this match. We have to make sure that we are equally fired up. Three points tomorrow is about more than putting one over our oldest rivals, it would also put us back in touch with the race for third spot in the league. I think it will be a tight game and the first goal could be crucial.

I can't see any changes in the Hibs line-up that played last week against Falkirk in the cup. Hughes has declared himself fit, so the defence will be unchanged. With Brebner suspended and Jean off playing for St. Lucia, the options for changes in midfield are limited and I am sure the four who played last week will continue. The biggest possibility for a change is Lehmann to partner Miller, but I think Paatelainen will hold his place.

So I am going for:

Friday 10.03.00

A vital game for Hibs tomorrow - do I say that every week ? Probably, but this one really is a big match. The cup draw has been kind to us this year and we have to be ruthless and make sure we take advantage of that. A good cup run will do wonders for morale around the club and who says we can't go all the way this year. Think positive - we have shown that on our day we are a match for anyone.

Despite what you may have read in the papers about McLeish being furious with Latapy and disciplining him, I am confident he will play. Latapy is too vital to the team and both McLeish and Latapy are too intelligent to fall out. They will have a talk and Russell will play.

Hibs will revert to 4-4-2 for this match with the defence picking itself. When McLeish puts someone in the team after a spell out, he normally gives them a few games so I expect McGinlay and Lehmann to continue. Paatelainen got back in for the three man offence against Celtic but I think he may be on the bench this time. Likewise, I think Brebner may have to start on the bench as both McGinlay and Lovell did well in the Celtic game.

So my prediction is :

Friday 03.03.00

Sunday night sees the start of a run of three big home games - Celtic in the league, followed by the cup quarter-final with Falkirk and then the derby with Hearts. We are struggling a bit for form after bad defeats against St. Johnstone and Aberdeen and the cup saga against Clydebank.

McLeish has taken action and thrown in a couple of players who have been warming the bench but the win against Clydebank did not really provide conclusive evidence that the team have turned the corner. 

Martin McIntosh will make his debut in the Hibs defence and the accepted wisdom is that this will allow Sauzee to move back into midfield. I don't agree with this. McLeish has put out 3-5-2 teams against Celtic this season because of the way Celtic line up and I think he may well continue with this policy. If that is the case, then Sauzee will be in the sweeper roll.

When McLeish does give someone a chance in the team, he usually gives them a run of games. For that reason, I think McGinlay and Lehmann are likely to continue. So, my guess is :

Monday 28.02.00

Alex McLeish has promised big changes after the 'disgrace' at Pittodrie for tomorrow night's cup replay with Clydebank. McLeish was particularly critical of the back four so look there first for new faces. Unfortunately McIntosh is cup tied, as is Earl Jean, so we will have to wait a little longer for his debut.

I think we may see the return of Renwick, who was in great form before his injury. Likewise, Dennis is likely to return to the centre of defence.

I also think Murray will drop out. The youngster has done well but was taken off at half-time at Pittodrie. McLeish has also shown himself to be cautious with youngsters once they make the breakthrough to the first team squad.

Hartley is likely to make way for the return of Latapy, if fit enough. If McLeish thinks he looks jaded then he may save him for the Celtic game (assuming he is not jetting off back to play for T&T again).

I think Lehmann will get a run out at some point but I believe McLeish will start with the normal front two.

Hence, a line-up of :

Friday 25.02.00

What a difference a few days makes. We have gone from talking about a place in Europe to fears of a relegation dogfight if we don't beat Aberdeen tomorrow.

Since the beginning of this season, I have consistently thought that there was so little between the eight teams outside of the old firm. Aberdeen and Kilmarnock may have been toiling but we were lucky to get a point at Pittodrie earlier this season and Kilmarnock played us off the park in the first half of the match just after Christmas. It comes as no surprise to me that they are now starting to pick up points.

Any one of the eight is capable of beating another and I don't see anyone mounting a consistent run. That is why points on the board are so important and why Dundee United and Motherwell remain favourites for third spot.

Aberdeen will fancy their chances against us tomorrow and a win at Pittodrie will be a tremendous result for us. Latapy will miss the game but Sauzee will return after being rested against St. Johnstone. This is a real test of character for Hibs and that is why McLeish will pick a team on tried and tested lines. Martin McIntosh and Earl Jean are likely to sit on the bench and I think big Alex will go with :

Tuesday 22.02.00

Oops. Tom Smith is, of course, suspended for tonight's game after being red-carded on Saturday. Paul Lovering is the likely replacement at left back.

Monday 21.02.00

Hibernian go into the re-arranged match in Perth tomorrow night with St. Johnstone on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw in the cup with Clydebank. However, I don't think McLeish will change the line-up and expect to see the same team that played on Saturday, injuries permitting. I think he will stick with :

Friday 18.02.00

Alex McLeish will not take any chances against Clydebank in the Scottish Cup tomorrow. I expect to see the normal line-up start the match. He put in Paul Hartley last week in Perth in place of Latapy (away on international duty) and he is likely to give him another chance.

If, as everyone expects, we are winning this game comfortably, then I think McLeish will throw in new boys Martin McIntosh and Earl Jean from the substitutes bench. (This will only happen if we are well in control and with Hibs in the Scottish Cup you never really can predict what might happen).

Anyway, my guess for the starting line-up is :

Friday 11.02.00

So, is there life after Russell Latapy? Time to find out just what the club can achieve whilst the little midfield master is away on international duty.

And if Hibs are serious about a European spot next season then raising their game against Rangers in a one-off situation is all very well but the real test is going to places like Perth and consistently taking the points.

So who will start against St.Johnstone tomorrow. I can't see Martin McIntosh being thrown straight in so the defence is unlikely to change. Likewise, I can't see past Miller and Paatelainen for the starting spots up front.

The big debate is the midfield. If Hibs want to continue with the diamond formation (normally Sauzee in front of the defence, two players sitting right and left and Latapy behind the forwards) then who gets Latapy's slot ? I believe Brebner, Sauzee and Murray will hold their positions so potentially you could throw in Lovell, McGinlay, Lehmann or Hartley in the free role. Of these four, I reckon Hartley could be effective in a floating position behind two forwards. But for the sake of an adventurous guess, I am going for a first start for Earl Jean. He is a man of similar stature to Latapy and supposedly has lightning pace and a few tricks in his repertoire so let's see what he can do.

My prediction for Hibernian at St. Johnstone tomorrow is :

Friday 04.02.00

The big debate going through Alex McLeish's mind will be whether to have a go at Rangers with an attacking formation or whether to try and stifle them. In August at Easter Road, Hibs played 4-4-2 and really attacked Rangers - and were very unlucky to lose that match.

McLeish has been much more catious against the old firm since then and may resort to a 3-5-2 formation with Sauzee in the defence. He always plays the team in this formation against Celtic but that is only partially caution; it is also to counter the way Celtic line up.

I am hoping he puts out our normal 4-4-2 and tries to force Rangers on to the back foot which will get the crowd going and urge the team on. If he does play the team like this, then I reckon he will put out the same line-up as last week - unless Martin McIntosh signs in time.

Thursday 27.01.00

How the hell am I supposed to know what team McLeish will put out - the man is a law unto himself. (Still, at least our opponents must be having as hard a time as I am trying to divine his intentions).

This is also a particularly unrewarding task. If he changes things and goes for an adventurous selection then you have practically no chance of foreseeing it. If you predict that he will go for an unadventurous, safe selection and you get it right, then everyone says, 'Well that was obvious - anyone could have guessed that.'

Pretty pointless exercise then. Nevertheless, and with no explanation whatsoever, my prediction for Saturday (Dunfermline at ER in the Cup) is :

Friday 21.01.00

So the mid-winter break is nearly over and the SPL returns to action tomorrow. I daresay the players love this rest in mid-season - a chance to let nagging injuries heal whilst lapping up the sun on an all-expenses paid escape from the Scottish winter. Personally, I've hated it and found my Saturday afternoons sadly lacking. Roll on tomorrow.

Dundee United away and prior to the break, I would have said it was a good time to get them. They seem to have struggled badly since losing Dodds. However, after a layoff like this, a lot will depend on which team has retained its sharpness better.

What team will McLeish put out tomorrow ? I don't expect to see that many changes from the Hearts and Kilmarnock games so expect to see Hughes and Dennis continue together in the centre of defence. McLeish is obviously not happy with this area of the team and for obvious reasons - we leak goals badly for a team with aspirations of finishing in third spot. (He has made an offer for McIntosh at Stockport and who knows what might happen there if we get some money for Crawford). However, I don't see him changing it tomorrow.

Tom Smith will certainly return at left back and with Lovering fit again we will have good competition for that position.

I think he might return McGinlay to the starting line-up. He has looked a lot sharper since he lost his starting spot and Lovell had a poor game last time out against Kilmarnock.

The same could be said of Kenny Miller - he has looked very keen and sharp coming off the bench. I just have a suspicion, however, that McLeish will stick with Lehmann in the starting eleven.

Hence my prediction looks like :

Saturday 18.12.99

Derby day tomorrow with the two teams sitting next to each other in mid-table. Hearts will be disappointed with their form and league position in light of the spending power they currently enjoy. They have started to spend to try and arrest their poor run and newcomers to the derby for them will be Niemi in goal and Simpson in midfield. They also have a lot of injury worries including influential players like Flogel and McSwegan. With Ritchie having left for Bolton, it all adds up to a far from settled side.

We, on the other hand, have a full squad available and a reasonably settled team although McLeish always seems to like at least one or two changes each week.

Analysing our statistics at the half way point, shows we score more goals than anyone outside the Old Firm and our problem is in defence. Will McLeish bring back Matthias Jack for this reason. I would argue that it makes little difference. We have three players - Hughes, Dennis and Jack - who all play the same kind of game. They are all typical centre halfs who attack the ball and don't shirk the challenges. They are all too alike is what I am trying to say. It seems to me we need a quick, agile player to complement any one of these three, which is probably why McLeish has been persisting with 18 year old Mark Dempsie. So will Dempsie come back tomorrow. I hope so but McLeish may be cautious about bringing him back from injury in such a high pressure match. So I am guessing we will see the same back four tomorrow with Dempsie on the bench.

In midfield, Lovell got a first start in a long while last week and normally would get a couple of games to show his worth. I have a sneaking suspicion, however, that McGinlay will get the nod. He scored against Aberdeen and spectacularly against Motherwell, and his knowledge of the Derby atmosphere will all count in his favour.

McLeish has gone out of his way to praise Dirk Lehmann this week and I think Miller looked a bit jaded against Motherwell. I don't think he will drop Paatelainen in his current form so I am guessing Miller may start on the bench.

So the prediction for the last derby of the millennium is :

Friday 10.12.99

Did anyone come out of last week's drubbing with any credit ? Only Colgan from what I can gather, so it is safe to assume that he will retain his place tomorrow when Hibs face in-form team, Motherwell, at Easter Road.

Personally I wouldn't read too much in to Motherwell's recent run of results. I am still of the view that in the league of eight, anyone can beat anyone. Dundee United ended Motherwell's winning run, Dundee United were then promptly hammered 3-0 by Hearts and then Hearts were beaten 3-1 by bottom club Aberdeen. You can't predict anything in Scottish football except the boring monotony of the Old Firm domination.

What will be important tomorrow is what the confidence of the team is like after last week's mauling. We have to come out positive at home, expecting to score goals. If we get a quick breakthrough, then the team can go from strength to strength. If we lose one quickly, then it builds on the bad feeling from Parkhead and the fans mood will not help.

So, I am hoping McLeish is thinking of a positive line-up. I think he pretty much knows his best team. Sauzee will return if free from injury. I think Miller will play up front with Paatelainen. The only question is which of the three central defenders he played last week will drop out. I am guessing he will stick with Yogi and Jack will be on the bench. So, my prediction looks as below :

Friday 3.12.99

McLeish made pronouncements of big changes coming for the Aberdeen game after two lacklustre performances against Rangers and St. Johnstone. But when you analyse the team that took to the field last week, how ruthless was he. Colgan was retained in goal. Collins and Smith both survived despite doing very little against St. Johnstone. Dempsie dropped out of the reckoning with a recurrence of his back injury to allow in Dennis. The midfield remained untouched. Lehmann replaced Kenny Miller, but he was also struggling with an injury. So as far as I can see, the only player that was dropped was Matthias Jack, to be replaced by John Hughes.

All this leads me to believe that McLeish does not think so much of the strength in depth of the squad and pretty much wants to stick with the team that has played in the last few weeks. If it was anybody but the Old Firm tomorrow, I think we would see the same team that beat Aberdeen. Because it is Celtic away, and looking at the way we lined up at Ibrox, I think he may well drop Paatelainen to the bench and go again for packing the midfield. It didn't work at Ibrox, and I don't want to see it personally, but I think that is what he will do. If Hartley were fit, I think he would have come in. As he isn't, I think we may see Lovell in a five man midfield. I think Lehmann will also get another chance with Miller in reserve on the bench.

So, my prediction for this week is :

Friday 26.11.99

McLeish will make changes for this match after two dismal performances. The only question is how many.

Colgan hasn't inspired great confidence but also has not let in many and I think he will keep his place. Renwick is fit again and despite the lack of match practice may get the nod at right back. I thought Shaun Dennis looked pretty sharp when he came in on Wednesday and I am guessing he will start. For that reason, Matthias Jack may drop to the bench, unless Dempsie is injured - he was struggling at the end of the St. Johnstone game.

In midifield, I think Stuart Lovell will be given a chance. Brebner and Latapy are certain to start. Personally, I thought the team were playing well on Wednesday before Sauzee entered the fray but I have a feeling he will play tomorrow. With Hartley out injured I think McGinlay may be the one to drop out.

Up front, I think Lehmann will be given a chance to partner Miller.

Hence I am going for :

Tuesday 23.11.99

We have to get back on track fast, and forget about Ibrox, so having a midweek game is ideal. McLeish seems to have settled on a team in the last few games and I don't expect a lot of changes.

He played five in midfield at Ibrox to try and frustrate but against St. Johnstone I expect him to return to two up front which will probably mean the return of Paatelainen with Hartley returning to the bench.

So my guess is :

Friday 19.11.99

It seems a long time since Hibs last played, with everyone having been focussed on the Scotland v England clash. Hibs going to Ibrox gives me the same kind of feeling that the Scotland double header did - that the best we can hope for is heroic failure.

Still, I must think positively. So, okay, here are some positives. Firstly, we matched Rangers at Easter Road and could have won that game, with Sauzee and Latapy in particular showing no fear (often in the past, we have lost the psychological battle before kick-off with our Scottish players in particular, so in awe of the Old Firm that they don't play their normal game). Secondly, we have not lost in five and have picked up a lot of points. And lastly, we have a goalscorer in form in Kenny Miller, though I hope that all the hyperbole that has sorrounded this teenager has not affected him.

Mcleish is highly unlikely to change the midfield or attack with these areas working well. The Kilmarnock game saw our first clean sheet, so there must be a temptation to leave the defence alone as well. Certainly, I think Colgan will retain his place in goals, but will he tinker with the back four. Lovering is out long-term but I haven't heard the news on Michael Renwick - were he fit, he must have a chance of playing. The big question mark is over Shaun Dennis who McLeish has made captain in Hughes' absence - will he return if fit ? I am guessing not and hoping that Mark Dempsie stays in the team.

So the prediction is :

Friday 5.11.99

It has just struck me that it is four weeks before the next home game. We are away to Kilmarnock tomorrow, then we have the Scotland England match and then we are away at Ibrox before the team return to Easter Road.

Picking up points on the road can be tough and what's more, Kilmarnock have been something of a bogey team so far this season, beating us 3-0 at Easter Road and then dumping us out of the League Cup.

The team is playing well going forward and creating a lot of chances. The problems remain in defence but I see few options available for changing the back line. The second half performance against Dundee United with Collins at right back and Jack back in the centre was certainly an improvement and with Renwick and Lovering still out, I would expect to see that back four tomorrow.

The rest of the team will remain unchanged I am sure. Another victory would give us a bit of breathing space but it will require a tremendous effort.

My prediction is :

Friday 29.10.99

On Sunday night Hibs entertain Dundee United at Easter Road in a live, televised match. Looking at the SPL table, it shows that Dundee United are way ahead of us and, therefore, should be strong favourites. I don't really see it that way. Outside the old firm, I really think there is very little to choose between the other eight teams. Certainly, from what I have seen of United, they don't overly impress. What they do well however, is pick up points. They are solid behind the ball and rely to a large extent on the predatory instincts of Billy Dodds.

I would expect to see Hibs having the bulk of the possession with Dundee United sitting back and counter attacking. We have not done well this season in a number of games where we dominated possession because we couldn't score and we gave away soft goals. There have been signs in recent weeks that we have regained the scoring touch with Paatelainen and Miller forging a good partnership. The problem that remains is the soft goals.

I don't think the problem with our defence is deep rooted - we are not handing teams hatfuls of chances. What is happening is that we are being punished for small lapses of concentration and perhaps that is the big difference between the premier league and the first division. The only way to rectify that problem is to improve the concentration levels and I am sure McLeish is working on this in training.

I think McLeish will stick largely to the team that outclassed Dundee last week. The only possibility for change is if either of the fullbacks, Renwick or Lovering, has regained fitness. From what I gather, however, this is unlikely.

(Incidentally, when both Renwick and Lovering are fit, McLeish will have a hard decision as to who to play alongside Dennis in the centre. Dempsie was so good against Dundee that it would be very hard to drop him to accommodate Jack).

So I am predicting an unchanged line-up, which would be a first for this season :

Friday 22.10.99

Tomorrow it is Dundee at home - the only team we have beaten this season. What a depressing fact. The point is being hammered home to us this season that draws are of little use. Aberdeen beat Motherwell on Wednesday night after a cataclysmically bad start to the season and yet they are back in touch - that's what three points does for you. Dunfermline went down last season having drawn a record number of games. We need victories - a couple of three point results will dramatically alter our league position, the atmosphere around the club, the mood of the fans, etc. etc. We have the two Dundee teams at Easter Road in successive weeks and what a difference two victories would make.

What will McLeish do tomorrow. He made some encouraging noises after the Motherwell game, especially about the attack, and yet all the newspaper reports seemed to indicate that Motherwell could and should have won the game.

I think we will see the return of Renwick and Lovering if they are fit with Jack returning to his more favoured central defensive role. And I am guessing he will leave the midfield and attack alone, though Stevie Crawford must get a place on the bench after scoring a hat-trick for the under-21's.

As usual, I have little hope that my prediction will be correct, what with McLeish's predilection for shuffling the pack. And, to be honest, I am more concerned about whether I will get to the game, as I am currently on holiday in the far north and am debating whether to settle for a relatively short drive to see Inverness Caley Thistle or a dash back south to Edinburgh on Saturday.

Anyway the prediction is :

Friday 15.10.99

Tomorrow Hibs travel to Motherwell on the back of a disastrous series of results. Frankly, I have no idea what team McLeish will put out - he is obviously not a happy man and may ring the changes. This season it has been almost impossible to predict the line-up as McLeish has chopped and changed for every match and not just the personnel but the formation as well.

I can't help wondering if this constant chopping and changing is part of the problem. If you look at the history of how newly promoted teams do in the premier league, then you find that the first season they normally exceed expectations. One possible reasons for this is that the opposition is unused to their personnel but also they are normally a team who are used to winning and know exactly how to operate as a unit because they have had a year of excelling in a certain formation.

Last season, the Hibs team picked itself and the formation was settled and what's more we were promoted in far more grand style than any of our predecessors. But we have given away that advantage of a settled team with a settled formation and have chosen to start again this season with a lot of new faces and a number of different line-ups. That said, I think most fans would agree, that we have improved the squad. What we need now, more than anything, is two or three good results back to back and then we might see this new team gel.

As it is an away fixture, I am guessing McLeish will start with three at the back.

Having given Miller a start at Kilmarnock, I hope he stays in the team for a number of games to see what he can do.

My prediction, with little chance of success, is :

Monday 11.10.99

Hibs will have a full squad to choose from for this game, with the exception of John Hughes, who has had an exploratory operation on a persistent knee injury.

I am pretty certain that McLeish will stick to the formation he has used in the last two games with three central defenders and the fullbacks pushed up as wingbacks. I expect to see Sauzee and Lovering returning after their suspensions with the rest of the defence picking itself.

Latapy and Brebner will get two of the midfield berths with a choice between Lovell, McGinlay and Henry for the other. Take your pick but I am guessing Lovell might hold on.

Up front, I expect to see Paatelainen continuing after playing well and scoring against Aberdeen. The other berth could go to Hartley, Crwaford or Lehmann. I think Paul Hartley may get one more chance.

Hence, my prediction is :

Friday 1.10.99

Tomorrow we face Aberdeen at Pittodrie, who even just by the law of averages, have to pick up points soon. Apparently they played well against Dundee United and were very unlucky to finish that game with no points. This is a vital clash for Aberdeen. If they beat Hibs then they are three points behind us with a game in hand and suddenly they are back in contention.

But it is equally vital for Hibernian. We have to take at least one point to keep the gap to 6 points. But that kind of thinking is very depressing - talking of relegation battles at this stage of the season. I would like us to show more ambition than that and go for all three points and start climbing the table. We are a better team than several of the sides above us in the table and we should not forget that.

I am certain that if Sauzee had not been sent off, we would start with the same formation that we played against Celtic and keep it very tight. However, without Sauzee, will McLeish try someone else in the sweeper role - maybe McGinlay or Brebner ? - it's a possibility. I am guessing, however, that he will play an orthodox 4-4-2 with Henry returning and the midfield flat. For the left back slot in Lovering's absence it is a straight choice between Collins and McGinlay and I guess McGinlay will get the nod.

Hence, my prediction looks as below :

Friday 24.9.99

Celtic tomorrow on the back of three defeats. Sounds like a daunting task but then we have been fairly unlucky in these three games and are maybe due a break. I don't think McLeish will make big changes to the team. He will just be emphasising the need to stop giving away silly goals and to take any chances we get.

Gottskalksson, Renwick, Dennis and Jack are certainties but the left back slot has caused all sorts of problems this year. I didn't think Lovering was that bad at the start of the season and a lot of the mistakes he made were down to a bit of inexperience and naiveté. The coaching staff will have been working on him and I believe he has to make a reappearance sooner or later. Pat McGinlay got a rough ride last week and this may be the right time to throw Lovering back in. I wouldn't be too hard on McGinlay. Everyone knows he is not a left back and will not be keen to play there and yet he has given it a go for the team.

McLeish is obviously still keen on McGinlay, however, and for his experience of the Scottish game, I think he might put him back in the midfield ahead of Henry who apparently was not too hot last week.

McLeish has made a lot of encouraging noises about Stevie Crawford this week and I think he may be ready to retry him in the starting line-up. I don't think he will drop Lehmann to accommodate this move as Crawford and Hartley would pose no aerial threat. So, Paul Hartley may drop out despite impressing as a forward - If he had only found the net once or twice in addition to his other work, there is no way he would be dropped.

Hence my guess for McLeish's line-up is as below (you would be well advised to ignore this prediction, because based on my past efforts you could probably get closer to the real line-up by picking the names out of a hat) :

Friday 17.9.99

Friday 10.9.99

Tomorrow Hibs are away at Dundee United after a two week lay-off since the spirited performance against Rangers. Alex McLeish has a full squad to choose from with Matthias Jack returning from suspension and Mixu Paatelainen recovered from a knock received on international duty with Finland.

McLeish has a habit this season of shuffling the pack for each game and I have to admit that I have yet to select the starting line-up correctly for any match. Nevertheless, here goes for tomorrow.

I hope that the performance against Rangers has convinced McLeish that Latapy must play in midfield. Where he plays is key to the shape of the team. If Latapy plays there, I think the midfield and attack will be unchanged. Paul Hartley as an attacker was a surprise last time out but he played so well that he must retain his place. The only other question mark is whether Henry should replace McGinlay. Personally, I think McGinlay might benefit from a spell out of the team and Henry has looked very good. But I think McLeish will stick by McGinlay.

So what of the defence. Interestingly, it turns out that Yogi did not train at all before the Rangers game and Dennis only managed a couple of days, which makes their magnificent performances all the more admirable. Nevertheless, I have a hunch that McLeish will return Matthias Jack to the partnership with Shaun Dennis that was developing so well. Tough on Yogi, but I think that is what will happen.

It is only a matter of time before Paul Lovering returns from the under-21 side to regain the left back spot but it may be too soon and I think Derek Collins will hold his place.

So, I am guessing a line-up as below :

If this is the line-up, I hope that if Lehmann is running out of ideas, as has looked the case in the last couple of games, that either Paatelainen or Miller is given a good half hour to show what they can do.

Likewise, if Henry does not start, he should be given a decent run if the team is struggling.

Friday 27.8.99

This is the first in a new section of this website dedicated to that trickiest of tasks - predicting the line-up for the next match.

Tomorrow, at Easter Road, Hibs play Rangers, who of course are fresh from their triumph in Europe. So how should Hibs play them. First I will give you my view and then I will have a guess at the more important view - that of Alex McLeish.

So my team first. Gottskalksson is the keeper.

I would want to play the same defence as last week - including Derek Collins who I thought played very solidly at left back. (There is no doubt that Paul Lovering is the long-term prospect in that role but a spell with the under-21's won't do him any harm).

The problem, of course, is I can't pick the same defence as last week as Matthias Jack got himself sent off. He will be a big loss, no doubt about that, and you don't just lose the man, you also lose his understanding with Shaun Dennis. My first instinct would be to play Alex Marinkov as Dennis / Marinkov was the settled pairing last year and Marinkov is left sided. But apparently, he had a howler against Clyde and appears to have lost a lot of confidence. Which brings us to Yogi. Against certain teams, yes, I would go for Hughes. But then you look at the Rangers attack - Mols, Wallace, McCann, Johannsen are all fast, agile, quick-witted players. Yogi is great in a battle or against an aerial / physical offence but against these players I think he could be exposed. So I would play Mark Dempsie - okay, it is a big task for a young man but I thought he showed terrific promise last year and he is fast and good on the ground.

I think you have to find a way to play Latapy in the midfield. He is so good that he has to be involved at all times. When he plays just behind a front two, Hibs look much more threatening going forward. Recently we have been playing with two deep lying central midfielders and whilst this protects Sauzee and makes us difficult to break down, it leaves a huge gap between the midfield and forwards. To get the same kind of tightness defensively, you have to make sure the right and left sided midfielders and   the forwards all drop back and cover for each other.

Brebner likes to play in the middle as well but I think he could do a job anywhere. So, I would drop McGinlay who has not looked as sharp as his midfield partners and play Brebner on the right with Henry on the left.

Up front, you have to go with Lehmann. There is no point in starting with Mixu as you end up with two target men. I would go with someone fast and tricky who might cause Rangers some problems - either Crawford or Miller. Crawford has not been setting the heather on fire but I would give him the first half and if he is not getting anywhere, give Miller the whole of the second half.

Hence I would line the team up as below (with the diamond midfield as we played for most of last season) but I would emphasise to Brebner, Henry, Crawford and Lehmann that if Latapy is pushing forward, then they all have a duty to make sure someone falls back to cover any gaps.

So what will McLeish do. I don't think he will put Latapy back in the midfield. I think he will try and play it very tight in that area with the same line-up as last week. He will try and rely on Latapy's brilliance and Lehmann's pace and finishing to grab something up front.

The sensible money will also be on Hughes to replace Jack but just to have one contentious prediction I will go with McLeish to choose Dempsie for the reasons I have given above. Hence my predicted team (with a flat midfield) is :

Up

News  Articles  Reports  Statistics  SPL Table  Gallery  History  Archive  Links  Feedback