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Latapy on way back after
T&T lose
Russell Latapy and Lyndon Andrews will start the long trip back
to Edinburgh after Trinidad and Tobago lost 1-0 in Jamaica today in the latest
phase of their complicated qualifying campaign for the 2002 World Cup.
28 February 2001
Fenwick
gets two match ban
Paul Fenwick's booking at Parkhead (his sixth
of the season) has taken him over the disciplinary limit and he has now received
a two match ban. The player will be available for Sunday's game with Motherwell
but will miss the next two league games - away at Aberdeen and Dunfermline. The
player will, however, be okay for the Scottish Cup game on 10th March. Hibs will
have to wait a little longer to find out who they play in that fixture after
tonight's replay between Kilmarnock and Inverness CT was abandoned midway
through the first half because of hazardous underfoot conditions.
28 February 2001
Laursen
set to extend contract
Popular Danish defender, Ulrik Laursen
appears set to accept the offer of a two year extension to his current contract.
Although the player has only been at Hibs for half a season, he has clearly
impressed management and fans alike and the club have moved already to secure
the services of the 25 year old until summer 2004.
28 February 2001
Standing
room please
I was interested this week to read that
Sports Minister, Kate Hoey, seems to be seriously considering the
re-introduction of standing areas at football grounds. Hoey has asked the Football Licensing Authority to study
the design of new stadia in Germany. What she is talking about is "small standing
areas" that can be converted back to seating areas when required, and not
vast terracings which would never be allowed post-Hillsborough.
Like many fans, I would love to be able to stand
at football matches. What's more, this story gives me a great excuse to get all
nostalgic and print a picture of Hibs legend, Jimmy O'Rourke, scoring in front
of a packed East Terracing.
27 February 2001
Libbra
in the shop window
Alex McLeish is aware that taking Marc Libbra
on loan for three months is effectively putting him in the shop window and that
Hibernian run the risk of losing him to a bigger club in a similar manner to
Didier Agathe. There are differences this time, however. We could have signed
Agathe on a longer deal. This time that is not an option - Libbra has two years
left on his contract at Toulouse after this season and he is here on loan under
their terms and conditions.
So, I guess the big question is will Toulouse be
interested in a permanent transfer or are they only wanting to see one of their
players get some match practice whilst he cannot get in their first team. I
asked the question to some Toulouse fanzines and got the following : Whilst it
is clear that the fans of Toulouse love this player, it is also clear that the
coach does not. He is said not to fit in the Toulouse 'system' and has been
effectively frozen out of the first team. That would suggest they might let go
of him and adding to this argument is the fact that the French club are said to
have a very big squad and are thought to be looking to offload players in
general. However, Toulouse are in relegation trouble and if they go down, they
may lose some of their better players as they look to cut costs, which could
hand an opening back in the team to Libbra. Could be then that we will see no
firm decision until the end of the French season.
27 February 2001
Hibernian make Marc in
Glasgow
Hibs burgeoning reputation rose another notch
tonight with a 1-1 draw away to champions-elect, Celtic. The Parkhead team took
the lead through Mjallby but lost their 100% home record when on-loan Hibs
substitute, Marc Libbra, grabbed the equaliser with five minutes left.
Hibs may have lost second place to Rangers this weekend but the signal to the
Ibrox team is loud and clear - we intend to make a real fight of the race for
second place.
25 February 2001
Hibs enter the lions' den
Celtic have won the league and I can only hope that their players know this because a bit of complacency from the Parkhead team would help us tremendously.
How good a team are they ? In my view, what O'Neill has done at Celtic is harden
them up tremendously. Squad players last season, like Mjallby and Petrov, are now
first picks because they have the right hard and efficient attitude for O'Neill,
whereas the classier entertainers like Moravcik and the discarded Berkovic do
not fit any more. Look also at the signings - Valgaeren in defence, Lennon in
midfield, Sutton up front. All guys who give everything for the team and know
how to dish it out on a football field but hardly the silkiest of footballers.
So, I see Celtic as a committed, efficient machine that is less entertaining
that most past Parkhead sides of the past but knows how to get the job done. And
then there is Henrik Larsson. I don't think I need to add to his long list of
tributes.
Alex McLeish now openly states that Hibs target is second place in the SPL and a Champions League spot. I don't doubt him and expect us to come out charged up for this match.
However, losing Latapy is a major blow, a problem compounded by the fact that his most capable replacement, Lyndon Andrews, has joined him on international duty for Trinidad & Tobago.
I guess Brebner will get the nod and it will be a massive test for him.
Paatelainen will take a pummeling up front as the
Celtic back three take no prisoners. So, despite the fact that McLeish has been
singing McManus' praises all week, I wonder if we might see Libbra coming off
the bench as he has a reputation in France for a singularly physical approach to
the game.
24 February 2001
Hibs back on front foot
Contract talks should be carried out in
private. That has always been my view and events this week have only cemented
it. There is something very dignified for all parties concerned when a contract
extension is announced at a press conference with nothing leaking out in
advance.
Russell Latapy chose to talk to the press ahead of a decision about his future and the result was a week of speculation, with claim and counter-claim and the futures of other players being dragged into the discussions. At the beginning of the week, Latapy had made his point and flown off on international duty leaving the club fighting a rearguard action. The current board and management of Hibernian understand PR however, and by the end of the week they are back on the front foot with the press quoting McLeish at length and largely backing Hibs arguments.
So it looks 99% certain that Latapy will go
whilst McLeish remains hopeful that Paatelainen will stay. Lovell is said to be
close to signing an extension whilst McLeish says Lehmann will have to win an
extension based on performances to the end of the season. However, with the
manager praising McManus heavily at the moment and having just brought in Marc
Libbra, Lehmann's chances to impress between now and May could be limited.
24 February 2001
Latapy out, Jess in ?
McLeish now appears resigned to losing
Russell Latapy, as the aftershocks of Latapy's statements last weekend continue
to overshadow preparations for Sunday night's game. When asked if Latapy
would go, McLeish is quoted as saying, 'There's nothing final yet but that's the way it's looking and I think reading between the lines I would have to think that's the case.
When Russell comes back from international duty we'll get everything out in the open rather than have the ongoing speculation.
I don't want anything to undermine the club's ambitions and I think it will be better for the fans and for the player's concentration.'
Could be the press putting two and two together
and making seventeen, but this morning McLeish was also asked to discuss whether
Eoin Jess might be arriving at Easter Road when his contract at Pittodrie is up.
On this subject he said, 'I think Eoin Jess is a good player, but if we were to take Eoin to Hibernian he would need to fit in a certain wage structure.
He is a similar type of player to Russell, but talks of his arrival at Easter Road are premature.
I read how much he was asking in wages at Aberdeen and if those figures are true, I don't think we could afford
them.'
23 February 2001
McLeish vows to end the
speculation
Alex McLeish has reacted to the public
statements of Latapy and Paatelainen by promising a joint statement from the
club and players early next month, after Latapy returns from international duty.
The speculation is clearly a distraction to the team who, McLeish reminds
everyone, have won nothing yet, and who have a vital match at Parkhead this
Sunday night.
22 February 2001
Paatelainen also considering his options
Mixu Paatelainen has stated today that, like Russell Latapy, he is considering offers from English clubs. The big striker, who has enjoyed a new lease of life at Hibs, has not been able so far to agree new terms to stay at Easter Road. Paatelainen is quoted as saying, 'At the moment I am not agreeing anything with Hibs and we will have to see what happens.'
Hibs success this season has brought a heightened focus on the Easter Road squad which Mixu's next quote confirms as well as emphasising that he is prepared to go: 'I have never hidden the fact that I would keep all my options open, and there is interest from a couple of clubs in England. I would be happy to stay on at Hibernian, but sometimes you move to find better things. I am hopeful I will come to an agreement with somebody soon.'
I don't like the choice of the word 'somebody' but maybe I am getting over-sensitive.
22 February 2001
Latapy
debate rages on
The thought of Russell Latapy leaving Hibs at the end of the season makes me feel ill. I have said many times that he can be so good that he takes your breath away. Alex McLeish has proved to be superb at finding talent for Hibs but I am afraid that wee Russell is just irreplaceable. Real flair ball players are in desperately short supply.
More ...
21 February 2001
Lovell on way back
Stuart Lovell, who missed the cup tie at Stirling Albion with a knee injury, should return in time for the crunch league match at Parkhead this Sunday night. And looking at our fixture list, we are going to need our strongest team as we face a tough schedule. After Parkhead, we have just one home game (Motherwell) and then four away games on the trot (including the Cup quarter final) before facing Rangers at Easter Road in our final SPL game before the split.
Talking of Lovell, I finally got round to getting the 'Inside Easter Road' video which is
quite interesting and watchable. Lovell, who shot a lot of the footage, comes across as an intelligent and
funny guy. There is, however, one very thought provoking sequence when the camera is turned round and Lovell is interviewed. If you have ever wondered what effect bad press or hostile crowd reaction has on a player then here is your chance to find out. Lovell talks very candidly about how he felt in this situation and anyone who has ever barracked one of their own players should be made to sit down and listen to what he has to say about it.
19 February 2001
Who's
a pretty boy then ?
Thought I would lighten the tone on a day when all anyone wants to discuss is Latapy and the will he stay or will he go debate. I am still getting lots of e-mails from Toulouse fanzines about our new loan signing, Marc Libbra. I said in an earlier review of this mail that he was a popular boy down Toulouse way and now I know even more. Turns out our Marc has his own fanclub at Toulouse and is particularly liked by the ladies - one e-mail describing him as a 'pretty boy'. And this is no one-off phenomenon - he had the same kind of following in his time at Marseilles. So, girls,
drop me a line and let me know if you are going to be swooning when this man makes his debut or vote for someone else in the
Hibs line-up who takes your fancy.
19 February 2001
Hibernian drawn away in
quarter final
Hibs came out the hat, in the quarter final
draw for the Scottish Cup, away to the winners of the Inverness Caley v
Kilmarnock tie. Killie must now be the favourites which would give us a
difficult game to negotiate at Rugby Park where we have been knocked out of the
League Cup twice - both this season and last. Other ties are Dunfermline or Celtic
v Hearts or
Dundee, Dundee United v Rangers and Livingston or Aberdeen v
Peterhead.
18 February 2001
Jefferies in for Latapy
According to reports this morning, ex-Hearts
manager, Jim Jefferies has approached Russell Latapy's agent with a view to
taking him to Bradford when his contract is up at Easter Road. Quotes attributed
to the player say that he is flattered but also that he is happy at Hibs. He
also says Hibs have offered him a new two year contract but crucially he adds
that the terms of that contract do not meet his demands.
Whether Latapy is genuinely interested in joining
a team that looks a certainty for the drop, which could mean playing out the
final phase of his career in the English first division, is debatable. Very
possible that this is a bargaining chip in the ongoing negotiations with Hibs.
Is he that good ? Is he irreplaceable ? Should Hibs be pulling out all the stops
to keep him ? Yes, yes and yes in my opinion.
18 February 2001
Hibs go through in
Forthbank farce
I was at Fothbank stadium today. Allegedly,
Hibs were playing Stirling Albion. Seriously, the fog was so bad that I could
tell you little about the match. We were behind one goal and, consequently, of
the five goals (Hibs won 3-2) I only saw two - the first and last. I was
convinced the game would be abandoned - referee, Rowbotham, seemed to have the
perfect chance when Sirling scored to make it 2-2 and visibility was about 30
yards tops. He decided to play on and Hibs sub, Tom McManus, took his chance to
score the clinching goal - and I saw that one. No match report because, as I
have said, I saw so little of the game that I would have to make most of it up.
17 February 2001
Hibernian return to
Forthbank to settle a score
Hibs are back in Scottish Cup action tomorrow with an away fixture at Stirling Albion which I am really looking forward to. After the demolition of Clyde in the last round of this competition, many pundits have us marked down as certainties for a victory. Personally, the only problem I can possibly envisage is complacency. What will mitigate against that is the fact that we were
embarrassingly dumped out of the cup at Forthbank two seasons ago - something that will still hurt those involved that day (McLeish, Lovell, Paatelainen and Latapy). If we play to anything like our normal form, we should run out comfortable winners. Alex McLeish has been warning that an unnamed player has an injury worry but really we should have plenty of options for covering any position. New loan signing, Marc Libbra, is cup-tied. And the reason I am looking forward to this match so much (apart from all the obvious ones) is because .... I have a terracing ticket - the way football should be watched.
16 February 2001
Marco
on his way
The loan deal involving Toulouse striker,
Marc Libbra, now appears to be definitely on with the player expected in
Edinburgh shortly. I have had a clutch of e-mails from Toulouse supporters with
descriptions of the player. What is clear from them all is that the player is
adored by the fans, despite losing his place in the team to Columbian, Victor
Bonilla (currently the leading scorer in the French first division).
Known as Marco, he is described as a big,
physical player who gives absolutely everything for the team and takes no
prisoners. I got the distinct impression that he likes to rough up opposition
defences. Good in the air and with a decent scoring record in France with
Marseilles, Cannes and Toulouse he sounds like the sort of player the fans will
warm to. On the negative side, one or two described him as a bit lacking in
pace.
16 February 2001
Hibees here, Hibees there,
Hibees missing everywhere
Alex McLeish spoke out after the St. Mirren game about the
disappointingly low crowds Hibs have been pulling in this season - only about 8,000 home fans turned up on Saturday at a game that took us back to second in the league. You can understand his frustration.
The big question is why. More ...
15 February 2001
Smith's football career is
over
Spare a thought this morning for Tom Smith
who has received the shattering news that his football career is over. The
player has been struggling to recover from a knee injury and was forced to go
under the surgeon's knife. The doctor discovered during this operation that the
player was suffering from a degenerative condition and was advised that if he
did not give up football, he was likely to end up crippled before the age of
thirty. Hibs will honour the player's contract which has another year and a half
to run. I am sure all Hibernian supporters will wish Tom the best of luck with
whatever career he now chooses to pursue.
15 February 2001
Latapy out of the Celtic
game
Hibs will have to do without Russell Latapy
and Lyndon Andrews for the visit to Parkhead a week on Sunday. The pair will be
travelling to play in the next T&T World Cup qualifier against Jamaica the
following Wednesday. This forces Hibs to change a settled line-up and is,
without doubt, a major blow.
Other news : Shaun Dennis will be allowed to leave Hibs when his contract runs
out this summer. Shaun is the last player from the Duffy' era still at the club
and has not featured at all this season.
14 February 2001
Hibs make it hard for
themselves
Hibs made life hard for both themselves and
their supporters today in a game which they dominated throughout. After going
ahead through a Sauzee strike, they contrived to allow a battling St. Mirren go
2-1 ahead early in the second half before rallying through a Zitelli double and
a Latapy clincher to win 4-2. In the end, it was a well deserved three points
taking Hibernian back to second place where they have sat for most of this
season.
10 February 2001
Hibs look to French market
once again
Alex McLeish looks set to bring Toulouse
striker, Marc Libbra, to Easter Road on a three month trial with a view to a
permanent move. The six foot three target man impressed in a trial match and may
be at Easter Road next week in a move which will increase the pressure on Dirk
Lehmann whose contract runs out at the end of this season.
9 February 2001
Colgan
next as signings start to snowball
Goalkeeper, Nick Colgan, today became the
second out-of-contract player to put pen to paper on an extension following
captain Franck Sauzee's lead of yesterday. Colgan has been a revelation this
year in the Hibernian goal, and one part of the best defence in the SPL. He has
now committed himself to Easter Road until summer 2004, signing a three year
extension. Two down, four to go - let's hope the good news stories continue to
roll.
6 February 2001
Formidable !
Hibernian captain, Franck Sauzee, followed
management duo McLeish and Watson and became the first of the 'gang of six'
out-of-contract players to put pen to paper, today signing up for another two
seasons at Easter Road.
5 February 2001
Rain stops play
The Aberdeen Hibernian match was cancelled
yesterday due to a waterlogged pitch. This allowed Rangers to take second place
in the league for the first time since August.
4 February 2001
Hibs head north with a full
squad
Hibernian are on their travels again tomorrow
with an away tie at Pittodrie. It turns out that Aberdeen have a goalkeeping
crisis for this match after it was revealed that Preece broke his nose in the
game at Ibrox on Wednesday. Further to that, Philip McGuire is suspended as a
result of his red card in the same match. Hibs, on the other hand have midfield
stalwarts, Matthias Jack and John O'Neil, back from suspension and I fully
expect both of them to be reinstated in their normal positions. That leaves
McLeish with a decision over whether Zitelli is ready to get back into the
starting line-up or to stick with Lehmann - that one is more difficult to
predict. It will be a tight game but we are good enough to get a result.
2 February 2001
McLeish and Watson sign new
deals to stay at Hibs
Hibernian announced today that Alex McLeish
and Andy Watson have signed new deals tying them to Easter Road until at least
Summer 2003. This is fantastic news and just what the fans have been waiting to
hear. Hopefully this announcement will be the precursor to the out of contract players
(Sauzee, Latapy, Paatelainen, Lovell, Colgan and Lehmann) re-signing.
1 February 2001
Farewell to an old friend
Hibernian are opening the gates to supporters
tonight to witness the final phase of the demolition of the old main stand. Fans
are advised to be in place by 17:30 and are being promised music and fireworks
as accompaniments.
1 February 2001