SOME may say the international break came at the wrong time for Hibernian as they were on a four-game winning streak but in all honesty we needed it, players were injured and tired and the 3G pitch at Kilmarnock didn't help.
We could see that in the second half of the Dundee game but we battled on to win. Batteries recharged and players coming back means we are ready for the St Johnstone match.
John McGinn may be getting all the headlines but we are far from a one-man team and I would maybe say that Marvin Bartley has been our best player but it is close. The best holding midfielders keep it simple, keep it solid and are strong on the tackle. That’s what Bartley does, he doesn't get the credit he deserves but I am sure if Neil Lennon was asked he would say that his team is built around Bartley.
In football they go on about the backbone of a team and ours looks first class – Marciano in goals, Hanlon and Ambrose at the back, Bartley as holding midfielder and Murray up front. Put Stokes just in behind the frontman and the pace of Barker and Boyle on the wings, McGinn and McGeouch as our central/attacking midfielders, Lewis Stevenson at left-back and either Whittaker or Gray on the other side and you can see why we are sitting third in the league.
And but for taking time to adjust to life in the top league we could and probably should be top. As it stands we are in third place just two points behind Aberdeen. I advised Hibernian at 20-1 without Celtic preseason, that now looks a steal the way we are playing, we still have a long season ahead but it's looking good, those odds are now 10-1 but that looks extremely high and still well worth backing,
After getting beat by Celtic in the semi-final I told Racing Club members I thought we would win our next seven league games, it's now four down and three to go before we go into the Celtic clash at Easter Road. We are scoring goals with McGinn on three, Stokes and Boyle on four each and Murray on five, even defenders are chipping in.
Defensively despite failing to keep a clean sheet in our first six Premiership games, Hibs now have the division’s fourth-best defensive record. Things seemed to click overnight, with the Leith outfit conceding just four goals in their past seven league games – with three of those coming against Aberdeen and Celtic.
Captain Paul Hanlon and Efe Ambrose have now built a good understanding at the centre of defence. In the club’s away fixture to Motherwell the Cabbage won 1-0, limiting hosts Motherwell to just four shots all game.
Having also recorded shut-outs against the likes of Hearts and Kilmarnock in recent weeks, their upcoming opponents are hardly likely to rack up the goals.
Hibs v St Johnstone (Saturday 3pm)
- Hibs over 1.5 goals
- (4-5, Betfair)
In December 2020 we sadly 
Beware the traditional post xmas hibs slump ;@)
Heard this from you about Hibs before, the Dundee game away from home springs to mind earlier in the season. Not saying they won’t score two but you talk about Hibs like they are Barca.
He’s biased and we know it – I talk about Bankies as if they’re Brazil. Fans do that.
In this case I’d agree with him. Hibs have won their last four and netted 2+ in three of their last five.
St Johnstone are dire just now – no goals in six and five defeats out of six.
Interesting to see what Greg Browning’s take on this is.
Mr f not really biased as I do slate when deserved, been very outspoken against Hibs on here plenty of times but finally we have a team to be proud of
You’re totally biased as I am towards my team – but there’s nothing wrong with that.
Not Barca but maybe Brazil as its thanks to the Hibs that Brazil play like they have done in years gone by
What is the Racing Club and how does membership work johnb
If you ask admin they will give you my email or google Johnb Racing and you should get my twitter and Facebook accounts, it’s a racing Syndicate for horse ownership
The Hibs ‘Famous Five’ of Gordon Smith, Willie Ormond, Eddie Turnbull, Bobby Johnstone and Lawrie Reilly were the real inspiration behind Brazil’s storm to dominance of international football.
Brazil’s football encyclopedia, printed in 1970 just before the world cup in Mexico, contains a whole chapter about Hibs’ style of play, highlighting our Famous Five’s tactic of constantly swapping positions during a game, and thus beffuddling and confusing opposing teams. In contrast, neither the Scotland national team, or the Old Firm, even get a mention.
Brazil’s football manual contained drawings showing Hibs’ tactics.
Hibs were included because at the time we were at the forefront of football with our revolutionary style – much in the same way that the 1970’s Dutch team was later showered with praise for its ‘Total Football’. Brazil’s players and coaches recognised the new dynamic that Hibs had brought to football, adopted it, and then improved on it.
Hibs toured Brazil in 1953, drawing 3-3 with Brazil’s champions, Vasco da Gama, in the massive Maracana stadium. Eddie Turnbull scored 1, Lawrie Reilly got 2. The mini-tournament, which also featured Sao Paulo, Corinthians, Fluminese and Sporting Lisbon, was one of the first ‘World Club’ type tournaments. Vasco de Gama were so impressed with Bobby Johnstone and Gordon Smith that they tried to sign them!
It was, of course, in the 50’s, that Brazil became a major footballing force, and their evolution culminated in the 1970 World Cup win in Mexico, Brazil’s team back then widely being acknowledged as the best coached of all time.
Brazil’s disaster in 1966 in England made the samba stars determined to triumph in Mexico, and in the 4 years between ’66 and ’70, they adopted a new training regime , based on what they had learned from Edinburgh’s own Hibernian FC.
Brazil employed this same style of play right up until USA ’94.
No one would believe it if it wasn’t in print.
Is Neymar the new Simon Murray then?
Wish Murray was like him or even a Leigh Griffiths, probably unstoppable if we had Griffiths again.
See what January brings but it’s looking more and more likely that Kris Commons will come as back up
On this occasion I can’t disagree with JohnB’s view on Saturdays match
Hibs will 100% score as we can’t defend – they’ll likely score two. We haven’t scored in 6 games so if we want to win this game we are going to have to score at least 3 – not happening :(
My thinking too – Hibs are a right good bet.
You are probably right guys. However when hibs are expected to win the problems start. See hibs 1 Hamilton 3 earlier this season for details.