Yesterday marked the 24th anniversary of the day Hibs smashed Hearts 6-2 – and I missed out on a £1800 derby payday because I’d volleyed a ball off Bob Malcom’s coupon. October 22, 2000: A Mixu Paatelainen treble, six goals flying past Anti Niemi, three points staying in Leith and muggins regretting hitting the bullseye with big Bob’s face in a reserve game days earlier.
As individual errors go that was high up the list of my worst and it was a costly lesson. Learning from errors will be a theme here but first more on that encounter with big Bob. Our win bonus that season was always £900. But it got doubled for the derbies. In the week leading up to the game we’d played Rangers in a reserve league match and Bob – who I’d grown up battling with all through our youth careers – absolutely smashed one of our lads. All hell broke loose and without thinking I drop kicked the ball in the big man’s direction. I couldn’t have hit him if I tried. But this one caught him square on the nose and we both ended up being sent off.
I had to watch the following weekend’s derby from the main stand right in among the punters. And let me tell you that was no bad consolation because the old ground was absolutely electric that night. We had leaders all over the pitch. We finished third and Alex McLeish had built a team of warriors – no more so than Mixu. We also had Mathias Jack, Stuart Lovell, Gary Smith and Franck Sauzee.
That’s what you need on these derby occasions. And I’m deeply worried it’s what this current Hibs side is completely devoid of heading into Sunday’s latest instalment at Easter Road. Make no mistake, this is massive. Huge for a side that has incredibly replaced Hearts – who have made their own worst start to a season – at the bottom after another capitulation at Dundee United. And absolutely crucial for boss David Gray who now finds himself under serious pressure just 20 weeks into his tenure.
I’ve been consistent that he needs to be given a chance. But if they lose to Hearts at home and go three points behind at the bottom then I fear the boardroom conversations will start. Individual errors are killing Hibs. Two weeks ago while 1-1 at home to Motherwell, Nectar Triantis flies into a crazy tackle while already on a booking. Red card and minutes later Well launch a ball into the box, Hibs can’t defend it and the points head back to Lanarkshire.
Lesson learned? You’d like to think so. But no. On Saturday Hibs fight back from losing the first goal to lead Dundee United 2-1 when Joe Newell does the exact same as Triantis while already on a booking in the 85th minute. He’s the captain for goodness sake!
Still you’d think they will defend for their lives and see the game out. But two more balls into the box in the 93rd and 99th minutes are hopelessly defended and they lose all three points.
It is absolutely criminal. Individual errors are killing Hibs every week. And they’re killing the manager. Dwight Gayle said afterwards they’re too nice. He is bang on the money. Hibs look too cosy. A team with nice training facilities, well looked after, a nice stadium to play in.
I don’t see a Mixu, a John Hughes, a Mathias Jack, a Scott Brown or a Franck Sauzee in that squad. The last of those huge Hibs heroes should also act as a warning that no matter what status you held as a player at Easter Road, you’re never too big to be sacked. Franck lasted just 69 days and 13 games as boss before being binned.
Who are the leaders in this team? Who is grabbing them by the scruff of the neck? Gray was that type of player so I’m amazed he’s not got one in his team. If individuals were costing points – and win bonuses – back in our day they’d be pinned against the wall.
I saw that Ben Kensell and Ian Gordon travelled to Vegas to firm up relations with Bill Foley’s consortium last week. Maybe it would be good to see some of the Americans at Easter Road. Especially for such a big game. There’s a bit of the absent landlords about them at the moment. Their stake is 25 per cent in the club so they have a big part to play.
It would be good for the fans to see them in town, to show they are serious. There would be no better time than in Sunday’s derby. Maybe their presence would be a timely boot up the backside to the underperforming players too.