David Gray reckons Hibs had been in the movie before.
The fans certainly have. In 2014 when they sank into the Championship. Gray also believes it’s not going to change any time soon. Well it has to and quickly because, if the Easter Road side don’t sort this situation in the next six weeks, it might be too late. A fortnight ago, the manager’s position was under severe scrutiny following a desperate home defeat to St Mirren.
At that stage, the hierarchy came out and backed their man, while stating all departments are under pressure to deliver. It is admirable that Hibs opted to stick with their manager. At the very moment he was appointed on a full-time basis, the club had to understand that there could be a rocky start. Given the revolving managerial door which preceded the decision to give Gray the post, it was not an option to put another individual in place and boot him straight back out of the door if that ropey beginning did indeed unfold.
In that respect, if it was fine for Gray to continue a fortnight ago, then can it really have changed again inside 90 minutes? No matter the paucity of the performance at Dens Park at the weekend?
Gray’s movie comment was in reference to events in the latest setback on Tayside. It was typical of this season for the Hibees. A promising start with an early opening goal in a game where many felt they had to get a result.
Cue the senseless red card, this time for Jordan Obita, the own goal and the defensive howler which created a 4-1 loss. It was a modern-day Hibs bingo card. Only it’s not so much full house as roof caving in.
Gray says there is enough togetherness in the dressing room for him to turn it around, but it’s hard for the fans to see it. Because togetherness is not playing cards together or going for coffees once training is done.
Togetherness is when a team-mate is caught out of position and you drive yourself that extra yard to cover him. Togetherness is grabbing hold of someone when they are toiling and lifting them. Togetherness is going above and beyond for your boss when he’s under big pressure.
Togetherness is not making the same silly and costly errors again and again. Players don’t ever not try. It’s just lack of confidence that can sometimes make it look that way. They are trying, they do care and they do hurt.
But the facts of the matter are the Premiership table tells you the current squad isn’t good enough and Hibs are suffering again for dismal recruitment over the past few seasons. Their chance to use the expertise of Bournemouth’s head of recruitment analysis Garvan Stewart and profit from the Black Knights assistance is going to be crucial in the next overhaul.
Recent Hibs work withstanding, it’s be a miracle if key additions and squad improvements are not already being lined-up, But the point is, no matter who is on the radar, Hibs can’t get them in the door until January.
And that’s seven more games, starting tomorrow night at home to Aberdeen. It’s a visit to Motherwell on Saturday and, within the six games after that, Hibs have to go away to Celtic Park, face Aberdeen again this time at Pittodrie and go across the city to tackle rivals Hearts at Tynecastle.
Hearts are surely going to improve. The weekend showed the likes of Dundee, Ross County and St Johnstone can pick up wins and so can Kilmarnock.
By the time the window opens, Hibs could easily be in an even worse position with 20 of their 38 games already played. That can’t happen. Too much will be left to do. It has to happen, in the manager’s words, any time soon.
So either Gray, who arrived just after the last relegation, fixes it, his players fix it or the club makes a u-turn on their manager. Whatever, it has to happen and happen now.
If not, that movie all Hibs fans have seen before could play-out again. And, once more, it’ll be x-rated.