Expectation levels have shifted at Hibs - but club are still trending in right direction under David Gray
Hibs supporters no longer want progress - they are demanding it
David Gray has found himself under pressure from some sections of the Hibs support early in the new season - but a former Scotland international reckons the Easter Road club are benefiting from a period of managerial continuity.
While fans vented their frustration after a shock defeat to Kosovan minnows KF Malisheva last month and in the wake of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Motherwell in their Premiership curtain-raiser, Gray engineered a gritty win over Macedonian side Shkëndija on Thursday night to alleviate some of the strain mounting on his shoulders. Sunday’s win over Rangers has brought further positivity as they look to reach a European play-off for the second season in succession.
Former Chelsea and Scotland star Pat Nevin, a boyhood Hibee, reckons Hibs are still trending in the right direction under the stewardship of club legend Gray.
Nevin stated: “It’s kind of funny when you look at the build-up for Hibernian because they’re not unlike the way Arsenal try to build, in a much smaller way admittedly. They just do it year by year. They add a few more, and a few more, and a few more. There’s no big panic splurging.
“They’ve stuck with David Gray now for a few years, whereas before that there was a new manager every 10 minutes and it was a shambles, so you’ve got that continuity at the moment.
“Some fans will get miffed and annoyed because if you don’t win a game they want the manager out. That’s just the modern way, but you can’t be like that as a club because if you bend to every complaint, you’ll find yourself unable to build anything.”
Hibs must contend with increased expectation levels
Expectations levels have shifted in Leith, with consecutive back-to-back European campaigns raising the bar. Supporters no longer want progress, they demand it. But Nevin insists last season’s underwhelming fifth-placed finish wasn’t as bad as has been made out.
“Hibs are very close to where you’d expect them to be,” Nevin added to the Edinburgh Evening News in partnership with BetTOM. “They were one result away from finishing fourth [last season]. Had they won the last game, they would have overtaken Motherwell, who were great.
“They were behind Hearts, who had the season of a lifetime, and Celtic and Rangers have vastly more money than they’ve got. So Hibs are very close to where you’d expect them to be.
“If that fifth place can become fourth, or maybe even third this year, that’s where they’re aiming for. Add in a wee bit longer in Europe as well and that would be a good season.”