How do Hibs get themselves in a position to challenge for even the minor European places next season? Well, with apologies for cracking the obvious gag, you certainly wouldn’t start from here …
On a serious note, there are good reasons for Hibs fans to feel both excited and just a little terrified by the coming close season. Even if the potential arrival of a new technical director might generate a bit of energy around East Mains.
Because, sure, appointing the right person in the right place – nobody gets to pick the perfect moment in football, so forget about the third element of that mythical trifecta – would represent a start. But any in-depth study of how Hibs have worked the market over the past five years, under five different managers, is guaranteed to create some concerns.
They need a repeat of their greatest hits. Like landing Kevin Nisbet, a future Scotland international who would also turn a tidy profit when sold on. And they’ll need two or three deals of that calibre even to make a top-six finish any sort of certainty. Which means the people making the decisions need to be clear in their goals, clever in their dealings – and completely certain about every decision they make.
Regardless of how many voices participate in the initial filtering process, Hibs cannot afford to make more than one or two mistakes in an extremely busy transfer window. So let’s take a look at their track record, examining some of the hits, misses, slow burners and surprise packages to pitch up at Easter Road since the summer of 2019.
Loan deals are excluded unless they led to ‘permanent’ moves. And we’ve decided to ignore some of the ‘development signings’ made more as punts on potential, than genuine attempts to strengthen the first team. Which leaves us with a selection including:
Because, sure, appointing the right person in the right place – nobody gets to pick the perfect moment in football, so forget about the third element of that mythical trifecta – would represent a start. But any in-depth study of how Hibs have worked the market over the past five years, under five different managers, is guaranteed to create some concerns.
![No other way to assess a central defender handed a three-year contract by Lee Johnson at the beginning of the season. Currently on loan to a League Two Colchester side just about certain of avoiding relegation to non-league football.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/01/23/16/10/20796762.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
9. Riley Harbottle – Miss
No other way to assess a central defender handed a three-year contract by Lee Johnson at the beginning of the season. Currently on loan to a League Two Colchester side just about certain of avoiding relegation to non-league football. | SNS Group
![Never anyone’s idea of a superstar, the Swedish midfielder – signed in the summer of 2019 – put in a solid two-and-a-half years in a Hibs side boasting such talents as Nisbet, Ryan Porteous and Jackson Irvine, to name a few. Not always a starter. But Hibs could do with someone of his ilk now.](https://sttms.blob.core.windows.net/images/RUxNODEyNzY2MTU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
10. Melker Hallberg – Hit
Never anyone’s idea of a superstar, the Swedish midfielder – signed in the summer of 2019 – put in a solid two-and-a-half years in a Hibs side boasting such talents as Nisbet, Ryan Porteous and Jackson Irvine, to name a few. Not always a starter. But Hibs could do with someone of his ilk now. | other
![Well, it SEEMED like a good idea at the time. After all, McGeady was one of the most gifted Scottish-born footballers of his generation. A couple of annoying injuries meant that, despite impressing in fits and starts, he was released at the end of just a single season with Hibs.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjdmOTJiNmRiLTk3ZmQtNGUyMy04ZDAzLTA1ODkxMTZlNDczMDpkYzE1M2QwNS1lNTk1LTRlODItODQ1OC0wNzJiODhhODJlMWU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
11. Aiden McGeady – Miss(ish)
Well, it SEEMED like a good idea at the time. After all, McGeady was one of the most gifted Scottish-born footballers of his generation. A couple of annoying injuries meant that, despite impressing in fits and starts, he was released at the end of just a single season with Hibs. Photo: Ross Parker - SNS Group
![Signed from MLS side Columbus Crew in January of 2021, Cadden’s recent return from long-term injury is reminding everyone of what can happen when you get recruitment right. Still just 27, he’s got another year to go on his Hibs contract.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/03/21/14/29/Chris%20Cadden.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
12. Chris Cadden – Hit
Signed from MLS side Columbus Crew in January of 2021, Cadden’s recent return from long-term injury is reminding everyone of what can happen when you get recruitment right. Still just 27, he’s got another year to go on his Hibs contract. | SNS Group