Where Hibs must do better - no quick fix for obvious problems as Gray seeks improvement in EVERY department

Must do better. Easy to say. Harder to explain in any sort of constructive detail.

As Hibs look to kick on after a campaign best described as distinctly middling, despite some stunning highs and crushing lows, there is virtually unanimous agreement on the need for improvement. But there isn’t a quick fix for the things that held David Gray’s team back in season 2025-26.

For a while, it looked as if all they needed to do was to start taking their chances. But taking entire footballing year as a sample size, it’s pretty clear why they finished fifth. And that’s without factoring in some truly disappointing performances in the cups ...

Because by virtually every metric available, they were bang in that mid-table area of the rankings. A 6/10 team who finished with pass marks, only just, on all the points that mattered.

Whether it’s through recruitment, work on the training ground, a tweak to playing style or just a new focus on key elements, they need to increase their efficiency and competence in every area of the park. Simple, eh?

Goals needed as Bowie departure still being felt

Finished fifth in the Scottish Premiership. Ranked fifth in the scoring table, too, with one-and-a-half goals per game. Not awful, but not wonderful.

The fact that not a single Hibs player reached double figures in league goals also speaks to the difficulties of a season where Kieron Bowie was sold for a club record fee in January, yet still finished joint top of the scoring charts for his old club. Bowie’s eight goals were matched by Martin Boyle and Jamie McGrath.

Elie Youan finishing fourth in the Hibs rankings with five league goals, despite becoming the forgotten man towards the end of his stay at Easter Road, says plenty. What Gray wouldn’t give for a 20-goal striker. Even someone guaranteed to knock in 15, as Boyle did over the 2024-25 league campaign.

Looking ahead, Hibs fans will expect young Owen Elding to do a lot of the heavy lifting. It would also help if Thibault Klidje, the club record signing following his £1.5 million acquisition from Young Boys last summer, returned from his loan spell at Randers with a new pair of shooting boots.

Make chances worth taking

Hibs actually ranked fourth in the top flight in expected goals (xG). But they were fifth in shots on target per match, sixth in what our friends at FotMob call ‘big chances’ – and seventh when it came to touches in the opposition box.

As inefficient as the forwards might have been at times, they weren’t exactly drowning in opportunities to hit the net. With Gray’s men ranked seventh in terms of average possession, their final number coming out at 46.7 per cent, would taking better care of the ball change that picture?

Nicky Cadden staying fit and discovering some of his best form will help boost numbers, you’d expect. As will Felix Passlack continuing to settle into the Scottish game.

Tightening up

A couple of injuries here, a suspension or two – and that’s just covering Grant Hanley – there, plus a World Cup celebration party that kept Rocky Bushiri in Kinshasa when he should have been at East Mains. Without making excuses, there are reasons why the Hibs back line didn’t always perform like a well-oiled machine last season.

But defence starts from the front. Or, rather, in the technical area. And the fact that Hibs ranked 11th out of 12 teams when it came to winning possession in the final third reveals something of the approach taken by a coaching staff who understand that high pressing comes with high risks.

Gray’s men managed to keep 11 clean sheets over 38 league games. Which put them, you’ve guessed it, fifth in the standings. The same ranking they earned in goals conceded and set-piece goals against.

It’s too simple to say that the secret to turning things around is score more and concede fewer. Dig through the numbers, even those available just to punters like us, and you’ll see issues with pass completion, accurate long balls, crossing …

Gray has access to far deeper data. He’ll have a fairly complete understanding of what he wants to see happen – and is the last person you’d ever accuse of simply settling for “good enough.”

Third place has to be the minimum target for the new footballing year. Getting there adds up to a whole lot of incremental gains in every single department.

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