Marks out of ten don’t really give you the full picture. Even in this age of data-first recruitment and hallucinating AI, an entire season’s worth of toil and struggle shouldn’t be reduced to a simple numerical figure. Or even a complex set of calculations.
When you think about Hibs and the crazy campaign they’ve just completed, do you really want to put a number on how Martin Boyle played? How do you measure the impact of someone like Rocky Bushiri, who would surely pick up extra points for timing in a season that produced a 17-game unbeaten run in the league, as Hibs climbed from rock bottom to third place in the table?
We’ve taken a different approach. Not as scientific, maybe. But based on the gut feeling you might get when considering the overall contribution of any individual player.
So here are your one-word (where possible AND printable) verdicts on how every player - barring the odd fleeting figure with one or two appearances - contributed to season 2024-25. A campaign unlikely to be forgotten any time soon.
5. Rocky Bushiri - %$&*%$£!
This is a family publication. So you’ll just have to imagine the, erm, colourful turns of phrase sent hurtling into the ether – more than once – as a result of some dramatic Rocky intervention. Three of the big man’s four goals this season were crucial late counter. AND he held that back three together at times with his pace and nous. Brilliant. | SNS Group
6. Marvin Ekpiteta – Uncertain
Suffered as much as anyone in the early stages of the season, with shenanigans and hijinks very much the order of the day in a back four struggling to establish any kind of stability. Just a single substitutes’ appearance - in the 2-1 home win over Celtic - since November. Will obviously be eager to prove himself in second season. Photo: Ian MacNicol
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7. Jack Iredale – Inspired
Winner of the PFA Scotland Goal of the Year award. And that is by far the least impressive thing about his season, as a whole. Having been forced to wait for a start, the former Bolton defender’s arrival in the first team – allied to a switch to a back three – coincided with David Gray’s men turning their season around. Derby winner at home wasn't a bad moment ... | SNS Group
8. Chris Cadden – Productive
Has occasionally been squeezed out of the right wingback role by Miller. But Cadden is consistently effective on that side of the team. Has a reliability on both sides of the ball that serves Hibs well. | SNS Group