I watched Hibs grab a point ahead of Hearts semi - and see why fans are eager to believe in Reedijk project
Sunday derby at national stadium draws full focus after scrappy draw
Hibs fans want to believe. On that point, in this of all weeks, there can be no doubt.
And there are certainly reasons to feel just a little more encouraged by the Marink Reedijk master plan, following last night’s ugly/beautiful 1-1 draw with St Mirren in Paisley. A first point for the new manager, in his fourth game at the helm, at least puts something tangible - not just a performance but an actual result, modest as it may seem - in the plus column.
As they prepare to march on Hampden in their thousands, then, what have fans learned about a team in transition, a theory in need of a proof, a long shot at glory? Let’s take a look at what we learned from last night.
Midfield mix looks better
Let’s take the improvements first. Starting with a little bonus that few would have predicted, in the earliest days of Reedijk’s reign.
Joe Newell was only granted a return to the starting XI by a Martin Boyle tummy bug, with one ex-captain’s illness inadvertently doing a favour for another former skipper. Newell has more than seized the opportunity.
Solid against Celtic at the weekend, the experienced midfielder – now in the final year of his contract and with an injury history as long as the scar left by major abdominal surgery – was arguably his team’s most consistently impressive player in Paisley. Driving Hibs forward, tracking back to do his defending, committing the necessary fouls and making it clear to team-mates that sloppy play wouldn’t be accepted, he stood out in a crowded area of the park.
Josh Mulligan starting on the right, nominally, also changes how Hibs approach the game. Naturally wanting to drift infield and pick up the ball, he gives potential markers a conundrum – stay tight or pass him on – and regularly capitalised on the confusion.
Perhaps most important of all, however, is the sheer graft put in by Miguel Chaiwa, who looked in some discomfort when he came off after 67 minutes last night. He must be fit for Sunday, if Hibs are to cope with the energy and physicality of Hearts in the centre of the park.
Dominating the ball
For the third time in four games, the only exception coming in Sunday’s narrow home loss to Celtic, Hibs absolutely bossed possession, this time enjoying almost 60 per cent of the ball. That’s a sure sign of how Reedijk wants his team to play.
They are becoming better-than-average practitioners of the patient build-up, moving the ball around the back, even retreating to the keeper, drawing opponents out of their low block. And then hitting someone - a midfielder, usually - in one of the spaces left vacant by even a nominal press.
This works best, of course, when it’s part of a more varied mix. Going direct worked for Hibs at times.
Reedijk has been preaching the need for his team to have that change-up in their armoury. A mix-and-match approach on Sunday could make all the difference in a Premier Sports Cup semi-final between two teams at opposite ends of the Scottish Premiership table.
Finally, someone creating chances
Despite an improved performance across the board, with a number of individual players stepping up a level, it was impossible to look beyond Nicky Cadden for Man of the Match honours in last night’s draw. He put in 14 crosses from the left wing over the space of a 79-minute shift – and his corner led to the opening goal.
His positioning without the ball was interesting, with St Mirren wingback Calvin Ramsay taking some watching; there were times when Cadden was pushed back all the way into defence, making it look as if Hibs were playing a back five. But he consistently provided an out ball, a threat and, above all, chances. Against a Hearts side who like to get fullbacks forward, leaving spaces in behind, he could be the guy who decides the game on Sunday.
Know your enemy
Marink Reedijk knows Wouter Vrancken’s footballing philosophy inside out, having watched plenty of the Belgian’s club teams over the years. He understands that the Hearts gaffer wants to be open, expansive and attacking, dominating the ball and the opponent with passing and movement.
Nothing Vrancken is doing at Tynecastle has come as any surprise to the Hibs manager, who is convinced that he can find a way to exploit some of the less obvious weaknesses in the ranks of the favourites. Can his players deliver on a game plan designed to punch holes in the Hearts ranks? With the biggest Edinburgh derby for years approaching fast, supporters are crying out for a reason to share the gaffer’s conviction.