Hibs summer transfer window business graded - from A for effort to must do better on incomings and outgoings
Nine new players in the door and a handful of first-teamers gone in busy summer
Nine players in. A handful of first-teamers out, plus a few loan deals never likely to be renewed. When the summer transfer window closed at 5 pm yesterday, Hibs boss David Gray had significantly overhauled a squad in need of improvement after an up-and-down second season at the helm.
While it’s far too early to judge the most recent arrivals, how do you think the Easter Road club have fared in the open market? Everyone will have their own opinions.
Man United loanee a mixed bag in two outings
Maybe you cannot understand the decision to let Warren O’Hora join Leicester City, at any cost. Perhaps you’re an early-adopting Jacob Devaney stan, last night’s panic-stricken derby showing notwithstanding.
If you had to give Hibs a grade on their overall business done, it’s inevitable that crashing out of Europe AND losing the first Edinburgh derby of the season in such self-destructive fashion will affect the curve. Until such time as results improve, they’ll be unlikely to earn much more than a B-minus from most.
But let’s break down the business done. And take a cold-eyed attempt at putting each move into a few different categories.
Incoming – favourite new face, most improved and unknown quantities
Nathan Lowe gets an A for effort. In best parent-teacher conference style, that’s where you have to start with the Stoke City loanee, who is giving his all to the cause despite the temporary nature of his commitment to Hibs.
There are areas in which he can certainly improve, though. Putting the ball in the net, mainly.
Elsewhere among the new arrivals, Jason Kerr and Callum Wright probably just about scrape a low B on the grading curve. The centre-half and midfielder have each made contributions in big performances for Hibs – but both have also been found wanting on occasion.
Derby goal hero most improved so far
Most improved new recruit? That credit goes to Adam Mayor, who looked like a lost soul in his first few outings. If he continues to develop, his wonder goal against Hearts shouldn’t be the last highlight – but he’s set the bar high now.
Devaney looked outstanding against Dundee, then horrible against Hearts. Stick him into the ‘too early to tell’ category, alongside those yet to feature. That would include Deadline Day signings Marko Ivezic and Alex Williams, as well as American striker Colton Swan – loaned back to Charleston Battery after his signing.
Given how long he’s been on the books, it’s hard to give Azeem Abdulai the same leeway. Right now, his lack of impact is earning him a very fair D on the report card. Must do better, right?
Outgoing business a mixed bag
Let’s start with the Warren O’Hora departure. And acknowledge that Hibs are able to recruit well, from England and beyond, because they have a reputation for earning lucrative moves for players.
Had they even been able to stand in the way of the Irish central defender making his “life-changing” move to Leicester City, what damage would that have done, not just in the long term, but in their ability to keep getting performances out of a player in the final year of his contract? On a lot of levels, the move makes sense for all involved.
Leicester City have bagged a bargain
And yet … and yet. Hibs let their most consistent defender, their only fit and available ball-playing centre-half, leave the club on the eve of the Edinburgh derby. In pure footballing terms, it’s a D-minus move.
Letting Chris Cadden go earlier in the window made more sense, although Hibs were forced back into the market for a back-up right back for, well, reasons. Call that a B.
And Josh Campbell being sent on loan to St Johnstone for the final year of his contract? You know there will be games where Gray looks to the bench and wishes he had the attacking midfielder as an option. We’ll hold off on grading on that one for now.
Getting Alasana Manneh off the books, in any circumstances, is an A-grade deal. Which makes his initial signing look bad … but these things happen. Place it alongside the decision to let Elie Youan move in the summer – smart for everyone involved.
The January window opens again in exactly 17 weeks’ time. Chance for the guys on the incoming list to drag their marks up, certainly – and for the departed to prove a few points. And for Hibs to improve their average grade up by working the free agent market well ...