Josh Mulligan reveals new role for Hibs as midfielder embraces Marink Reedijk game plan amid 'buy in' claim
Scotland hopeful let off the leash to enliven attack
It doesn’t sound like the biggest change ever enforced on a footballer. At a level where small details make all the difference between a perfectly executed move and howls of derision over a sloppy move breaking down, however, it can’t be easy.
Listening to Josh Mulligan explain how new Hibs manager Marink Reedijk has looked to tweak the midfielder’s own individual contribution to a team in transition, it’s clear that the former Dundee star is buying into the shift in emphasis. Even if it is going to take time.
Change of formation requires adjustment
The same goes for the bigger alterations made by a new boss who inherited a squad built to play in some variation on a 3-5-2 … but is now being squeezed into an entirely different starting shape. This might take a little time.
“Yeah, it's different,” said Mulligan, the Scotland hopeful adding: “The formation straight away is four at the back. I've always been five at the back. So straight away, it's different.
“The details, the instructions he's asking are different. It's just about really, like I've said a few times, buying in. Really dedicating yourself to what he's wanting you to do and believing what he's wanting.
“It's not easy. You need to be tough. But you wouldn't do it if you didn't love it. You just have to keep going and you have to really believe that it's going to work. And I think it will.”
Explaining how Reedijk had given him a different role in the new set-up, Mulligan revealed: “I’m still playing as an eight, but there's times when we've got the ball and he wants me to play a bit higher. Really get running at the defence, taking the ball a bit higher up. Playing with the wingers, playing with the forward players.
“Which has probably been a bit different to what I've been doing. I was playing more as a six at the start of this season. It's a bit different, but it's something I'm keen to do and I'm looking forward to doing it.
“I think all the boys in there really are buying into what he's wanting. You need it because if you start doing your own thing, not playing as a team, it goes bad very quickly. So we need to definitely buy into what he's wanting and the results will come.”
Falkirk game a must-win already
Reedijk’s time as boss began with a defeat to Dundee United at Tannadice last weekend. The pressure is on everyone – the new gaffer included – ahead of this afternoon’s home game against Falkirk, with Hibs desperately in need of a win to drag themselves away from the relegation zone.
“It's frustrating,” confessed Mulligan, addressing league form this season. “The confidence is low, you can see it in the games.
“I really believe if we do what the gaffer is asking us to do, the results will come, the performances will come. But it's been tough, frustrating. You don't want to be losing every week. Just get a good performance tomorrow and get up the table.
“The gaffer really wants us to go and press and if we do our game plan well, I think we'll get the three points. The training has been really good, really intense. But the games are the only thing that matters. You need to start doing it in the games. Tomorrow is a great opportunity for everyone. “Yeah, it's been frustrating, the results. And then the performances haven't been good enough either That just makes it worse.
“But the results are the only thing that matters in football. So, yeah, get the three points. But really do what he's wanting us to do - and that will make it even better.”
Mulligan has been an energetic presence at the heart of this Hibs team since joining from Dundee last summer. He was absolutely flying in his first season, winning a Scotland call-up that stopped just short of winning a first cap, when a serious ankle injury derailed his campaign back in January.
He spent almost four months out of action. And, while he’s been full of running this season, he is yet to hit the heights of those early months at Easter Road.
Mulligan admitted: “I've not been nearly consistent enough. I think that's a reflection of how we've been playing as a team as well.
“It’s just not good enough and it's frustrating, but like I said, you need to keep going. I've always got that belief in myself. I think once the team starts really clicking, the performances will come.”