Michael Weir: Hibs are better than the start of the season - but there's still work to do

Squad is lightweight and needs overhaul

Michael Weir believes every position needs addressing - something that was highlighted at Pittodrie

Despite recent results, I still believe we are a better team than we were earlier in the season. Jack Ross has done well and brought in some good players during the January transfer window, but it is clear there is still plenty of work for him to do.

But it’s an overhaul I’ve said before should have begun 18 months ago, it’s obvious the squad is lightweight and that has to be addressed.

Jack has only been in post for a few months and has had just one transfer window which isn’t enough time to make the changes required, but I’m sure he’s aware of what needs to be done and will have been planning for the summer when, it’s recognised, clubs do their best work in the transfer market.

I think every department needs addressing, something that was highlighted at Pittodrie with Daryl Horgan the only player on the bench likely to influence the match in a positive manner given Marc McNulty was suspended.

Young Jamie Gullan did fairly well in his first start but, again, you just can’t go relying on youngsters. Like Ryan Porteous he has potential which suggests he’ll go on to become a good player for the club, but players like them don’t suddenly become the finished article overnight.

One real concern for me is the physicality of our players. Aberdeen and Hearts are both big, strong teams and we struggled against them. Without a Marvin Bartley or a Mark Milligan, we lack that bit of steel in the middle of the park.

Yes, we have players who are a joy to watch when we are at the top of our game and running the show but to win games of football you have to be able to play the game in many different ways.

You need to be able to roll your sleeves up and be prepared to battle and scrap for every ball and in the last three matches I think we’ve come off second best in that regard.

We need a bit more presence about us, an ability to make sure that if we are not going to win a game then we don’t lose it particularly when we’ve been ahead in games which we have been so many times this season.

That said, recent results have surprised me – I was convinced we were ready to kick on and we haven’t.