buster.

Short Highlights (2 mins) Longer version (12 mins)

The challenge going forward is to successfully negotiate summer qualifying to get access to group stages. We could have a better squad but simply get an unlucky draw.

Last team to beat them by 3 goals at Easter Road was Morton, nearly 3 years ago. Last team to best them by 4 goals was Rangers, 2-6 with Tav and Halliday scoring crackers (July 2015)

Hibs have 4 games in 11 days (Rangers, Livingston, Rangers, Hearts) and can't realistically play the same high intensity game in all of those. You add that to our creative weakness when up against an organised defence and Hibs ability to counter-attack with speed and precision and I think they'll probably spend chunks of the game soaking up pressure and looking to counter. I think the first 10-20 minutes will be about a Hibs attempt at a high press. We have to try and make use of the space in behind them early doors. -------------------- IMO Morelos has to start (Lafferty has lost confidence in front of goal and will probably start on the bench.

Whatever the exact number, it's a relatively substantial sum of money which is very welcome. It wouldn't have been budgeted for but I suspect it'll actually be very much needed and won't prevent a net loss next year (barring a substantial incoming transfer fee).

Molde to Manchester United, nae bother ! At this stage, it's about man-management and putting square pieces in square holes. I think he'll get an upturn in results.

Mibbees Scott is talking about you

Nowt wrong with optimism but I doubt we'll get any fine performances at this particular point of the season. It'll be about attitude, determination, hunger, taking chances and seeing where that has taken us when the final whistle blows. Players like Grezda have to stand up and make their presence felt tonight. Even if he doesn't have a great game and does some spade work to allow Barisic to attack, he needs to contribute. McCrorie, Jack and Arfield know what it is all about, a good balance for this match IMO. Candeias is reliable. Morelos is key and firstly needs to stay on the park. The defence will be stretched at times and we'll get a better idea of how effective the Goldson/McAuley partnership is (if played).

The gaps are friendlies. The Aberdeen reverse was on penalties Wed 13/12/17 PRE Hibernian 1 - 2 Rangers View events More info Sat 23/12/17 PRE Hibernian 2 - 1 Ross County View events More info Sat 30/12/17 PRE Hibernian 1 - 1 Kilmarnock View events More info Wed 31/01/18 PRE Hibernian 2 - 1 Motherwell View events More info Sat 17/02/18 PRE Hibernian 2 - 0 Aberdeen View events More info Fri 09/03/18 PRE Hibernian 2 - 0 Hearts View events More info Sat 31/03/18 PRE Hibernian 2 - 0 Partick Thistle View events More info Tue 03/04/18 PRE Hibernian 3 - 1 Hamilton Acade… View events More info Sat 21/04/18 PRE Hibernian 2 - 1 Celtic View events More info Sat 28/04/18 PRE Hibernian 5 - 3 Kilmarnock View events More info Sun 13/05/18 PRE Hibernian 5 - 5 Rangers View events More info Thu 12/07/18 UEL Hibernian 6 - 1 NSÍ View events More info Thu 26/07/18 UEL Hibernian 3 - 2 Asteras Tripolis View events More info Sun 05/08/18 PRE Hibernian 3 - 0 Motherwell View events More info Thu 09/08/18 UEL Hibernian 0 - 0 Molde More info Sun 19/08/18 LEC Hibernian 3 - 2 Ross County View events More info Sat 25/08/18 PRE Hibernian 1 - 1 Aberdeen View events More info Sat 15/09/18 PRE Hibernian 3 - 2 Kilmarnock View events More info Tue 25/09/18 LEC Hibernian 0 - 0P Aberdeen More info Sat 06/10/18 PRE Hibernian 6 - 0 Hamilton Acade… View events More info Sat 03/11/18 PRE Hibernian 0 - 1 St. Johnstone View events More info Sat 24/11/18 PRE Hibernian 2 - 2 Dundee View events More info Wed 05/12/18 PRE Hibernian 2 - 2 St. Mirren View events More info Sun 16/12/18 PRE Hibernian 2 - 0 Celtic View events More info Wed 19/12/18 PRE Hibernian 20 : 45 Rangers

A year and 6 days ago we beat Hibs 1-2 at Easter Road. Since that game, the Edinburgh side have lost only one home competitive game (St.Johnstone in November). For context, in the same timeframe we've lost 4 competitive games at Ibrox. Celtic, under Rodgers, are yet to win a League game at Easter Road (DLL). In other words, to come away with three points tonight is a bigger ask than most of us seem to think.

I reckon Hibs will come out of the traps fast but when the game settles (obviously dependent on score), won't persist in pressing high up the park. They'll sit deeper, thinking/hoping we'll struggle to break them down but they'll actively look to counter-attack with speed.

How long until we hear about David Brent Rodgers being mentioned as a contender again then nothing again................ ?

How much in pay-offs did Real Madrid, Chelsea and Man Utd combined have to pay JM ? Has he now become toxic for big clubs ?

I said at the beginning it wouldn't go well, said the same regards LVG and that the problem was higher up. Can I have Woodwards job and salary please

It's up to the player in what is left of the season to show he can consistently get a game and score goals in the top flight. If he can do that then he at least gives SG&Co something to think about.

We had an International centre-half who could do his thing up front and score 20 before Santa even thought about getting out of his scratcher.

Definite red card. I'm sure the media will be all over it

The logic goes that you use the loan system to bring in an 'unafforadble' (to buy) level of talent and if you strike up a relationship with a 'big club' then all the better. Sounds fine but Rangers are a big club with expectation levels probably at a higher level than current reality. So what tends to happen is young kids from Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool, etc, come up here and can't hack it. Ability Physicality Mentally We won't get their top talents wrt ability, eg. Harry Wilson goes to Derby. So you end up getting good but not exceptional talent that are making their way in the game. The fact they wear the shirt of a big club like Arsenal or Liverpool sits well with perception but doesn't actually mean a great deal when they haven't yet played for the first team. How many of those are going to cope with demands at Ibrox and perform consistently ? I'd say less than 15%. I think the actual 'hitrate' for this logic being a success will be higher at clubs without such expectation.

It appears moreso that over at PQ, they decided a few weeks ago that it's time to rip the Colin Nish on a more consistent basis.

I can actually understand them covering the rugby instead of a game they decide not to send employees to (the later is less understandable) but I can't understand why they finalise content on a podcast before the days football was complete.

We've reached a stage of the season where for various reasons we're suffering a blip wrt scoring goals. Suspensions Fatigue Unhappiness for some individuals Injuries Lack of options Highlight a lack of creativity etc = No Champagne football or goalfests and the increased probability of dropped points. I predicted 1-0 yesterday for a reason but the only thing that is important from yesterday is the 3 points and we got them. We need to get to the end of this month with as little damage as possible, then regroup. We need players in the team who will battle for the cause becuase there won't be much in the way of fancy football. McAuley before Worral McCrorie before Coulibaly Had Kent been fit, I'd have him in the team.

A very well respected and liked poster from FF who has since passed on, 'Number_Eight', used to tell a good story about ball boys. He used to be a ball boy at Ibrox of occasion in the 60's and in one European game against Borussia Dortmund on the run to an eventual Final appearence in 66/67, he considered himself to have been partly responsible for an assist. A ball was launched high into the sky and Number_Eight ran, got under it and caught it and quickly threw it direct to a Rangers player, who took a quick throw that led to a goal.

In Sportsound Podland, Kilmarnock are top of the league. There was no programme to cover the Rangers game which you could say (politics aside) given they don't have anyone there is to a degree, understandable. There is of course, a pod dedicated to the Hibs v Celtic match. However, the more standard approach would have been not to release a pod until the second game of the day had concluded. Not just any game, but a game that could and did see a change in the leadership of the top flight. Did the employees and contracted of PQ need to go Xmas shopping yesterday afternoon and couldn't stick around ? Context is that 'every' single top flight game, eg. Livingston v Hearts on a Friday night or a Dundee v Motherwell on a wet and windy Tuesday night in January get their subsequent PQ podcast coverage.

Notable that a starting XI without a loan player put in a real shift today. McCrorie, who needs more gametime to get fully up to speed, brings a much needed commitment and drive. I hope he wasn't injured today. Barisic brings balance and quality and again more gametime will help him go to another level.