Wednesday, 11 April 2007

Dummy

Typical Hibs. It's only been 3 weeks since we won the CIS cup and you would think the club and fans would still be on a high. However all that has been forgotten as there are a few players who are unhappy with the management style of John Collins and have complained to the Chairman.
I have to confess, I don't understand what the problem is here. The players in questions (who haven't been named but there is plenty of speculation) seem to be guilty of throwing their toys out of the pram. The issues seem to centre around Collins trying to install discipline and fitness in the side along with his manner which has been described as aloof. Isn't this the job of the manager?! He isn't there to be their best friend.
I have a lot of respect for the job that Tony Mowbray did as the Hibs manager before Collins. However Mowbray himself admitted he felt he had taken the team as far as he could. Mowbray's style was to be friendly with the players and a lack of discipline that arose form that. You could argue this is what had held the Hibs team back. Collins has sought to remedy this and you can see that this has been working from the fact we won our first trophy in 16 years under him. I don't understand why the players have chosen now to kick up a fuss. All the fans are behind Collins and his methods as they have proved to be successful. This weekend we have the Scottish Cup semi final against Dunfermline which gives us a great chance to get to another final. Potentially we then have an opportunity to break the worst hoodoo in Scottish football, the fact Hibs haven't won the Scottish Cup since 1902. So why chose now? It must be the worst timing the players could have picked.
If I was Collins, the players in question should be shipped out at the earliest opportunity. The club don't need the negative publicity and if some players don't want to work hard and play for Hibs then they can just GTF. Hibs don't pay massive wages but ultimately the players get paid very good money to do something they love. At the moment all these players are doing is disrespecting the club and fans. All the players need to be behind the manager as his methods are what we need to move the club onto the next level. There is no point complaining that they had an easier life under Mowbray, that is not how they are going to become successful. If they want to take it easy and go out drinking all the time then they are welcome to do it at another club.
Let's hope Collins and Petrie can sort this situation out. It's a very big game on Sunday and we can't afford to go into the game with divisions in the squad. We have been beaten in the semi final of the Scottish Cup in the last two seasons, let's make sure it's third time lucky.

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