There may have been no shame in Hibs defeat at Ibrox, whilst impossible to say we deserved to win the game there were flashes of promise. However, the 2-0 defeat now means that Hibernian are without a win in our last seven games having only scored within 90 minutes in one of those.
Maloney is in the infancy of his Hibernian, and indeed managerial, career so it is far too early to question his future but not too early to question his performance and the problems which need to be addressed.
The first is the most obvious, the results. Since winning his first two games in charge the club’s only victory was in extra time against Cove Rangers. Defeats at home to Livingston and St Mirren would only be tolerated accompanied by acceptable performances. They were not.
It is obvious that Maloney is trying to change the style of play from a predominantly counter-attacking base under his predecessor to a possession game, but with the resources at his disposal results should not suffer in such a way whilst this transition takes place.
Too much of the possession he demands from his side has taken place in areas that are of no concern to the opposition and having 66% possession when most of it is short passes between the midfield and defence. This does not make you the better team or give you the right to score four or five goals as Maloney has claimed after recent defeats.
Both the quantity of pointless possession and the absurd post match comments are reminiscent of the worst period of John Hughes’ reign. When most of the people hearing a manager’s post match comments have seen the game, coming out with statements which suggest the manager was watching a completely different one is concerning.
Maloney was a highly regarded coach in the Belgian national set up, albeit one which has probably underachieved. It is stunning that he has so far failed to grasp that this Hibs squad is incapable of playing the same way as some of the best players in the world.
A transfer window which failed to address the two most glaring deficiencies in his squad, a box-to-box midfielder and another striker to support an out-of-sorts Christian Doidge and a shattered looking Kevin Nisbet is not mainly Maloney’s fault. Some of the consequential team selections are.
Heading to Ibrox with five full backs in the starting line up was bizarre.
Around 80% of Hibs goals scored in the first half of this season were provided by Martin Boyle, Kyle Magennis and Scott Allan. Boyle’s loss would hinder any side in Scotland and if we can ever crack the mystery that is getting Kyle Magennis onto a football pitch on a regular basis he has the legs and quality in midfield perfect for Maloney’s game plan.
Deeming Scott Allan consistently fit enough for the bench but clearly surplus to requirements is also strange. This is especially true when giving regular game time to Josh Campbell who, with the greatest will in the world, one performance at Hampden aside has shown little to suggest he is good enough for a place in the starting XI. Hibs also have an extensive injury list but Maloney needs to be doing better with what he has.
It is obviously premature to question Shaun Maloney’s position as manager of Hibernian Football Club, he was a popular appointment and is extremely well thought of within the game, but it is difficult to describe the start of his managerial career as successful.
There was a general consensus that Hibs were a mess when he took over and needed an overhaul but the majority of a squad which finished third and reached the latter rounds of cups last season remain at Easter Road.
Shaun Maloney will rightly be given time to implement his impressive ideas and much vaunted style of football and the rest of this season is possibly a free pass but with increasing skepticism from sections of the support and decreasing attendances at Easter Road, a poor summer transfer window and disappointing start to next season will lead to some more questions being asked.
The East Stand 