Share
Longbangers
Can Hibs Play Out From The Back Without Getting Punished? The xG Files
•
Hibs are changing shape, changing habits, and changing the way they build attacks - but is it enough to beat Celtic? Matty and Craig break down the tactical shift that has the right side humming, the left side exposed, and the whole team wrestling with a new possession-first identity.Passlack, Abdulai, Chaiwa, Boyle, Elding, and the rest of the lineup all come under the microscope as the pair unpack why the new system is creating real chances, real frustration, and real risk in equal measure. If you want to understand what Reedijk’s Hibs are trying to become - and what still needs fixing before the next big test - this one is essential listening.Craig dives into the build-up patterns, the lopsided formation, the man-to-man press Falkirk used to disrupt Hibs, and the forward-pass hesitancy that kept turning promising moments into recycled possession. Matty pushes on the defensive concerns, the left-side balance, and whether the current setup can survive against a team like Celtic without a smarter, tighter approach.You'll hear why Passlack’s role is more important than the criticism suggests, why Cadden may be waiting in the wings, why Klidje’s pace keeps him in the conversation, and why the midfield shape around Chaiwa and Mulligan still feels like a work in progress. The conversation also gets into the build-up to Falkirk’s goal, the concentration lapses that punished Hibs immediately, and the signs that the new manager’s ideas are starting to show - even if the results aren’t fully there yet.This is a sharp, honest tactical chat for anyone who wants more than a scoreline. Perfect for Hibs fans trying to make sense of the new system, the selection calls, and the bigger question looming over the week: can this team compete with Celtic, or is a different approach needed first?SpeakersMatty - host, driving the discussion and pressing on selection, mentality, and the Celtic preview.Craig - analyst, offering detailed tactical breakdowns of Hibs’ shape, pressing, and attacking patterns.
More episodes
View all episodes
391. Ep391 Signs of Improvement?
50:12||Season 1, Ep. 391Grant Hanley up front. Joe Newell stepping in cold and looking like the calmest man on the pitch. A Hibs team that still lost to Celtic, but finally showed signs of a real plan - and a few reasons to believe the worst might not be permanent.Matty and Colin break down the 2-1 defeat at Easter Road, and this one is about a lot more than the scoreline. Hibs won the ball higher, looked better in possession, and carried far more threat than many expected against the champions. The performance still had flaws - especially the soft goals and the lack of natural scorers - but there were also clear signs of structure, bravery, and a team trying to do something different.You'll hear why Joe Newell might have been the standout after a late change, why Mulligan's afternoon summed up a player stuck in his own head, and why Klidje's best moments still come with a huge question mark. The lads also get into the oddity of Grant Hanley being thrown on as an emergency centre-forward, how much of that was genuine tactical chaos, and whether it actually made more sense than it first looked.They also dig into the wider issue that keeps hanging over this Hibs side: no striker depth, too many players out of position, and a recruitment problem that the Celtic match exposed in brutal detail. But amid the frustration, there’s a different mood here than after some recent defeats - less outrage, more recognition that something in the shape and effort might finally be improving.Matty and Colin also react to listener comments, debate whether the manager is being left to carry the can for squad issues, and look ahead to a massive St Mirren clash with everything still to play for. If you want honest, funny, properly frustrated Hibs chat with a few genuine signs of optimism, this is the one to hear.
Can Hibs Shock Celtic? The 4 O'Clock Hibs Show
24:34|One bad setup could hand Celtic the game, and Matty and Colin are not pretending otherwise. With Sunday looming, they break down exactly how Hibs can avoid getting exposed in transition, protect the back line, and still create enough on the ball to make this a contest.Matty and Colin get into the tactical trade-offs that matter most right now: whether Hibs should stick with the new manager's principles or make the pragmatic tweaks this match demands, where Celtic can be hurt, and which players need to step up if Hibs are going to get anything from it. They also debate the shape, the personnel, and whether the side needs a more defensive approach or an extra out-ball to escape pressure.You'll discover:Why Celtic's win over Hearts changes the conversation, but not the whole game planThe case for 5-3-2 versus a more attacking 4-5-1How to stop Hibs from getting pinned in by Celtic's pressWhich players could unlock the left side and improve balanceWhy captaincy, confidence, and "the rub of the green" might matter as much as tacticsAlong the way, they react to listener comments, challenge the idea that Hibs need a "dickhead" in the squad, and dig into the kind of player profile that could give this team more edge without blowing up the dressing room.Matty brings the match analysis and fan perspective, while Colin lays out the tactical concerns and lineup logic with zero interest in empty optimism. If you want a real pre-match discussion that goes beyond clichés and gets into how Hibs can actually compete, this is the one to hear.Perfect for anyone who wants honest football chat, tactical nuance, and a proper read on Sunday's test before kickoff.
Hibs' Problem Isn't the Strikers - It's the Midfield: Fan Phone In 21st October
48:47|Two defeats, a toxic home atmosphere, and a midfield that keeps getting overrun. The big question hanging over Hibs is no longer whether there are signs of improvement - it's whether the current shape, selections, and mentality are actually making the problems worse.This episode is a raw, no-hiding-place phone-in on what is going wrong right now. The discussion covers the Falkirk defeat, the frustrating second-half collapse, and the growing sense that Hibs are too predictable, too easy to play against, and too reliant on opposition mistakes rather than controlling their own game.There’s sharp debate over the goalkeeper, the booing, the atmosphere at Easter Road, and whether the issue is confidence, fitness, tactics, or simply execution. The conversation also digs into the midfield debate: two versus three, who should be sacrificed, and why players like Chaiwa, Mulligan, Boyle, Cadden, Newell, and Campbell keep coming up.In this episode:Why possession is not the same as controlWhy Hibs keep conceding sloppy first goalsTactical issues around playing players out of positionWhether the manager is trying to force a system on the squadWhat needs to change before Celtic arrive on SundayThe panel makes the case for a more compact midfield, questions whether players are being asked to do jobs that don’t suit them, and weighs up whether there are still encouraging signs. The big challenge is turning those signs into better performances—and stopping Hibs from making life so easy for experienced opposition managers.
390. Ep390 Is Relegation A Real Concern?
54:05||Season 1, Ep. 390Matty and Colin break down a damaging defeat to Falkirk, ask whether the warning signs are already serious, and dig into the question everyone is now asking: is this a bad run, or something much deeper?The conversation gets straight to the heart of the crisis. Was Reedijk really asking the right things of this team? After another game defined by cheap goals, sloppy decision-making, and a lack of cutting edge, how much blame sits with the recruitment, the coaching, and the ownership structure above it all?You’ll hear the pair go through the big moments from the match, including the first-half mistakes that handed Falkirk control, the goal Hibs did get back, and the chances that never quite became enough. They also pick apart the performances of Abdulai, Chaiwa, Mulligan, Kerr, Boyle, and Elding, with a sharp debate about positional choices, technical quality, and whether too many players are being written off too early.They also tackle the wider fallout. Malky Macaky’s role comes under the microscope, the recruitment team gets serious scrutiny, and the conversation turns to whether the Gordon family are catching heat for problems that belong elsewhere. On top of that, there’s discussion of the captaincy change, fan frustration in the stands, and the growing fear that relegation talk is becoming harder to dismiss.This is essential listening if you want the honest post-match mood, not the polished version. Frustrated, detailed, and brutally open, Matty and Colin try to work out whether Hibs are close to turning a corner - or whether the problems are already bigger than one manager can solve.
Change Needed For Falkirk? The 4 O'Clock Hibs Show
23:06|Hibs fans, this is the pre-match debate that tells you exactly where tomorrow's Falkirk game could be won or lost. Matty and Colin break down the new-manager bounce, the selection calls, and the players under the most pressure - and they do it with the kind of honesty only supporters can bring.With a home crowd waiting to see if the mood really has shifted, the conversation quickly turns to the big decisions: does the new boss stick with continuity or shake things up? Should Joe Newell come straight in for the passing range Hibs have been missing? Is Mayor the answer at left back? And what do you do with a front line that could look far more dangerous if Matondo, Boyle, McGrath, and Elding get the right support?You'll hear Matty and Colin wrestle with the midfield balance, the case for playing players in their natural positions, and the frustration around loan players and injured absentees like Lowe and Devaney. They also tackle the wider atmosphere around the club, from supporter patience and online rumours to the need for a unified front heading into a huge run of games.Matty is the optimistic one here, Colin brings the tactical reality check, and together they map out what Hibs need to do to turn pressure into points. If you want a proper fan's-eye preview of the Falkirk match, this is essential listening.
Phone In 15th October
52:29|Hibs are one defeat into the Marink Reedijk era and the fallout is already exposing the real problem: this squad still looks short on leaders, balance, and conviction. If you want the bluntest possible breakdown of what went wrong at Tannadice—and what has to change before Falkirk—this is the conversation to hear.The panel reacts to the first-game defeat, the angry end-of-match scenes, and the growing sense that one manager change is not enough to fix deeper issues in the squad.You'll hear a detailed takedown of the starting XI, including why Josh Mulligan, Suto, Jack Iredale, and others are under pressure, why the right side of defense keeps getting targeted, and why Martin Boyle, Joe Newell, and Owen Elding keep coming up as potential answers. There’s also a breakdown of the numbers behind Hibs’ shape, Chaiwa’s role as the six, and why the team looks more functional when the substitutes change the game.The conversation covers the flashpoint with Block 7 and the stewards, whether players should approach the stand at full-time, and where the club’s security setup went wrong. There’s also a wider debate about mentality, recruitment, transition defending, Sallinger’s form, Lowe’s struggles, and whether Hibs are facing a harder truth about the squad they’ve built.With Falkirk coming up, the pressure is immediate. The panel discusses what the manager must change, who should start, who should be dropped, and why Saturday already feels like a must-win if Hibs want to stop the rot and get the season moving.Perfect for Hibs fans looking for honest post-match analysis, strong opinions, and a proper look at what comes next.
Why Hibs' New Manager Needs To Fix The Left Side First - The xG Files
34:02|Matty and Craig break down Marink Reedijk’s first game in charge, why the shape looked familiar at first glance, and how the match turned into a revealing early lesson about balance, pressing, and the left side of the team.They dig into the selection surprises, the unfamiliar front line, and the way Passlack, Elding, Mulligan, Chaiwa, Wright, and Klidje were deployed to try to make the system work. You’ll hear why the opening 20 minutes offered genuine signs of a plan taking shape, why Dundee United quickly adjusted, and how that forced Hibs back into old habits.Craig also unpacks the bigger tactical issues: whether Passlack is being asked to do too much, why Mulligan on the left may be limiting the team, what Chaiwa is being asked to do in midfield, and how Reedijk might solve the puzzle once Obita, McGrath, Mayor, and Cadden are available again. There’s even a sharp look at why the team’s pressing looked aggressive at times, then fragile almost instantly once Dundee United found the gaps.They also tackle listener questions on YouTube, including why possession isn’t turning into goals, whether the players are actually implementing what they work on in training, and what Hibs’ best front four should be when everyone is fit. Along the way, Craig makes the case for several selection tweaks, including why Klidje may be better through the middle and why Newell could become an important piece if the left side is reshaped.If you want a clear, honest read on what Reedijk’s first match really told us, and what it means for Falkirk and beyond, this is essential listening.
389. Ep389 Patience Required!
50:07||Season 1, Ep. 389Hibs unravel again, but is the real problem deeper than the new manager?A brutal opening day under Reedijk brings instant panic from supporters, but this episode asks the bigger question: is one match really enough to judge a team that still looks built on shaky recruitment, mixed messages, and years of bad habits? Matty and Colin dig into the tactical confusion, the furious fan reaction, and the moments that hinted at something better before it all fell apart.They break down the unexpected starting XI, why the shape looked more like a 4-1-4-1 than the reported 4-2-3-1, and how that affected the balance of the team. You’ll hear why Josh Mulligan’s missed chance, too many hesitant passes, and repeated wrong decisions in the final third became the story of the day, even before Dundee United exposed the gaps and forced Hibs back into old patterns.We also get into the red card, the debate around the referee’s advantage call, and whether the dismissal was harsh, inevitable, or simply the result of another moment of poor game management. Along the way, they tackle the wider issues that keep resurfacing - recruitment, positional discipline, lack of cutting edge, and the frustration of watching a squad that still doesn’t look like a team.Reedijk’s post-match honesty, the role of his coaching staff, and the expectations around how quickly change can actually happen all come under the microscope too. If you’re trying to make sense of the chaos, separate the overreaction from the genuine concerns, and figure out whether there are real signs of progress hiding inside a disappointing defeat, this one is for you.Perfect for Hibs fans who want the straight-talking breakdown of what went wrong, what might be fixable, and why patience may be the hardest ask of all.