Longbangers

After the high of beating Hearts in the semi-final, Matty and Colin look ahead to Hibs’ trip to Aberdeen. They discuss the injury concerns, possible team changes and how Hibs can carry their recent momentum into the match. Plus, they talk tactics, backing the players through difficult spells and share their score predictions.

Matty is joined by Hibs supporters to look back on a dramatic 2–1 Edinburgh derby win over Hearts at Hampden—and what it means for the team’s confidence and season.The discussion covers Hibs’ comeback, the team’s shape and attacking play, the defensive performance, the atmosphere at the semi-final and the growing belief in the manager’s approach. The panel also looks ahead to Saturday’s league match against Aberdeen and shares its predictions.What stood out most from the Hampden win, and can Hibs carry that performance into the league? Let us know in the comments.

Hibs are in the League Cup final. Matty and Colin go through the 2-1 semi-final win over Hearts at Hampden while it's still fresh. They cover the early setback, the performances that won it, and the Hearts concussion substitution that's still causing a stir. In this episode: ⚽ First thoughts: a two-minute setback, then Hibs take control 📋 The line-up, the injury list and Boyle's surprise start 🎯 Boyle's goal from Yule's pass through the lines and Eldon's hold-up, then McGrath's second 🔒 How Hibs managed the second half and Salinger's long kicks ⭐ Standout performances from Newell, Boyle, Mulligan, Chaiwa and Kerr 🩹 The Hearts concussion sub and whether it should lead to a ban 💬 Your YouTube and Twitter comments 🧠 Radek's impact: the tactics, the dressing room speech and what it means for the manager 🔮 Who comes back from injury, and how the final against Rangers looks

The semi-final is on Sunday, and Matty and Colin are previewing it live from the Friday 4 o'clock Hibs show. They cover the latest injury news, who should start, Hearts' main threats and how Hibs can get at them. Then they give their score predictions.In this episode:🩹 Injury news: Boyle, Wright and Chaiwa could be available, but who should start?📋 Team selection: stick with the Wednesday side or go back to the team that started against Celtic?⚡ Hearts' threats, including McPake and Miller, and why the big Hampden pitch could help Hibs🔒 The hoodoos Hibs need to break, including 14 or 15 games without a clean sheet🟨 Referee and bookings: the pattern in recent derbies💬 Your YouTube comments: score predictions, Joe Newell and Klidje🏆 Who needs to step up on the biggest stage, and Reedijk's biggest game yet🔮 Score predictions

Hibs have lost 2-1 to Celtic and drawn 1-1 with St Mirren, and a Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Hearts is on Sunday. Matty is joined by Chris, Steven B, Richard, Ian Mackay and Hibs fan Iain to go through it all. In this episode: • Is there really "no improvement", or is the media narrative unfair? • The new style of play: pressing higher, building through the thirds, and the struggle in the final third • Two own goals in two games, and whether it's bad luck or a communication problem • The finishing and shot numbers against Celtic and St Mirren • Striker problems, recruitment and who has the final say • Fan atmosphere and the toxic side of supporter disagreements • Listener comments from the Longbangers community • Hampden preview with confidence levels from "terrified" to "we'll win", plus everyone's score predictions Do you think Hibs can finally win at Hampden? Tell us your prediction in the comments.

Why did Celtic cut through Hibs' press so easily early on, and how did Hibs fix it? On The xG Files, Matty and Colin are joined by analyst Craig Nisbet. He uses the tactics board to go through Hibs' performance against Celtic.In this episode:🎯 How Hibs pressed in the opening 15 minutes, and the two moments Celtic exploited🔄 The tweak that forced Celtic wide and helped Hibs back into the game⚠️ Is the weakness on Hibs' left or right? The goals conceded and the defensive questions🧩 Klidje;s role out wide, the Mayor and Klidje link-up, and why Jamie McGrath is missed🧤 Sallinger's long goal kicks: tactic or necessity?😅 Grant Hanley up front, and what it says about the squad💬 Your YouTube questions: Nicky Cadden's place in the team, and Joe Newell's performance📋 How to line up against St Mirren

Grant 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.

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.