HIBS boss Mixu Paatelainen's changing formations this season have sparked heated debate among the club's fans.
Paatelainen has switched between 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 depending on the opposition – but Colin Nish reckons he has the perfect solution – just play five up front at the one time and keep all of the club's strikers happy!
The big hitman, pictured, nett
ed the second of Hibs' goals in last weekend's win over Celtic at Easter Road but has found himself on and off the bench in recent weeks.
Paatelainen has plenty of options up front, Nish joined in the equation by the likes of Steven Fletcher and Derek Riordan to name just two.
It was Riordan's turn to keep the bench warm against Gordon Strachan's side but, while Nish took a lighthearted approach, he also believes that having such strong competition for places in the squad can only benefit Hibs. He said: "You just have to take it as it comes really and you know that you need to do well every week because otherwise you're not going to be playing the next again week.
"I think that is something that every squad needs, you need to know that you have got someone on your tail pushing you all of the time and waiting to take your place.
"I think if you asked the strikers' point of view they would probably want to play four or five up front!
"But, if you look at results, we have probably done a bit better with 4-4-2.
"I don't think it is better because we are playing with two strikers, I think it is because with 4-3-3 you are taking a player away from midfield.
"I think that's what's been the problem, that the midfield were getting over-run a little bit."
Although John Rankin's long-range "squiggler" stole all of the headlines last weekend, Nish scored without doubt the pick of the goals against Celtic, starting and finishing a move from the middle of the park that also involved Fletcher, Rankin and Alan O'Brien.
Although he revealed that the Hibs squad was on something of a high for the remainder of the week, Nish conceded that his side has to work on improving their consistency if they are to push their way up the SPL table this season.
He expected Hamilton to provide another stiff test of the Easter Road outfit's resolve today and added: "It was a great goal when I watched it again on telly.
"I thought Fletch did brilliantly and put a great ball through for Alan O'Brien.
"He did tremendously well, too, to take it round Artur Boruc and, when I saw it going to wee Ranks' foot, I knew that he wasn't as good with his right foot as he is with his left and luckily enough I managed to get a wee touch on it. It was really well-worked and we know that we are capable of that kind of thing because we have got great attacking players at the club.
"Obviously, there's been a great atmosphere this week, everyone has been quite happy and trained well because of the result last weekend.
"We seem to play well one week and then not so well the next week. If we can just get that part right then we should maybe be winning a few more games than we have been.
"When you get a good win, you can't wait to get back on the park and carry on from where you left off.
"Consistency is something that we have lacked so we really want to show that we can do it more than one week in a row."
