Next Hibs manager prediction made over boss contender as leaf to be taken out of Hearts book
A variety of names are being linked with becoming the next Hibs manager.
Aiden McGeady reckons Hibs would be wise to go abroad for their next manager - but he’s unconvinced over Jon Dahl Tomasson being that man.
A variety of names are being linked with taking over from David Gray as head coach at Easter Road. The international break is ongoing and the playing squad head to La Manga this weekend for a warm weather training camp amid the current uncertainty around who will lead the first team long-term. Ex-Sweden, Blackburn Rovers and Malmo boss Dahl Tomasson is one name who has been linked amid claims ‘there have been chats’ with the 50-year-old.
Having played at AC Milan and others in his career, former Hibs winger McGeady is unsure if the Danish legend would opt for a move to Scotland. However, with ex-Arminia Bielefeld boss Michel Kniat and Inter Turku’s Vesa Vasara understood to be among those being considered, the former Ireland international reckons abroad is where club chiefs will likely look amid similar hires by Hearts and Motherwell recently.
Who will become the next manager of Hibs?
McGeady said: “I've heard a couple of names that have been mentioned. Jon Dahl Tomasson was a strong one , which to be honest, I'd be surprised if that happened, given his pedigree of teams he's managed so far. But you never know. I'd like to probably see them go down the kind of foreign route.
“Look how successful other teams have been actually doing it. Obviously Motherwell and then Hearts this season have been pretty successful by going down that different approach, that different route. So I'd like to see that because you do want to see good young managers coming into the Scottish game.”
The ex-winger was at Hibs when Gray was still a first team coach under Lee Johnson and enjoyed working with the club hero who scored the winning goal in 2016’s Scottish Cup final over Rangers. Gray guided Hibs to third in his first full season as permanent gaffer but a fifth place finish and style of play criticisms last term brought pressure heading into this campaign.
Poor results against St Johnstone and Kilmarnock were coupled with disappointing performances, with the end result inevitable, according to McGeady. Style doesn’t matter too much though, as long as good results are free-flowing, with Hearts’ recent success also working against Gray.
Why was David Gray sacked by Hibs?
McGeady added: ”It's never nice to see a manager lose his job and I like Dave. I've got a lot of time for him and I enjoyed working with him when I was at Hibs. Ultimately, if you're not repeating the same successes as previous seasons, he took over and got the club to finish third, if you're not still hitting those heights, then obviously questions need to be asked. I think a lot of it is down to probably the fact that Hearts done so well last season, and you're looking across the city and you're competing with your biggest rivals.
“Even when I was at Hibs, we were talking about it, they managed to go down and come back up and go above us when I was there, and that's one thing that you always have to engage with. I've watched quite a bit of Hibs this season, and I think the style of play was quite difficult to watch at times, especially for the fans. I think the fans, look, they're demanding.
“If you're not winning games, and your style of play is poor as well, and you're not really creating chances, then essentially your head's on the chopping board, isn't it? I watched the last couple of games and Hibs looked devoid of ideas going forward, especially when I think of the St Johnstone game, and then the Kilmarnock game. They are a team that have conceded lots of goals this season already and Hibs actually hardly created a chance against them. Kilmarnock looked like they were cutting through Hibs every single time.
“There were warning signs there in the past, but obviously when the form continues and there's no real upturn, then football is a results-based business. What always happens in the end is inevitability. I don't think style of play really matters as long as you're winning games. I think supporters will voice their frustrations at times due to the style of play, but see if you're winning games, it silences most of them. The season that they finished third, David Gray settled into this kind of 3-5-2 formation, and it worked really, really well. But last season especially, I noticed that teams kind of figured out how to combat playing against Hibs, and I don't think there was any plan B.”
Aiden McGeady was speaking in association with NewBettingSites| 18+ | Gamble Responsibly