The xG Files: Hibs' Perth Problems

Hibs looked like two different teams in one match, and the result was a confused performance that left more questions than answers. Matty and Colin are joined by tactical analyst Craig to unpack why the press broke down, why the midfield never quite clicked, and why David Gray’s side seemed caught between a high-energy front-foot plan and a low-block counterattacking setup.

Craig breaks down the St Johnstone game possession by possession, exposing the gaps that kept appearing between the back four, midfield, and attack. He explains how Hibs’ 4-3-3 morphed into a 4-1-4-1 and then into something even messier, why that shape made it easy for St Johnstone to play through the lines, and how the team’s own pressing triggers often dragged them out of position instead of winning the ball back.You'll discover:

why the Lowe pressing pattern looked chaotic rather than effectivehow Devaney’s role was meant to unlock Hibs, and why it never happenedwhether Chaiwa and Mulligan are actually a strong midfield pair or just a narrow onewhy Hanley and Kerr’s build-up play kept stalling attacks before they startedhow one simple counterattack revealed the kind of threat Hibs should have been creating more oftenCraig also tackles the bigger picture: is this a coaching issue, a recruitment issue, or both? He makes the case that Hibs are trying to be too many things at once, with players asked to press like one system, build like another, and defend like something in between. That inconsistency is costing them control, confidence, and ultimately points.The episode also digs into the forward line, with discussion of Lowe’s limitations, Klidje’s underused energy, Suto’s role, and whether Hibs need a different attacking structure altogether. If you want a straight-talking, tactical explanation of why Hibs can look brilliant one week and lost the next, this one gets to the heart of it.Perfect for anyone trying to understand what David Gray is actually building at Hibs, and why the current version keeps slipping out of shape just when it looks ready to click.

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