DC92

This is Hibs in a perfectly average season. You've finished 3rd once since 2005 and have been outside the top 6 as often as you've been in in that time.

While we're on the topic, I am cursed with the knowledge that we've all been pronouncing Rudi Skácel's name incorrectly for the last 19 years.

In the space of a week I've gone from looking forward to the Celtic game to dreading it. As for 3rd, we have 52 points and Kilmarnock are on pace for 54. Even one win might be enough. I'd say a couple of wins and a couple of draws would make us extremely difficult to catch.

It would have been interesting to see how the rest of the game played out without the penalty. Hibs were the better team over the 90 but seemed to surrender the initiative completely after going in front and just about all of the game between the two goals was played in their half. The equaliser seemed to wake them up again.

No? Ok then. That was a hard watch. There were plenty of chances at both ends but the chaotic nature of the game definitely seemed to suit Hibs more than it did us. Felt like we had loads of nervy/sliced clearances which came right back at us. Maolida was running the show in the second half until he got shifted further forward. Nieuwenhof was good and we didn't lose. Other than that I'm struggling for positives.

I suggest we try being less shite in the second half.

Whenever we go to Glasgow in this kind of form, the home team starts like a train because they want to put us in our place. If you give them a goal in the first minute you're always in trouble. The second just as we were getting a foothold in the game meant it was over as a contest. Never expected anything today but getting mauled just ahead of three difficult/important games isn't ideal.

Ok, starting to think we might not win now.

Doesn't look good, but we're usually better in the second half so I'm not too worried just yet.

Feels like every time we go to Glasgow in this kind of form we get gubbed.

That Vargas goal was Skacelesque. Superb.

The fact the only thing that stopped us having 11 wins in a row was a draw at home to Derek Adams' Ross County is testament to that.

Gordon has more than enough credit in the bank to take him as 3rd pick as long as he gets some minutes and still looks up to it for Hearts. Naismith is very much aware of the Euro situation, so barring injury, I'd be astonished if he only plays one more game before the end of the season. Even if we lose to Morton, you can bet Clark will be "rested" for a few league games, especially if 3rd is wrapped up before the end (which doesn't look unlikely). Clark has none of that credit in the bank. If Gordon takes the number one spot, it'll likely be because Clark has made a couple of mistakes (which also isn't too unlikely). In that circumstance, Gunn and Gordon are nailed on and you're choosing between two dodgy keepers for 3rd spot, at least one of whom isn't playing. It would be much harder to justify taking Clark in that instance, regardless of how many minutes he's played up to this point. As things stand I think both will go, but I can see more scenarios where Clark doesn't make it than I do with Gordon.

Naismith seems to be quite confident they can both get in the squad and, given he'll know Clarke pretty well, I'd be surprised if that topic hasn't been discussed. It's also no secret that Gordon is desperate to go to Germany, but he was happy enough with the current arrangement to sign a new contract. It looks like Clark will continue as number one for now but I'm certain Gordon will continue to get game time one way or another. As long as he's fit, has played a few games and still looks up to it, I don't see Clarke having any issues taking him as the third keeper over Kelly. If Gordon fully supplants Clark at Hearts and the latter is benched for the rest of the season, that's another story. His spot on the plane is more vulnerable than Gordon's IMO.

I assume they're referencing this one: VAR should have recommended an on-field review for a potential red card for Kilmarnock's Will Dennis. Decision should have been red card. (Kilmarnock v Hearts, 2 Dec)

VAR is shite, but if it hadn't been in place the goal would have been disallowed anyway by the linesman's flag, no? It's incredibly close and my opinion is when it's that close the benefit of the doubt should be given to the attacker, but it's hard to justify VAR overruling the linesman there under the current rules.

A poor man's Kris Boyd? He is a RICH man's Kris Boyd!

No fucking about here please. Aside from the obvious reasons, I don't really trust Celtic or Rangers not to f**k up our (probable) Euro spot, so we need to make sure we're the team taking advantage if that happens. Expecting it to be a struggle on the basis that most of our games this season have been and there haven't been many Championship/Premiership encounters where the latter has dished out a hiding so far.

At international level it's fair to say that aspect of his game is unproven, but he certainly has it in his locker for Hearts. The through ball he played for Vargas the other night being the latest example. Also, sincere question, does Brown have it in his locker? I thought he injected a bit of energy when he came on against France but he was very poor with his back to goal against Norway. I've not seen much of Luton, but does he not tend to play out wide or alongside a more traditional number 9 rather than leading the line?

It's your 3rd game in 7 days. Teams have that all the time.

Pleased with this. He's really impressed me in his limited time on the pitch.

I'm not going to argue that the evidence Shankland will be favoured is light. I won't be astonished whatever Clarke picks. However, the evidence that it's still Brown's to lose is also pretty light, given: - Relative performances of two players in November; - Shankland's exceptional form since then; - Shankland was selected over Brown in September before losing his place in the next couple of squads after a poor run of form for Hearts. This suggests Clarke doesn't necessarily favour Brown for playing style reasons and will take form into account.

I don't think it was that similar to the Dundee one. It hits Cochrane on the back of the elbow with his arm close to his body and his forearm pointed towards the goal. For the Dundee one, the body shape is similar, but he's rotated 90 degrees in a way that blocks more of the goal, and it actually hits his hand. The Dundee one wasn't a penalty imo but last night's was nowhere near.

There's a lot of water under the bridge since that squad was announced though: - Shankland got a chance off the bench v Georgia and scored. - Brown got a chance from the start v Norway and was very poor. - Shankland has gone from 3 league goals to 17, most of them brilliant finishes and solo goals. He's taken his game to another level this season, but that's mostly been evident since late October or thereabouts. I certainly think Shankland is a better player than I did 3 months ago, while Brown (admittedly on limited evidence) probably went down in my estimation by following up a promising cameo v France with a poor showing v Norway. Clarke is very clamour-proof, so who knows, but I wouldn't be surprised if his opinions had also evolved since then. I imagine both will get chances in the March friendlies.

Also Gilmour v Israel (2:15), although the challenge is a bit closer to the shot.