All this season – it feels like about 200 years worth – we have heard stories of how “magnificent” Hibernian are and some tales even go as far as saying that Hibernian are “back where they belong”. But most of all we have simply had to suffer journalists and those of a green and white persuasion in Edinburgh telling us that Hibernian Football Club are having a fantastic season!
Erm…..are they REALLY?? If that is the case, I need to ask, what actually constitutes a great season for clubs outwith the Old Firm.
First of all. Hearts, and by extension us fans, are having a dreadful season. No arguments, no questions. We are having SUCH a bad season that when yet another manager was shown the Tynecastle exit door, there weren’t too many dissenting voices at all.
1997-98 – We chased and hunted the Old Firm all season in the league and finished a very creditable 7 points behing eventual winners Celtic and only 5 points behind runners up Rangers. We also, of course (as if we could forget) lifted the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1956.
2005-06 – We were out of the League starting blocks like a shot and only political in-fighting and comic book capers prevented us from doing even better. Fair enough we ended the season trailing champions Celtic by a much larger than in 97-98 (17 points in fact) but we split the Old Firm and finished second in the league for the first time in a long time. We also, again, picked up the Scottish Cup.
Which brings me nicely on to season 2009-10, THIS season. The season is far from finished and already Hibernian….you remember…the team that are having the GREAT season. Are trailing leaders Rangers by a whopping 20 points and are currently sitting in 5th spot in the table. They have also had what would have to be considered as a hand-picked Scottish Cup draw up until now, yet the first team that they came up against that was withtin 30 league places of them, they stuttered and, but for a bit of good fortune, would have already stumbled out of the competition.
So, on to Saturday lunchtime and the third Edinburgh Derby of the season. What is gonna happen? Which way will it go? The answer? Who knows! That’s the answer.
All I know is that, since the final whistle blew at the end of our dismal performance against Motherwell last weekend, I have been getting my usual intermittant butterflies on the run up to the game and find myself replaying derbies of the past in my head.
Hopefully this one will be a good one for us Jambos…..and I’ll see you all on the other side!
