Comeback kings are lifting Hibs
Sproule congratulates Garry O'Connor
They say never go back, though plenty footballers have felt compelled to do so.
And there can be few more striking examples of a successful homecoming than that of Garry O’Connor’s, the Hibs favourite who has struck ten goals in 12 games since returning to the club five years after leaving for Lokomotiv Moscow.
Ivan Sproule has been the architect of many of O’Connor’s goalscoring chances and, in common with Ian Murray, is a further example of a present-day player in their second spell at the club. O’Connor’s former strike partners Derek Riordan and Mixu Paatelainen are two more who have found the lure of an Easter Road comeback too strong to resist.
Michael Weir, a Hibs hero of the 1991 League Cup-winning team, knows from first-hand experience the difficulty in coming back to a former club, having made a break for Luton Town as a 21-year-old but returning, regretful of a hasty decision to leave Leith in the first place, just months later before ending his career at Motherwell.
“Any player going away and coming back, you feel a bit of pressure, but in Garry’s case the fans love him,” said Weir. “The most important thing with Garry is he’s matured. When you’re young, you make mistakes – I’ve done it myself – but you begin to see different aspects of your game get better.
Weir believes Hibs fans should enjoy their second helping of O’Connor while they can – because the club may well serve merely as a stepping stone for the player to step up a level once again when his contract runs out at the end of the season. “He’s only on a year-long contract and he can only move on to better things again if he wants,” said Weir. “I think he’s got his form back, and it’s good for Hibs and himself.”
While O’Connor was the headline signing of a busy summer for Hibs boss Colin Calderwood, there was a similar level of excitement among fans when it was announced Sproule was also on his way back, although the once-lightning-fast winger was expected to have slowed up a little since turning 30.
“I was in the same position when I went to Motherwell at a similar age – I realised that there were things in my game that I didn’t used to have,” said Weir. “You use your head to make less runs and save your legs. I don’t think it’s important he’s lost a bit of pace because he’s using his head a bit more. I think Hibs have inherited a different player because of his experience; he has played effectively in different ways.”
The attitude of fans can affect a player’s successful return to their club, with supporters sometimes bitter at a player’s initial exit. Not so in the case of Murray, says Weir, who has the utmost respect for the former Scotland international. “When you get older, the way you go about your business in training and on the park is important, and there’s no-one better at that than Ian Murray,” said Weir. “He was part of a fantastic side alongside Franck Sauzee and Russell Latapy, but since coming back he’s walked into a younger team and his experience is invaluable. He’s the perfect professional – what you see is what you get. He won’t grab the headlines but you need his consistency in a team.”
Riordan, who left the club in the summer, had returned as a hero to the legions of fans who had been upset at his ill-starred move to Celtic, but Weir explains that his inability to return to former on-field glories was not down to the pressure of replicating the fine form he had displayed early in his career.
“I think he handled his second spell no bother.” said Weir.
“At times I thought he was playing in positions that weren’t right for him, he needs to be in positions where he can go and finish. He’s always been an out-and-out goalscorer and you have to let him go and affect the game in different areas rather than stick him out on the left and ask him to run 60 yards.”
Paatelainen set his career personal best during his initial three-year spell at Easter Road, a hat-trick in the 6-2 win over Hearts in 2000 ensuring he would always be welcome back at Hibs. He returned for a season-long cameo just a year after departing for Strasbourg, and although he wasn’t as prolific in front of goal, he offered added experience to a young team and his hero status among fans ensured a feelgood factor arrived with the signing.
“I think they were desperate to bring him (Paatelainen) back to the club and he taught the younger players good habits,” said Weir. “He was an honest player and loved playing for Hibs. In his two spells, he gave everything.”
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Comments
There are 12 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
m6jambo
Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 09:58 AMThats the wee team logic,second bottom and alls well.
waspy100
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 06:16 PMYou are still second bottom and after the weekend will be bottom.
Safe Harbour
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 12:12 PMMost of us Hibs supporters welcomed G O'C and Ivan back to Hibs but yhere were some who didn't. Obviously the Hearts supporters rubbished the idea but that was to be expected from the bunch on these threads. Suffice to say that they have been a huge success as befits an EPL class striker and a Championship class winger. It just needs CC to understand how best to play Ivan and we can expect even better from both of them. G O'C was needed by Scotland last night. We had chances but we had no one good enough to take them. The sooner CL is asked to clear his desk the better.
Green Curry
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 03:22 AMThe Scotsman is obviously having a few teething problems with the website design. Clicking on the "Hibernian FC" link presents you with a number of stories about Franck Sauzee's latest deeds as Hibs manager. Apparently Tam McManus has just signed a new 5 year deal! Also, why not put the Related Articles section in a separate sidebar? In the present layout it completely ruins the continuity between the article and related comments.
C4miles
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 06:22 PMGood stuff so far from Garry and Ivan, Billy Brown in to help Colin and our other signings also gaining fitness all point towards more wins over the next few months.
FFF
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 05:57 PMDid I miss something? Has the paragraph been abolished? That's gonna make some tedious reading when the windbags are in full flow
FFF
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 05:51 PMReading the first 3 posts, you sort of have your preconceptions of the typical jambo reinforced on all sorts of levels. .....mind you, a warning it was going to happen and a beta site running side by side with the old pages might have helped the poor souls to get used to it. .....and look on the bright side, this might even discourage the braindead from posting, at least for a day or three
markwoodward
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 03:57 PMThanks all. feedback please at online@scotsman.com
jbwsevennil
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 03:56 PMOnce a Hibbie always a Hibbie. Best of luck with new web site.If the Jumblies hate it I love it.
Rambo the Jambo
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 03:45 PMComment removed by moderator
FTH22inarow
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 02:47 PMJust like Hibs, its crap!
Iain Bhern
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 02:43 PMComment removed by moderator
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