Hibs 0 - 0 Aberdeen: Composed Jorge Claros offers Hibs reason for optimism on debut
Jorge Claros looks to have been a good signing. Picture: SNS
AMID all the hurly-burly at Easter Road on Saturday, there was a glimpse of the almost mythical creature, the midfielder who can “put his foot on the ball” and think about his next pass.
Jorge Claros, Hibs’ new loan signing, is that man. During his debut in the 0-0 draw against Aberdeen, Claros always seemed to have just a tiny bit more time to do things on the ball, and thus his short passing in particular was exemplary.
The Honduran international is a tough chap. At his club, Motagua, he rejoiced in the nickname “Pitbull” and he survived being shot in the head last June when thieves attempted to steal his car.
Yet it may well be for the quality of his passing and positional play that Claros will be remembered. He showed in a game situation why both Celtic and Rangers have wanted him, and Hibs appear to have done a fine bit of business in signing him for a year.
Claros has already made a big impression on his new colleagues at Hibs. Lewis Stevenson was moved from his usual berth in central midfield to the left wing – where he played very well, it should be said – but was delighted to welcome Claros into a green shirt.
“He is going to be a top player for us,” said Stevenson. “He has taken my position in the middle but you just have to accept that sometimes.
“He has played for Honduras 15 or 16 times, so he is a quality player. Hopefully, he can be that spark which gets us up the table.
“He has got a bit of everything to be honest. He is good on the ball, he can tackle and he has got a great engine. He has everything you want from a midfielder these days. Hopefully, he will be a great addition.”
Claros is trying to fit in, despite being unable to speak much English. Stevenson explained: “It is hard for him speaking a different language but he is a nice guy and tries hard to speak to all the boys. In training, he is enthusiastic. He could easily think he was above himself coming to Hibs but he has not shown that at all. He works just as hard as everyone else.
“He hasn’t been with us that long and he had to go back and get his work permit so he missed a couple of days. He has trained a good week with us and he has been good.”
Given Claros’s pedigree, Stevenson, understandably, feared he might not be in the starting XI on Saturday. He said: “You always fear the worst thinking that is you for the season when he came in, but I am just happy to be playing. We have signed a few players but I have managed to keep playing.
“If the manager changes it then fair enough. I am not the kind of guy to moan about it. I just keep my head down and work hard.”
Stevenson was one of the hardest workers in a demonstration of commitment by the Hibs players, which was matched by Aberdeen.
It was no classic, as there was insufficient quality on show, but for pure effort there was no surpassing this match.
Jason Brown’s excellent first-half saves from David Wotherspoon and Isaiah Osbourne were the highlights, while young left-winger Mitchell Megginson made a strong bid for an extended run in the injury-ravaged Dons side on his first start for the club.
Stevenson might have been forgiven for having his thoughts elsewhere as his girlfriend Julia was expecting their first child.
“As soon as the game started my mind was off it,” he said. “I am sure if anything happened then she would have got a message across.
“There wasn’t a contingency but the manager knew when I told him at the start of the week. He said if anything happened on Friday night or on the Saturday then I was to go to the birth. It was nice of him to do that.”
New beginnings seem to be the order of the day at Easter Road, and if Jorge Claros and the other new signings by manager Pat Fenlon can add a tad more quality to their undoubted work ethic then Aberdeen manager Craig Brown’s prediction that Hibs could “go on a run” might not seem fanciful at all.
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Comments
There are 29 comments to this article
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donald marr
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 06:52 PM#28 You most certainly don't understand. Why on earth do do you imagine Fletcher does not feature in Levein's squads? Is it because you think, he doesn't rate him? No it is purely because Fletcher chose not to play for Scotland. You seem to think the manager should go running after the Prima Donna ,as so many overpaid Premiership footballers are,begging him to reconsider. Any move towards reconciliation should be Fletcher's ,that's only proper,dignified and decent. In my view Fletcher would be a better man for it. Values are often tapsal teerie in the glory game ,but there's no reason for yours to be so.
1875
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 12:54 PM26- Eh? Dont understand. So you are saying Fletcher needs to contact Harry Potter to say he is playing? Ok, I'll give Craig a buzz and say that I'm playing for Scotland in the next game.
Hen Broon
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 12:52 PM#6 Not a case of the tail wagging the dog . More a case of not cutting your nose of to spite your face & common sense prevailing. CL says he will do what ever he has to do to bring success to SCOTLAND.....if 'court'ing' Ferguson not once but twice to no avail was OK then so is making the effort to get FLETCHER back in the side. Absolute no brainer for me.
donald marr
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 12:38 PM#16 .NO, the tail should never wag the dog.
1875
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 12:22 PM24- So most of use are mercenaries then...certainly 95% of professional players are and that includes Hearts players. Lets not get all @nal on the Latin meaning of the word. There is nothing wrong with someone who earns a living playing football, ensuring they have ongoing income. Catching a few teams out may well be enough to ensure SPL status but,m having watched some of these guys, there is more than just the "unknown" factor about them. As stated, Doherty is well above SPL class.
Weel Kent Jambo
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 12:10 PM#23 Dunno about that - definition of mercenary is "One motivated by private gain" and that's exactly what you've described. Comes from Latin mercēnārius (“mercenary, hireling”), from merces (“reward, wages, price”). So many new players they'll probably take one or two teams by surprise in the sort term then the rest of the league will learn how to neutralise them. But, as I said, good luck anyway. The real test of Rodder's ambition will be if you do stay up and what happens transfer-wise over the summer.
1875
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 11:52 AM21- if you'd read my earlier post the use of the word "rested" was tongue in cheek. Mercenaries? A bit strong is it not? Footballers who are available on loan to keep their hand in or to prove their worth to their clubs. Nothing wrong with that. I will say that at least two of those "mercenaries" would stand head and shoulders above most current Hearts players in terms of ability and they are still finding their feet. Be careful what you post as these things have a knack of coming back to bite you in your lower hole.
Vietnam Veteran
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 11:51 AMHi lads me again! - morn mrhibs ect ect - SFA must act now and bannish pauLOSERgio - no romm in the scottish game for this $0$$0?
Weel Kent Jambo
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 11:44 AM#15 GOC will be 'rested' OK. When is he due back in court and when's his fraud case? Good to see that Hibs short-term mercenaries have stabilised the side to the extent they can hold an injury-ravaged Aberdeen to a no scoring draw at home. Starting to run out of games for a charge up the league now and I don't fancy your fixtures list over the next wee while - good luck all the same.
Prof
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 11:39 AMMcCarthy just sacked at Wolves because board said his record of "14 points from 22 games" was unacceptable. Interesting to note McCarthy's record is much better than Fenlon's 5 points from 10 SPL games with Hibs.
MrHibs07-1973
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 11:17 AMComment removed by moderator
m6jambo
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 11:00 AMPost 11 when did you last beat your mid march easy oppenents.HA HA HA HA HA clown
boozy
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 11:00 AM# I hope Browns prediction comes true.
1875
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 10:07 AMBang on re Fletcher. Wolves will likely go down but he will defo remain in the Premiership. Harry Potter does not have have it in him to approach Fletcher though, too pig headed, sadly to the detriment of the national team.
1875
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 10:05 AMCheers Hen but I think I'll pass on that. Am under no illusions that it will be a tough slog this season but a few bits of fine tuning ie GOC rested, O'Hanlon binned and Sparky back in the team and i think Hibs have enough about them to be looking at something better than second bottom this season. The worry for me about Saturday was around the fact that if the Aberdeen left winger had a final ball we could have been 2 or 3 down by HT. Having said that, if o'Hanlon could header the ball and the Dons keeper had decided NOT to have his best game of the season then we could have been 2 up so swings and roundabouts. Certainly not numbering any poultry but I think we will have a chance of something on Saturday and yes, the next derby is one I am looking forward to a bit more now.
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