Hibs fans: 'The time has come for a change of manager'

Published on Monday 2 March 2009 08:59

Keith King, Gracemount: "The time has come for a change of manager, the whole mess is his doing and the situation can be turned around with the appointment of a new boss.

"The team were true to their word and came out on the front foot but it only lasted five minutes before we returned to the form of last weekend. Petrie has one alternative and that is to promote Donald Park to be the boss as the best performance this season was when he took the side at Fir Park.

"Players were lost on the pitch, playing in strange positions and I felt that they are desperate for a change of boss; Bamba and Keenan were fish out of water in the engine room of the midfield and all though they tried hard they are not SPL players. We have three of the best strikers in the SPL and they were played so far apart they were as well staying in the dressing-room as Falkirk had them marked out of the game. It's depressing to think that only 18 months ago we topped this league, Petrie has sold the players and although he has allowed new players to be signed I feel he has appointed the wrong man to choose them, another Sauzee situation has occurred. We have 11 games left to try and change the atmosphere at Hibs but I'm afraid the rot has settled in too deep for there to be any chance of an improvement unless Mixu is replaced and before Wednesday game at Hamilton."

Ross Smith, Baberton: "The game was played at a cracking pace but the quality from both teams was sadly lacking, I always looked forward to watching Hibs against Falkirk as both teams had reputations of playing good football but the football was absolutely dire, the effort was there but the players were scared in case they lost, which badly affected the game. Falkirk just shaded the game but to be truly honest it was game quickly forgotten. The referee was as bad as the players as I think the form of the players affected his performance he didn't look like he knew what he was suppose to be doing. I can see some sense in sacking Mixu as I truly believe he can't recover this. Fletcher in midfield was another disgraceful decision, we can't buy a goal and he is playing him on the centre line.

"Falkirk hit the bar and had more of the clear-cut chances but they were as bad as us and really this is a reflection on the SPL as a league it desperately needs change as the standard of football is dramatically short of what it was even two years ago.

"Man of the match was Derek Riordan, he chased every ball and darted between defenders but he must be fed up with the lack of quality from his team-mates, not once was there a ball played through their back line, something Dean Shiels was able to do but another bad decision by Mixu to let him leave and replace him with Keenan, it beggars belief."

Paul Hamilton, Leith: "Hibs after last weekend's disaster in the Highlands kicked off with a very attacking set-up and were immediately in full attack mode as Riordan was pulling the Falkirk defence across the park, he sent in a dangerous cross that Nish manager to get his head on but it was sent well wide by the attention of ex-enemy Pressley stopping his run, Johansson was next to try and score the vital opening goal but his shot was deflected and easily saved by the Falkirk number one.

"Both side traded attacks and a few saves from both keepers but this game had nil-nil written all over it, one uncomfortable moment as a snap shot zoomed by the Monk but it crashed off the bar. The game fizzled out and both managers will claim they should have won but it was a game between two teams lacking any confidence. Man of the match would go to Derek Riordan he just never got any service and the referee was a wee bit fussy but good enough for a game like this."