Tam McManus says watching Hibs at the moment is ‘nasty’ and ‘eye-bleeding’ – but he still thinks they can qualify for Europe come May.
The Hibees are second bottom of the Premiership after 10 games played with only arch-rivals Hearts a further point behind.
David Gray is struggling to get the best out of an expensively-assembled squad with ill-discipline and shocking defending his main areas of concern.
Hibs gained a creditable point and clean sheet away to Ross County on Wednesday night but McManus, writing in his weekly Daily Record column, admits it was ugly to take in.
He gives his old side credit for shutting the Staggies out but stresses the team are still massively underperforming.
- READ MORE: Struggling Hearts and Hibs next 4 Premiership fixtures compared with one facing daunting November
Tam McManus says ‘underachieving’ Hibs are horrible to watch
McManus wrote: “I’ve heard a lot of soundbites about being nasty, winning ugly and fear creeping in at Hibs lately. Maybe they were just getting in the Halloween spirit.
“But after watching 90 minutes that made my eyes bleed against Ross County the other night, I can confirm it WAS ugly… it WAS nasty… and it was pretty scary at times too. In fact the only thing missing was the win – the most important thing.
“Martin Boyle was right when he said last week they needed to rediscover the art of winning ugly. The problem is having managed to shut up shop at the back – other than one gift to Hearts in the 87th minute on Sunday – they seem to have lost any cutting edge they had up front.
“Listen, the clean sheet in Dingwall is a start and to be honest I wasn’t confident they’d get one up there because I’ve been very critical of the defence and goalkeeper. They’re off the bottom of the table and leapfrogged Hearts, that’s a small plus.
“But the game, the first half in particular, was absolutely dire. It’s just not good to watch right now. There’s players in that team underachieving.
“I look at the ability in the squad particularly in the forward areas and there’s no way they should be sitting 11th with seven points out of 30. That is abysmal. It’s an abysmal start to the season.”
Hibs can still qualify for Europe though
But McManus, despite his scathing assessment of Hibs, still believes his beloved side can finish at least FOURTH come May.
Motherwell currently occupy that spot in the league with nine points separating the Steelmen and the men from Leith.
McManus explained: The next two games are Dundee United and St Mirren at home. They have to be looking to pick top six points to kick start the season. The top three has gone. But fourth place is still up for grabs I reckon.
“I said at the start of the season they need to make sure they are in the top six come the split and then they can attack the Euro places. Two of the last three seasons they’ve finished in the bottom half which is a disaster.
“They have a decent November. There’s no Old Firm, there’s no derby. There’s a chance to lay a marker on Aberdeen when the Dons visit Leith too.
“It’s a huge month for everyone at Easter Road. By all means stay ugly and nasty at the back. But they need to bring the creativity and flair back to the final third.”