Former Hibs striker Tam McManus doesn’t think there’s anything between Hibs and Aberdeen in terms of quality in their squads.
But he took the time to blast his former team for their ‘unacceptable’ form with the Hibees languishing at the bottom end of the Premiership.
Life for David Gray as the new boss at Easter Road hasn’t been plain sailing at all and currently sees his side sit 10th in the table with one win from seven.
Fans booed the team off the park last Saturday as Hibs conceded a late goal against Motherwell to lose the game which prolonged their barren run.
Hibs supporters expect the club to be challenging for third year in year out but that appears to be a pipe dream at the moment.
Aberdeen occupy that spot after an unbelievable start to their season and currently there’s a mammoth 16 points between the Dons and Hibs.
However, McManus still thinks the recruitment delivered by Hibs in the summer means there’s very little between them and Aberdeen in terms of quality.
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McManus says ‘nothing between’ Hibs and Aberdeen squad quality
Writing his Daily Record column, McManus said: “Aberdeen have a top three spot sewn up after just seven games and that is a sad indictment on Hibs and Hearts.
“Especially when I believe that there is nothing at all between the quality in the Dons squad and that in the building at Easter Road.
“But last weekend just showed the big difference in mentality between the two sides. Aberdeen, not at their best and 2-1 down at home to Hearts, manage to find the steel and resolve to turn it round and fire their way to a 13th victory from 13 games this season.
“Hibs fight back from 1-0 down at home to Motherwell and just as it looks like they’ll go on to win the game shoot themselves in the foot. Again.
“These are exactly the games you HAVE to win to finish third. Aberdeen are showing why right now by beating everyone without having yet played Celtic or Rangers.
“I firmly believe Hibs have got one of the best squads outside Celtic and Rangers. Look at the investment in the summer, the quality in the forward areas and midfield.
“But when you get off to a flier like Aberden did by winning every game in the League Cup it gives you the chance to build up a head of steam.
“The killer for Hibs was losing at Kelty Hearts. That was a real momentum stopper and led to them having to go to Celtic Park in the next round of the cup.”
Hibs form is ‘unacceptable’
McManus went on to chastise his beloved Hibees and wrote that it’s no surprise Gray is peeved with his players of late for their lack of professionalism.
He went on: “David Gray’s patience snapped last week when he slammed the defending as “unprofessional” and Nectar Triantis’ red card as a “lack of discipline”.
“He is clearly fed up playing well and not getting points. He has been at the club a long time and knows the pressure that comes with the job.
“Hibs sitting in the bottom three is unacceptable. They’re not playing like a bottom three club but you can’t keep saying that every week.
“It looked like Hibs would go on to beat Motherwell after equalising then a stupid tackle from Triantis costs them. It is unprofessional. On a yellow card you can’t dive into tackles like that.
“Motherwell then score from a long throw in – which David had previously gone on record as saying they’d have to be on their guard for.
“No wonder he was p****d off. Kwon switches off and Andy Halliday of all people nips in to score a winner. That it was the ex-Hearts man just put the tin lid on a brutal afternoon for the home fans.”