The problem with Derek

The problem with Derek.

Had Hibs signing of Derek Riordan been a straightforward and regular signing then he would currently be hailed as an inspired deal for the Leith club. His impact has breathed life into a team struggling to stay conscious under the stewardship of Mixu Paatelinen, infact such positive the impact that it may have been not only a catalyst for a change in the teams performance but for the supporters view of where the Finnish manager was taking the club.

Riordan has showed ability, movement, confidence, class, desire, and importantly; goals since his return. Not that any one who watched him play for Hibs in his previous spell would be in the least surprised. Nor particularly would his teammates or management at Hibs who had a couple of attempts to lure him back from Glasgow on loan thwarted by Celtic, loathed to let such a talent go. Its not unusual for a 25 year old footballer to start to show the above attributes as he finds real form and consistency in his career, however the most impressive thing for young Riordan is that not only is he looking for consistency, he is looking for it again, lets not forget the player netted 60 goals in three seasons prior to his move along the M8. The desire and confidence that is back is breeding the movement, ability, and thankfully for Paatelinen, scoring and creating goals with apparent ease again.

Perhaps his two years at Celtic will go down as a mere blip in what could progress to be an otherwise highly successful career. But it will always be a point of interest for not only onlookers, and Celtic supporters, but surely Derek himself. Given the application he has shown since his return east, perhaps he is analysing what happened and what he think went wrong, and trying to put it right for the sake of his career and currently for the sake of Hibernian Football Club. For Riordan himself, I suppose he could hide behind the excuse that he didn’t get a fair chance in Celtic's first team

But what did go wrong at Celtic, was it his attitude (mentality effort application belief confidence) his ability, Celtic, the situation, his position? The system (like gravesen)

Maybe he knew he didn’t have the application and that’s why he knocked back the moves abroad when he was at Hibs the first time, or again maybe its because he wouldn’t break himself from his home comfort zone.

Or perhaps Derek Riordan isn’t drawing from his Celtic experience, perhaps the slipping back into his Hibs comfort zone was enough, the already earnt adulation from the fans, the memories of success in the non-hooped green and white, the cushion - knowing that one bad game, or even two, wont have the fans calling for him to be axed from the starting line-up. Players play better when they are relaxed (and keep their focus) and maybe the system he was asked to play didn’t allow him to be relaxed.

Upon his return to Parkhead (in a Hibs Jersey) he played on the left hand side (like he did in his fleeting Celtic) - but he didn’t go at the full back, he drifted inside to get involved (and get others involved) and allowed his fellow midfielders and the left full back to fill in the wide position. Perhaps his talent is allowed to be the most important part of his game at Hibs, they let him flourish. But at Celtic there are other talented players occupying various positions and its important to keep a team shape and system in order to get the best out of the whole team as that doesn’t necessarily come from getting the best out of the best player - like maybe it does at Hibs.

Maybe he will move from Hibs in a couple of seasons and we will see him test himself and become the player his talent really deserves him to be.