PUT IT IN THE MIXU
Big Finn chanced arm to land Hibs deal – by just showing up at training
THE marvellous transfer tale of Peter Odemwingie and his failed attempt to win a move to QPR will never grow old.
But few folk know we had our very own Odemwingie moment at Hibs 11 years earlier involving a certain Mixu Paatelainen.
The big difference with Mixu’s case was that his bold as brass approach to winning a deal actually worked!
I always think back to this when the first week of pre-season training comes round because there we were in the summer of 2002, bracing ourselves for a pounding on Arthur’s Seat, when Mixu walks in wearing full training gear.
The striker had left us a year earlier after Alex McLeish decided not to renew his contract. He went to France with Strasbourg.
I thought that was the end of it with the big man.
But there we were 12 months later, Bobby Williamson had taken over by this point, and we were preparing for pre-season with hill runs from hell.
I turned round and clocked Mixu straight away. I thought he must be back on holiday but then noticed his gear.
He’d been through the routine often enough to know exactly where we’d be and had decided to rock up and chance his arm.
He just asked Bobby, casual as you like, if he could join in the runs. A few hours later he was putting us all to shame. Big Mixu was a one-pace pony but could run all day and a plod round Arthur’s Seat was perfect. He was bursting his a**e to impress and by the end of the week he’d got a year’s contract!
I was delighted because when I was a kid coming through at Easter Road, he was the one along with Craig Brewster who looked after me and other young guys. They spurred us on, demanded levels and standards were met. More than anything they were both cracking players whose experience and ability brought the best out of me. I’m not sure if Lee Johnson is planning on setting out the cones on Arthur’s Seat but he could do with an experienced head in the mould of Mixu rocking up at training. Johnson’s not been hanging about with five new signings already in the door but while there’s youth and potential in the likes of Lewis Miller and Momodou Bojang, I’d like to see more like David Marshall. The lack of experience among the signings will be a concern to fans. The squad already was young and a lot of the new boys are under 22.
What’s needed is a couple of older heads, players who have hundreds of games under their belt at a good level and are at the peak of their career.
Hibs are going to lose Lewis Stevenson and Darren McGregor who maybe have one more year in them and it looks like Paul McGinn could be on the way out before them.
Signing projects that could make money is okay but it’s no use to a manager having a good team in 18 months.
As Shaun Maloney proved there’s no settling-in period at Hibs. Johnson needs a squad ready to hit the ground running.
An experienced centre half, a winger and a seasoned striker are crucial. Regan Charles-Cook would have been a perfect fit but he’s off to Belgium.
Aiden McGeady is in Johnson’s sights and I hope the club do everything they possibly can to get him. They badly need experience up top and that should be the top priority.
There will be a few nervy players out there too wondering where their next deal might be – they should take some inspiration from big Mixu!