THIERRY’S GIVING SHAW VA VA VOOM
Oli will take tips from hero to fire his side up the table
OLI SHAW reckons taking tips from his hero Thierry Henry can help him become Hibs’ main marksman.
The 20-year-old has revealed the French superstar was his icon as he grew up wanting to become a big-name goalscorer in his own right.
Shaw had a poster of Henry on his wall and videos of the Arsenal legend’s brilliance in his cupboard as he looked to emulate some of the skills of the Monaco boss.
Like all good young pros, the attacker knows watching the best, learning from them and trying to pick up little titbits to take into your own game, can be a big factor in developing.
Shaw said: “I was an Arsenal fan as a youngster and a birthday present one year was to go down there for a match.
“I had already followed Henry and took it on to his Barcelona days when he left Arsenal. He was the ultimate.
“I had video clips of him in the house when I was younger and the poster was on the wall.
“You try to mirror your game on the best players. My dad was very big on telling me to watch the big games and the big players. The coaches here tell you the same thing. You watch guys in your position and try to learn any little thing you can.
“Being a young player going into a first team you’re attempting to mirror what they do and it can only help.
“The slightest of margins can make all the difference so you try to find something.
“Henry’s pace and finishing made him the best for me. He never tended to blast it, he placed it. He was composed in front of goal. He was direct and scored important goals.”
In the end it’s down to Shaw to produce and he’s desperate to deliver. Boss Neil Lennon was critical of his strikers before the mid-season break and the youngster was happy to take his medicine.
Having scored in his first three games this term, Shaw then had a nine-match barren run. But goals against St Mirren and Hamilton last month have him back on track and he’s willing to take on the burden of firing Hibs up the table.
Shaw said: “Criticism is part of the game. Age doesn’t make you exempt. I want to take as much responsibility as anyone else and it’s a striker’s job to go out and score goals for Hibs.
“That’s why the club pays us. Ultimately it’s my job.
“I can relish things under pressure and if the manager has a go I take it on board and try to use it to improve. I felt I started off well but then picked up wee injuries and was in and out of the team a bit.
“The last month or so has been good for me. The gaffer has thrown me into some big games and I’ve relished the occasions.
“The only disappointing thing is I haven’t scored as many goals as I’d have liked. But over the piece I’m pretty pleased.
“Strikers play on confidence but even if I’m not scoring the gaffer seems to have belief that I can offer other things to the team.
“If you’re doing that you get into the big games and I’m learning a lot. I needed to stay grounded as a youngster and there are ups and downs.
“I scored my first goal for Hibs against Celtic at Hampden. That was important for me and my family. People might think you just go to the top after that but it’s not how it works. There is hard work and obstacles in the way.
“Teams want to stop you scoring. People watch you to see your strengths and weaknesses. I’ll look at opponents the same way.
“As a young player coming into the firstteam environment you want people looking at you.
“I knew it was going to be tough out here in Dubai but the work had to be put in for the second half of the season and we’ll just look to get back and improve.”
You try to mirror your game on the best players OLI SHAW