Pre-season is pain, perspiration and pole dancing. That’s my memory of going away with Hibs as the preparations for new season stepped up in sunshine jaunts outside Leith.
Watching on from a distance as Lee Johnson puts his new-look side through their paces in the Algarve has brought it all back. Pre-season is massive, especially when you go away somewhere and live in each other’s pockets. Getting to know your team mates inside out is really important, you start to create a good team spirit.
We went to Germany with Alex McLeish, I was a young guy coming through and it was a chance to make a name for myself. I finished the tour top scorer and that thrust me into the first team. You always get a night out at the end of a tour, so we had a few beers and went to the only nightclub in the region. It was pretty quiet, the type of place you have to create your own atmosphere.
Luckily for us it had three big poles on the dancefloor and Grant Brebner, who was three sheets to the wind, took one look and thought he was in Showgirls.
Grant was never shy and he whipped off his top, launched himself onto the pole and came sliding down with legs going in all directions .. just as the gaffer and Andy Watson walked in completely unannounced!
Nobody knew they were coming and Brebner certainly never noticed them as he worked the pole!
The timing of their entrance was absolutely perfect and the boys were wetting themselves. I’ve never seen a drunk man sober up so quick.
It’s all banter though and perfect for adding to the feel good factor going into a season. That’s what it looks like Lee Johnson has managed to form in Portugal.
Three sessions a day is all the proof you need that they have worked their socks off to get to a level they can play with an intensity. But the fun at the end will be massive too as the new boys and management forge that team spirit.
I’ve liked the look of Lewis Miller at right back. He’s got pace, power, is good going forward and loves a tackle while Elie Youan looks good up front. His finish against Burton Albion was excellent. He’s quick and wants to run in behind and that’s something Hibs have missed badly - someone to stretch the game.
And it was great to see Elias Melkersen add a couple of goals. Now he has settled in you can see he definitely has something.
I still think Hibs need to strengthen in the forward area but apart from that there’s plenty of competition for places and it looks like there’s plenty to be excited about ahead of the season starting.
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