Why it makes sense
For the club
Hibs have gone into this season with many injuries to their back line, namely Ryan McGivern, Tim Clancy and James McPake. Couple this with the poor form of Clancy and especially McPake last season then signing an experienced centre half is a no brainer.
McPake was painted as the saviour after his loan spell was turned permanent at the start of last season but it has not quite worked out that way. He was supposed to be the man to plug the constant gaps in the Hibs defence. Be the mouthpiece that made Hibs stand up to all that came its way and help us see Paul Hanlon become the player he has always threatened to be. Closer to the mark would be a rash defender who constantly leaves his position and at times can be a danger to his opponents. Plus he has a chronic back problem which means he only plays on occasion for about 20 minutes.
Enough McPake bashing, the arrival of Michael Nelson has brought an experienced head to the club who can help make Hibs a force to be reckoned with at set pieces both offensively and defensively. He has experience of the Scottish Premiership after a stint with Kilmarnock the season before last and played under new Hibs assistant manager Jimmy Nicholl. His sheer size will help intimidate opposition strikers, and if he can create a partnership with Hanlon were he attacks the ball and Hanlon reads the game in behind him it could help make Hibs a hard team to break down.
For the player
This is quite frankly a great move for Nelson who despite being 33 years old has just been handed a 2 year deal at a Scottish Premiership club. This after going of everyone’s radar; playing a handful of games for Bradford in the English League Two. He will pick up a good wage, probably play plenty games and is arguably at as big a club as he has every played for outside Norwich City.
Why it doesn’t
For the club
A two year deal for a journeyman 33 year old centre half who is so slow he was out paced by John Sutton on Sunday has to be viewed as a risk. He could be viewed as a panic signing, although with Nicholl being his coach before you would like to think the move has been well thought through. When a player is at Nelson’s age one injury can finish their career and you would have to assume Hibs budget is almost spent so a replacement would be hard to come by.
For the player
I have to say, I am struggling to see a negative in this move for the player. Well apart from his pride and feelings may get hurt due to poor performance from himself and the team in general. This is very possible at Easter Road as over the past few years embarrassment and woeful performance have been Hibs’ bread and butter.
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