It was a campaign that started with much promise for Martin Boyle. With a full pre-season under his belt to banish any lingering fitness problems from a challenging period, and coaxed into taking on a greater leadership role by David Gray, the stage was set for the winger to cement his place as Hibs' talisman once more.
As speculation swirled over a potential summer exit to the A-League, Boyle himself insisted on setting the record straight, direct from Hibs' pre-season training camp in the Netherlands, as he emphasised his commitment and affection for the club.
That was certainly evident in his strong League Cup group stage showings, registering three goals and four assists. The challenge was always going to be replicating that against Premiership opposition.
Although Boyle has contributed two goals and an assist in eight Scottish Premiership appearances, it feels like we're watching an inhibited version of the 31-year-old.
He was a peripheral figure in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Dundee United, despite playing 85 minutes. Even during the first 45, when Hibs played with more intensity and purpose, most of it was directed down the opposite flank.
It was a continuation of a recent theme. Hibs haven't found their spark in attack, and, after 11 matches, are the joint-lowest scorers (ten) in the Premiership alongside Ross County, a side who haven't won a league match away from home in almost two years. Boyle is among a few whose level has been below what we absolutely know he is capable of, and it must be a concern for David Gray.
In the last two games, fixtures in which Hibs have needed attacking inspiration, Boyle has created zero chances, according to FotMob. On the left-hand side, Junior Hoilett has created six across those fixtures. The charts below show both players' touch maps against Dundee United, and you can see how much more involved Hoilett was in Hibs' attacking play.
The radar below shows he's underperforming against the league average in several areas - including expected goals, successful crosses, touches in the opposition, and expected assists from open play. Boyle isn't the only Hibs player to underperform this season, far from it, but given he's been such an important figure for so long, Gray will be looking to him to lead by example.
The key question, though, is why matches seem to be passing him by. Is it down to Boyle himself, or are Hibs not playing in a way that best suits him?
Boyle's best moment of the league season was a brilliantly-taken goal against St Johnstone, showing what he can still do with space to run into. It was also a rebuttal to suggestions that, now into his 30s, his explosive turn of pace is fading. It came from drawing Saints out of their shape, a smart touch from Chris Cadden to eliminate his man and set Hibs on their way. It leaves Saints unable to retreat quickly enough and Boyle attacks the space in behind, latching on to Cadden's pass and dinking the goalkeeper.
Hibs haven't created many situations like that one in the league season, but they're the moments Boyle thrives on. His minimal impact against Dundee United wasn't through lack of effort, but much of what he attempted didn't quite come off. Some of those were down to the player himself needing to be better, but Hibs can do more to create situations where he doesn't have to beat a man for pace from a standing start.
The overall pace of build-up has been an issue, at times, with teams able to set themselves behind the ball and deny Hibs' wingers space in behind them, or to double up on Boyle when he does receive the ball. In the example below, Hibs work the ball wide and two United players move out, one engaging Boyle and the other sitting off to provide cover.
This is where the likes of Lewis Miller could do more to help, as instead of making a move that would force the second defender to be drawn away, he stands still and doesn't force him into making a decision.
A similar instance unfolded shortly after in the first half, and this time Miller made a move into the box to allow Boyle to go at his man one-on-one, and it took another defender jumping across at the last second to stop him.
What made Boyle so effective for so long hasn't completely deserted him overnight, but as the passage of time does inevitably takes its toll, there's a train of thought that Hibs will have to adapt, by helping to create the space for Boyle to thrive through their build-up, rather than relying on him to produce something from nothing.
The goal against St Johnstone was an example of how quick, incisive build-up play can create openings for him to exploit. Wingers adapting their game into their thirties is commonplace and Boyle is no different.
As Craig Nisbet and I discussed on our tactical review of the Dundee United game, he may have to get used to not quite being able to fashion himself the same time on the ball via sheer speed as he used to, and look to release it earlier in certain situations.
Read more:
- Video: The Hibs tactical tweaks to build on in draw with Dundee Utd
- 'It's on us, not the boss', says Marvin Ekpiteta over Hibs' late goals habit
- How an improved Hibs performance still yielded the same old outcome
The 433 shape deployed at the weekend could benefit him, if Hibs continue to play with two midfielders pushed higher.
In the example below, Joe Newell picks up a great position and is found by Warren O'Hora being positive and playing through the lines. Players getting turned in that space between midfield and defence forces the opposition defence to make difficult decisions about whether to jump and press, or back off, as well as being a cue for the likes of Boyle to get on their bike. He could have been in on goal here if Newell's pass wasn't slightly heavy.
Hoilett thrives on link-up play and bringing others into the game but for Boyle moving forward, it could be about the quality of involvements over quantity, as he's the type of player who only needs one good opening to hurt the opposition.
Read the rules here